I'm in Japan!

More than a month ago my brother Jeremy and I planned to meet up in Japan and surprise Dad and Mom.  We both just needed to see Dad after his cancer diagnosis.  Then the earthquake/tsunami happened.  That made it all the more important to be "home" in Japan and hug our family.  I can't say enough how thankful I am for an understanding husband that encouraged me to come and spend this week with my family.  Chris, you're the best!

Poor Ami was a bit tearful when it was time to say "good bye".  :(

 

Unfortunately I made a huge "slip up" and Dad found out that I was coming just a few days before I arrived, but we managed to keep it a secret from Mom.  She thought that she and Dad were going to the airport to pick up my sister's mother-in-law.   But out I came!  Aww, joy!   Pure joy, lots of tears, but lot of smiles, too.

We went from the airport to Chad and Jennifer's house (my sister and BIL).  As I've posted already, they are really spearheading efforts to get aid up to the devastated area of northern Japan.  More about that later.... My sister knew I was coming, but my nephews and nieces didn't.  The last time I saw all of them was more than two years ago when we stopped in Japan on our way through to meet Elijah in China.  Such joy to see and hugs all of them, too!

I love my big sis!

 My niece, Katia.

My nephew, Gideon.

Chad and Jennifer's garage, full of relief supplies.

My niece, Anika, has been a huge help to her dad and mom.  Such a young lady!

My nephew, Josiah.  Josiah, Benjamin, and Elijah are three peas in a pod when it comes to all of their engineering interests!

My nephew Caleb, always an entertainer!

On Friday, my first full day in Japan, I returned to Jennifer's to help out during the day while Dad and Mom each had other obligations.  Their place has been grand central station with many people coming and going all day, whether they are delivering relief supplies, coming to help sort relief supplies, coming to cook for everyone helping, or coming to help make arrangements for driving the supplies up.  Many mission boards have evacuated their missionaries from Tokyo and other northern areas and haven't even been allowed to go back up to help.   So Chad and Jennifer have really become the main center of operations for not only their network of house churches in Osaka, but for many other missions as well that have joined up with their work.  It really is amazing to see!  Chad has been in the northern area for over a week, and Jennifer has been at home coordinating the efforts from there.  She has been doing that all on 3-4 hours of sleep a night and is constantly on the cell phone, home phone, Skype, or answering the doorbell.  Crazy!   I was able to help out with their five kids and also helped with a bit of sorting and repackaging large bags of rice into smaller portions.

Repackaging rice:

Jennifer, on the phone and computer organizing the aid mission.

Jennifer, planning with other local missionaries.

Mom picked me up Friday evening from Jennifer's and we brought the four youngest kids home to Grandpa and Grandma's with us. We'll keep them for a bit so Jennifer can more easily concentrate on the Tohoku Aid.

I sl

I slept with Barney last night.  Ha!

Late Friday night Jeremy arrived in from India where he had been on business.  Mom knew that he was coming, but Dad didn't. So, again a fun night of surprises!

We've enjoyed today (Saturday) hanging out together. It's a funny mix of grandparents, one aunt, one uncle, and four of five siblings that don't belong to either the aunt or uncle. But of course, we do all belong....together...family!

Much to my sister's chagrin I taught my nephews how to start a fire with a magnifying glass.  :)

A childrens' kimono shop

Um....yeah....some English just doesn't translate well.

Mrs. Kimura, a dear friend, mother of Mana, our foreign exchange student that lived with us for a year.

Uncle Jeremy, playing with his old cars with Gideon and Katia.