Made in March

March is about endings and beginnings for us, as well as for a lot of Japan. It seems a fitting parallel to the season of Lent. Interwoven in this season are my readings about contemplative spirituality. Words like silence, stillness, solitude feel laughably far fetched in this season of life with small children. But we’re trying. “To step into the life that is truly life, we’re invited to practice for our death.” (Huertz, 168) Pray with us as we honor Jesus’ path to the cross, and the humiliation of his death, and anticipate resurrection. “God has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.” (M. Luther, found in Lloyd-Jones). 

Luna's preschool girls

Last month we talked about the series of goodbyes: changing schools, daily friends moving on to new patterns. But we also anticipate new beginnings: new school, new classes, and new friends in the neighborhood. 

Renovation project finished

It’s hanami or “Flower picnic” season here, when everyone stops to take a moment to pause for a picnic under the nearest cherry blossom tree. My phone buzzed non-stop last Friday night with groups trying to meet up and coordinate picnics at our local park. I bowed out because of some house construction we scheduled during Ryan’s spring break. By the time I made it to our park in the afternoon, I realized that - with the common denominator of our kids - three of the picnicking groups had introduced themselves, and set up their blankets together in one big party. I wish you knew Nami and Momoka and their crazy girls, Waka, Yumi, Shino and their sweet crew that we’ve known for years, and the Hirayama boys (four of them!), who didn’t know each other before this week, so you could appreciate the beauty of seeing them all sit under the snowing petals, and tearing around the park on each other’s riding toys and bikes. Such lovely chaos. This coming week Ryan is back at work and the kids and I have another week of spring break. Please pray for us as we love and engage these friends. Picnic blanket evangelism. 

Although Ryan wasn’t able to go on the trip because of a schedule conflict with Luna’s preschool graduation, the senior class went to Thailand again this year. Through your generosity, we are able to in turn support one of the local young women, Neung. We’ve been supporting her since secondary school, and she is now two years away from graduating from her college level teaching program. We’re so grateful for the ongoing relationship to this corner of northern Thailand. This year’s trip was smooth and encouraging, and teachers came home impressed by the maturity of this class. We’re so grateful to be able to steward these humans as they finish their time at CAJ and prepare to move out into all corners of the world. Please pray for Ryan as he goes back to teaching tomorrow. 

Back in October we began our relationship with the organization Resourcing Christian Education International. We’re grateful to have their ongoing encouragement and oversight. As you know, in January we began a process of clarifying and improving our finances. We’re happy to say that we’ve reached 33% of our support goal to get us to a healthy financial situation. We feel so blessed by every one of you who are praying for and with us, and we know this is God’s economy and we’re merely vessels channeling his work and resources. Please join us in praying for our financial health as we work towards our goal. 

Masters Finished!!!