A double role

Last week saw another job added to the Ferguson portfolio. It goes by the rather grand title of OMF Interim Regional Director for Hokkaido. Quite a mouthful that one. The former Director is moving next month with his wife to Miyako in Iwate Prefecture, one of the areas hit by the tsunami. A new OMF work has already begun there due to a couple coming back to Japan from the UK for some weeks over the summer and teams of volunteers which have gone to help. However, from next month there will be permanent presence there for at least the next two years. Anyway, back to Sapporo, this left us with a gap to fill here. Quite a big gap actually as the Regional Director role involves many things and easily fills the time of a full-time worker. Now we take on this role part-time for six months. David plans to be in the office Tuesdays and Thursdays but it is unlikely to work out as neatly packaged as that. There will be lots of juggling! We hope for no great crisis during these coming months. The work at Hiragishi continues and these are important days as we look to see the church built up here and some of the many people we know beginning to move closer to Jesus. We are happy to serve our colleagues here in Hokkaido and work together with them as we live and minister among the people here. These are challenging days with much to learn, lots of new experiences, many people to speak to, listen to and encourage. But they are also exciting days to be in Japan. Today saw yet another new Prime Minister. Governments come and go but our unchanging God is working out his purposes for this land and the people that he made.