We are on our hopefully last train on this trip the Shinkansen bullet train from Fukushima Japan to Tokyo. Pardon how little we have posted the last few days. We have not had accessible wifi in Japan.

Our time in Fukushima was very nice. The people in Fukushima and in the region are working hard to bring normalcy back to their lives. Still the ground is not stable as evidenced by the small tremor last night. In the days prior to our arrival my parents attended a seminar for those who live within 50 miles of the troubled nuclear plant. Right now, in Fukushima, they have relaxed the recommendations and short sleeves and being maskless is okay. Food is also okay if washed properly.

Our family is doing okay though age is starting to creep up on our uncles and aunts. I have one uncle who is very close to death as he struggles with a rare form of spinal cancer. We were able to bring some comfort to his family as they deal with this. My parents were able to pray with him but things seem bleak. As we drove by my late grandparents abandoned home this trip I was taken by how short life is and how much I miss them and how much our little seen but much loved Japanese family means to us. I fear we have not done well in getting to know the next generation and we may loses the connection when my parent’s generation passes.

When we visited my aunt in Kami, Miyagi prefecture, we were able to drive though some of the parts of Sendai most affected by the Tsunami and earthquake. What contrasts! In the main city you would never know that anything happened as there was little major damage… But as you move toward the sea, you see more and more evidence of destruction. As we drove towards Sendai airport you start to see cars in huge piles. You also see debris also piled up neatly all over. Every once in a while you might see a boat or a train where it should not be or a car in a field. Where there were once many homes we just fields, mud and felled trees. It was amazing seeing the destruction in that place but also how much cleaning up has been done but also how much still has to be done. There are so many sub stories from there. I wish I has the tim to tell you some of them. Also we find small evacuee communities all over Fukushima, Miyagi, and surrounding prefecture including next to one of my aunt’s homes.

Three stories both involving my parents strike me and show God at wortk through our time here As they were serving at a evacuation center, they were talking to a young man. They saw he had the same last name as my mother’s family. They asked him where he was from and he said Soma. We learned earlier because of the Tsunami that a long lost relative was from there. We asked him if he was related. He was! He was th grandson of my grandfather’s cousin. God brought them together.

The second story is very personal to my father and his family. 70 years ago his uncle who lived in the States donated a piano to my dad’s elementary school in war damaged Japan. It was a huge deal with the governor’s wife coming out to play it in a special ceremony. A couple of days ago my dad was talking with his siblings about this On a whim my dad and his brother visited the school and to their surprise, the piano was still there! It had a plaque saying it was from the states and that is it. They told the story to the principal who was a good friend of my uncle. They took a picture of someone playing the piano with my uncle and dad and the principal. My uncle was touched.

Finally the weather has been perfect throughout our time there. Rain all around except where we were.

With all these stories my parents were able to point my family to Jesus. The relatives were able to see that God is not distant but REAL!

Prayer request: pray for my uncle of course who is fighting the final battles with cancer. Pray also for our flight back. China Eastern is stubbornly saying they have the right to not honor our return flight because we missed their outbound flight because of a cancelled flight and were rerouted through American through China Eastern’s agent! Pray that they will do the right thing! We are ready to come home!

Roy

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