Salutations, my dear friends, family, and supporters! I apologize for the last minute update, as this month has been rather on the busy side. Got quite a few things to share, so let's jump right in!
First off, after nearly two years of cancelations, the Aoba festival is back! It's a famous annual parade in Sendai complete with dancing, floats, samurai demonstrations, and food! I was able to see it back in 2019, but thanks to COVID, it was canceled in 2020 and 2021. But thankfully it still happened this year, which is defiantly a sign of the return of normality in Sendai after a long and frustrating two years of the pandemic. Here is a video recording of some of the highlights. The footage I got was obscured by all the crowds, so here is a more professionally filmed video:
But here is a video I was able to record for a bit: A samurai show starring the historical lord of Sendai himself: Date Masamune and his loyal retainers!
Good news! The borders of Japan are opening up to tourists! Although initially in small tour groups, it's still so encouraging after two long and painful years, Japan is finally beginning the process of letting the rest of the world come visit! Speaking of, I have some more wonderful news: after two years of being away from Sendai, unable to enter due to many factors, Chrissy is finally returning in June! I'll never forget the heartbreaking news when she was denied entry to Japan right as her plane landed near Tokyo back in 2020. It was like a slap to the face. For two years, she's been waiting for the right time to return, and she'll finally be here around June 20th! Please pray for a safe return and readjustment back into Japan life!
I have a big update to our YWAM Sendai community center vision! While our team size is a bit small to run a full size café/business in a building, our teammate Janet is spearheading a new ministry to help jumpstart ourselves into said vision: a kitchen car ministry! Significantly cheaper and more mobile, we plan on serving refreshments out of a modified van/truck, after obtaining the necessary licenses' and permits, and meeting people all over Sendai! We hope to use this kitchen car as a way to take the gospel to the streets, as a sort of precursor to a community center.
We haven't yet bought a car or gotten the official paperwork finalized, but we have voted and agreed as a team to pursue this small business venture and invest a good amount of the YWAM Sendai funds toward this endeavor! We're all very excited and cannot wait to get started!
We still pray for a building and a care café in the future, but this kitchen car is a practical first step toward those goals, and is a way for us to serve the Japanese's physical and spiritual needs. As the plan comes together, I will be sharing our progress with you all. Please be praying for this new ministry for not just the finances and legality involved, but that it'll be blessed by the Holy Spirit for the sake of the salvation of the Japanese people.
On a sad note, I want to pay my respects to the innocent lives lost to an evil monster this past week. As an American living aboard in a far away land, it breaks my heart to hear and see my beautiful country in so much pain, rage, and confusion. Please know that I'm praying for you all. I pray that the great people of the United States of America can unite together in their grief and desire for justice, and together fight this darkness that threatens the innocent and vulnerable with wisdom, faith, and love.
Thank you all so much for your support and prayers, and have a most blessed day!
2 Chronicles 7:14
",if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
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