Jul 10 2011
Hi all! Here is a link to a condensed (300 pictures vs 900) photo album from the Asia trip. http://www.flickr.com/photos/yabukibreeze/sets/72157627156314972/
Below is a slide show of the 300 pictures & videos… Enjoy!
Jul 08 2011
We are sitting in the plane with one hour to go before we arrive in Los Angeles. Then a long layover in LA and then the three hour flight home. We have travelled exactly a month already. It will be nice to be sleeping in our own beds tonight.
In our last few hours in Asia, God answered several prayers reminding of how blessed we have been on this trip. Our restful hotel stay in Shanghai was just what we needed and when we got to the desk to check into our China Eastern flight there were no problems. Honestly, if China Eastern worked on their stateside customer service they might just be okay. The in flight service was okay and the food was good.
Anyway, looking back on our trip, as I said, we really have been blessed. God has been watching us every step of the way. He allowed us some challenges but got us through. He pushed us and we learned. He used us for His glory an we are very thankful.
One phrase I heard from several students was that they are thankful that we came because it reminded them of the special time and the things they learned and experienced while in Texas. They were reminded of the blessings shown by God’s people and God’s grace experienced with them. Some were challenged to stay faithful to commitments made in the past.
The time in the two orphanages were also very special. The five of us got to see a different side of China. One that we never see through our students. We were able to see the poor and the less fortunate and you and we were able to help. I know we have places like there too. Perhaps it is important to expose the students to them too.
All in all thank you all for you support in reading, through your gifts, and definitely In prayer. We felt you were with us the whole way. Thank you so very much!
Once home we will share some other stuff, we will upload pictures and videos and all. So for for now, high above the Pacific Ocean we bid you adieu.
Roy
Sent via iPhone
Jul 06 2011
We are on our hopefully last train on this trip the Shinkansen bullet train from Fukushima Japan to Tokyo. Pardon how little we have posted the last few days. We have not had accessible wifi in Japan.
Our time in Fukushima was very nice. The people in Fukushima and in the region are working hard to bring normalcy back to their lives. Still the ground is not stable as evidenced by the small tremor last night. In the days prior to our arrival my parents attended a seminar for those who live within 50 miles of the troubled nuclear plant. Right now, in Fukushima, they have relaxed the recommendations and short sleeves and being maskless is okay. Food is also okay if washed properly.
Our family is doing okay though age is starting to creep up on our uncles and aunts. I have one uncle who is very close to death as he struggles with a rare form of spinal cancer. We were able to bring some comfort to his family as they deal with this. 
My parents were able to pray with him but things seem bleak. As we drove by my late grandparents abandoned home this trip I was taken by how short life is and how much I miss them and how much our little seen but much loved Japanese family means to us. I fear we have not done well in getting to know the next generation and we may loses the connection when my parent’s generation passes.
When we visited my aunt in Kami, Miyagi prefecture, we were able to drive though some of the parts of Sendai most affected by the Tsunami and earthquake. What contrasts! In the main city you would never know that anything happened as there was little major damage… But as you move toward the sea, you see more and more evidence of destruction. As we drove towards Sendai airport you start to see cars in huge piles. You also see debris also piled up neatly all over. 
Every once in a while you might see a boat or a train where it should not be or a car in a field. Where there were once many homes we just fields, mud and felled trees. It was amazing seeing the destruction in that place but also how much cleaning up has been done but also how much still has to be done. There are so many sub stories from there. I wish I has the tim to tell you some of them. Also we find small evacuee communities all over Fukushima, Miyagi, and surrounding prefecture including next to one of my aunt’s homes.
Three stories both involving my parents strike me and show God at wortk through our time here As they were serving at a evacuation center, they were talking to a young man. They saw he had the same last name as my mother’s family. They asked him where he was from and he said Soma. We learned earlier because of the Tsunami that a long lost relative was from there. We asked him if he was related. He was! He was th grandson of my grandfather’s cousin. God brought them together.
The second story is very personal to my father and his family. 70 years ago his uncle who lived in the States donated a piano to my dad’s elementary school in war damaged Japan. It was a huge deal with the governor’s wife coming out to play it in a special ceremony. A couple of days ago my dad was talking with his siblings about this On a whim my dad and his brother visited the school and to their surprise, the piano was still there! It had a plaque saying it was from the states and that is it. They told the story to the principal who was a good friend of my uncle. They took a picture of someone playing the piano with my uncle and dad and the principal. My uncle was touched.
Finally the weather has been perfect throughout our time there. Rain all around except where we were.
With all these stories my parents were able to point my family to Jesus. The relatives were able to see that God is not distant but REAL!
Prayer request: pray for my uncle of course who is fighting the final battles with cancer. Pray also for our flight back. China Eastern is stubbornly saying they have the right to not honor our return flight because we missed their outbound flight because of a cancelled flight and were rerouted through American through China Eastern’s agent! Pray that they will do the right thing! We are ready to come home!
Roy
Sent via iPhone
Jul 03 2011
Japan is not China. I guess we all knew that but it didn’t hit me as hard as the last couple days. Certainly there are similarities and both are incredible cultures and people’s but if one goes into one expecting the other, one will be in for a rude awakening.
Still we loved China and we are very much enjoying Japan. We’ve met several of our students since arriving, several recently married. Maki and Kohji with their son Rui, Shusuke and Yuko, Jun and JooKyung, and Amanda and Daiju have been incredible hosts for our family.
Next we head for Fukushima. Pray for safety in this place recently ravaged by earthquake and nuclear disaster. Pray that we can be an encouragement to family members there. Pray also that we cab physically handle the walking and other visiting stuff we’ve lived with the last three week.
Roy
Sent via iPhone
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