In "Ten Things We Can Learn From the Japanese" number one is "The Calm". It seems to me that Japanese people are very calm. They learn from an early age not to show their emotions. The British might be known for their "stiff upper lip" but the Japanese extend that to their whole face! Poker faces abound in this country. Emotional displays are rare, reserved for the stage or for young school girls. Emotionalism is equated with immaturity. Adults have more sense and self control.
Buddhism teaches that "desire" (which is largely the same as "emotion") is the reason why we are caught in this endless succession of illusionary reincarnations and to escape this, one must escape all "desire". Consequently emotional expression is very muted in this society. Most Japanese don't think about buddhism as clearly and directly as this but buddhism nevertheless has an enormous influence on the people especially in stifling emotional expression.
Japanese are amazed, shocked, amused, embarrassed to hear that God is passionate, gets angry, gets sad, rejoices etc. How can that be?! Impossible!
In "Ten Things" we read that there's been "not a single visual of chest-beating or wild grief. No, of course not. That would be inviting ridicule. Other people would look down on you if you did that and you yourself would lose face. If such a strong emotion has to be expressed at all, it is done strictly in private. Emotions are kept bottled up. So a foreigner sees "calm".
The conclusion that "Ten Things" draws is that: "Sorrow itself has been elevated."Hmmmmm.... is that the conclusion you draw?
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Ten Things We Can Learn From the Japanese
I've been crowing about how great the Japanese culture is for many many years. Every time we're in Oz I inevitably get on that old soapbox and rave on about how much of Japan's culture is more biblical than Aussie or American culture. I would make a different list to this one, but I thought it was interesting to see someone else's observations.
Have you seen this?
1. THE CALM
Not a single visual of chest-beating or wild grief. Sorrow itself has been elevated.
2. THE DIGNITY
Disciplined queues for water and groceries. Not a rough word or a crude gesture. Their patience is admirable and praiseworthy.
3. THE ABILITY
The incredible architects, for instance. Buildings swayed but didn’t fall.
4. THE GRACE (Selflessness)
People bought only what they needed for the present, so everybody could get something.
5. THE ORDER
No looting in shops. No honking and no overtaking on the roads. Just understanding.
6. THE SACRIFICE
Fifty workers stayed back to pump sea water in the N-reactors. How will they ever be repaid?
7. THE TENDERNESS
Restaurants cut prices. An unguarded ATM is left alone. The strong cared for the weak.
8. THE TRAINING
The old and the children, everyone knew exactly what to do. And they did just that.
9. THE MEDIA
They showed magnificent restraint in the bulletins. No silly reporters. Only calm reportage. Most of all – NO POLITICIANS TRYING TO GET CHEAP MILEAGE.
10. THE CONSCIENCE
When the power went off in a store, people put things back on the shelves and left quietly.
With their country in the midst of a colossal disaster - The Japanese citizens can teach plenty of lessons to the world.
They say that you can see the real character of a person when they are under pressure, stressed, in a crisis. That is when they show the world their true colors. If so, then I think the Japanese people have shown a lot of praiseworthy attributes.
Having lived here in Japan for over 20 years I want to re-interpret some of these "ten" and I take exception to at least one (which I think is just plainly untrue!).
But I wonder what you think of this. Post a comment!
If enough people respond, I'll re-write my own version of these "ten". Over to you!
Have you seen this?
1. THE CALM
Not a single visual of chest-beating or wild grief. Sorrow itself has been elevated.
2. THE DIGNITY
Disciplined queues for water and groceries. Not a rough word or a crude gesture. Their patience is admirable and praiseworthy.
3. THE ABILITY
The incredible architects, for instance. Buildings swayed but didn’t fall.
4. THE GRACE (Selflessness)
People bought only what they needed for the present, so everybody could get something.
5. THE ORDER
No looting in shops. No honking and no overtaking on the roads. Just understanding.
6. THE SACRIFICE
Fifty workers stayed back to pump sea water in the N-reactors. How will they ever be repaid?
7. THE TENDERNESS
Restaurants cut prices. An unguarded ATM is left alone. The strong cared for the weak.
8. THE TRAINING
The old and the children, everyone knew exactly what to do. And they did just that.
9. THE MEDIA
They showed magnificent restraint in the bulletins. No silly reporters. Only calm reportage. Most of all – NO POLITICIANS TRYING TO GET CHEAP MILEAGE.
10. THE CONSCIENCE
When the power went off in a store, people put things back on the shelves and left quietly.
With their country in the midst of a colossal disaster - The Japanese citizens can teach plenty of lessons to the world.
They say that you can see the real character of a person when they are under pressure, stressed, in a crisis. That is when they show the world their true colors. If so, then I think the Japanese people have shown a lot of praiseworthy attributes.
Having lived here in Japan for over 20 years I want to re-interpret some of these "ten" and I take exception to at least one (which I think is just plainly untrue!).
But I wonder what you think of this. Post a comment!
If enough people respond, I'll re-write my own version of these "ten". Over to you!
Monday, April 11, 2011
Aftershocks
Thank you for continuing to pay attention after the news cycle has moved on and largely left Japan for more exciting news. Thank you for continuing to care and to pray. God bless you!
We're still here.
Aftershocks seemed to be fewer there for a while.
No more.
We are still fine. We haven't suffered any damage. The panic buying and the petrol shortages and the blackouts haven't returned. But it is unsettling.
Aftershocks have been so many we've lost count. Aftershocks have been so many we are learning finer and finer ways to distinguish them. Anybody can talk about mere size (magnitude) and location (epicenter) and some can discuss whether they had or didn't have accompanying tsunami warnings. But aftershocks are now so frequent we are discussing what makes an earthquake an earthquake in it's own right as opposed to an aftershock of the March 11th big one. Aftershocks are now so frequent we discuss all the different locations we've been when they've struck: in bed, in the kitchen, driving, outside, in a restaurant, in the supermarket, etc. etc. Aftershocks have refined our English vocabulary in the area of movement. We now not only "shake", we "sway", "swoon", "convulse", "rock", "swing", "vibrate", "rattle", "pitch", "wave", "jump", "jolt", "ricochet", "float", etc. (!)
We're still here.
Aftershocks seemed to be fewer there for a while.
No more.
We are still fine. We haven't suffered any damage. The panic buying and the petrol shortages and the blackouts haven't returned. But it is unsettling.
Aftershocks have been so many we've lost count. Aftershocks have been so many we are learning finer and finer ways to distinguish them. Anybody can talk about mere size (magnitude) and location (epicenter) and some can discuss whether they had or didn't have accompanying tsunami warnings. But aftershocks are now so frequent we are discussing what makes an earthquake an earthquake in it's own right as opposed to an aftershock of the March 11th big one. Aftershocks are now so frequent we discuss all the different locations we've been when they've struck: in bed, in the kitchen, driving, outside, in a restaurant, in the supermarket, etc. etc. Aftershocks have refined our English vocabulary in the area of movement. We now not only "shake", we "sway", "swoon", "convulse", "rock", "swing", "vibrate", "rattle", "pitch", "wave", "jump", "jolt", "ricochet", "float", etc. (!)
Resilient? Yes! Repentant? ... well ....!
President Obama, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and many people are praising the Japanese people by calling them "resilient".
I agree with them. I think it's true. These people, this nation are unusually "resilient". They are a remarkable culture and a special country.
Look at their past: living on this chain of volcanic islands frequently hit by typhoons, earthquakes and tsunami, they have over the centuries learned to adapt. They are unlike any other group that I know. They regularly and repeatedly practice for disasters on all levels: family, company, neighborhood, city, prefecture and nation-wide. They take it as a matter of fact that they need to be prepared to evacuate. They drill and re-drill, train and re-train what to do "in case".
Time after time Japan has been hit by natural disasters. Time after time it has recovered. And not only "natural" disasters either: after world war two Japan was decimated. Over 60 cities had been fire bombed and were burned to the ground and that was before the nuclear blasts at Hiroshima and Nagasaki! Yet they recovered. Economic disasters have struck Japan too and the result has been the same.
Look at their architecture and infrastructure: If any of the earthquakes since our big one on March 11 had hit a Brisbane house I shudder to think what would have happened. (!) But our house and hundreds of thousands (millions?) of houses, apartments, offices, shops, skyscrapers, railway stations, roads, bridges, factories, towers etc suffered no damage at all! Not even a crack in the plaster! Amazing. I've got to take my hat off to the builders and designers. Amazing! Resilience is built in.
People here value "endurance", "persistence", "patience", the ability to not quit, to not moan, to not give up. The most common expression of encouragement that you hear repeated many times everyday is "Ganbatte!" or "Ganbare!" which means precisely that: "Keep it up!" "Hang in there!" "Do your best!" The grin and bear it attitude is taken as a given.
Resilient? Yes I believe my Japanese friends certainly are and I admire them for it.
I ask myself though: "What is God looking for?" "What is valuable in God's eyes?"
Resilience is a great virtue for Christians. God undoubtedly wants His people to be resilient and to hang in there when times get tough and to be brave and not give up when we face trials and to spring back and respond with love in the face of persecution and to recover from whatever the world throws at us. After all that's the message of Easter: we follow a RESURRECTED Jesus.
But in a land where over 99% are not yet Christians? What does resilience do for them? Does it mean that they will recover their hard un-believing hearts? Does it translate into an uncanny ability to spring back to their original self-willed, stubborn insistence to live without even acknowledging God? Will it express itself by lives rising up from the ashes to believe in themselves and pride themselves on their own achievements? What if "resilience" means "no change"?!
I fear for this land where God has called me. I fear for these people who God has given me a love for.
Jesus calls us first to repentance, not to resilience!
Here and there every so often we think we are seeing some of this gift of repentance. Hallelujah! Help us by your prayers please.
I agree with them. I think it's true. These people, this nation are unusually "resilient". They are a remarkable culture and a special country.
Look at their past: living on this chain of volcanic islands frequently hit by typhoons, earthquakes and tsunami, they have over the centuries learned to adapt. They are unlike any other group that I know. They regularly and repeatedly practice for disasters on all levels: family, company, neighborhood, city, prefecture and nation-wide. They take it as a matter of fact that they need to be prepared to evacuate. They drill and re-drill, train and re-train what to do "in case".
Time after time Japan has been hit by natural disasters. Time after time it has recovered. And not only "natural" disasters either: after world war two Japan was decimated. Over 60 cities had been fire bombed and were burned to the ground and that was before the nuclear blasts at Hiroshima and Nagasaki! Yet they recovered. Economic disasters have struck Japan too and the result has been the same.
Look at their architecture and infrastructure: If any of the earthquakes since our big one on March 11 had hit a Brisbane house I shudder to think what would have happened. (!) But our house and hundreds of thousands (millions?) of houses, apartments, offices, shops, skyscrapers, railway stations, roads, bridges, factories, towers etc suffered no damage at all! Not even a crack in the plaster! Amazing. I've got to take my hat off to the builders and designers. Amazing! Resilience is built in.
People here value "endurance", "persistence", "patience", the ability to not quit, to not moan, to not give up. The most common expression of encouragement that you hear repeated many times everyday is "Ganbatte!" or "Ganbare!" which means precisely that: "Keep it up!" "Hang in there!" "Do your best!" The grin and bear it attitude is taken as a given.
Resilient? Yes I believe my Japanese friends certainly are and I admire them for it.
I ask myself though: "What is God looking for?" "What is valuable in God's eyes?"
Resilience is a great virtue for Christians. God undoubtedly wants His people to be resilient and to hang in there when times get tough and to be brave and not give up when we face trials and to spring back and respond with love in the face of persecution and to recover from whatever the world throws at us. After all that's the message of Easter: we follow a RESURRECTED Jesus.
But in a land where over 99% are not yet Christians? What does resilience do for them? Does it mean that they will recover their hard un-believing hearts? Does it translate into an uncanny ability to spring back to their original self-willed, stubborn insistence to live without even acknowledging God? Will it express itself by lives rising up from the ashes to believe in themselves and pride themselves on their own achievements? What if "resilience" means "no change"?!
I fear for this land where God has called me. I fear for these people who God has given me a love for.
Jesus calls us first to repentance, not to resilience!
Here and there every so often we think we are seeing some of this gift of repentance. Hallelujah! Help us by your prayers please.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Your God is Called: ..... ?
A Christian friend of mine asked what I thought was a pretty crazy question:
Him:"What's your God called?"
I figured he was having a go at me, was going to dredge up the JW's YHWH question or he'd just gone off his rocker. I said,
Me: "Well, he's called many names like "Elohim", "Adonai", "Jehovah Jireh", "Father", "Creator", ....." hoping that would satisfy him but he persisted.
Him: "So your god isn't called "Fukushima"??"
Now I knew he was nuts. I just looked at him sideways not sure whether to run or console him. He might be dangerous.
Him: "Your god isn't called "Fukushima"?!"he repeated looking serious enough and earnest. I thought a short answer might suffice so I said:
Me: "no".
Him: "A lot of people seem to be saying "Fukushima". I hear people all over the place talking about this Fukushima. Everybody seems to be using this name. It's very popular. It seems very important."
Me: "Hmmmm"
Him: "When they say it, it's always with a level of fear or respect or awe like it's something pretty powerful."
(I had to agree with him, but...)
Him: "And lots of people seem to check on this Fukushima so regularly (religiously?) every day, first thing in the morning and/or through the day and/or last thing at night."
I was beginning to see his point !
Him: "They seem to believe this Fukushima controls their fate. That this Fukushima controls their future. That everything depends on this Fukushima."
It certainly is true. Lots of folks are behaving just like this. I'm tempted to live like this myself!
Me:"No. My God is Lord of heaven and earth. He is the Sovereign King in charge of everything. He rules even over Fukushima."
Him:"What's your God called?"
I figured he was having a go at me, was going to dredge up the JW's YHWH question or he'd just gone off his rocker. I said,
Me: "Well, he's called many names like "Elohim", "Adonai", "Jehovah Jireh", "Father", "Creator", ....." hoping that would satisfy him but he persisted.
Him: "So your god isn't called "Fukushima"??"
Now I knew he was nuts. I just looked at him sideways not sure whether to run or console him. He might be dangerous.
Him: "Your god isn't called "Fukushima"?!"he repeated looking serious enough and earnest. I thought a short answer might suffice so I said:
Me: "no".
Him: "A lot of people seem to be saying "Fukushima". I hear people all over the place talking about this Fukushima. Everybody seems to be using this name. It's very popular. It seems very important."
Me: "Hmmmm"
Him: "When they say it, it's always with a level of fear or respect or awe like it's something pretty powerful."
(I had to agree with him, but...)
Him: "And lots of people seem to check on this Fukushima so regularly (religiously?) every day, first thing in the morning and/or through the day and/or last thing at night."
I was beginning to see his point !
Him: "They seem to believe this Fukushima controls their fate. That this Fukushima controls their future. That everything depends on this Fukushima."
It certainly is true. Lots of folks are behaving just like this. I'm tempted to live like this myself!
Me:"No. My God is Lord of heaven and earth. He is the Sovereign King in charge of everything. He rules even over Fukushima."
Friday, April 8, 2011
"Things" & "Sakura"
Little by little things are improving. Milk, bread, rice, petrol, toilet paper which were all hard to get, are all available again. There is less milk and yoghurt and bread available than before the disaster. Sometimes there is a limit as to how many you are allowed to buy. Sometimes the specific type or brand you want is not there. But we are grateful we have what we have.
Everyday is a lesson on how very very interdependent everything is. We are just beginning to realize for example that one industry relies on another which relies on another etc. When retailers' stocks and then wholesalers' stocks sell out and they appeal to manufacturers and primary producers they are finding that some of these have been completely or partially destroyed. Even if they can re-build it is going to take weeks if not months and everyone in the chain is stuck.
Petrol of course is more expensive (about 147 yen/litre) but that might be due to Libya?
Ruth and I have been walking more and I discovered that I can cycle to more places than I thought.
Up until just this week we were having to check every day to see if there will be blackouts. Recently quite a few of our blackouts were cancelled. We were very happy about that. Now they are saying that the blackouts scheduled for the next four days have been cancelled as well. Wow! That's great. Blackouts have their positive side too: our electricity bill is 4,000 yen less than last time!
With all of the uncertainty, over five of my classes were cancelled. It's been an unsettled time when it has been difficult to plan anything since the earthquake. Not only were there material uncertainties and power uncertainties but the whole nation has been in shock and then various stages of grief. The population is stoic and resilient on many levels but is still struggling to come to terms with this mammoth tragedy. Even the national cherry blossom viewing frenzy that takes place every year, was cancelled in some Tokyo parks. Thirteen of our brave friends though stood up to the cold and had a picnic with us under the cherry trees on Sunday after church.
I think this is a good sign and indicates how some people are recovering psychologically. We are glad God has placed us here at this difficult time to be with these people we love so we can walk with them through this.
Everyday is a lesson on how very very interdependent everything is. We are just beginning to realize for example that one industry relies on another which relies on another etc. When retailers' stocks and then wholesalers' stocks sell out and they appeal to manufacturers and primary producers they are finding that some of these have been completely or partially destroyed. Even if they can re-build it is going to take weeks if not months and everyone in the chain is stuck.
Petrol of course is more expensive (about 147 yen/litre) but that might be due to Libya?
Ruth and I have been walking more and I discovered that I can cycle to more places than I thought.
Up until just this week we were having to check every day to see if there will be blackouts. Recently quite a few of our blackouts were cancelled. We were very happy about that. Now they are saying that the blackouts scheduled for the next four days have been cancelled as well. Wow! That's great. Blackouts have their positive side too: our electricity bill is 4,000 yen less than last time!
With all of the uncertainty, over five of my classes were cancelled. It's been an unsettled time when it has been difficult to plan anything since the earthquake. Not only were there material uncertainties and power uncertainties but the whole nation has been in shock and then various stages of grief. The population is stoic and resilient on many levels but is still struggling to come to terms with this mammoth tragedy. Even the national cherry blossom viewing frenzy that takes place every year, was cancelled in some Tokyo parks. Thirteen of our brave friends though stood up to the cold and had a picnic with us under the cherry trees on Sunday after church.
I think this is a good sign and indicates how some people are recovering psychologically. We are glad God has placed us here at this difficult time to be with these people we love so we can walk with them through this.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Is It Safe???
Is It Safe?
A dear friend of ours wrote to us on Mar 25, 2011, at 9:54 AM, :
is it safe ?????!!!!!!!
This is my reply:
Safe?
Safe!!
Ha Ha!
Humanly speaking, where is safe? There's no place on this planet that's "safe".
The media are raising alarms about radioactivity in water, milk, leafy veges, ....... then there's the continuing threat from the 6 damaged Fukushima reactors, the aftershocks, the power blackouts, the ever present possibility of Tokyo having it's (overdue) BIG earthquake, the cold weather, the panic buying depleting stocks on store shelves, influenza, rabid dogs, Tasmanian terrorists, men from mars, and then (oh! you'll love this!) there're those creepy........ aggghhhh! I'm being eaten alive by...... (the sound of swallowing: GULP!)
Now, let me see.
Where was I?
Ah yes: "safe"
Welllllllllll..........! That all depends......!
I personally wouldn't want to sway you to move from any one geographical location to any other on the pretext that where you are is “dangerous”. Not at all. What do I know? God might want you there. Or here!
But (as you know I'm sure), I would want to underline, emphasize, highlight and point out: God is our refuge. He is a great protective Father.
Nothing gets to us but what He allows if we are trusting and obeying Him.
He was known as a "shield" and a "fortress", a
"shelter" and a "strong tower" to the Old Testament saints and He hasn't changed.
He tells me that not even one sparrow falls to the ground apart from His care and that I am worth much more than sparrows! I believe Him.
He tells me that no one can snatch me out of His hand. And I believe Him.
He says He is the resurrection and the life and that if I believe in Him I will live even though I (physically) die. And I believe Him.
Others who have done this before me have entered lions’ dens, been thrown into fiery furnaces, been imprisoned, been beaten with rods etc. Some have been miraculously rescued.
So I believe the only “safe” place is not geographical or technological but relational: as long as I am trusting Jesus, He will keep me “safe” either here on this planet or with Him in heaven.
I believe I should still be sensible and take precautionary measures. We are monitoring the situation as much as we can and OMF has a “Crisis Management Team” doing this as well and keeping us updated.
There are fearful things, risky things happening around us and we are responding to them but my fear is for all those who don’t know Jesus. I ask myself: “Who is in the more dangerous place? Us or them??” and “What will happen to them?” Jesus says: “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” and I know that they are in a far far more dangerous situation than I am. The worst thing that can happen to me is that I die. But then I go to heaven! I’m looking forward to that! Exiting this world is not a bad thing unless it means going to hell. Jesus says that is fearful. I fear for the 99% of my Japanese friends who are in this predicament. Are they safe? No! But they can be!
Gary
No one's ever seen or heard anything like this,
Never so much as imagined anything quite like it—
What God has arranged for those who love him. 1Cor 2:9 (Bible)
March 22, 2011
Hi! (from Ruth) March 22, 2011
Thanks so much for continuing to pray for us here. The situation at the power plant is still a big concern but appears to be reasonably stable at present. Our hearts are encouraged that there are Christians working there who are seeking the Lord's help and mercy.
We still have evacuation bags ready and bottles of water lined up on our kitchen counter in the event of something more dire happening. So we are still a bit uptight but endeavouring to get on with life and ministry.
Rolling blackouts continue and as I write this I am wrapped up well against the cold until the power comes back on (we only have electric heaters). Unchanged too is our need to use the car very sparingly because of gasoline shortages but we hear that the supply should be back to normal in a few days.
It's still a bit of a challenge to get milk, yoghurt, bread and eggs but we have managed to get some and consider this a very small inconvenience indeed compared to the suffering of our friends in the north who have to line up in the snow for hours and then are only able to purchase a few items.
Aftershocks seem fewer and less strong. (Editor’s note: The latest unnerving one was last Saturday but we have had several since Ruth wrote this!). For this reason we are generally sleeping better. I say "generally" because this is the season for strong winds and one raged loudly all night on Sunday keeping us awake. We had a better sleep last night, so have caught up a bit.
Some expats have left the country but W.H.O. has issued a statement saying that the levels of radiation outside the 30km zone don't pose a health threat and so evacuation is not necessary for those further away from the plant. We are about 200km away.
**********************************
“Keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:5
Hi! (from Gary)
I am often praying asking God to help us communicate His amazing peace. I think many people need His peace right now. There is a lot of realistic, understandable tension and anxiety in many peoples' hearts because of the triple tragedy: earthquake/tsunami/reactor. The death toll and the destruction and the suffering even now are too big for me to really understand. I am overwhelmed. And I think many people here are feeling the same as me and worse under their calm exteriors. I know God understands and He is active. He is working. But 99% of the Japanese people have no clue about God. Please pray that God will minister His supernatural peace to the people of this terribly bruised and bewildered land.
It is encouraging to know He is using many, many people, who are buying as much as they can, packing trucks as full as they can and then driving to Tohoku (the region of the earthquake) to give away to the needy people there to help meet their desperate needs. Missionaries. Christians. My friends. Please pray for them. Pray they will be kept safe. Pray they will have God’s love and wisdom.
The Sendai Earthquake Relief Fund, an OMF Japan project, has been created to channel funds for this effort. Anyone wishing to contribute to this project may do so through the OMF office in their country. (Working through your local OMF office is faster, less expensive and less complicated than arranging international bank transfers to Japan). Please quote project number L60500.
The Australian OMF office advises us that the relevant bank details in Australia are:
“O.M.F. International Federal”
062 263
0090 3892
Specify L60500 on the internet entry.
Use your client number if you are already a donor to OMF. New donors, please confirm your gift by e-mail to accrcvble@gmail.com
The nuclear power plant is very dangerous. Pray for the brave Fukushima power plant workers. Will the radioactivity come as far as Chiba? There are still a lot of unanswered questions. This is another source of strain and anxiety in everybody around here. They don’t know the Father’s protective care.
We don't have a lot of petrol but we are offering to drive anyone who is stuck. Ruth and I have been walking more. It is good exercise.
We have stopped heating two rooms. Now we try to do everything: get dressed, eat, study, etc in just one room whenever we can. In this way we save electricity.
So that we don't boil water too often, we save the hot water we don't use in a thermos bottle. We can drink that later and it is still hot without re-boiling fresh water.
Of course our minor inconveniences are nothing compared to the misery of the Tohoku people. I can’t complain. We don't know if anyone will come, but we have contacted a Christian relief organization “CRASH” and offered our guest room to any one who needs a place to stay. It must be better than the cold gymnasiums some people are living in now!
Due to petrol shortages and the uncertain rolling power outages, many of my students are canceling their English classes and Bible studies. Each day has to be taken as it comes. We had a fairly fluid schedule before. Now it is even more so!
I am still hoping to have a cherry blossom viewing picnic on Sunday the 3rd of April. Who knows what our situation will be then? I hope it will help our friends to relax, get their minds off the difficulties and begin returning their lives to “normal”. If there are enough church people then this will be another opportunity for the not-yet-believers to meet Christians and have a good time. Please pray for 1. Good weather 2. The cherry blossoms to bloom just in time 3. Many people to come and 4. Good friendships to form.
Thank you for praying for us.
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