The Chapel Did It!

Misawa Helps is the name of the local volunteer clean up drives. "Have You Done It?" is the catch phrase, we have a big tally board on the main drag of the base (beats the DUI board that was there LOL), and there is even an AFN commercial. 

You must be 16 or go with an adult. Jared's trips have been with this program. I've not been able to "do it," as Arielle hasn't been comfortable watching the children for an entire day alone.

Today the chapel reserved seats on the buses. We actually had a chapel clean up day planned for Sunday, but the trip was cancelled and we moved to join with the trip for today. Jared needed a break. I went.  It's exhausting, back breaking, COLD, rewarding.....Today's mission was to our local beach.  The beaches are still littered with tangled masses of debris.  Our job was to take pieces of boats, nets, anchors, ropes, tarps, sails, tin etc out of trees, drag them to the road where the equipment can get in...and make piles of salvageable, burnable etc.

Three on the left are PWOC Ladies....Shining at Operation Tomadachi

Erika was one of my Tokyo traveling partners. We admitted we enjoyed ourselves today much more than our days of shopping and waiting in Tokyo. 

Michael in the middle....

Ruth and I

We were ready for a break. Akikosan came on this trip. It was fun to work with her all day....

I cannot tell you the number of piles of nets like this that had to be untangled and moved. 

Tired at the end of the day, but we had to go see the ocean (we'd been working on the other side of the seawall all day). 

The Whole Group

Somewhere during the day I decided to go to the onsen when I got home.  I was too cold and tired to go....but I soaked in a hot tub, got the sand and grit out of my eyes, ears and mouth and feel human again. LOL 

We'll do it again....maybe not as a chapel...but as a family.

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Shikata Ga Nai

Michael got home at 10:30 last night - full day of chapel ministry, planning disaster relief etc. I had been thinking a lot yesterday about the fact that I was "supposed to be in TX" and had chosen to cancel the ticket as I didn't feel right leaving the children.

Around 11:00 p.m. I signed off Facebook and we headed to bed....

Then the earth shook! And I mean rolled a while, then SHOOK up and down, and rolled some more.  Umm....I was on the toilet this time....and I could hear things rattling and crashing...and Mike yelling to the kids, "Stay put, don't go downstairs".....I decided if the house was going to fall apart I did not want to be on the throne when it happened. The power went out...I staggered to the recliner at the top of our stairs and waited it out while watching the rest of the family in doorways....the phones went out...we covered the fridge and freezer....checked our home for damage...checked homes in the neighborhood, calmed children,  and went to sleep.

It was a 7.4 earthquake. We went out to get in the car to hear the AFN news....and could see lots of folks heading for the base and the loudspeakers warning of a tsunami. Michael finds it quite funny that he KNEW for the briefest of seconds I was considering heading down to the beach. In fact, I was near the car when he came back from checking the neighborhood and he said, "Absolutely not..."..... I innocently said, "Whhhhhaaaattt?"

We awoke this a.m. still without power. I took Jared in to the chapel for an event. I spent a couple of hours trying to make phone calls to the states.

We settled in for another round of camping at home...but the power is now back on.  We live within 50 miles of a reactor. It was NOT damaged in the "great earthquake," but when these hit, they shut down the reactors and then slowly bring them back online. When they shut it down, we have no power.

Not much else to share...I had just quit the vertigo thing  I seem to have when the earth is moving under my feet every few hours. The last few days had been quiet. Some think we may have another big one in a couple days as that is the pattern of March 11th....I thought it quite funny to go to the EFAC (where they provide phones) and see the long lines in the Cafe that adjoins it....seems when an earthquake hits Misawa we head for coffee and pizza.

Which reminds me, Mike has just called to say he's bringing pizza and company home for dinner. I'm off.

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Fellowship, Friendship and Funnies!

MOPS play date this a.m. - 20 still around. Small but powerfully fun and needed. 


Then we met a friend at Homac and helped her buy the Japanese laundry poles. We took advantage of the opportunity to buy dirt, more planters, and some plants.

Many hours of this day were spent in working out the ever-changing details of how this Transition Home Kit effort is going to work. It's coming together well.  I'm starting to really love the analogy of the man throwing starfish back into the ocean. When told the job was hopeless and wouldn't make a difference he said, "to the one I just threw in it matters."  I keep thinking about that....

Tonight, Akikosan offered to come with us on the first trip to deliver home kits. This is very good. She told me, "De'Etta San, I can read a Japanese map."  My "adventures" have made me an international legend. ::snort:: She also told me that what had been translated online as "rice bowls" read "Condoleesa Rice"....not sure how THAT happened but we had a good laugh about three of them being in the kit.  She is going over the list.

Prayers are appreciated...we're weary....but not weary in doing good.


Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Monday's Trip to Miyako City

Last week the chapel had funded a trip of veggies down to Miyako City. The gentleman who had organized that trip ended up taking a couple of more trips down. Various Christians on base simply gave him money to buy more veggies at wholesale to take on down. 


Monday Jared left early to go help load other donations into the vehicles. I met them to drive on town to the Produce Warehouse in Hachinohe. Nolan came with me. We loaded vehicles. Jared had to be here for human video practice, but Nolan was able to ride along to Miyako with the men. He got home about 10:00 p.m. 


Here are a few photos...and yes, I AM proud of my guys. 

Monday's packing crew

Here are some shots for Miyako City area....stunning really. 

New houses weren't spared

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

What do I feel?

Entering week three I find myself struggling with something a bit different. Where does my focus need to be? I want to be His hands and feet. I want to be salt and light. The sheer magnitude of what has happened, and is happening, in Japan can become my sole focus if I'm not careful. It's never far from my thoughts and prayers. It is bad for relief efforts and such to occupy so much of our time? I don't think so. Yet, I know that He has led me, and our family, to other priorities as well. I need His wisdom to discern where the focus should be....His clarity to know which opportunities are distractions and which are God-driven change of directions.

I also find myself tearing up at strange times....random times....If I think too much of those who have lost everything, when I hear of one more need, when I hear yet another rumor of what may happen to Americans stationed over here....emotions are close to the surface.

I've prayed for 2 years that God would give me His heart for Japan.  I struggle with a wide range of emotions...hope that the cultural narrative will change providing a bridge for the gospel, disappointment in those whose goal seems to be "saving face" more than helping citizens, astonishment and awe at the good I see in this lovely culture...and yet...knowing that this nation needs Jesus.

I've been frustrated at the ever-changing rumors in the military community. I've been frustrated at red tape that can't seem to flex to accommodate the current crisis. I've been in awe of godly chaplains doing all they can to serve the needs of their troops and their neighbors in this beautiful host country we live in. I'm in awe of so many on base who are giving day after day to local clean up efforts, giving time and money to buy food for stricken areas etc. The need doesn't end. It won't end for some time. Will the door of opportunity to GIVE end? I don't know.

I've been given projects to run with and am learning  sometimes projects take us places we don't expect to go.... God makes a way through red tape...compassion and mercy must be tempered with patience and understanding...sometimes things move so fast you wonder if you are guiding a program or being run over by a program.....

I find our plans to travel to see the girls' graduation sort of "up in the air" as no one knows what will happen day to day in Japan.

Through it all I pray for Japan to see the love of God....for us to make the most of this time in history...we dare not miss this opportunity to be His salt and light.

I also spent some time today meeting with our upcoming retreat speaker, changing details for that, preparing local PWOC board reports, preparing for an upcoming regional Skype Board Meeting, preparing for Bible studies...

Please continue to pray for Japan's cultural narrative to shift...allowing for humility and acceptance of gifts. Please pray for leaders to make decisions in the best interest of citizens and not out of a need to be independent and to "save face". Pray for Team Misawa - divided in location at this point....spouses in the states and spouse in Japan. Pray for military leaders to make good decisions and for those good decisions to be LISTENED to further up the chains of command.

This isn't very pretty...but it's real.

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

She's Going to Turkey!

{Below is a letter from Krista, our 23 year old! We covet your prayers on her behalf.}

Dear Family and Friends,

                Thank you to all the people who have been supporting me throughout my life with  prayer and wise mentoring.  I am GRADUATING! Yes, the time has finally come when I will be able to walk down the aisle and get a piece of paper! No, not a ring. These past two years at New Hope C** College have been a whirlwind of opportunities to learn, grow, and strengthen others. I will be graduating with a BA in intercultural studies.

                The Lord has been laying on my heart the desire to spread His love and truth to unreached people groups. A great opportunity has opened up for me to go to Turkey with The Evangelical Alliance M**(TEAM). The country of Turkey is in great need of the message as less than 1% know our Savior. I, and another short termer I have yet to meet, will help resident workers plan and execute the Olive Grove camps. We will also be counselors at the camps and participate in outreach ministry to the poorer Turkish youth.

                Olive Grove, a camp designed to help children and youth grow and develop as individuals, as friends of God and others, and as followers of our Savior, is two full weeks with well over 100 campers and 30+ staff members, representing nearly 20 nationalities!  Olive Grove is located alongside the Mediterranean Sea, in the peaceful village of Çıralı, at the base of Mt. Olympos. Ex-patriot children living in Turkey attend along with a growing percentage of Turkish campers.

                During the month of July we will be doing outreach clubs to poorer youth in Turkey. These will involve teaching English, playing sports, and doing crafts with the kids.  We will also be teaching Sunday School and doing some activities with their youth group.

                 I can’t do this alone! Above all I need your prayers, for changed lives, opportunities to share, receptive hearts, and yes, safety. I also need financial help. This commissioned, minded trip will be from May 20^th – August 8^th (I might possibly be spending two of those weeks in Japan). I must have $6010 raised my May 7^th to pay for the Turkey expenses. All donations are tax-deductable and should be sent to TEAM at “TEAM, P.O. Box 969 Wheaton. IL 60187-0969.” Checks should be made out to TEAM, with a note specifying it is for Kristina Goecker. I would love to hear from you and know if you are able to be praying for me.

                Cell Phone: (541) 337-7320 (will not be working after May 17^th)

                Email: kokobean1@gmail.com

                Blog: http://awalkinthewild.blogspot.com

                Facebook: facebook.com/krista.goecker

Sincerely,

Krista Goecker

P.S. Do not use the word “m*ssi*n” or any other religious type wording when corresponding through electronic means. 

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Home Move In Kits for Japan

Our Chapel (Misawa Air Base) is working with CRASH to provide Home Move In kits to families moving from evacuation centers to small apartments. We are starting with one city that has asked for help. I have no idea how many kits we can donate....they'd like 50 a week. Overwhelming, but we'll never know what we can do, if we don't try. The need is great. The center/town will provide families with bedding and food. Many clothes have been donated. The idea is to provide what a Japanese family would deem essential for the first 2 - 4 days in a new place. 


Michael asked me to go buy all that was needed on the economy for a move in kit. This will help tomorrow when he tells others all the details. 


Armed with our list we hit the stores. The toughest thing we ran into was deciding if we had hand soap, shampoo, or toilet cleaner. It also took faith to buy electrical items without being able to read the fine print. We aren't allowed to buy things on base to donate.  The local stores say they can meet our need...I'm not 100% sure they can...but I'm all for giving our local economy our business...and bless families too...win/win. 

We were able to buy almost everything at Sundays. We headed to the 100Yen store for plastic drinking glasses. I would love to know if anyone local finds  plastic plates. We were asked to buy plastic over glass.  

This is sort of like Operation Christmas Child - but we really overshot our box. I'll have to look for something bigger.  I bought most everything at Sundays and got the last really good price on a rice steamer....it came to $238.50.  I'm guessing a kit will cost between $200 (if you don't buy the electric rice steamer and hot pot) and $300 depending on the rice steamer you find. We're hoping some families will be able to give several kits, or maybe several families can go together and buy one kit. As many wives are gone I think I may need to arrange a merry band of shoppers. The chapel cannot accept cash, but they can accept these kits to be delivered. 

The only thing I don't have in our kit yet is the Japanese Bible. I'm working on a source to be able to buy or receive Bibles. I even translated the list to Japanese for us to tape on the outside of the kits as they're donated.  I'm begging to be allowed to be one of the drivers when these are delivered. I think I excel at adventurous Road Trips. 

Interested in what has been requested (sorry the formatting will wrap)?

Item                             Quantity                      Notes

Rice cooker                 1                                  electric, small

Rice ladle                    1                                  usually included with new rice cookers

Hot pot                        1                                  electric

Fry pan                        1                                             

Cooking pot                  1                                  medium size               

Plastic cutting board      1 small

Spatula                         1

Ladle                           1

Kitchen Knife               1

Rubber gloves              1 pair                           for washing dishes, etc.          

Plates                          3

Rice Bowls                  3

Drinking glasses           3                                  Japanese prefer small sizes

Tea or coffee cups       3                                 

Chop sticks                  3 sets

Soup spoons                3

Long chop sticks         1 set                             for cooking

Hand soap                  1 bar

Dishwashing soap       1 bottle

Laundry soap              1 box (small)  

Shampoo                    1 bottle                                   

Kleenex                     1 box

Toilet paper                2 rolls

House slippers             3 pairs

Toilet slippers              1 pair

Kitchen sponge            1

Kitchen towels             2 small

Bath towels                  3 medium

Cleaning cloths             1 small package

Clothesline                   1  about 5-6 feet long

Japanese Bible            1                                  

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...