I had every intention to to post a new project this weekend. I may still do that, but with all that has gone on in Japan the past 24 hours, I feel like I need to interrupt the crafty blog post for some thoughts and memories.
I had the prevailage of living in Japan for several years during my college years. My first summer in Japan was with ELI / LIFE Ministries Scrum Dendo program. I was an English teacher / missionary in Sendai, Japan (the epicenter of the March 11, 2011 quake). Each of us were paired with a small church, where we taught English to children and adults in the neighborhood as part of an outreach program sponsored by the churches. We lived with a family gaining wonderful experiences, friends, and memories along the way.
Here I am meeting my host family at the train station.
 |
| Toru and Shoko, with their children, Hajime, me, Scott Nelson, Matt Boone, Tomoko and Yoko. |
My home was with the Kimura's. He was the Pastor of Mukaiyama Christ Church in Sendai, Japan. Today, as I watched all of the news reports, and saw the devistation in and around Sendai, I could not help but think of everyone I had come to know that summer. Here are some general pictures of the Mukaiyama Christ Church.
And some of my students - Ruriko Kokubo, Kana Kokubo, Shogo Naganuma, Hiroko Yarimizu....
Here we are touring the Mastushima Islands. This is just west of the epicenter of March 11ths earthquake and tsunami.
I cherished my time in Sendai, with all of these wonderful people. I pray that they and their families have survived the quake and tsunami. I will continue to keep these people and my fond memories in my heart as everone begins to rebuild.
