Sunday Worship in Japan

In case I didn't mention it, we are staying at one of the key churches involved in the relief effort here in Japan.  Last night was our third night here, although yesterday we were gone from 8:30 am to 1:30 am on our trip to Iwaki.  It was great to worship this morning with the believers here. They are doing what they can with their own efforts and then partnering with others like us to meet needs in the heavy hit areas.  They had a beauiful worship service, with one elderly gentleman who grew up in that area praying with tears over what has happened and asking God to open hearts to Him and to bless the many who have come or given to help them up there.  After the service another lady told me that she used to live in Sendai and that she had come to Christ there and knew of at least one believer in a church she used to attend who was swept away in the tsunami.  She began to cry and told me that her husband died over a year ago and what a blessing it is that he did not have to know about this disaster because he loved that part of the country and would have been devastated by all of the loss there.  She apologized for crying and I tried to encourage her that tears are part of the healing.  This was a less than 10 minute conversation, but many hearts are emotional here, as you would expect.  Also, many who are not Christians are coming and volunteering to help with the church groups, since they see the church is stepping up to do something here.

Another part of the day, we spent some time with Andy Gilbert and some others from his misson who were here to network and share strategy with those in the Mission to the World here in Chiba.  Ideas were shared and there appears to be the formation of a long-term plan for helping rebuild beyond the immediate needs.  A great time of prayer and fellowship also took place.

Keep praying for Japan, for the necessary networking & continued unity of churches. Pray also for some leaders in these ministries who have been going nonstop and making multiple trips up north without a break since this began.  Pray for us as we expect to head further north tomorrow.  Thanks so much for all of the support!