Believing in Japan

Four months after the massive earthquake that literally changed the landscape of Japan, life seems to be back to normal in Tokyo. However, under the surface everything is changed. The need to preserve electricity is a painful daily reminder that not only part of Japan is still in ruins, but also that the dream of security -of trust in the government, the economy, and engineering ability- is shattered. 3/11 continues to shake Japan. Our world, too, was shaken, but not our love for this people in need. Read about the spiritual and physical needs of the Japanese that we try to … > read more

Thank you for all of you who have not forgotten Japan and continue to pray for this nation, like these 55,000 friends!

Japan is probably off the radar of most news agencies. The resilience of of the Japanese people has been broadcast around the world and peoples minds have been at rest. They will survive… Thanks to the generous donations of many of you we have been able to help many people who actually struggle to survive after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Last Saturday I took a volunteer team of young professionals to the hard hit city of Ishinomaki. Grace City Church Tokyo has been going to this place dozens of times, bringing relief aid, helping with cleaning, and bringing hope … > read more

We are back in Tokyo! Last week we finished (what unexpectedly became) our trip around the world in 36 days. It was wonderful to be reunited with our friends at Grace City Church Tokyo and celebrate Easter together. Easter is always special, but more than ever we rejoiced in knowing the hope of new life. Japan is mourning the thousands of victims and people still missing and trying to get back on its feet. While up north the endless see of debris is gradually being cleared, tens of thousands of temporary houses are being build, life in Tokyo is returning … > read more

Today is 4/11 and we have lived the strangest month of our lives. I am sure I have claimed this many times before, but the rollercoaster we embarked on after the M9.0 3/11 Tohoku Kanto earthquake has been unchallenged so far. After we survived the earthquake – an experience we will never forget, vehemently shaken on the 51st floor, strangers staying overnight because of a city in disarray while separated from our boys for 24 hours – we decided to leave as planned three days later for the US, for a trip to New York and Michigan. We were torn, … > read more

Our family was reunited 24 hours after the massive quake hit the east coast of Japan. We are very grateful to have our boys back safe with us. As a family we are trying to process everything by talking  about it together. About every hour we are shaken by another after shock, but they get less and less intens. Everybody worries about the nuclear reactors north of here and rumours about another big quake continue to go around. Public transportation is more or less back to normal in Tokyo, but supermarkets are empty. There is no rice or bread, and fresh produce … > read more

Thank you all for praying. We are alright, although our two boys cannot get home from school (25 miles from here) because public transportation is down and they have to stay there overnight. It was terrifying, especially since we live on the 51st floor of a high rise apartment tower. We have experienced many earthquakes, but never anything like this.   We appreciate your prayers for Japan. Hopefully we have had the worst of the earthquakes (although the aftershocks continue all the time), but I think the worst news will come over the next few days when the scope of the … > read more

Church Planting Around the Globe from Redeemer City to City.

Ever since we returned from the Netherlands to Japan about a month ago, life has been like a roller coaster ride. The Japanese call it a jet coaster and maybe that catches better emotions of this one month with its consecutive of ups and downs . Although we love Japan and the Japanese, there have been days I wished it was easier to live here. Little things can easily annoy you when getting adjusted again to life on the mission field. Mostly these irritations can fullybe attributed to the worshippong of idols like comfort and belonging in my life. By the way, … > read more

“Welkom thuis!” and “okaerinasai!” were familiar sounds these last couple of months. It means welcome home in Dutch and in Japanese. So you can guess the reason for the silence during the summer: we went on home assignment in the Netherlands. In a group oriented culture like Japan these greetings when you temporarily move out and later come back to your community are very important. You go through this ritual every day when you leave the apartment building and the concierge exchanges polite greetings with you. But this summer it was different: we left our Japanese home (apartment, neighbors, church, … > read more