The news about Japan is fading from the headlines.  I can’t express how frustrated I feel when I look at the newspaper and find ONE story about Japan’s crisis – on page 12- less than 3 weeks after the devastation Japan has suffered.  We still hear much about the relief efforts of our MTW missionaries, other mission agencies, and the Japanese church.  The church in Japan is so small, yet they are responding sacrificially.  They have so many opportunities now to connect with their non-Christian friends and neighbors.  We have seen pictures of rooms full of donated food and supplies to be taken north into the affected areas.  Both the sending churches (in Tokyo, Chiba, Nagoya, etc.) and the receiving churches (in the affected areas) say that their communities’ seeing the Body of Christ in action has moved their church-planting efforts forward at least two years!

Our friends, Jim and Judith Birkey, were in Japan on March 11, 2011.  They were there for Judith to introduce Jim to Japan, and been there only a day or two when the earthquake occurred.  Judith served with the MTW Tokyo/Chiba team for years, until her marriage to Jim last July.  She wrote the following about their experiences for the two weeks they were in Japan…

“Rev. Mori, a long-time pastor not far from the Fukushima reactors, said that he is not concerned about SURvival, but about REvival, and he is with his people until the end.  Another young Japanese pastor in the danger zone said, “Yes, my church is in the danger zone, but the people without Christ are in an even more dangerous zone. I know where I am going if I die, but there are many in the danger area that need to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”  Praise God for His people who are trusting Him and pointing others to the Truth and Grace of Christ.

Ohfunato, a town that had 40,000 before the tsunami hit, had a church of 4 people and another church of 20 people.  Try to wrap your mind around that for a few minutes.  It is very possible that some residents of Ohfunato knew NO followers of Christ.  Where will they turn for help after seeing much of their town washed away? after losing family, friends, homes, businesses?  The Japanese are known for stoic self-reliance.  Finding hearts open to the Gospel has always been a rarity in Japan.  To our Western mind, the triple disasters of quake, tsunami and nuclear crisis would surely open hearts to Christ’s good news, but unless the Lord opens hearts, they are still as resistant as ever.  PLEASE pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Japan. 

We know you have been praying for Japan (and for us, while we were there).  God’s people around the world have given generously, and relief groups like Samaritan’s Purse are partnering with Japanese churches and missionaries in Japan.  The phase of shuttling goods for survival will soon come to a close, and then the massive clean-up and rebuilding will begin (rebuilding houses and towns, but also rebuilding lives; there will be a great need for counselors).  It’s hard to even imagine where to start.  Please pray for church and mission leaders in Japan, who find themselves all of a sudden doing relief work, which is so foreign in Japan, a first-world country.  Remember that they are making big decisions about people, finances, and future work, under stress, with little sleep, daily (sizable) aftershocks, limited electricity, etc.  

MTW missionaries (the ones we’re most familiar with) have specifically asked for wisdom to know how to pair relief work with church planting.  Ministering to people’s physical needs in the name of Christ has been (and will be) an invaluable witness, but the ultimate goal is to see God glorified as the Church grows and the Kingdom moves forward, as individuals turn from self-reliance to trusting in the Lord Jesus for their salvation and their all.  

Japan’s number one need is Christ, and the biggest way we can participate in the disaster relief is through prayer.  Thank you for praying with us for Japan.”

For those with internet access, MTW is posting regular updates both on their website (www.mtw.org) and on their facebook page.  CRASH Japan (the umbrella for the Christian relief efforts in Japan) has posted a list of regularly updated prayer requests at:http://www.crashjapan.com/crashjapan/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=315

Also, I have re-posted many of the stories from those who are in the midst of helping with relief work in Japan on my facebook page.  If we are not facebook friends, feel free to “friend” me (Lisa Ross Stewart) so you can read these current  updates.

… sneaking a peak of your children as they worship the Lord, singing their hearts out in praise to Him?! On the way to church yesterday, I watched Isabel sing along with the radio, “You rose and conquered the grave, You are mighty to save!” And then during worship, William sang out, “Lord be merciful to me…”

It’s my hope and prayer that these words will always ring true to my children. That they will look back and never remember a day they did not believe these truths!

The Japan Partnership Booth at the Global Missions Conference

We had lots of people checking out the Japan Partnership booth at the Global Missions Conference.

Dan Iverson, MTW Japan Director

Awesome t-shirts with Japanese kanji for "God" "Love" and "World"

MTW Japan missionaries' prayer cards

Robert and Lisa with Andrew Lyall - he lived with us while he was in Japan in 2009. He is now a student at the University of Richmond.

Lisa’s highlights:

*hanging out at the Japan Partnership booth and chatting with new and old friends for hours on end

*hearing Michael Oh speak so passionately about Japan and missions

*the teaching of Joe Novenson and Paul Kooistra

*spending Sunday afternoon and evening with the Chiba, Japan team missionaries

*being able to enjoy all the above thanks to my parents, who watched the kids in Knoxville

The world is a safer place with these two super heroes on the job!

William learned a very important life skill recently.  Riding his bike with no training wheels!  This is an especially important skill for life in Japan.  When we return to Japan, William will ride his bike to and from the train station on his way to and from school.  For a while, he will have his Daddy with him, but eventually he will gain independence and will be able to ride around on his own.  One of the blessings of living in Japan is that it is a safe place to live and ride bicycles.  All of the MKs (missionary kids) on our team ride their bikes to school, and some add a train ride to their daily trek to school.  Just one of the things we have to look forward to when we get home to Japan.

Robin, Lisa, Susan, and Carol

Do you have friends who are so dear to you that you refer to them as sisters?  I do!  The picture above was taken during our sisterhood reunion in October.  These women have been friends I’ve shared with, been encouraged by, laughed with, and cried with over the years.  We met in our early years at Orangewood Presbyterian Church, but now live in far away places like New Jersey, North Carolina, Arkansas, Florida… and I’m in Japan! -most of the time.  A 2 hour “Skype” with our missing sister, Lydia, made the weekend complete.

What makes this kind of reunion so special?  I think it must have something to do with the idea of being known so well by my sisters.  Knowing that these women know me and love me and want God’s best for me, allows me to be authentic and share my joys and struggles.  Thanks to my sisters for the privilege of sharing in each of your lives.  How refreshing… what a gift!

Thank you, Isabel…. for wanting to go feed the birds at Lake Lily on this beautiful day… even though I thought I was too busy for this “unnecessary” stop!

We are so pleased to report that God continues to provide for our support needs. We have about $1000 in new monthly support pledged! 40 of the 179 – $25 slots have been filled. Please pray for God to continue to raise up prayer and financial supporters. We would love to be ready to leave for Japan in February 2011!