Japan

Well, where do I start? I guess I will start by telling you about the dedications of the houses after we finished the work. For 2 weeks we had a team of 5 with 1 translator who also worked with us. On the 3rd week we were joined by a 6th team member who stayed with us for the remainder of the time. We were able to finish 4 houses and had dedications for 3 (they could not get the dedication set up for the 1st house that we completed before we had to leave). The last 2 dedications took place Saturday which was an incredible way to finish our time in Japan. These last 2 homeowners were next door to each other, so the dedications were done together. The Pastor in the area that Samaritan's Purse has helped to get established and finish a place to meet, does all of the dedication ceremonies for them. The ceremonies starts with the singing of Hymns and spiritual songs and then proceeds into a sermon in which the Pastor explains the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You can see a change in the expressions of the homeowners during this time when Pastor Suzuki gets to the part of their sin. He does not tip toe around any part of the Gospel, he hits it head on. I was very pleased when I heard how Pastor Suzuki handles this during the ceremony. In the first one that we were a part of the ceremony was not translated for us. We felt this was good because it was for the benefit of the homeowner and translating can take away from the moment. We did not want anything to hinder the Gospel message from reaching these people. Pastor Suzuki told them that their gods have done nothing for them but that our God, The living God, Creator of Heaven and earth, has sent us, the workers, they are called by our God to come here to rebuild your houses for you. This is how much God loves you.

I have not heard of any homeowners who have openly confessed Jesus as Savior but the seed has been planted. There is interest (some seems to be very close) as some are now attending the Church services. Please pray with me that the seeds planted will lead to a bountiful harvest by the work of the Holy Spirit in their hearts.

The "Honor/Shame" is ingrained so deep in Japanese culture that there are 30,000 suicides that happen each year just because of shame that has come to them or their families for whatever reason. This number is expected to go up because of this disaster. In fact, I heard about a recent suicide that took place because a man had lost everything. He was living in temporary housing with no job and  no way of supporting himself through the winter, so he thought it was better to end his life. 

It has taken a while for Samaritan's Purse to break into the community. In this "Honor/Shame" Culture it is unheard of to be given something for free. So when Samaritan's Purse told the homeowners that they would pay to rebuild their homes, the homeowners didn't believe it. Even so, there have been some who have said yes to this offer and have found the offer to be true. These who took that leap are now telling their neighbors that the offer is true. The camp that I was at is up to 47 houses completed as of the time that I left. Their hope is to complete over 100 houses at that camp. They have 2 other camps that are working on houses in other communities, as well.

Samaritan's Purse is only allowed to be in the country for 1 year. This is up on March 10, 2012. They should complete the 300 total houses that they have set as their goal by this deadline. This is just a drop in the bucket, though, compared to the amount of rebuilding that needs to be done. It will take years for Japan to rebuild. One of the issues that they have is that the land has drop 120 centimeters (almost 4ft) because of the earthquake. Because of this, they have no idea what effect the tide will have on these areas at different times of the year. This is putting a hold on some of the rebuilding of the infrastructure that was totally destroyed.

This trip has really shown me that it truly takes the whole Body of Christ, the Church, to make disciples. We have been a part of taking the gospel to these people by working with our hands. This disaster has opened doors for the Gospel to go forth in a way that it hasn't before. The barriers of the Japanese people are coming down. God is changing the hearts of these people. I am so glad that I went. This is what God tells us to do. We, the Church, are commanded to "GO" and make disciples. We are all supposed to be working to spread God's fame to all the nations. This is to be our focus. Jesus says that the fields are white for harvest but the workers are few. This is true, I have seen it. I have seen missionaries struggling to do all that is on their plate and not doing the very thing they have been sent to the field to do because they have to pull back and do the support work that someone else in the Body is supposed to be doing for them. But these support people are sitting at home waiting for a special calling or concerned about putting food on the table for their family. God has said "GO"! The question is are you going to be obedient? Jesus says, "if you love me you will obey me." We don't have to have all the answers. God has all of the answers, we just need to trust Him with those and do as He commands us to do.

Gary

Made it

It was a long day of travel but I made it home. I slept well last night and now waiting for my french toast for breakfast. I can't believe that I have been around the world. It is so amazing to think that just yesterday I was about 6000 miles from home. Its certainly good to be home!

Gary

On my way home...

It has been a great trip! I am now in Tokyo after my first leg of the journey. We will fly out tomorrow at 2:45 PM Japan time and arriving in Saint Louis at 4:05 PM CST. I wish it was that quick to fly back but we have about 20 hours of traveling to do tomorrow.

This is one of the bullet trains we rode to Tokyo in. This one was speeding by us at break neck speed. They travel at about 180 MPH or so. They are very smooth and comfortable to ride in. I took a nap on the way.

We saw some beautiful country side with mountains as we sped along.

As well as city landscape. 

I promise I will be posting more on this trip. I have to get to the other side of this journey. I have so much to tell all of you. I can't keep it all in. I have to get Michelle to help me write it all. So keep watching for more.

Gary

Worth the trip...

I went to my first church service in Japan this afternoon which was also their first Sunday meeting in their building. This is significant because it is the first church planted in the area.

The first Steppin'-Out team worked on the building they are now holding services in. Our team was able to go to their first meeting. I feel privileged to be apart of the work going on here. Pastor Suzuki has been a tremendous instrument in this rebuilding process. His house was the first one to be rebuilt by Samaritan's Purse in the area. He has been a part of every house dedication that Samaritan's Purse has done with the homeowners, building rapport with them.

Pastor Suzuki started his sermon by telling us about a person in the community that had lost everything in the Tsunami and has recently committed suicide because they had no way of providing for themselves with the winter coming on. So this person thought that they would be better off no longer on this earth. Then he turned to 1 Peter 5:7; cast all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.

There were probably 5-6 homeowners present at this service. This is significant because up until recently they worshiped other gods. We are bringing the light of Jesus Christ to Japan by rebuilding these precious people's houses. In an honor/shame culture (which is what Japan has), to open your hands and be given anything  goes against everything they believe in.  It brings shame to their family and their name. Now the barriers are being broken down by Samaritan's Purse by  GIVING them a house completely rebuilt.

I met a team of Brother's and Sister's from Malaysia and Singapore that are with Samaritan's Purse. They are staying at the church while helping with the rebuilding process. 

I have had a good time here in Japan. I am glad I came. This is our last week. We are finishing our 3rd house (which I will tell you about later) and plan to finish a 4th house as well this week ( I will tell you about this one later too). 

Please pray that God will keep us strong so that we can finish strong by bringing glory to His name.

We will travel to Tokyo next Sunday and fly out next Monday and arrive in Saint Louis on Monday as well but it will be Tuesday in Japan. The only way 1 day can be more than 24 hours.

Gary

Our second house

Well, we are on to our second house. It is larger than the first. This house belongs to a single mother who lost her husband 4 or 5 years ago. We have not met her yet. Her Father has been there almost every day. He brings us soda and snacks for lunch and provides us water to wash our hands at lunch and the end of the work day. A very nice man. He brought his wife with him Saturday and was planning to tell us his story of what he went through during the Tsunami but our interpreter decided not to go to work with us. So now that is supposed to take place on Monday.

We were thinking that this house would take us the rest of our stay to complete but because we are no longer repairing the siding and the work on the inside is going so smoothly we are now looking at this Tuesday as completion day for what we are suppose to do.

We have dried in the house by wrapping the hole in the exterior walls with tarps

Rebuilt part of the floor









that was destroyed by a tree that came through the house.










Insulated the floors and walls.

Installed new subfloor







and now hanging drywall but don't have picture of that.

In every Japanese house you will find what my work team calls a cubby hole where they put their gods. This is a picture of the hole.

We also had a chance to see a ceremony take place across the street from the job this week in which they had to try to appeased the gods before they could build on the land. They had a truck sitting in the way but you can get the idea.

This picture is after they left still with all the decoration up and a pile of dirt on the ground.

 So far it has been a good trip. I have been here 2 weeks now and we have accomplished much work. They leaders are hunting for another house for us to do that we will be able to finish before we leave. Our crew has been working great together - like we have worked together for years. This is an answer to my prayer. Thank you Lord!

Gary

Our first house...

Picture taken by Billy Jackson

We have completed the work we are supposed to do on our first house. House construction in Japan is very different to what we are familiar with in the States. They build in a post and beam type of construction. The floor joists are 2"x2"s and the walls are 1"x3"s. I don't know how it holds anything up but it does. Actually, the weight of the house is supported on the post and beams but the floor joists are mind boggling.

It has been a good time working on the house. It is very satisfying to see a job completed. This is one of the very first houses that was mudded out back in August. The owners have been living there in the second floor only since then. They are very happy to see work being done. You have to understand that Samaritan's Purse approached these owners back in June and told them that they would rebuild their house for free. These folks have been asking themselves if this could really be true.  It has been a blessing to have been a part of that rebuilding effort. 

More important than the opportunity to rebuild is the opportunity we have had to share Christ with the homeowner.  Today, John our team leader, took the opportunity to do just that.  We pray that the Lord will take the seed planted and bring about a harvest in the home in which we worked.

Tomorrow we start on the next home - one in which the damage is major and where we will probably spend the rest of our time while in Japan.  Please continue to pray for safety and unity for our team, ability to work well and accomplish much on this new house and most importantly, for the salvation of the Japanese people.

Thanks

Gary