- Jon (for the rest of the team)
July 18, 2012
Quick Recap
It's the middle of the day here and everyone is hard at work, perfect time to give you a quick update. If you haven't figured it out yet my co-blogger is Erik Graham (but he hasn't set up a sweet signature for his posts yet). So thanks to Erik for helping to keep the updates flowing. Today the weather is still warm, but the wind has really kicked up.
We've got three teams spread out doing "mud outs" which is really a misnomer. The better term would be demolition/digging/eating amazing food that the homeowners have made. The relationships our teams are forming with the homeowners are really amazing. They have a VERY deep sense of gratitude toward our teens and have been making them food (such as yakisoba and tempura) and providing them with the best melon you've ever tasted (a huge honor to our team since the melons are pricey). At the Suzuki's house they are doting on the teens and showering them with love. The Suzuki's were asking why our team would want to come serve them and we through a translator tried to explain that God loved them and we wanted to serve Jesus with our lives. Mrs. Suzuki-San exclaimed that she liked this God who wasn't deserting them. A pretty phenomenal claim since she is not a Christian at all. Our teens could practically be construction workers at this point.
We also have a team over at the temporary housing. They installed flower planters for the residents right off the bat. The planters are a special gift to them because of the dreariness of the surroundings. Then they had a tea and coffee gathering with the residents, heard their stories, and are currently doing crafts with children and the older residents before they serve a BBQ dinner.
I can't emphasize enough how good a job the teens are doing. They've been flexible and strong in the face of exhaustion. God is definitely at work in our midst! It's exciting to see what He'll accomplish in and through our teens. Be praying for continued strength and spiritual growth in our kids. Pray also for open hearts in the residents we are working with and blessing on the MTW staff people we are living and working among. I'll keep posting up videos with the teens as we're able!
- Jon (for the rest of the team)
We've got three teams spread out doing "mud outs" which is really a misnomer. The better term would be demolition/digging/eating amazing food that the homeowners have made. The relationships our teams are forming with the homeowners are really amazing. They have a VERY deep sense of gratitude toward our teens and have been making them food (such as yakisoba and tempura) and providing them with the best melon you've ever tasted (a huge honor to our team since the melons are pricey). At the Suzuki's house they are doting on the teens and showering them with love. The Suzuki's were asking why our team would want to come serve them and we through a translator tried to explain that God loved them and we wanted to serve Jesus with our lives. Mrs. Suzuki-San exclaimed that she liked this God who wasn't deserting them. A pretty phenomenal claim since she is not a Christian at all. Our teens could practically be construction workers at this point.
We also have a team over at the temporary housing. They installed flower planters for the residents right off the bat. The planters are a special gift to them because of the dreariness of the surroundings. Then they had a tea and coffee gathering with the residents, heard their stories, and are currently doing crafts with children and the older residents before they serve a BBQ dinner.
I can't emphasize enough how good a job the teens are doing. They've been flexible and strong in the face of exhaustion. God is definitely at work in our midst! It's exciting to see what He'll accomplish in and through our teens. Be praying for continued strength and spiritual growth in our kids. Pray also for open hearts in the residents we are working with and blessing on the MTW staff people we are living and working among. I'll keep posting up videos with the teens as we're able!
- Jon (for the rest of the team)
Spotlight - Ariel
Shout out to the Zambia Go Team from Ariel Flach.
- Jon (for the rest of the team)
- Jon (for the rest of the team)
Location:Koganehama,Ishinomaki,Japan
Mud Out at Suzuki-San's House
They're excited to mud out. Can you tell?
- Jon (for the rest of the team)
- Jon (for the rest of the team)
Day 1 Recap
Everyone is off to bed now. They're incredibly tired, but super determined. They got their first look at the devastation today an it rocked their world. It's one thing to see pictures and another thing entirely to stand in the school yard where 109 children lost their lives. The teens are beginning to really understand the gravity of what they are undertaking. The work today was hard, but they pursued it with everything their jet lagged bodies had. On the other side Onsen's (traditional Japanese baths that are like a spa) are now the entire team's favorite. That includes the guys! Pray for focus and unity tomorrow as we have our first meetings with the community leaders.
- Jon (for the rest of the team)
- Jon (for the rest of the team)
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