Michael and I are up - as he walks off either a gall bladder or liver attack. He has new tests in the a.m. and is not feeling good now. We're looking for distractions. The beautiful country of Japan is cooperating.
You know the saying about how dogs can sense quakes coming...not so sure about Yuuki....but as it intensified she came to Michael to be held. LOL There's been "quite a few" this afternoon - though really there were 5 - 10 AN HOUR like this this time last year.
During the 6.9 one Zander was in the bathtub.....as it kept going he yelled, "I'm OK...I'M STILL OK IN HERE!" He told me later he was a bit worried he'd have to run outside naked or one of us would come in to check on him. ::snort:: The sirens out here were going off - and the loud speakers we can't understand. I get emails from the city warning system in English, but Zander wasn't sure what was about to happen. We had a 2 ft tsunami watch. I was saying Sunday in honor of the one year mark I would take the bungee cords off the book shelf over my laptop - maybe not.
"Our quakes" have centered in the typical spots.....we live almost directly under the "r" in Aomori. Kinda shows you how far we are from Tokyo too. About an 8 - 9 hour drive.
I've discovered this past week Michael makes a much better "labor coach" than I. I have learned, however, he doesn't really need a lecture on the sovereignty of God in the midst of the pain. Come to think of it, I would have smacked him if he tried that when I was in labor. ::snort::
Last week lulled me into thinking spring was here. I enjoyed driving on the wet, but clear roads. We woke up this a.m. to discover winter is still with us. We got 10 inches last night...10 more inches the last time I checked and it's been snowing steadily all day long.
Looking down - our car UNDER the carport
View from bedroom window, shadow in front is snow on window ledge
View from the shower ::grin::
Window icing over
UNDER the carport.....hard to see how much snow
this really is. Check out the car photo below. I have
no idea how Michael got out this a.m.
I'm wondering if the snow will reach the seat by a.m.
STUCK - trying to get out the door - finally got the snow pushed out of the way
Fortress is gone but the pile of snow is higher
Lots taller - and our snow shovel is under there somewhere
thanks to Stacia and friends
Nisan JOY under the carport
WHO was wimpy today? I shoveled - they watched.
Ah - Almond butter, cliff bars, super seed, muscle milk
These English Muffins are baking and I'm calling it a day.
Unless school is cancelled - tomorrow is PWOC/Base day!
One just never knows how ministry is going to turn out. ::grin:: I moved to Japan, thinking I would take a bit of a PWOC sabbatical. Instead God used me and a team of wonderful women to begin a new PWOC region - Asia Region. We knew we were a region when we'd hosted our first conference and a new leadership team for the next two years was selected. I finally surrendered and put my name in for two more years. Well - let me just share what I wrote for the Asia Region Page at PWOC.org. This was posted Friday morning.
I asked God for verses to guide my decision as the deadline approached to submit my name for another season of leadership in Asia Region. We were due to PCS 8 months after conference. In my PWOC study I read Isaiah 55:8….”My thoughts are not your thoughts.” My thought was the finish line was in sight and I had left it all on the field. His possible thoughts were not my plan. Here are more verses and my reaction to them.
For you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace… Instead of the thorn bush the cypress will come up, and instead of the nettle the myrtle will come up, andit will be amemorial to the LORD, for an everlasting sign which will not be cut off. Isaiah 55:12-13 Whatever God is up to will involve going somewhere with joy and peace. Thorny issues will produce unexpected fruit. This fruit will be a memorial to the LORD. I continued to seek Abba for vision:Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! BecauseI amdoing something in your days— you would not believe ifyou were told. Habakkuk 1:5
NEW – how can THAT be with the same ole President? I continued to pray and considered: I will stand on my guard post and station myself on the rampart; I will keep watch to see what He will speak to me…The Lord answered me and said, "Record the vision…, thatthe one whoreads it may run. For the vision is yet for the appointed time; Ithastens toward the goal and it will notfail. Though it tarries, wait for it; for it will certainly come, it will not delay…. But the righteous will live by hisfaith. Habakkuk 2:1-4
If the selected with only 8 months left in Asia – I will stand on the wall and guard. I will watch and see what You are going to do. I know the vision will be clear at the appointed time. When we clearly have Your vision we will run forward with it. I will walk this out with faith. A month after conference our DEROS was extended to July 2013. At Vision Summit we were informed, pending approval, Asia region would become two. I initially grieved the separation. Many women have worked and sacrificed to see the birth of Asia Region. I honor their commitment.
As I’ve prayerfully waited, God has put the pieces of the puzzle together. This will make two stronger PWOC regions. The verses began to make sense. We are doing something NEW, we have seen His vision and will run forward with it. We certainly would not have believed this a few months ago. The fruit of this decision will be a memorial to the Lord.
I’m reminded of words I shared at WILD 2011, ”Forward braveheart as ever thou are wont to do and Asia Region will follow the heart of the King.” We move forward -always following the heart of our King with joy, faith, love and courage. We will run forward knowing the vision will not fail, but will bring forth the unexpected fruit Abba desires in PWOC Japan and PWOC Korea for His glory. If I can answer any questions please feel free to email me at JapanPresident@pwoc.org.
On the same day the following was posted on PWOC Japan Region's page at PWOC.org.
Dear Ladies from the Land of the Rising Sun,
Abba has used Exodus 33 to minister to me repeatedly as I serve His women. I’ve returned often to the promise in verse 14, “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.” At the end of Asia Region Conference 2011 I shared about not being sure where God was taking us but KNOWING I didn’t want to move unless His presence went with us.
Have you ever camped out in Habakkuk? I have. Last summer God began to plant Habakkuk 2:1-4. I knew I was to stand guard and wait and watch for the vision He would reveal.
It was with a sense of great expectancy that I began to pray Habakkuk 1:5 back to Jesus.
“Look among the nations! Observe!
Be astonished! Wonder!
Because I am doing something in your days –
You would not believe if you were told.” The extroverted otter in me loves the exclamation marks in this short verse! What powerful verbs…LOOK, OBSERVE, BE ASTONISHED, WONDER…..God is doing SOMETHING – something so unthinkable I wouldn’t believe it. I began to pray, “Let it be, God.”
With that promise I submitted my name for a second season of regional leadership. During a fall of prayer I watched, observed and wondered. Yes, I AM astonished at what God is doing. I would not have believed it. It’s humbling to be in the midst of starting another PWOC region.
God is doing a big work IN OUR DAYS which we don’t fully understand at this point, but we can walk forward with Him in confidence. His presence goes with us. Our job is but to follow His heart.
It brings me joy to be starting this journey with you. I’m excited to see where God will lead. Please keep the PWOC Japan in prayer. If you’d like to discuss opportunities to serve in this new region, please email me at Japan.President@pwoc.org.
Joyfully following His heart with you,
De’Etta Goecker (PWOC Japan Region, President)
Since January I've been quietly and steadily working towards a smooth transition for Asia Region to multiply to two regions. 2/3's of our leadership team will remain in Korea as leaders of PWOC Korea. They are going to ROCK IT! Pam is going to be a superb Regional President and God so seamlessly orchestrated the transfer - we stand in awe.
My considerable energy is now turned 100% towards PWOC Japan Region. Watch out! ::snort:: We are just now able to begin the process of building full regional teams in both Korea and Japan - as you can't recruit for something you can't discuss. LOL The Army Chief of Chaplains gave the final approval on Thursday and we launched on Friday with Skypes with Presidents, emails, Facebook pages and more and more and more.
I've spent considerable time since Friday moving things from one web page to another, from one facebook page to another, deleting Asia Region's documents etc. PWOC Japan Region has found a home here on Facebook, and here on pwoc.org, and here on blogspot.
When I have time to stop and ponder...I find it amusing to be starting yet another PWOC....and my second PWOC region. God certainly does laugh at me. He has taken every bit of experience I've gained "always HAVING to start PWOC's" and used it for this season of ministry.
I look forward to two more years of growing personally and as a region. I eagerly anticipate what God may do in Japan through this new PWOC region.
Many of us have been experiencing various emotions as the anniversary of 3.11.11 approached. It's been a year since the triple disaster of a 9. earthquake, an unbelievable tsunami, and a nuclear disaster hit our host country. On our installations many voluntarily evacuated and some were sent home early not to return. We do not want to be a people living in the past...but it is fitting to reflect. Consider the words below from OMF International (formerly China Inland Mission).
As you reflect, consider God has been faithful! New doors of ministry are open. Many of us have grown in intimacy with Abba through the events of the past year. Personally, I've learned to follow His lead in a much more vulnerable and intimate way. I challenge us all to continue to let His light shine in this unique time of history.
It has been humbling to serve with you at this time. I have been in awe of His grace as I hear of the ways various individuals and groups have gotten involved with the ongoing relief and rebuilding efforts in our host country.
Here is letter to all government and military personnel serving in Japan from the US Ambassador.
Enjoy this video from CRASH - an organization many of us have worked with this year and the recipient of Asia Region's Conference 2011.
Truly God IS on the move in Japan. God persists. Hope Persists! I pray the life of Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, flow into these communities and our installations with as much reality as the tsunami did a year ago.
Well.....we're nearing a year since the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake/Tsunami.
Michael invited Pastor Yoshiya Kondo from Morioka Conservative Baptist Church to be the guest speaker today at our National Prayer Breakfast.
Kondo Sensei grew up in a town in Fukushima. His home was 5 K from the plant. He shared about watching television on March 11th and seeing his friends, teachers, family, class mates running down the streets. He speaks of being allowed to go home for four hours. He shared many stories and it was moving.
Kondo Sensei is the coordinator of the 3.11 Iwate Church Network. Teams go down to the most stricken coastal areas regularly. He said more than "things" - the people simply need someone to with which to talk.
Before the Tsunami communities were shut tight - very close knit. He said you could live in them for 20 years and still be considered a foreigner. NOW....communities are open...but he shared the people are still "closed" and "empty". So his words to describe this area of Japan is "Open but empty".
For 20,000 March 11th was the day life ended. For those who survived but lost their family, homes, jobs, communities etc...March 11, 2001 was the day that time froze. They're stuck in a new and painful realith without hope. Many have committed suicide, many are considering it. Thus Franklin Graham's "Celebration of Hope" and "Tohoku Hope". Kondo Sensei and his staff are building relationships with these who have lost so much and are praying that the Holy Spirit will flow in to their lives and bring new life and hope.
The Kondo family has a new baby born 2 months ago....I can't remember the Greek word they named him - but it means "flow in"... and is used in Scripture to describe when the life of Christ flows in and takes over our life....He shared how the tsunami flowed in.....and left many empty...but we are believing for the life of Christ to flow in. May it be.
Happy 100th Birthday to Oreos. I used to love Oreos - Double Stuff.
We made a treat today......we called it school.....In the absence of Oreos or Newman O's I asked Stacia to take apart some cookies. We put 1/2 in the bottom of a lined muffin tin.
I mixed up a cake batter and poured over the top of the cookies.
This is Stacia's favorite part of helping me in the kitchen...though she valiantly tried to tell me she was learning a lot about mixing, cooking, being a Mom and "math stuff."
One by one...
They ALWAYS know when I'm baking.... We baked at 350* for about 20 min. Let them cool. After the Prayer Luncheon we frosted... They WERE going to have the cookie TOPS on the top - but they vanished! Hmm...curiouser and curiouser!
The little clown actually is what prompted today's baking...because Stacia had it and said she needed a cake to decorate...I mixed up a cake and was thinking how long WOULD I bake cupcakes...did a google and discovered it was the Oreo's 100th birthday - I guess that means this was history too!
To set the record straight we DID have Oreos when I was a little girl....that was just mean. ::snort::
