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.
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