God's mercy poured out

We've had a long day.  Michiyo's surgery that could take from 1-3 hours ended up being a 9:00-5:30 marathon. Of course it's hard not to become fearful and full of doubts while waiting so long, not knowing.  Wayne was able to remind me not to borrow trouble, but to stay focused on the here and now.

Michiyo's tumor was malignant.  But thankfully, it was very small, the very earliest stage, and there are no signs that it had spread.  It was as good of a result as we could ask for with cancer.  The doctors successfully removed 1/3 of her lung, and we left her in the recovery room, conscious, but very out of it.

My phone rang continuously all day.  It is so heart-warming to see the love and concern people feel for Michiyo.  It's because they've all been on the receiving end of her love and concern.  Today was really a beautiful picture of the body of Christ working together to love, serve and pray for one another.  May her husband and everyone else 'know we are Christians by our love', and be drawn to Christ as a result!

For me to live is Christ, to die is gain

Michiyo Sakai is a precious sister in Christ.  We've been friends a long time.  We've seen her come to Christ, raised our children together, worked together in service, seen our kids make professions of faith together, and shared many pieces of our lives.  This fall, we are walking through a valley with Michiyo.  She has a tumor on her lung; tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m. it will be removed, and if it is cancer, they will also remove 1/3 of her right lung.  She is 45 years old.  She is a shining testimony of God's grace.  She is a leader of women and a servant of all in our church.  And so on this night before her surgery, my heart is filled with the question, "WHY, LORD??" Michiyo's asked the same question, of course.  But she doesn't linger there.  She moves on to truth:  "God tells us he makes us more like Jesus through suffering."  "I know that all things work together for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose."  "If God is for me, who can be against me?"  etc...

People have been moved by her faith--they've praised her for her courage and strength.  Michiyo responds with a firm, "NO--it is Christ in me, nothing of myself."  Really, it's been a beautiful thing to see.  Oh, she's had tears.  We've cried some of those together, others she's shed in the dark when nobody else can see.  But in the end, the smile wins out.  She's been a living testimony of God's strength being perfected in weakness.

I hope you will pray for my friend and sister.  Pray for her husband Toshi to meet Jesus face to face through this journey.  Pray for her daughter Noel--far away in the States--and her son Leo.  Pray for us.  We love Michiyo.  And we pray for God's grace to rejoice in whatever tomorrow holds...

So far away...

I think the last few years have brought us to a new place in our life in Japan...the stage where part of our family (and therefore, part of our heart), is no longer right here with us, but far away.  Katelyn's just starting her sophomore year at Covenant College, and we are thrilled with all she is learning and doing there.  BUT!  It's hard to miss out on special moments.  The first ever sporting event held under lights is one example--the women's soccer team inaugurated the new lights, and I'm sure many parents and families traveled to be there to share in the excitement with their girls.  It pains me to NOT get to be a part of special moments like that in Katelyn's life.  It forces me to keep an eternal perspective, summed up well in something Katelyn posted on  facebook:

'This world is where I breathe, let it never be called home'

Katelyn, #13, celebrates a goal scored by her friend and teammate Amy Dykstra.

Pray and Plan

We are spending today and tomorrow as a team praying and planning for the fall.  It's never enough time to talk about all the things we want to discuss!  But I am thankful for each of the dear people God has put together on the Nagoya Church Planting Team--Bakelaars, Wilsons, Linda, Darlene and Jane.  Today I was struck by something Wayne said.  He mentioned that about one year ago, when we had just returned to Japan from the States, we decided as a team to focus on praying for God to add new workers to our team.  Since that time, we have gone from one family intinerating to join us, to FIVE families and singles who are now raising support to join church planting in Nagoya.  God has answered that prayer abundantly!  We can't wait to have the Carters, Sinks, Cravens, Gees and Kendrick join us.  And this year, we need to pray that God will add Japanese co-workers to our number, so that each of us can partner with Japanese to see God's kingdom expand in this place.      More than numbers, though, we need to be like Jesus in all we do:  "Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. ³⁶When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.