Time away

June is often Conference month for OMF. This time we have the pleasure of attending the two OMF Conferences in the different regions. At the moment we are in the beautiful surroundings of Karuizawa, a mountain retreat in Nagano prefecture for what is called the East Japan Conference. Missionaries working in Aomori, Sendai and the Greater Tokyo area have gathered for their Annual Conference. As we will take over the Field leadership role from the later part of next year, we thought it would be good to come and spend time with folks here, getting to know a little better both the people and the work in which they are involved. We have been able to come without our boys thanks to wonderful co-workers who offered to look after them for these few days. The venue is in itself an oasis - surrounded by tall trees, green everywhere, a quaint town nearby. Just wakening up in the morning and being able to go for a walk in the sunlight with birds singing is so refreshing. We have been challenged by Bible messages, stimulated by hearing stories of things going on, encouraged in small group times and just so thankful for our OMF colleagues, many of whom have had to cope with many stressful situations since the events of 11th March. It is indeed a joy to be part of OMF and we give thanks to God for this opportunity to be away, for rich fellowship times (oh and great food too!)

Three months on

One of our Japanese Facebook friends added a simple comment to his wall today - 'just three months passed'. We knew immediately what he meant. The 11th of the month will always be a day to remember. Three months have indeed passed since the devastating earthquake and tsunami of 11th March. The huge relief effort goes on. Many thousands remain unaccounted for. Many more continue to live our their lives in the evacuation centres. The nuclear crisis is not in the headlines as it once was, but that does not mean it is over. Prime Minister Kan may be the next one to be out of a job. Here in Sapporo we are remote from the areas where the greatest destruction and loss of life occurred. Yet, the northernmost of those areas are reachable from Hokkaido (a journey of many hours including a ferry ride) and a number of teams staffed by pastors, local Christians and missionaries have gone to some of the worst affected places over these past months. OMF has decided to start a work in one of the cities (called Miyako in Iwate Prefecture). A couple has been appointed to lead that work and a building rented. It is hoped that this will be a base for others to come short-term to help in the ongoing relief work. Already it is being used. David plans to lead a small team down to that city early in July. A number of our colleagues, especially those who live in the north-west of Honshu island have been many times to the areas, helping in many different ways. It has been encouraging to see churches and Christians working together. The task is vast. What OMF can do is just a drop in the bucket in many ways. But each drop counts. We don't know what will come of this work but trust that somehow the Lord will use those there - not just through their words, but perhaps even more so through their ears and their hands - to be vessels of love, comfort and encouragement to those who have lost so much.

Births, Deaths and Weddings

When we had our final service at Otaru in March 2008 after eight years there, it was a sad time for us. It was the end of one very important chapter in our lives and we were leaving people that we had got to know and love so much. Little did we know then that we would once again be involved in ministry in Otaru. Recently the church has seen a birth, a funeral and a wedding, all in the space of a couple of weeks. When we were in Otaru, one of the hardest times for us was the illness and subsequent death to cancer of Akio Sasaki. His wife remarried two years ago and had her first child last month. Around the same time a man (also called Sasaki) who David had baptised in 2005 when he was in his early 70s was hospitalised and died a week or two later. His funeral was last Thursday, the first church funeral since the pastor's death in February. Then on Sunday, after the service, there was a wedding! It's quite a story but basically it was an older couple who had been living together for a few years, both then came to faith in Jesus and wanted to be married before God before being baptised. It was a great occasion, with some moving speeches and testimonies afterwards too. One of the most touching moments was when the married couple sang one of their favourite hymns accompanied by the husband on the guitar. It turned out the guitar had belonged to Mr Sasaki who died last week and his wife had given it to the husband. The folks at Otaru have been through much in these past months and it was so encouraging to see them rejoicing in this couple's faith and marriage and looking forward to the double baptism later in the year. Another man has also confessed faith in Jesus and will be preparing for baptism too. For Otaru Church June always means the Sun Kids Festival, the big outreach of the year which always draws many local children. We trust there will be yet further encouragements for the church on that day.