Saturday, Sunday, and Monday April 30 and May 1-2. 2011 Jitensha, Reihai, and Yuubinkyoku

This is the beginning of Golden Week in Japan, a national week-long vacation (like spring break for everybody) when families take their vacations to sightsee or visit relatives. Brent and Sandy have only Bible studies, no classes, so this is a great break for them to unwind and catch up.

Saturday, Sandy and I rode our bicycles (jitensha) along the shoreline past the boat races (think horseracing), up the hill past terraced houses and gardens, and under the expressway to Shigotsui town where Leslie Taylor teaches kindergarten. He and his family—wife Sara, children Cambria and Madeleine—have been here for just under a year but their refreshing company—especially the kids—have meant encouragement to Brent and Sandy.

Then Sandy took me for my first sushi in Japan to Kappazushi where plates of food make a circuit around the dining area on a little conveyor belt from which you can take whatever you want. Better yet, select from a touch-screen panel and voilá, a little shinkansen bullet train brings your food to your table on a little track above the other one.

Sunday, The Taylors and Stacey Herrington (down from Haruna, Gunma Pref., until the baby is born), came for dinner and worship (reihai). I gave a talk about my experiences and shared about “what it means to live on the outposts of the Kingdom in a time of crisis.”
• The Kingdom exists wherever men have given their hearts to God (Lk. 17.20-21). In Japan those are few and far between
• Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of evil (Eph 6.10-13). We love the people, not the demonic influences.
• We must discern the times (Mt. 16.3; 2 Cor. 6.2). This is the time God needs his people to grasp the opportunities to share
• God has providentially placed people in our path who have led us to locations and needs we mightn’t have found on our own (Esth 4.14)
• We commend ourselves by our lives (2 Cor 6.3-12), we give food and clothe the hungry, we repair the breaches and restore the streets (Is 58.6-12), and by men’s approval of this service they will glorify God (2 Cor 9.8-15) even if they do not know our God.
• But servants working in the Kingdom outposts need strength we cannot get from ourselves. The renewal comes from God’s Spirit (Col. 1.9-11; 2 Tim. 4.17; 2 Cor. 9.6-7)

Monday, Brent showed me some of the odd corners and obscure crannies of

Kojima, again on bicycle. At the yuubinkyoku (post office) I sent some packages to the states, and amazingly found international mailing simpler here because the customs declaration and the mailing label were the same form. It seems like everywhere we go we find former students of Brent and Sandy. Learned to gargle with an iodine solution to treat/prevent colds.

The Huddlestons’ update from up north showed before and after pictures of a playground the team cleaned up and told of a giant barbecue they were planning for the neighborhood. Did I mention 30 might be staying at the dojo during Golden Week. Over 100 volunteers are or will be staying there and helping this week. Amazing. (Try not to think about there being no showers in the dojo.)

Listened to the news about bin Laden.

Pray that all will be safe from terrorist reprisals. Pray that opportunities for freedom, healing, and sharing God’s love may follow.