Believing in Japan

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 somewhat to normal.

We can drink the tap water again. There is no longer an immediate radiation danger from the Fukushima nuclear power plant. The boys can travel to school by train without problems. We can buy most daily goods, although some products are still rationed. Stores and stations are only half lit to avoid sudden blackouts. A grim darkness covers the city at night, reminding of the tragedy that struck at 3/11. In the church community many still struggle with what happened. Some are able to put things behind them by working hard as ever. Other seem to have more trouble and long for a safe place to tell their story. Many feel guilty about struggling emotionally beacause the ‘real’ tragedy took place further north.

In the middle of all this Grace City tries to be a beacon of hope. Several times a week trucks bring supplies to areas near Sendai, to the cities of Minami Sanriku and Ishinomaki which were devastated by the tsunami. We especially focus on those who are not reached in the shelter, the elderly people and families that live (together) in what is left of their homes, often because they fear possible diseases going around in the shelters. Grace City RELIEF, the new ministry that was born in response to the disaster, tries to bring the Gospel through acts of love to those in need.

It is easy to feel proud of the response by our small church community. Maybe especially missioanries are at risk to suffer from a savior-syndrom. Not only are we as sinners prone to wanting to save ourselves, we like to do it by saving others. Usually this is s adire task in Japan, where the response to the Gospel is so little. Relief work makes the temptation much bigger to see ourselves as Rescuers.  The $150k aid we raised in the Netherlands makes me easily feel (too) good about myself. Think about what this can do to rescue people in need…

Next week Grace City will stop all relief efforts for one week and rest. We will go on a church retreat and take time to process what happened in order to refocus on our vision for the church to love and serve this city and our vision to continue to help the people in the affected areas up north. It will be a time to acknowledge our weaknesses and failures; our need for the real Savior. We believe this will make us better servants for Him, to bring the good news of the true RESCUE to Tokyo and Japan. About every other ten minutes some Japanese celebraties tell me on television they ‘believe in Japan’! We are believinginjapan, too, but know that just trying in our own power to overcome our difficulties will not ultimately bring hope and renewal. Therefore our belief in Japan rests in the hope we have in our risen Lord, who won victory over death and will make everything new!