Changes in Ministry & Answers to Prayer

As we continue to hear gut-wrenching stories and learn the extent of the damage from last week's quake and tsunami in Japan, God has begun to reveal His plan and goals for my ministry (at least for the summer :P).  For a while, the placement team in Japan struggled with my church placement, with no apparent "perfect" fit.  As we prayed for God to lead, it's now become clear that the lack of church placement was His plan all along, as I now have the freedom and flexibility to help with relief efforts for the summer.

As Asian Access shifts its summer focus to organizing and helping relief efforts (http://asianaccess.org/A2-Japan-Tsunami-Relief-Fund.html), I'll have the opportunity to take part in this.  Specific details are still being arranged, but the goal is to depart for Japan on May 9th (pending visa paperwork and support raising).  I'll probably start out in the the Kansai region, where I will be working with coordinators to help organize summer teams going to help with relief.  After a month or so, I'm hoping to be a part of relief efforts in areas badly affected to do whatever is needed.  I have Skype calls next week to meet those coordinating the summer teams, to start discussing plans for the summer, and to start receiving "relief training."

It's been a hard week+ not really knowing how the disasters were going to affect my ministry in Japan, but it's obvious that His timing and plans are perfect...and that I still need a lot of work in letting go and just TRUSTING in them.  As uncertainties turn into realities and goals into plans, these next 8 weeks or so could get a little crazy...  Please PRAY that I'll be able to follow His lead and that the work and preparations stateside would go smoothly, but more so, PRAY that God would prepare hearts in Japan.  The resolve of the Japanese people is very strong (and very commendable), but pray that there would be room for God to work and for His presence to be felt in their lives.

Pray for Japan

As you've undoubtedly seen and heard already, Japan has suffered a massive earthquake, unsettling aftershocks, and crushing tsunamis over the past few days.  Although the Pacific Northeast coast has seen the most damage, the entire nation is in shock and has been affected in some way or another.

The images and videos in the news are hard to watch and hard to comprehend, but even amidst the current  devastation, the continuous aftershocks, and the feared potential threats, God is still in control and at work in Japan.  As hard as it is to take in all that has happened (and all that's still happening), we can take comfort in knowing that this suffering will not be in vain, but that it will be used for His Glory.  As difficult (and seemingly insensible) as this attitude may appear, it is a reminder to us of where our hope lies, and of how big our God is.

Asian Access' annual Spring Retreat occurred this past weekend, and all the missionaries in the field gathered at a retreat center in Karuizawa (northeast of Nagano).  Aside from the initial news saying that they were all ok, there hasn't been much news.  I can only assume that being together at the retreat was encouraging during this extremely difficult time and a blessing for those out there.

Let us continue to pray for Japan...for those still lost...for those who have lost...for those who still don't know...but let us pray for hearts to be changed and for His will to be done.

Being Served Some Humble Pie

Overall, things have been going well.  Support raising has been encouraging and affirming as God continues to do amazing things (approaching 85%!!!).  Language training is going well as I've already incorporated some of the tools and techniques from PILAT.  I've been consistent in my spiritual preparations too, recently completing a 40 day fast and reaching half-way in reading through the Bible in 90 days.  I've even enjoyed some vaca time, spending the last two weekends playing in Utah and Portland.

Seeing how nicely things have been going "according to plan," I was feeling confident in "my plan" and in "my abilities."  This week, however, God decided to remind me how much (or little) confidence and comfort I can have in "my plans."  Things started sliding a bit...inconsistencies in my daily quiet times, "perfectly planned" days weren't so perfect, and some of the excitement for missions in Japan turned into anxieties.

Nothing "bad" happened this week, but questions, concerns, and even doubts came up.  As things started slipping, I realized how little control I really have, which is a scary place for me.  I like being in control, knowing what's next, and having a plan for it.  And as I continue to run into this pitfall mindset, God continues to serve me up nice slices of humble pie to keep me in check (the last time this happened, He had us sweat out contemplating being stranded in the Lima, Peru airport for a couple hours...).

The point is, I know that God's going to use these next couple months to "work on some issues," "straighten me out," and do some "good old-fashioned sharpening."  It's gonna hurt and it's gonna be very uncomfortable...but in the end, it's gonna be good, and it's the preparation I need for ministry in Japan.

I'd like to think I'm a fast learner, but I also know that I'm stubborn...(an interesting combination, we'll see which one wins out).

Please pray for me that I'd be able to take in these lessons, to stay focused and lean on Him and His plan, to not lose it when I lose control, and to continue to press on, persevere, and look to the positive outcomes and not the trials.

(Wow, this was a long post...I need to stop doing them this late...)