Yesterday was a fun and interesting day! We headed out in the morning to begin exploring our "new" city. As we were walking down the sidewalk some ladies in kimono approached us and asked if we would like to give a donation to the relief effort. For our donation we would receive a Japanese sweet treat and a cup of tea ceremony green tea (it is different from the green tea you buy in a vending machine). Now try to get this picture in your head, four Americans walking up to a tent filled with Japanese ladies who are learning to perform a proper tea ceremony, and several tv cameras with reporters and sound microphones. They begin recording our every move; from placing our donations in the box, to sitting down on the benches, to eating and drinking. I SO wanted to take some pictures, but with tv cameras in our faces it would not have been appropriate. So, there we sat with straight backs, big smiles on our faces, trying to be sure to drink the tea in the correct way. Yes, there is a right way and a wrong way to drink the green tea for a tea ceremony. There is a proper way to hold the cup, and then you must turn it one way, take a sip, then turn it back. Again, all of this is happening while the cameras are rolling!!!! Then the report walks over to our missionary host and begins asking her questions in Japanese. She shares with him that the three of us have left Tokyo because of the possible danger there. Well, now it becomes like flies attracted to spilt honey. When we were finished with our sweet and tea we stepped out from the tent and another reporter began asking me if I felt the quake and if I was ok. When I told here about what I felt her expression changed to real concern that I was alright. After we returned home a couple of the neighbors called our host couple to tell them they had seen us on the local evening news!
As we were walking through a small park, Nancy had the opportunity to talk with a Japanese mom and her son in English. Nancy shared a manga with them and asked the mom to please read it and get in touch if she had questions or wanted to know more about the story. The manga is actually the book of Luke put into manga form (comic book). So, even just walking the streets God's Word was shared yesterday.
Our leadership is planning to meet again Friday to discuss "what now," for the mission personnel. Thank you for your continued prayers for everyone (American and Japanese) involved in this situation.
A verse that has ministered to my heart since Sunday is Colossians 1:17. "He (Christ) is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." When we feel like the world around us is falling apart we should remember that Christ holds all things together. How comforting to know this fact about our Savior. No matter what we are walking through or dealing with, our God is in control and His hands are big enough to hold all the pieces firmly together!
Off to see what God's adventure for us today will be......
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