You're WHAT???!!!

We told our church a few weeks ago that we believe that God is calling us BACK to Japan at age 59 and after being back in the States for 13 years!  Some moments we look at each other incredulously and say "What are we doing!!????" But most times we have a childlike, peaceful, quiet KNOWING that we're just following our King...as has always been our desire.  Our hearts are full and our minds race; remembering the past years in Japan...

...and our trip there last summer:

  

...and at the same time LOVING our family and church family here:

...yet not able to forget what we saw through Dave and Paul's trip after the earthquake and tsunami:

...and feeling a call, a desire to go back to those people who have suffered so much and who have blessed us and taught us and enriched our lives.

Lord, You have been our faithful Guide and Shepherd, Loving Father, Powerful Savior.  We trust You for the future.  You are the sure foundation for our times; the only foundation that cannot be shaken.  Our lives are in Your strong, loving hands.  By Your grace and enabling, we will follow You...gladly!

Tea Party for Japan

Several days ago my good friend, Pat, sponsored 

"A Tea Party for Japan" (日本のためのテイーパーテイー) 

in her backyard.  

Many ladies donated their homemade crafts and all ages came to "buy" the goods.  All monies were sent directly to Japan to help with the relief work there. Young girls wrote notes to children in the devastated areas of Japan and enjoyed dressing dolls up in the beautiful clothes that Pat's mother made for her Barbie dolls when she was growing up.  About $1500 was donated!  It was a great day of fellowship and outreach to the people of Japan.

Fun with the kids and grandkids

Panorama View of Onagawa

This is 5 pictures stitched together to get a wide view of Onagawa. Click for a larger view. Notice the building a bit right of center has been toppled over by the tsunami. I'm standing in a hospital parking lot which was designated as a tsunami evacuation place, but the water came up even higher and swept away all those who had made it up here to what they thought was safety. The tsunami came through the inlet in the far distance and rose 100 feet high.