June 10, 2012

Packing for the last bit of my trip home is very difficult. I am really going to miss the people I have met here. There have been so many blessings--I want to cry but I am too happy at the same time I am sad so I cannot cry. I think I am feeling too many emotions at the moment. God is so incredible. 

Church was amazing today-- Eric taught an amazing lesson on 1 Corinthians 10:23-33 about Freedom, and how we as Christians live a life where everything is permissible, but not everything is constructive. It was so great to focus on the motives our relationship with God and the freedoms rather than rules, rules, rules. Ino came back to church today and I just praise God so much for that. I hope he continues to stay plugged into Be One and become a Christian. He wrote me an incredible letter which said, 

"Dear Marisa, 

Thank you very much for coming to Japan and teach English to me. I don't have any English words to tell you my pleaser heart. So I made a photo case (?). Maiby you made many memory in Ishinomaki. The memory in a photo case. Please change photos. I am not a Christian. But if God makes me meet you. I pleaser for your God. Thank you very much. your kindess heart and singing a song. You are very important for me like a foundation! Next time I meet you I send foundation and perfume! Thanks x1,000,000!! I hope you come back to Japan and talk with you. 

Masahire Ino   2012/6/10" 

Not all the English is correct. And the reference to the foundation was from the study of Luke when Jesus tells the story about the wise man and the foolish man. When I asked him if he knew what foundation was, he patted his face for makeup. It was very funny because he was correct in one sense, but then I described to him a house foundation. He is really accepting the Bible. He also referenced the perfume because of the story about the sinful woman washing Jesus' feet with the perfume in the alabaster jar. Please keep him in your prayers. 

So many people have been touched here, and so have I. This place shows so much destruction and heartbreak, yet God is shining His love here, and hope is spreading. Today God gave me several last gifts, but something is weighing heavily on my heart: Tomoko and her family took me to a local town (I do not know the spelling) and she showed me much of the destruction of the tsunami that is still not even close to being rebuilt. Hundreds of houses and buildings were completely washed away-- the few that remained were on their sides, tipped over (pictures to come once they will actually upload). It was very heartbreaking to think about all the lives and homes destroyed. However, as we drove away, a rainbow formed over the town we had visited... It struck me so beautifully. It is my last day in Ishinomaki. I came to a place full of brokenness and heartbreak and destruction-- but as powerful as those things are, God's promise of hope, joy and love shines so much more beautifully, even over the most broken places. God is doing amazing things here and there is so much talk about the good things CHRISTIANS are doing here-- and the price they are paying to come here: their time, resources, money and talents. It is not just a bunch of people coming because of free time-- it is because they are coming here for a calling from their God. And their, our, God is very powerful and loving--bringing people joy, a hope and a future. 

This trip has changed my life in so many ways, and I am so grateful for this opportunity. I cannot wait to share all the stories that are too long to type, or too much for my mind to handle at the time. 

Saying goodbye is extremely difficult for me, as the Hawaiians leave and I need to pack up and leave my readers and all the wonderful people I have met here. I thought that I was coming on a trip to check off Japan from my bucket list, and now it is on to new places. And maybe and hopefully I will travel many places in this world to go and make disciples like Christ calls us to do-- however, Ishinomaki, Japan is not a place I can just check off to never return. There is something very special about this place and something just CRYING out for God here. I definitely feel God is calling me to return someday, and I praise Him for that. But regardless of how long that takes to happen, we as Christians are united in a common bond and a common love for each other. Which I treasure so, so dearly. 

Ephesians 4:3

New International Version (NIV)

3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

June 9, 2012

Sorry for not posting the last few days-- the times I have been available to get online have been overloaded with everyone here trying to use the internet so it has been very difficult trying to actually get it to work. The last few days have been pretty busy: lots of readers, and new readers signing up,the children's English thing we hosted teaching about the 7 days of creation, the luncheon international party we hosted, and a BBQ last night hosted by Yuko Sasaki, one of Amber's readers. Things have been really fun and really crazy. Oh, and I was sick for a couple days-- that was no fun-- but praise God I am feeling much better. Yuko (my reader) also spoiled me yesterday for her goodbye to me: she took me to a very fancy restaurant overlooking Matsushima--it was a seven course meal. One of the most incredible experiences ever. And her other gifts to me are just so amazing-- God blessed me so much on this trip both with the generosity of so many people but also with just learning and experiencing so much I never have before. I am sad to leave the people I have fallen in love with here this Monday. However, I am ready to go back and get done what I need to back in the States. God has huge plans for me there too. It is very good though that Amber and Austin can continue the work here a little longer-- so please pray for my safe travels and for the good work that Amber and Austin are continuing here.



Lamentations 3:19-24 

19 I remember my affliction and my wandering,
    the bitterness and the gall.
20 I well remember them,
    and my soul is downcast within me.
21 Yet this I call to mind
    and therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
    therefore I will wait for him.”

June 6, 2012 

Today was an interesting day. Being overseas is not the easiest thing, as fun and awesome as it is. A new group from Singapore has joined us-- and they are very kind. Turns out they had been missionaries that had taught Michiko, Jonathan's wife, back when she was very young. There have been so many small world moments while on this trip.
Today many of the groups went on prayer walks, so I am excited to see what God does because the prayer of a righteous man is both powerful and effective. 
I had several readers, all a joy to be with of course, but that’s normal… I personally haven’t been feeling well, though that hasn’t stopped God working in me, doing good things. Oh, Amber and I planned our party for tomorrow and started working on next week’s party. Well, nothing super exciting today—just continuing to work hard and to see God’s work here in Ishinomaki. There are countless stories of the lives that are being touched and how the community is being reached. Keep Ishinomaki in your prayers.
Oh, and this evening Beth rescued a kitty she named Olive! In a way, Olive could very well actually be an answer to some of Beth’s prayers.  God is so good and always provides unexpectedly. And Beth just getting back today was a blessing—she was definitely a great dose of humor and wisdom today that I personally really needed. God is so good.


2 Corinthians 4:16-18
New International Version (NIV)

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

June 5, 2012

Super tired at the moment. Today is back into our rhythm of readers etc. We are starting to fill up our schedule more and more. Some new things include that we got our Japanese flags in today to have all our readers sign. That is pretty fun. And as a group we have really been overcoming some challenges so please keep praying hard for us to grow a lot and be as Christ in every situation.

Not much else to say except I know that I am dying to get some sleep! Sayonara!


1 Thessalonians 5:11

Therefore, encourage each other and strengthen one another as you are doing.

June 4, 2012


Today was our day off this week so we went shopping in Ishinomaki and then down in Aeon Mall. We bought Yukatas (summer kimonos), lots of gifts and even went into a second hand shop that we had a lot of fun in. Today was really fun hanging out with two of the Hawaiians, Kamu and Zach. Definitely played games in an arcade and did the photo booth thing. Haha definitely got some funny looks having 2 boys coming out of the photo booth with me because it is a very girlie thing here haha. Good times.
Well, I’m excited to get back to reading tomorrow! Keep us in your prayers!

1 Timothy 4:12
New International Version (NIV)
12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

June 3, 2012 

Today was church and there was quite a few people there today because of carious groups here: Hawaii, us, and a group from Sendai and other towns. It was really awesome. And Praise God for this-- My reader Ino came to church!!

After church we then helped Eric and Sue move. We are hanging out waiting for everyone and to leave for dinner and the onsen again!


Luke 4:16-21


New International Version (NIV)
16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19     to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”[a]
20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

June 2, 2012 

To all our readers, sorry for not posting in the last couple of days. There are two reasons for this: 1) Internet has not been working 2) We have been super, super busy--which is a good thing! Since the Hawaiians have been here (Wednesday) things have been nuts!  I love it. We have been meeting and working with so many great people.
The last few days Yuko and I have been spending a LOT of time together-- she has taken me out to lunch twice-- once to one of those awesome sushi conveyor belt places. She has also taken me around to the various famous memorials and scenes around Ishinomaki. I have been extremely grateful for her friendship and we have begun to have a lot of conversations about God-- so please keep her in your prayers! She also took me to her Kumon school and I met the cutest little boy named Haru-- he is very good at English for being only 6 years old. We talked about tennis and NBA basketball and he told me his favorite animal is the elephant. He is so sweet! I also met his sister Riku and his mom Tomoko. Tomoko is now signed up to be a reader with me and she came to our Hawaiian BBQ last night. Praise God! Yuko has been an outlet for LST to various areas in the community that may not have otherwise been plugged in with Be One. On the topic of the BBQ-- that went amazing. It took a lot of work to put on, but with 18 people from team Hawaii, plus us, we got it all ready. And it was an incredible success-- so much fun: delicious food, great company, hula, decorations, kids games, free shirts, a welcoming attitude and a testimony added to the awesome environment and brought the joy of the Lord to the neighborhood and community here.

Today we had no readers until the afternoon so Amber and I actually got to help with a project: digging underneath her reader's house to clean out debris from the tsunami. It was nasty and we got down and dirty crawling underneath the house. We were very glad to help! :)

Well things are going great here and God is doing so much. The Hawaiians are definitely great new friends and a huge blessing.

“so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” Hebrews 9:28 NIV

Sorry Yesterday Internet died--this is what I wrote:
May 30, 2012

The Hawaiian group of 19 new volunteers showed up today! So that has been very exciting and I personally have really enjoyed getting to know them! It has been a crazy day, getting them settled in along with reading and getting everything done that needs to get done. I am very excited about the Hawaiian barbecue Friday, and we are starting a weekly children's program tomorrow afternoon. I will be missing it because I have a day planned with Yuko and to visit her at her Kumon Japanese school. The other two, Austin and Amber, however will be there and I plan on joining it next week. Tomorrow I will also be training two of Chad and Jennifer's children--I am really excited that I can use my gifts and past training to help them live a fit and healthy life.

Today was also really fun because I was able to attend Curves again with Yuko and we had some very good conversation as always-- she always brings me gifts. It is so nice--she is very, very kind. Today she bought me some very special pork and made me a sandwich. She is becoming a dear friend and she is very interested in the story of Luke-- we read through two lessons today. She is very excited about it. I am really excited to see where God takes her. Ino is also becoming very intrigued in the readings-- after we finished our section, we had a discussion on the entirety of the Bible and the many writers etc. It was very awesome. I am shocked at where the Spirit is taking us!

The three of us also enjoyed a lovely dinner with one of Amber's readers, Kaori (Amber still can't say her name write :-P ). We made curry and they also prepared a delicious salad-- it is so nice to get some greens in me again! The last bit of the day finished with another trip to the onsen with some of the Hawaiians: Clayton, Shelly, and Ro. They were a lot of fun, and yet again we are very relaxed-- speaking of-- since I am so relaxed I am going to hit the sack. Especially since I am the only one awake and moving around in this dark apartment. I still don't know if I'm totally used to the sun coming up at like 4 in the morning here.. Haha. Well good night world! Until next time, as they say here, "Oyasominosai!" (Good night/have a good night's rest).

Ephesians 1:15-23


15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[f] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

May 29, 2012
A new week of readers is here! It is scary to think that personally I only have 2 more weeks and I leave! :-( At least Amber and Austin get to stay here longer. And this is God's plan for me--I am just grateful to be here and to meet the people I have met.
Today we all had readers again and Austin had another girl, Tomoko, sign up! Yuko and I are having quite the good time getting to know each other and we are having some really in depth conversations. We went to Curves together today and we will again tomorrow. Thursday we plan on going to her Japanese school and then on Friday we will go to a sushi bar!
This day went by super fast and was really fun.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12



Two are better than one,
    because they have a good return for their labor:
10 If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
    and has no one to help them up.
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
    But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered,
    two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

May 28, 2012 


Today was my spiritual birthday! I was baptized 12 years ago!

Anyway, after just realizing that, to the blog! Today was our day off--so no readers. Today we slept in for the first time. Then  we ran some errands and went with Beth to Sendai. Sendai was a blast. We got to go shopping and then eat sushi. The shopping was different from the U.S. but really cool and fun. The four of us also had a "fully Japanese" experience besides the sushi: we did this little photo booth thing--but it put the photo booths in America to shame. That was really fun.

Well, not much else to say about today. Here's a verse:

James 1:19-21


19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

May 27, 2012


No readers today! But we got to go with Mike and Koichi to a festival on an "island" close by. There were lots of tents with food, shaved ice, cotton candy, clothes and toys. Everything was extremely cheap and really fun-- there was even karaoke that Mike did and then the four of us, Austin, Amber, Koichi and I were able to do. We sang "Don't stop Believin'" by Journee. Haha. Good times. I think the best part was that we were able to pass out some flyers and our card for the LST readings! It is really cool how God works and how He provided the opportunity that we get to go to the festival through Mike. We were only supposed to have a picnic and worship today with maybe some sleeping in, but because of connections through Mike we were supposed to go help set up this festival. We got there too late to help much but we talked to some people to get them connected with B1 and to really enjoy a splash of Japanese culture through the dances, food, people and we even learned a Japanese dance! It was such a blast. Afterwards we went to the picnic with the missionary families and we had worship. This was a beautiful experience too because it was in the mountains overlooking Ishinomaki and this trip included some of the prettiest scenery we have seen on the trip. There was also a super cool park that we had a blast playing in with the kids and even just exploring on our own.

It was really neat to experience a worship service in both Japanese and English. Things were very different but I really enjoyed them. I always love new experiences with worshiping God. We sang a few songs, some in Japanese, some in English--some both just once sung through in English and once sung through in Japanese. Then we had some verses read and a small lecture/sermon. This was in Japanese but Sue quietly translated for Austin, Amber and me. It was a relatively small group and we sat in a circle outside. After the lecture, we broke into small groups to discuss the scripture reading of Isaiah 53:1-6 and then to pray together. It was really great. Definitely different from the traditional service back home in the states, but much like a Bible study or other event that I have attended before--the area actually reminded me much of church camp--worshiping in nature and on a mountain. It was neat and what we called "biblangual" (Biblically Bilingual).





Acts 20:24

But I don’t place any value on my own life. I want to finish the race I’m running. I want to carry out the mission I received from the Lord Jesus—the mission of testifying to the Good News of God’s kindness.

May 26, 2012
Today was definitely one of the most fun days so far! It was a blast! First, I was able to get up and run with a volunteer on site, Ken. We ran about thirty minutes and part of the run included a large bridge where we could overlook the ocean on one side and Ishinomaki on the other side. These runs are quite the adventure to see different parts of the city. Again, today’s weather was perfect. After waking plenty earlier I was able to complete more of a workout but I won’t bore you with those details. Amber, Austin and I had a debriefing/devo/planning time, the Austin and I went with Beth (one of the missionaries) to Aeon, a big store here in Japan. We started to make copies of Luke in Japanese and we bought some items for the Welcome Café party we had today for our readers, B1 members (the local mission), and friends from the community. We signed up several more readers which was super excited and had a very good time building the relationships we had already began. God definitely brought me a lot of joy today and I believe is bringing joy to the people we come into contact with. I was able to pray with a Tomoko about a major test she has tomorrow (she has been a Christian 5 years) and show her a verse from Matthew about not worrying, but trusting God. It was beautiful to see the change from stress to peace in her eyes. I will continue to pray for her and it was really cool for the Holy Spirit to be able to work through me. There have been countless stories like these where the Holy Spirit is working through each of us!
Today Kaori, one of Amber’s readers, was able to spend a very long time with us—it was so much fun! I am glad she wants to spend time with us. I hope and think she sees something different in us. We all care very deeply for her—today we got a good night hug, which in Japan is a big deal because of personal boundaries/respect in the culture. It is so fun how close we have been getting. One of my readers and I have also planned on going to the gym together and to a sushi bar, and I will be attending her school one day to learn Japanese. It is amazing to see how the readers want to spend time outside the classroom with us. And it is really fun.
Beyond the wonderful time with our readers, we are also enjoying time with the other volunteers. Ken, Mike McClain (which crazy small world—he has connections to Oklahoma Christian where my dad works and knows a good friend of mine from high school), Koichi, and Maya, along with Kaori, were able to go out to dinner with us at the mall in Ishinomaki. This was super fun, trying new foods, shopping a tiny bit, eating ice cream at Baskin Robins but eating flavors we do not get in the states as commonly, like green tea, or “pop shower.” After that the team along with Mike and Koichi got to go to “onsen” which is a Japanese form of bathing. Most amazing and relaxing experience I think of my life—or at least one of them. That was incredible and tonight was full of good times.
We are finally adjusting to the schedule and God is blessing us with some very good times where we are able to work for Him and enjoy fellowship with each other. We are finally getting used to the way things are here, and I think getting comfortable with the differences. I know I have felt much better today, and so has Austin because we talked about this, this morning. We are getting into a rhythm and it is really awesome, which we are extremely thankful for.
Matthew 6:25-34

Do Not Worry


25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[e]?


28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

May 25, 2012






Here is Amber’s story from yesterday that she wanted to share:
Amber: I had a lunch with a woman named Yuko yesterday. She lives with her mother, father, brother and son. After the tsunami, no one believed that anyone lived in her area. When they found out they did a news broadcast on her and her family about how she would carry her son to the school on her back because the water was too high for her son to walk. Then they would go up to the second floor of the school and he would change so that no one would know that he was getting wet. During the tsunami multiple waves hit and the brother thought it was over on the first wave and went downstairs and the second wave hit and he rode a table within the house. They were stuck upstairs for three weeks and then were able to start working on their house. Their house was built up about 4 feet so now there is a lot of mud and debris underneath her house. Several volunteers, hopefully including us, will be able to help clean it out.

Back to Marisa: We have heard many stories the last few days about how the tsunami has affect the people here. Many people are still hurting. There is a strong calling and need for God and His love.

* * * 

Today I had four readers. Amber had 2, and Austin had 1. We have 9 signed up and the word is spreading. It is so cool to see the improvement already in these people. Tomorrow we will have our first party with the readers, the crew from B1 (the local missionaries) and hopefully the readers’ friends and family. We will be having a Welcome Café—offering coffee and tea, conversation, games and conversation.

Other notable things today were that a lot of the volunteers that were here the last few days all left to go home today. That was a little bit sad. I have a problem saying goodbyes. Michico (Jonathan’s wife—Jonathan actually used to attend York College!) took Austin and Amber to the grocery store to show them around. She then taught us a little bit of Japanese during lunch. After lunch Amber and I had some free time so I went back to the apartment to do some p90x and she took a much needed nap. Then Amber--I am so proud of her for this by the way—made dinner! She prepared curry, a Japanes dish! It tasted delicious. This was a big deal because she is self-conscious about her cooking because she burns popcorn. As she was preparing dinner Austin and I were able to go to an after school child care—so, so fun! I got to play with the kids and play a little bit of piano. A little girl Ren and I really had some fun—her and Austin taught me how to play chopsticks and we had a good time spinning her around and helping her jump super high in the air. Two girls, Ren and another girl whose name I cannot pronounce or even begin to spell gave Austin a massage while singing—probably one of the cutest things I have ever seen! Those two girls also were a hoot by riding an exercise bike—each one on one of the pedals. The snacks they provided were also delicious and quite fun to try.

Today was full of many good times. Our evening readers Ino (mine), Kameyama (Austin’s), and Saya (Amber's) seemed to really respond well and have a good time. We even incorporated some various things such as drawing, maps, and joking around. I am very excited to see what the following days will bring.


Proverbs 17:22
New International Version (NIV)
22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,
    but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

May 24, 2012

Today was our first day of readers. Jet lag is setting in pretty hard – I don’t think Amber will admit she is but she was wanting to write part of today’s blog but fell asleep before getting there. Haha, so her story from today will be in tomorrow’s post! J Yay, something for you all to look forward to reading other that my stuff! Woot—exciting! This is me being overly fatigued, too. I know I am extremely tired.

However, a couple of stories from today: Amber and I woke up bright and early for a run on a GORGEOUS morning! It was perfect weather and it was definitely great to get some exercise in—along with some stretching after the long trip of being packed like a sardine for hours on several planes. 

Today we also learned more about how to act on site, and earthquake/tsunami safety etc. The readers varied in their levels of English—some were quite the challenge to work with, others were very fun to work with. I am so excited for what God is doing through this! He is so amazing. Austin and I went on a quest to make some copies at 7-11 and to purchase “obento” for lunch. (These are pre-made lunches of sushi, rice, chicken, tempura and other various dishes sold at many gas stations and convenient stores). That was fun to explore a new part of town and figure out the copy machine. It is amazing what you can understand just based off body language and pointing without knowing a single word!

In the evening, we had to watch 12 kids for a few hours. Oh what a fun challenge! I also helped prepare the food for all of them – that was a pretty cool experience actually. But I do believe the decibels in that house were a bit damaging to the ears at times. It was quite enjoyable to teach the kids a new game called “Box” (a mixture of tag and hide-n-seek with some extra fun rules thrown in).

Well that about wraps up our day today… Time to get some shut eye for tomorrow!

 Romans 12:10

Be devoted to each other like a loving family. Excel in showing respect for each other.

Some damage from the Tsunami. This was a typical scene as we drove through Ishinomaki. 

Our apartment. 

May 23, 2012

Today was our first day on site. We began with a meeting at 9:00am with the other volunteers and missionaries here in Ishinomaki. However, I know that I woke up much earlier due to the activity going on in our apartment; last night, Amber and I stayed with four other women in the apartment we get to stay in.  Tonight there are only 3 besides the two of us. The missionaries said to expect an environment where people are moving in and out, and where we will probably be moving around a lot due to different amounts of people who are here to help with cleaning up Ishinomaki because the damage is still very evident and the people here are still suffering as they try to get their lives back together. This is going to be a very unique LST trip because in addition to the work we will be doing with the readers in reading and conversing in English, we will be helping with whatever can be done here for the tsunami relief, and we will also be helping out with the children of several of the local missionary families. I am really excited God called us here. The word of the trip is definitely FLEXIBILITY. God has made us malleable and I believe He is going to open our eyes up quite a bit and use us to make a difference in this community. 

Ishinomaki is definitely not the biggest town in Japan—we had two information meetings signing up 8 readers. This is okay since this is the first time for LST workers to be in stationed in this city, and this just allows us more time to help with other projects going on. The word will also spread as we pass out more flyers, our readers tell their friends and family, and we have more parties involving the community.

Besides the information meetings, today was about exploring the city to acquaint us with the area. It was quite the experience—we went to a local drug store around the corner from the apartment in addition to a local liquor store and a small walk from the missionaries’ home to our apartment and back. It was quite interesting to find all the different foods, products, toys, and vending machines in the area. But the most striking thing today was seeing where the homes were washed cleanly from their foundations. Rubble was still piled in many places and homes and shops were vacant because their bottom floors were washed away. Several dumps have sprung up in the city for the ruins of the many homes and businesses that were destroyed in the tsunami. We were informed not to call these landfills “trash” or “garbage” for they were not waste—they were the homes that were destroyed and have to be disposed of not due to choice. It was eye-opening to talk to the Japanese here and listen to them still speak about the beautiful items such as wedding kimonos that they lost, or the people that they had cherished. I mean, it is tragic when you hear about the disaster when it happens—but to experience first-hand the people who feel the ramifications of the event OVER A YEAR LATER: that is truly intense. God has so much room to work and there is a dire need for His hope, His joy, His power, His grace, His comfort, His mercy, His compassion and His hand in this city. I am truly grateful to be an extension of that hand, to be able to serve and to just shower love on these people. God is doing and will continue to great things here.

Romans 15:2

“We should all be concerned about our neighbor and the good things that will build his faith.”

May 22, 2012

We all three finally met up in Tokyo, Japan where we caught our flight to Sendai. Austin and I had a lot of fun simply browsing the airport store for Japanese snacks and drinks! After we arrived in Sendai, Chad, one of the missionaries in the area, picked us up. We ate dinner once we arrived in Ishinomaki at this little Ramen shop. It was delicious! Japan is definitely very different from America, but so far it has been fun and we have been very blessed. We all arrived safely, everything went smoothly and our luggage all arrived safe and in tact as well.

Thank you for all the prayers! God always provides!

Philippians 4:19"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

May 21, 2012

Wow! Today is the day we all travel to Japan! The other two, Amber and Austin will get to meet up in Seattle to fly to Tokyo together. I am currently flying out of the Chicago airport straight to Tokyo where I will meet up with them. Got up bright and early this morning! For me, I had to get up at 4:00am to get to the airport by 5:00 for a 7:00am flight. I am so excited--this is my first time overseas, or even out of country for a mission trip!
God is going to do some incredible things through us.

Now it is just time to get ready for a twelve hour flight and then a twelve hour time difference. We are going to go a long way in miles, time difference, and probably actually the furthest in growth.

Romans 11:33

"God’s riches, wisdom, and knowledge are so deep that it is impossible to explain his decisions or to understand his ways. "