July news

Dear community, 

Like many of you, July begins a change of pace for us. By the end of July, Japanese school kids begin their dearly anticipated summer holidays, rainy season ends and the hot, muggy, busy summer begins. For families, this change means an intensification of family time, in all its glorious chaos. The local rivers are full of soggy kids, the banks quilted with picnic spreads, and every air conditioned space is filled with damp grateful customers, waving pocket fans. Those who have the space and time escape the city, and any program that can takes a break. This summer, we join the ranks of those who cannot leave, waiting for our baby in close proximity to the hospital and doctors. 

Last week I sat in the park next to our house with a dear friend. We watched our collective five kids race around and hose each other off in the water fountain. Like us, they're here for the summer. She anticipating her third baby five weeks before our fourth. We talked about those dear to us, and realized what summer means for those new to faith, for those for whom the church, the bible study, the gathering is their only place of grace. It is hard to sustain hope, energy, faith in the long hot vacation time. I'm reminded of a comment from a recent read: "God is always present, even in his silence." (Scorsese in Fujimura, 164, Silence and Beauty). 

- Community update Please pray for our community and for Japan during this summer change of pace. There are many opportunities for families to reconnect, but also many difficult times that come from the reconnection or lack of connection. 

- Baby update We're so grateful for continued good reports from the doctors. I've been given permission to move around the house more, and do some more regular daily life. I'm so grateful for the simple enjoyment of sitting in the park to watch my kids play or taking a short walk after six months of less movement. We're particularly mindful of the vast community that facilitated the healing rest that lead us to this point. In the remaining ten weeks, we still have many unknowns (the local hospital can take us if the baby comes within four weeks of the due date, but before that, we would be at the larger government hospital an hour away; the hematoma may re-emerge, leading to growth restriction or early delivery; there may be complications during delivery as a lingering effect of the hematoma). My parents were able to organize their busy lives in the states to facilitate a long visit here, and are proving invaluable in our daily lives (currently feeding ducks at the river while I compose this). 

Quick trip to the fifth station of Mt. Fuji

- Looking ahead We know the days will go so quickly and Ryan starts back to work in mid August. Kids are back at school from September and many programs resume full schedules. We're so grateful for the community we have around us and eagerly look forward to resuming those commitments after the summer holiday.