Ah these past two days have been great looking back on them, but a struggle to get through them. Everyone has been working at the Asian Rural Institute on a farm there that grows organic vegetables and has cows pigs and chickens. The work has been the hardest, but as far as what I had in my suitcase, I was most prepared to work at A.R.I. We weeded lots of rice fields, harvested potatoes, mixed feed for the animals, the tasks go on. I appreciate the lightness of my work in the Crash warehouse even more now aha. But that's a secret. The heat out in A.R.I. was nearly unbearable but by the second day there, everyone was used to it and we worked with our best. We met lots of kind people who welcomed us, even though it was a short time, into their loving community of Christ and servanthood. Everyone there had simply pure hearts of gold, despite the challenges they have had to face since the March 11th earthquake and the nuclear crisis Japan is still dealing with.
A.R.I., as well as many farms in Japan have been affected tremendously by the radiation poisoning. Their crops have been affected because radiation goes down deep into the soil, and while the crops they grow may look alright, they are affected by radiation. Because the long term affects of ingesting even small amounts of radiation are still unkown, farmers across Japan are finding it difficult to continue selling the vegetables they grow or the milk from their cows with a clear concious, even if the Japanese government wants to make lenient rules that make it okay for the farmers to continue selling. Walking around A.R.I., there are many places where the staff there will share with you saying, "There was a crack that crossed the road and went up the wall of this building when the earthquake hit" or "There used to be a stone wall here, and it crumbled down entirely when the earthquake hit". While nuclear radiation may be the highest concern to farmers in Japan, at A.R.I., the devastation they are facing is tangible, as we pull potatoes from the ground, not knowing whether or not they are safe to eat, and even if we think they are now, will we regret it later..?
Please keep A.R.I. in your thoughts and prayers, as well as the farmers of Japan. Nuclear radiation is something that takes years to wear off, and many farmers have lost their livelihood because of the crisis in the Fukushima plant. I pray that they would be able to move forward still, even though they are being asked to leave so much behind, and continue their beautiful lives. And for the concious of the farmers who are still able to use their land, that they would have wisdom and do as best they can, what they feel is right.
I sound juvenile, but I have to be honest and say I never knew just how deep the affects of the nuclear crisis in Japan were, because there are farms everywhere in Tohoku. We drive past at least 20 on the way to A.R.I. every day, and those farms are all going through the same struggles as the farm that A.R.I. has. It's really heartbreaking to see and experience the feeling that all of their hard work may be useless, all of the planting, weeding, harvesting, may be for nothing, and they may have cancer later in their lives. It makes me really sad when I think about these people who I have been able to work with for three short days, that they want to be committed to keeping A.R.I. on it's feet, and are risking their lives in a way I could never do. It's humbling to me and it really makes my heart sad for them.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Monday, July 11, 2011
米の夢
Today was a pretty tough day. Crash staff are going on a retreat, and so the ware house where we usually work is closed for the next three days. So everyone is beginning work at the Asian Rural Institute. At first I wasn't sure what to expect of it, but as the day went on, I am sure that God has us doing work here for a reason. It started in our morning devotions. We read Ephesians 4:26;32. The passage talks about being angry but not sinning and forgiving others as God forgives us. Lately I have been having strange dreams, where I am in an argument with someone, either a family member or a teammate, and I have woken up very disturbed by these dreams and the person that I am in them. When I read this verse today, I felt my heart just beat really fast, and I was just so moved to pray that God would help me to see if I need to forgive someone in my life.
The day went on and was very tiring. Today we harvested potatoes by hand and pulled weeds in a rice field. We harvested potatoes in the middle of the day, and I felt very dizzy and sick with the heat. I am hoping tomorrow will be better for me, maybe that I will be more prepared. The latter part of the day in the rice fields was just beautiful. Akiko, David, and I got to the rice fields, took off our shoes and pulled up our pants and got down into the cool milky field where stalks of rice were growing. With my hands covered in sludge and the sun hiding behind a cloud, a cool breeze blowing through the rice field making the teeny leaves sing, I thought to myself, "We are encountering a beautiful experience." It was just gorgeous. Very hard work, but gorgeous.
Today everyone got very dirty, so we went to the onsen again. Tomorrow our shift at the Asian Rural Farm begins at 5:00am, so I really should go to sleep. I am so tired haha.
I am seeing the importance lately of really having time with Jesus, please pray that I would be able to make time for this every day, because when there is less of me and more of Jesus, the work that I do becomes more and my spirit is lifted, no matter how I feel. Also please pray for my health, as I have been told I may be prone to heat sickness after only one day at the Asian Rural Institute farm. I want to do my best and be helpful wherever I am at.
The day went on and was very tiring. Today we harvested potatoes by hand and pulled weeds in a rice field. We harvested potatoes in the middle of the day, and I felt very dizzy and sick with the heat. I am hoping tomorrow will be better for me, maybe that I will be more prepared. The latter part of the day in the rice fields was just beautiful. Akiko, David, and I got to the rice fields, took off our shoes and pulled up our pants and got down into the cool milky field where stalks of rice were growing. With my hands covered in sludge and the sun hiding behind a cloud, a cool breeze blowing through the rice field making the teeny leaves sing, I thought to myself, "We are encountering a beautiful experience." It was just gorgeous. Very hard work, but gorgeous.
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| Rice Fields in Nasu at the Asian Rural Institute. |
I am seeing the importance lately of really having time with Jesus, please pray that I would be able to make time for this every day, because when there is less of me and more of Jesus, the work that I do becomes more and my spirit is lifted, no matter how I feel. Also please pray for my health, as I have been told I may be prone to heat sickness after only one day at the Asian Rural Institute farm. I want to do my best and be helpful wherever I am at.
Friday, July 8, 2011
心が広い人
These past two days have been a true blur! Yesterday we worked at the Nasu warehouse moving a huge shipment of around 15 tons of food and supplies to Sendai. There were huge trucks and forklifts involved, but I did not have to drive either of them haha. As a young driver under the age of 21 I was placed in charge of shrink wrapping all of the shipment. It was tiring work, but tons of fun. I have never worked with shrink wrap before, but once I got started, I wanted to wrap everything!
can type volumes. Even though he is the elder of the group, he worked the hardest out of all of us, put us young people to shame when it came to physical exertion. He has a huge heart and a wonderful patience for everyone's Japanese, and ridiculous translations of our English conversations. He is gracious, funny, and all around awesome. He's like a crazy uncle to me, I'm sure if I could know him for longer he'd be more like a dad. But Narita-san is leaving Crash, because his volunteer time is up. It was short.
The last thing I told Narita-san was to remember the English phrase "Pedal to the Metal!". We have an old road that leads to the bed and breakfast where the Nasu base is and it is old and full of pot-holes. So for fun Narita-san would drive around fast
over the pot-holes if we asked him to, aka if we said, "Narita-san, Pedal to the Metal!" We spent lots of time trying to explain the phrase in Japanese and teach him how to say it himself. I was so happy when he could understand and say it as well. Narita-san is one of the few on this trip who I am able to carry out a full conversation with in Japanese. Though no one has really known each other for long, we find that when we want to talk in Japanese, there is so much we can talk about. Narita-san is full of humble wisdom and is very soft spoken, but has a smile of gold and is a really hard worker. I was mostly impressed by his seemingly tireless work ethic. He's a wonderful person, I'm glad I met him.
After hours of work last night I decided because I did not want to be left home alone that I would venture out to an onsen with the group. What was I thinking? I don't know. But I had a great time, once I got past my own shyness, that is. The onsen is in a hotel just down the street from the Nasu base called Epinard. The onsen usually costs about 1800 yen, but volunteers in Nasu can get in for only 500 yen. Let me tell you, this was an awesome experience for only 500 yen.
The onsen has an indoor and out door ofuro, a sauna, a cool ofuro, fun showers with every kind of face wash you can think of and count on two hands, a room with complimentary hairbrushes, hair dryers, hair treatments, free French massage beds, and of course, a scale to make us all feel better. Rachel, Kelsey, and I kind of stuck together as the foreigners in the room, but once we were in the onsen, we were able to venture out on our own a bit. Being a foreigner in an onsen, I have found, is also a great conversation starter in Japanese. I was able to talk to a kind woman for a little bit, and expressing my embarassment actually made embracing this side of the Japanese culture much easier. Rachel said to me, "You can cross this off your bucket list now." I answered, "It wasn't on my list, but I'll add it and cross it...and come back again."
Today we went back to the older warehouse where the many blankets from Germany are located. We had to secure piles of them and put them in plastic bags today. I had the odd opportunity to speak to Curtis this morning, and he is actually across the street from a church that is handmaking blankets like the ones we have and sending them to Japan. Are they the same??
The older warehouse is very old, and there was lots of rain overnight, so we had to wear masks. I've never worn a mask before, so I was pretty excited at the start. The masks do get hot though, but they work very well. Each blanket that we folded to put into a pile of five was so unique and special, different sizes, some textures warmer than others, but all very beautiful. It was like you could feel love having no boundaries folding them. It was hard work to put them all together, but seeing the stacks of blankets ready to go out and bless families in the winter, you get this warm feeling in your heart.
The task didn't take us long, so we helped out around the Nasu base, pulling weeds and cooking dinner. I was able to work with Mrs. Kondo, the kind woman who owns the bed and breakfast that houses the base. We cooked chicken curry rice together. I learned how to chop cabbage like it is chopped in Japanese restaurants, and how to chop vegetables specifically for curry rice. Mrs. Kondo loves to practice her English, but once she found out I'm a Japanese major in college, she quickly reverted to Japanese, being patient with me a long the way as there was much "cooking vocabulary" I didn't understand. I had to thank her for teaching me so well in cooking, and in cooking words.
After dinner, the team got together and we shared about what we have been feeling over the week. This morning I was able to pray with Akiko, and we could pray about anything we wanted. We didn't really ask for requests of each other, we just started in, and soon found ourselves praying for Japan and for the Japanese people. I feel kind of bad saying this, but this is the first time I think I have prayed for Japan with someone else since I've been to Nasu. To turn my gaze outward in prayer was something that felt so much more worth it than any prayer request I could have come up with for myself. But not to say I'm this super humble person who puts others before myself because that is far from the truth. I turned to Akiko when we had finished praying and said I wish we could do this with the whole team. It's still a wish, but there is time.
At our meeting tonight we started in on talking about evangelism in Japan, why has Christianity in Japan begun to fizzle, is it fizzling, can only Japanese share the gospel with other Japanese, all these frustrations and questions we had. The questions are still rolling around in my head, and I know that peace comes when I look at truth. Yes there are cultural barriers and misconceptions about Christianity and Japanese culture, but God is not phased by any of it. I can sit and try to figure it all out, and I fear that many of my teammates will attempt to do just that, but it's beyond my control. I go back to this time in my life often, but when I went to Reality San Francisco's baptism, seeing all these different people from different walks of life with different stories, and how God reached into their story in His own way and saved their lives, shows me that nothing is impossible for God. In Japan it is the same way.
My prayer for our team is we would be moved to prayer more, prayer together. Not just for our food or our day, or when something goes awry, but that we would be able to come together early and late, any time, and just let our hearts pour out prayers for Japan. I know this team is passionate, let's be passionate. I do hope I'm coming from the right place in my heart.
Our team has had the opportunity of working with a really great person named Narita-san. He has been volunteering at Crash for about a week, and has been helping us with all of our projects. I have only known him a mere five days, but his character and humble way speaks volumes, and we all know I
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| Narita-san in the forklift...and a 10 ton truck. |
The last thing I told Narita-san was to remember the English phrase "Pedal to the Metal!". We have an old road that leads to the bed and breakfast where the Nasu base is and it is old and full of pot-holes. So for fun Narita-san would drive around fast
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| I'm shrink wrapping everything in sight! |
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| This is my team! Dave, Akiko, Micheal, and Narita-san |
The onsen has an indoor and out door ofuro, a sauna, a cool ofuro, fun showers with every kind of face wash you can think of and count on two hands, a room with complimentary hairbrushes, hair dryers, hair treatments, free French massage beds, and of course, a scale to make us all feel better. Rachel, Kelsey, and I kind of stuck together as the foreigners in the room, but once we were in the onsen, we were able to venture out on our own a bit. Being a foreigner in an onsen, I have found, is also a great conversation starter in Japanese. I was able to talk to a kind woman for a little bit, and expressing my embarassment actually made embracing this side of the Japanese culture much easier. Rachel said to me, "You can cross this off your bucket list now." I answered, "It wasn't on my list, but I'll add it and cross it...and come back again."
The older warehouse is very old, and there was lots of rain overnight, so we had to wear masks. I've never worn a mask before, so I was pretty excited at the start. The masks do get hot though, but they work very well. Each blanket that we folded to put into a pile of five was so unique and special, different sizes, some textures warmer than others, but all very beautiful. It was like you could feel love having no boundaries folding them. It was hard work to put them all together, but seeing the stacks of blankets ready to go out and bless families in the winter, you get this warm feeling in your heart.
The task didn't take us long, so we helped out around the Nasu base, pulling weeds and cooking dinner. I was able to work with Mrs. Kondo, the kind woman who owns the bed and breakfast that houses the base. We cooked chicken curry rice together. I learned how to chop cabbage like it is chopped in Japanese restaurants, and how to chop vegetables specifically for curry rice. Mrs. Kondo loves to practice her English, but once she found out I'm a Japanese major in college, she quickly reverted to Japanese, being patient with me a long the way as there was much "cooking vocabulary" I didn't understand. I had to thank her for teaching me so well in cooking, and in cooking words.
After dinner, the team got together and we shared about what we have been feeling over the week. This morning I was able to pray with Akiko, and we could pray about anything we wanted. We didn't really ask for requests of each other, we just started in, and soon found ourselves praying for Japan and for the Japanese people. I feel kind of bad saying this, but this is the first time I think I have prayed for Japan with someone else since I've been to Nasu. To turn my gaze outward in prayer was something that felt so much more worth it than any prayer request I could have come up with for myself. But not to say I'm this super humble person who puts others before myself because that is far from the truth. I turned to Akiko when we had finished praying and said I wish we could do this with the whole team. It's still a wish, but there is time.
At our meeting tonight we started in on talking about evangelism in Japan, why has Christianity in Japan begun to fizzle, is it fizzling, can only Japanese share the gospel with other Japanese, all these frustrations and questions we had. The questions are still rolling around in my head, and I know that peace comes when I look at truth. Yes there are cultural barriers and misconceptions about Christianity and Japanese culture, but God is not phased by any of it. I can sit and try to figure it all out, and I fear that many of my teammates will attempt to do just that, but it's beyond my control. I go back to this time in my life often, but when I went to Reality San Francisco's baptism, seeing all these different people from different walks of life with different stories, and how God reached into their story in His own way and saved their lives, shows me that nothing is impossible for God. In Japan it is the same way.
My prayer for our team is we would be moved to prayer more, prayer together. Not just for our food or our day, or when something goes awry, but that we would be able to come together early and late, any time, and just let our hearts pour out prayers for Japan. I know this team is passionate, let's be passionate. I do hope I'm coming from the right place in my heart.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
笑顔と働く！
Today our team began volunteer work in Nasu, Japan. I have to say that before we started working, learning that we were going to be serving in a support area and not a disaster area, there were expressions of disappointment, even in myself, I have to confess. I had wanted to go to Iwate and Miyagi, Fukushima and Sendai. But we have been placed in Nasu. After today, all of my disappointment is gone away, because the good work we have been given to do must be done, even if it does not look important, it has become important to me. I am glad to be in Nasu, I am very happy to serve Japan here.
We started off at a place called A.R.I (Asian Rural Institute), where there is a huge farm and many gardens where one of the groups would be working. We met with a group of people working there for a morning meeting. The A.R.I. meeting room is a place with high rafters and circle shaped tables with many chairs around them. We seated ourselves beside old and young, kind-natured and sweet people with dispositions more friendly than I have experienced in a while. We listened to a woman share her heart about friendship and what it means to her. We sang "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" around glasses of cold barley tea.
Afterwards, my team took a short tour of the farm and met a little cow and some roosters. We made our way to the car and were off to lunch before we began work at the warehouse. We began a long drive up a mountain to go eat at an old couple's sweet home. Every Wednesday their home becomes the Concord, and they open a buffet of homemade Japanese food. It's one of those secrets of Nasu. We enjoyed various Japanese delicacies like croquette and umeboshi onigiri. Our lunch was complimented with many glasses of water, and finished with the most delicious espresso I've had in a very long time. This espresso was fantastic, I could truly rave about it. The lovely lady who owns the place was so kind, and her husband was so humble. They enjoyed practicing their English with us and were so gracious as we practiced our Japanese with them. The Concord looked straight out of a dream, in fact, Nasu is just straight out of a dream. It's a place lined with coffee shops and gardens, onsen and beauty all around. I really like it here, in all of it's unfamiliarity.
Those were the last moments we spent in paradise. I was full of energy and zealous joy to get working. I felt good. We had a project to work at two warehouses, moving blankets to the second floor of the first warehouse, and moving boxes of pots and pans from one warehouse to the next. A little bit of information about these simple items we were moving: When we walked into the warehouse, there was rows upon countless rows of handmade blankets, apparently donated to Japan from Germany. Each one was carefully woven with warm threads that will be perfect for the Japanese in the winter. The pots and pans have been donated from the United States, to go to the families who win a lottery to leave the refugee camps and live in temporary housing. My heart was touched to see boxes upon countless boxes of clothes and food and supplies from just about all over the world. So many hearts have put an effort in for Japan. It is so beautiful to see.
We started moving blankets in an assembly line, and soon we began to work quickly, our energy and encouraging spirits keeping each other together. We hardly wanted to take breaks, as a team, I felt we grew together very much in the short 4 hours that we worked. An older man, Narita-san, though he was the oldest among us, gave his very best. He was a true inspiration to me, the way he worked himself so much to be helpful, running and carrying boxes, handing off blankets and never tiring. It was an honor to work with someone with such a big heart. He made me want to do my best even more. As we drove, transporting boxes of pots and pans from one warehouse to the next, I couldn't help but have a huge smile on my face.
For the first time since Sunday, I feel like I am in Japan, and I feel like the realities of the tsunami and earthquake are actually tangible in the air, and I feel like I am helping with the recovery. In the days that we have been briefing, the whole thing has felt either like we are on vacation, or like we hadn't been in Japan at all. But when we started working together, our thoughts truly did turn towards the people who would be receiving these boxes in temporary housing, and receiving these blankets in the winter. Maybe this all sounds very selfish, but it's hard to explain. And I know that our short hours of work does not make everything alright, but to even do such a small thing, I have deep gratitude. Our team spirit was up nonstop today! I hope this week we can keep this trend going and all do our best, as Japan does her best.
We also cleaned the church behind the place where we are staying, because we worked quickly and had some extra time. Then it was time for a quick shower and dinner - we had some delicious ramen and gyoza at a place called Sozuki. It was nice to sit down to a meal with everyone all together once we had worked for the day. It was like being a part of a family. I am so happy to be here, that's really the thread I feel through this whole day, I am so happy to be serving in Japan, I wish I could be here forever.
Today I continued to read 1Corinthians, and started into chapter 2. 1Corinthians has really been helpful for me to read through while doing missions work. I am learning more and more that it is really only reliance on God that I can do, so that He can work. There is no work that I can do, I can move boxes and I can move blankets, I can clean and wax floors, I can carry things and transport things, but only God can really make any of the things I do productive and true work. Even if I am successful in my efforts, if I do not have the love of Christ on the inside of my heart, it amounts to absolutely nothing. I like what Paul says:
There's really no explanation I could give for this verse that does it justice. I just think about how inadequate I am, and just how that doesn't stop God. How much hope and joy does that bring to my heart. That is the reason I was able to work today with such strength, I believe that is true. I am just happy that even though I lack so much as a person, God makes up for it, and He is faithful and His way is always the best way.
I am excited for tomorrow, working some more. But I am exhausted. I am glad though that God has blessed me with a hot shower and food to eat. Because I am beginning to become aware of the fact that has been staring me in the face for years that not everyone has that. And sometimes it makes me feel shameful, because there is nothing I can do. I want to tell God thank you for these things, but I want to do more. So, for the people who have less electricity they can use or sometimes not hot water, I am thinking of them when I work. Please pray that God's compassion would not be overrun by my tendency to entertain moral obligation or social justice. I just want Jesus, and nothing else. And please pray for strength in our team as we continue our service. Thank you.
We started off at a place called A.R.I (Asian Rural Institute), where there is a huge farm and many gardens where one of the groups would be working. We met with a group of people working there for a morning meeting. The A.R.I. meeting room is a place with high rafters and circle shaped tables with many chairs around them. We seated ourselves beside old and young, kind-natured and sweet people with dispositions more friendly than I have experienced in a while. We listened to a woman share her heart about friendship and what it means to her. We sang "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" around glasses of cold barley tea.
Afterwards, my team took a short tour of the farm and met a little cow and some roosters. We made our way to the car and were off to lunch before we began work at the warehouse. We began a long drive up a mountain to go eat at an old couple's sweet home. Every Wednesday their home becomes the Concord, and they open a buffet of homemade Japanese food. It's one of those secrets of Nasu. We enjoyed various Japanese delicacies like croquette and umeboshi onigiri. Our lunch was complimented with many glasses of water, and finished with the most delicious espresso I've had in a very long time. This espresso was fantastic, I could truly rave about it. The lovely lady who owns the place was so kind, and her husband was so humble. They enjoyed practicing their English with us and were so gracious as we practiced our Japanese with them. The Concord looked straight out of a dream, in fact, Nasu is just straight out of a dream. It's a place lined with coffee shops and gardens, onsen and beauty all around. I really like it here, in all of it's unfamiliarity.
Those were the last moments we spent in paradise. I was full of energy and zealous joy to get working. I felt good. We had a project to work at two warehouses, moving blankets to the second floor of the first warehouse, and moving boxes of pots and pans from one warehouse to the next. A little bit of information about these simple items we were moving: When we walked into the warehouse, there was rows upon countless rows of handmade blankets, apparently donated to Japan from Germany. Each one was carefully woven with warm threads that will be perfect for the Japanese in the winter. The pots and pans have been donated from the United States, to go to the families who win a lottery to leave the refugee camps and live in temporary housing. My heart was touched to see boxes upon countless boxes of clothes and food and supplies from just about all over the world. So many hearts have put an effort in for Japan. It is so beautiful to see.
We started moving blankets in an assembly line, and soon we began to work quickly, our energy and encouraging spirits keeping each other together. We hardly wanted to take breaks, as a team, I felt we grew together very much in the short 4 hours that we worked. An older man, Narita-san, though he was the oldest among us, gave his very best. He was a true inspiration to me, the way he worked himself so much to be helpful, running and carrying boxes, handing off blankets and never tiring. It was an honor to work with someone with such a big heart. He made me want to do my best even more. As we drove, transporting boxes of pots and pans from one warehouse to the next, I couldn't help but have a huge smile on my face.
For the first time since Sunday, I feel like I am in Japan, and I feel like the realities of the tsunami and earthquake are actually tangible in the air, and I feel like I am helping with the recovery. In the days that we have been briefing, the whole thing has felt either like we are on vacation, or like we hadn't been in Japan at all. But when we started working together, our thoughts truly did turn towards the people who would be receiving these boxes in temporary housing, and receiving these blankets in the winter. Maybe this all sounds very selfish, but it's hard to explain. And I know that our short hours of work does not make everything alright, but to even do such a small thing, I have deep gratitude. Our team spirit was up nonstop today! I hope this week we can keep this trend going and all do our best, as Japan does her best.
We also cleaned the church behind the place where we are staying, because we worked quickly and had some extra time. Then it was time for a quick shower and dinner - we had some delicious ramen and gyoza at a place called Sozuki. It was nice to sit down to a meal with everyone all together once we had worked for the day. It was like being a part of a family. I am so happy to be here, that's really the thread I feel through this whole day, I am so happy to be serving in Japan, I wish I could be here forever.
Today I continued to read 1Corinthians, and started into chapter 2. 1Corinthians has really been helpful for me to read through while doing missions work. I am learning more and more that it is really only reliance on God that I can do, so that He can work. There is no work that I can do, I can move boxes and I can move blankets, I can clean and wax floors, I can carry things and transport things, but only God can really make any of the things I do productive and true work. Even if I am successful in my efforts, if I do not have the love of Christ on the inside of my heart, it amounts to absolutely nothing. I like what Paul says:
And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, 4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.
There's really no explanation I could give for this verse that does it justice. I just think about how inadequate I am, and just how that doesn't stop God. How much hope and joy does that bring to my heart. That is the reason I was able to work today with such strength, I believe that is true. I am just happy that even though I lack so much as a person, God makes up for it, and He is faithful and His way is always the best way.
I am excited for tomorrow, working some more. But I am exhausted. I am glad though that God has blessed me with a hot shower and food to eat. Because I am beginning to become aware of the fact that has been staring me in the face for years that not everyone has that. And sometimes it makes me feel shameful, because there is nothing I can do. I want to tell God thank you for these things, but I want to do more. So, for the people who have less electricity they can use or sometimes not hot water, I am thinking of them when I work. Please pray that God's compassion would not be overrun by my tendency to entertain moral obligation or social justice. I just want Jesus, and nothing else. And please pray for strength in our team as we continue our service. Thank you.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
ナスに着た！
It is a shocking mere 9pm here in Japan, and the team and I are finally in Nasu. Today we drove about three hours from Tokyo, and once we turned our backs on the Tokyo Tower, I knew I was headed into unfamiliar territories. This is a side of Japan I have truly never seen. There is so much green vegetation out here and small towns made up of mere intersections, darling buildings that are tall and spacious, cafes, hardware stores, and of course, the Nasu Crash Base. We stopped at a rest stop in Sano, and there I was able to indulge in the desire of my stomach's heart: Shoyu Ramen!
I can't remember the last time I had Shoyu Ramen, and as always in Japan, I was not disappointed by this ramen either. The mere fact that we can pick this up at a rest stop is phenomenal. The weather in Sano was hot and humid, and somehow I felt cooled down like in the old myth that says if you drink extremely hot tea, then you will cool down in hot weather. Maybe it's not a myth. Hmmm.
We arrived at the Nasu Base, it was tucked away amidst many green bushes and tall green trees, like we were in a real camp. The building we are staying at is a bed and breakfast run by a reverend and his wife, whom we have yet to meet. Today we got a gracious tour of the bed and breakfast, the base, and tomorrow we will see the farm where half of our team will be working.
We met a great guy named Matt, who will be coordinating our team's work for the next two weeks with CRASH. He showed us around and was able to talk with us for a while about the development of the situation in Japan. Apparently here in Nasu, even though we are 100km away from the Fukushima Daiichi Power Plant, there is major concern about radiation among the Japanese people who live in the area. They don't even allow their children to play out side. Matt shared with us many stories he has heard from people who have been displaced because of the earthquake, tsunami, and radiation issue.
Some of the stories he shared with us about the older people who have worked so hard all of their lives on farms that are now deadly and contaminated was very heart breaking to hear. I feel as though no matter what work I am able to do to help restore Japan in this long time of recovery, I am here to help and I want nothing more than to help. After we had a little more familiarizing with the base, we headed out to see the warehouse where I will be working!
Everyone piled into a huge CRASH van and we took off on the very bumpy road out to the tourist-y area of Nasu. Nasu is like a summer get away place, and so there are over 50 onsen (hot springs) and many fun novelty shops and attractions such as the mountains to go to. The Crash Warehouse is close by all of these things, and not a far drive at all. We were actually able to walk back to the base from there too.
We got to take a look inside the warehouse, it's very warm in there! I am excited to return there tomorrow to begin working and moving things. This base was just built, actually, and if you visit the Crash Japan website, there's even a little article on it's opening. It was a special day for Crash, and for many who want to be a part of the relief efforts in Japan.
I am truly so excited to begin working. Many of my teammates have shared similar sentiments that our briefing time has been rather extensive, and we want to dive in and do our part as son as we can.
Hearing this from everyone else, and feeling it on the inside, this sense of anxiousness may or may not be a good thing. I'm hoping that all of our nerves will be able to go towards good works in these next couple of weeks.
We walked back to the base from the warehouse after looking through a gardening store and stopping to take some photos of Nasu City. Nasu is beautiful. It's not beautiful like Yokohama or Tokyo is beautiful though. It's a completely different kind of gorgeous beauty, like you can see God in Nasu. There are endless rice fields and mountains in the hazy distance. There are clear skies, and today we actually had very little humidity. The wind was cool and breathable. In Japanese we say it's "suzushii". Nasu is certainly that way.
We took our time getting back home. The sun was out and the bright and the wind was cool and there was a smell in the air so beautiful, it was not nostalgic, but new and fresh. I think as I reflect on this, being in Nasu has brought me to a kind of shock. In Yokohama it was like I knew what to expect, but this time is so different. Nevertheless, Japan has proven herself to be magical no matter where I am.
As we walked down the way we ended up passing by a place that sells Rasuku. Rasuku is like a toast, it's very delicious with different flavors. We stepped inside to try some samples, and we bought a bag of delicious maple Rasuku.
Our team coordinator, Micheal, got a heart shaped Rasuku out of the box by chance, and there was a small hole inside. He told us a story of a Frenchman who once said that there is a God-shaped hole inside every man's heart that only Jesus can fill, and thus the Rasuku had sentimental value to him. I don't think he has eaten it yet. He put it in a plastic bag to keep, and plans to share the gospel with the Rasuku. It wasn't even a joke, he was really seriously contemplating whether or not to eat it. I told him I would eat it, but I had little success with two Rasuku in my hands already. :)
This morning I read 1Corinthians 1, and verses 17-30 stood out to me a lot. I learned that there is nothing that I can do that will make me competent of carrying out the Gospel to others, or the will of God in my own life. God is all and in all, and He is the one who equips and empowers, by His Spirit, not by my works, or my ability. This is a part of the Gospel - God does not save us because of what we do for Him, He saves us because of His genuine love for us. In the past few days it has been a pride of mine to be able to understand Japanese well, but I get nervous when I think about communicating with others, and worry that maybe I am not cut out for this project after all. The passage I read in Corinthians today completely erased my insecurities, and filled me with faith, not in myself at all, but completely in the Lord. I just want what He wants to be done and to follow Him as best I can in my service of others.
Tomorrow I will be working at the warehouse, and we are going to be moving boxes of pots and pans from one warehouse to another it looks like. I have heard many times however, that assignments are truly fluid in disaster zones such as this one, and so tomorrow will bring what it will bring, and I will be as ready as I can be.
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| There is the delicious Ramen! |
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| I am so excited. :) |
I can't remember the last time I had Shoyu Ramen, and as always in Japan, I was not disappointed by this ramen either. The mere fact that we can pick this up at a rest stop is phenomenal. The weather in Sano was hot and humid, and somehow I felt cooled down like in the old myth that says if you drink extremely hot tea, then you will cool down in hot weather. Maybe it's not a myth. Hmmm.
We arrived at the Nasu Base, it was tucked away amidst many green bushes and tall green trees, like we were in a real camp. The building we are staying at is a bed and breakfast run by a reverend and his wife, whom we have yet to meet. Today we got a gracious tour of the bed and breakfast, the base, and tomorrow we will see the farm where half of our team will be working.
 |
| Rachel is happy because the weather not humid at all here! |
We met a great guy named Matt, who will be coordinating our team's work for the next two weeks with CRASH. He showed us around and was able to talk with us for a while about the development of the situation in Japan. Apparently here in Nasu, even though we are 100km away from the Fukushima Daiichi Power Plant, there is major concern about radiation among the Japanese people who live in the area. They don't even allow their children to play out side. Matt shared with us many stories he has heard from people who have been displaced because of the earthquake, tsunami, and radiation issue.
Some of the stories he shared with us about the older people who have worked so hard all of their lives on farms that are now deadly and contaminated was very heart breaking to hear. I feel as though no matter what work I am able to do to help restore Japan in this long time of recovery, I am here to help and I want nothing more than to help. After we had a little more familiarizing with the base, we headed out to see the warehouse where I will be working!
 |
| We are excited to see the new warehouse! |
 |
| This is the outside of the new warehouse where tons of storage and supplies is kept to be packaged carefully and sent out to Japanese people in need. |
We got to take a look inside the warehouse, it's very warm in there! I am excited to return there tomorrow to begin working and moving things. This base was just built, actually, and if you visit the Crash Japan website, there's even a little article on it's opening. It was a special day for Crash, and for many who want to be a part of the relief efforts in Japan.
 |
| Love on JAPAN! <3 |
We walked back to the base from the warehouse after looking through a gardening store and stopping to take some photos of Nasu City. Nasu is beautiful. It's not beautiful like Yokohama or Tokyo is beautiful though. It's a completely different kind of gorgeous beauty, like you can see God in Nasu. There are endless rice fields and mountains in the hazy distance. There are clear skies, and today we actually had very little humidity. The wind was cool and breathable. In Japanese we say it's "suzushii". Nasu is certainly that way.
As we walked down the way we ended up passing by a place that sells Rasuku. Rasuku is like a toast, it's very delicious with different flavors. We stepped inside to try some samples, and we bought a bag of delicious maple Rasuku.
This morning I read 1Corinthians 1, and verses 17-30 stood out to me a lot. I learned that there is nothing that I can do that will make me competent of carrying out the Gospel to others, or the will of God in my own life. God is all and in all, and He is the one who equips and empowers, by His Spirit, not by my works, or my ability. This is a part of the Gospel - God does not save us because of what we do for Him, He saves us because of His genuine love for us. In the past few days it has been a pride of mine to be able to understand Japanese well, but I get nervous when I think about communicating with others, and worry that maybe I am not cut out for this project after all. The passage I read in Corinthians today completely erased my insecurities, and filled me with faith, not in myself at all, but completely in the Lord. I just want what He wants to be done and to follow Him as best I can in my service of others.
Tomorrow I will be working at the warehouse, and we are going to be moving boxes of pots and pans from one warehouse to another it looks like. I have heard many times however, that assignments are truly fluid in disaster zones such as this one, and so tomorrow will bring what it will bring, and I will be as ready as I can be.
Monday, July 4, 2011
明日から本当の仕事をはじめます。約束しよう。
A beautiful day in Saitama, the country side of Tokyo, near Higashi-Kurume.
This morning we all woke up today and headed down toward a place in Tokyo called Mitaka, where the Campus Crusade for Christ Japanese headquarters are. The headquarters are in an oval shaped building with a winding staircase on its side. We made our way up into the high floors of the building and into a small room with straw colored walls, a table, and some pink chairs. There everyone began to pray and praise God, to think on the importance of faith in Christ, and share our hearts and emotions for Japan, surrounding the few months between the tsunami and earthquakes, and us arriving in Japan. This morning we all felt very much more connected to each other. In a deep way we knew something more about each other, and to hear the stories of others and how God has impacted their lives, was amazing. It's really an honor to be working with a team like this one.
After we had spent some time talking, we headed down to lunch. We went to a place called Ootoya, a family style diner located on the second floor of a a building with glass walls on three sides and a cozy but clean atmosphere. The plates we ordered were rather inexpensive, and HUGE! I had soba with chicken katsu, which was absolutely delicious. A typical meal I could have eaten in California, yes, but it doesn't taste the same. I remembered for a moment why returning to the United States was so difficult the first time I went to Japan, partially because the food here is just so amazingly rich and wonderful.
Once we had finished lunch, we headed out to the CRASH Office in Higashi-Kurume. Finally, the moment we had all really been waiting for. At the CRASH Office, we were able to sit down with the organization that had taken Campus Crusade on to help in projects that will aid in the rebuilding process of the areas affected in Japan by the tsunami and earthquakes. The office is on the corner of a street in Higashi-Kurume, with sliding doors, and a beautiful lobby. Behind the reception desk, there are white boards everywhere with schedules and times and maps and drawings in English and Japanese. In a few rows are volunteers sitting at their own computers working tirelessly to figure out the details of CRASH's mission to serve Japan. Our team headed into a private meeting room and were given details and instructions, guides and lanyards, even some cool bright green buffs to wear on site.
I think that was when it all really hit me. I am a part of something far bigger than myself, even than I could have ever imagined. We looked at a map of Japan and the areas where Crash is doing small projects. It was amazing to see those small acts adding up little by little, beginning to cover the map. Even if the work that we do is small or not so heroic looking, I will be happy to know that I was here to help.
After our visit to the CRASH office, we were set free! Literally. To go and explore Higashi-Kurume with a map and see what the city was like. Kelsey, Rachel, Renee, and I took the bus out to a place called Qurune, an indoor shopping mall, to get some supplies we need for tomorrow. It was a fun excursion to say the least, and now that we are all good and tired, I can see a good night's rest ahead of me, I hope. Jetlag has been a much talked about issue these past two days and I am hoping that it will wear off sooner rather than later for everyone so we can do our best these next couple of weeks! Gosh, I'm just so excited to be a part of this. I know that on March 11th, I wasn't the only one feeling helpless and wanting to just drop everything and come to Japan. It's amazing to see how God has brought this group together, and I'm excited about His plans for Japan and the small part, but the part nonetheless, that we can play in all of it.
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| a community garden in higashi-kurume |
After we had spent some time talking, we headed down to lunch. We went to a place called Ootoya, a family style diner located on the second floor of a a building with glass walls on three sides and a cozy but clean atmosphere. The plates we ordered were rather inexpensive, and HUGE! I had soba with chicken katsu, which was absolutely delicious. A typical meal I could have eaten in California, yes, but it doesn't taste the same. I remembered for a moment why returning to the United States was so difficult the first time I went to Japan, partially because the food here is just so amazingly rich and wonderful.
 |
| This is our lunch together as a team! Can you see the daikon radish in the far corner? |
I think that was when it all really hit me. I am a part of something far bigger than myself, even than I could have ever imagined. We looked at a map of Japan and the areas where Crash is doing small projects. It was amazing to see those small acts adding up little by little, beginning to cover the map. Even if the work that we do is small or not so heroic looking, I will be happy to know that I was here to help.
 |
| Kelsey and I being "Here to Help"... maybe a little too enthusiastic. |
Sunday, July 3, 2011
日本に入る時に私はもうすぐ変わった。
I have spent my first night in Japan. The flight over in the morning was, to be honest, truly awkward with my new "Friends" that I made. There are six of us: Kelsey, Rachel, Renee, Dave, Akiko, Michael, and myself. Because of different types of projects some of the individuals in the team will be doing, I spent most of my flight with Kelsey and Renee. We are all the same age. They are both nice, but yesterday was very hard on them, this is their first time in Japan. I'm excited for both of them to see and feel Japan for the first time. I remember when I came to Japan for the first time, it was beautiful, everything was so perfect to me, like it was out of a storybook of fantasy. I am hoping that they can enjoy Japan just as much as I did, if not more.
The air flight over was fantastic. Korean Air is really something - I can't wait to tell my mom that it was just like the commercials, the flight attendants outfits really are the coolest in the whole world, the food was great, and they just know how to make an 11 hour flight go by quickly. I tried to get some sleep in on the way, but truly I was so excited I could hardly do that. Once we got off the flight, we had some business to do in the airport before heading out through the country side of Tokyo. I had a simple cash exchange to do. I walked up to the counter with my forms and my dollar bills, very nervous, but once the kind attendant behind the counter and I got to talking, my Japanese was comfortable. This is certainly a sign that nearly 4 years of Japanese class is truly paying off! I just have to keep at it, and keep working even while I'm here to be more and more comfortable with my Japanese. kyaaaahhhhh I'm just so excited!!
Kelsey and I took a little tour around Narita airport, and we, of course, had to go and explore the Japanese public restrooms. That sounds weird, but it's not my fault, because those bathrooms are so interesting and strange and have million buttons and levers and pulleys, it looks like an OR, not kidding. I think Kelsey took a picture, I'll have to get that from her. So far, she and I have spent the most time together, and she's really nice. The team is excited because her 20th birthday is next week, and since the 20th birthday is when you become an adult in Japan, we are going to celebrate with her.
Once we got all of our things together, we headed out in a small van to the country side of Tokyo to get to Saitama and then a little home belonging to a family by the name of Caughlan. The ride out was about 2 hours, but beautiful for every minute. It was like watching a Japanese modern movie, there were people walking on the sidewalks along the lush green rice fields. The color these fields are is literally the most beautiful shade of green I have ever seen. There were houses and neighborhoods just like in the movies, packed together, but built so lovely with the family names on the front of each house.
We arrived at the Caughlan house and enjoyed a curry dinner, where we all met Micheal, and a guy named Amos who goes to Westmont. He looked very familiar, actually, so we got to talking about Santa Barbara. The world is so small! Everyone was just so exhausted, I could tell it was hard for anyone to really get any excitement out of the group, but I'm hoping this changes soon, as we all adjust mostly to the time difference and that we can pursue the work put before us with our best.
This morning I read John 4:1-42, the story of Jesus and the woman at the well. I was well reminded of something so important, not just in missions, but in life, to always see people with love and compassion, the way Jesus saw this woman who was deemed terrible by society. I know that there is nothing of God that I can do just in my own strength or on my own, so those of you who are praying for me, please pray that compassion would be surrounding this team as we work with each other, as we serve others, and as we work alongside others. Please pray that we would be quick to forgive, quick to listen, and eager to walk in love. Pray that our hearts would be set ablaze with the love of God for each other and for those here in Japan whom we have the privilege to serve.
Happy 4th of July.
The air flight over was fantastic. Korean Air is really something - I can't wait to tell my mom that it was just like the commercials, the flight attendants outfits really are the coolest in the whole world, the food was great, and they just know how to make an 11 hour flight go by quickly. I tried to get some sleep in on the way, but truly I was so excited I could hardly do that. Once we got off the flight, we had some business to do in the airport before heading out through the country side of Tokyo. I had a simple cash exchange to do. I walked up to the counter with my forms and my dollar bills, very nervous, but once the kind attendant behind the counter and I got to talking, my Japanese was comfortable. This is certainly a sign that nearly 4 years of Japanese class is truly paying off! I just have to keep at it, and keep working even while I'm here to be more and more comfortable with my Japanese. kyaaaahhhhh I'm just so excited!!
Kelsey and I took a little tour around Narita airport, and we, of course, had to go and explore the Japanese public restrooms. That sounds weird, but it's not my fault, because those bathrooms are so interesting and strange and have million buttons and levers and pulleys, it looks like an OR, not kidding. I think Kelsey took a picture, I'll have to get that from her. So far, she and I have spent the most time together, and she's really nice. The team is excited because her 20th birthday is next week, and since the 20th birthday is when you become an adult in Japan, we are going to celebrate with her.
Once we got all of our things together, we headed out in a small van to the country side of Tokyo to get to Saitama and then a little home belonging to a family by the name of Caughlan. The ride out was about 2 hours, but beautiful for every minute. It was like watching a Japanese modern movie, there were people walking on the sidewalks along the lush green rice fields. The color these fields are is literally the most beautiful shade of green I have ever seen. There were houses and neighborhoods just like in the movies, packed together, but built so lovely with the family names on the front of each house.
We arrived at the Caughlan house and enjoyed a curry dinner, where we all met Micheal, and a guy named Amos who goes to Westmont. He looked very familiar, actually, so we got to talking about Santa Barbara. The world is so small! Everyone was just so exhausted, I could tell it was hard for anyone to really get any excitement out of the group, but I'm hoping this changes soon, as we all adjust mostly to the time difference and that we can pursue the work put before us with our best.
This morning I read John 4:1-42, the story of Jesus and the woman at the well. I was well reminded of something so important, not just in missions, but in life, to always see people with love and compassion, the way Jesus saw this woman who was deemed terrible by society. I know that there is nothing of God that I can do just in my own strength or on my own, so those of you who are praying for me, please pray that compassion would be surrounding this team as we work with each other, as we serve others, and as we work alongside others. Please pray that we would be quick to forgive, quick to listen, and eager to walk in love. Pray that our hearts would be set ablaze with the love of God for each other and for those here in Japan whom we have the privilege to serve.
Happy 4th of July.
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