Japan - Part II

I sure thought I'd be able to keep up with some blogging and pictures while I'm in Japan, but it just hasn't happened.  I've been able to keep in touch with Chris and the kids on Skype each day, so that's been nice.  Chris has done a great job holding down the fort and the kids are enjoying their spring break.

We've had a mix of activities going on here.  We kept four of my nieces and nephews here at Dad and Mom's for three nights to help Jennifer out so that she could continue her focus on coordinating relief efforts.  Check out their ministry website for updates on the aid work.  It is amazing!  My niece Anika even put together a great video of pictures from their activities:  http://www.onfirejapan.com/tohoku/.  Jennifer is making daily updates and there are tons of photos.  Thank you for your continued prayers for the Japanese people and for Chad and Jennifer as they reach out during this opportune time. 

It has been great to spend more time with my brother, Jeremy.  He had to fly home yesterday, but we made the most of his time here and collected some more memories.  Some of you may not know that my dad's parents came to Japan in 1950 as missionaries, so our family history here is long.  My grandparents have long since passed away, but their original house here in Osaka still remains as part of the mission property.  The attic there is a treasure trove and Jeremy, Dad and I spent some time on Monday digging through trunks, boxes, and making dust fly.  There was laughter and tears, such a neat experience to "dig" into the past. 

I head home tomorrow with a full heart.  I have so enjoyed this adult time with my parents and brother, as well as the crazy time with my nieces and nephews.  I have had little time with my sister, but I know she is doing just what she needs to be doing right now.  I know she is torn, but I wouldn't want it any other way at the present.   Jonathan (my littlest! brother), we've missed you.  Despite your absence, you've provided us with some laughter (Sean's Skype, Mom's juice glasses...)  I'm sure looking forward to our whole family being together this summer!

Kiddos, I can't wait to see you tomorrow.  I've been doing some shopping, so never fear, I will come home bearing gifts.  :)  Chris, Georgia coffee is also in hand.  Love you more than you know!

Here are just a few of my pictures.  I'll get more from Dad and Jeremy later, the true photographers in our family.  

With Mana, our exchange student.  

Out for okonomiyaki, takoyaki, yakisoba!

Takoyaki (octopus)....yum!

Out for udon, plus tempura and sushi......more yum!

At the Asahi house, where my grandparents lived as missionaries for 40 years.

In the attic digging through trunks.....Dad with his senior picutre

Missing our "little" brother, Jonathan!

Sending Jeremy off at the airport.  I miss him already.

More yum....yakiniku!

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.

Japan - March 21 Update

My niece, Anika, along with some Japanese ladies, has worked hard to get a website set up that is full of photos and information regarding the relief efforts that they are spearheading from Osaka.  Check it out at: 

http://b-1.jp/new/tohokuaid/.

My brother-in-law, Chad, continues to be at "ground zero" and is seeing God's hand work in amazing ways.  Jennifer, my sister, is coordinating efforts from their home in Osaka, where their local churches and contacts have put together an amazing effort to get aid to the devastated areas in northern Japan.

Thank you so much for your continued prayers!  

Japan - March 18th Update (from my sister)

Thank you friends for letting me continually post about something so close to my heart, rather than my usually cheery Wolfe family posts.  I've copied below my sister's most recent email newsletter to their friends and supporters.  If you'd like to directly receive their updates, just make a comment or send an email to me and I'll get you connected to their email list.  Thank you for your continued prayers! - Jocelyn

Dear Friends and Family,

Our second team is off to Tohoku!!  After moving non-stop for what is all a blur now, we were able to send off a second round of relief supplies at 12:15 tonight!  They are heading to the north up along the Japan Sea to meet Chad and Beth, who have spent the day in Niigata re-fueling and re-stocking for the trip back over to the Pacific side of Japan.  (Beth and Chad are staying with missionary friends in Niigata, the Mort family, tonight.)  On the way, this team will meet up with a a group carrying more supplies from the Mustard Seed team in Nagoya.  Then from Niigata, they will cross over through Yamagata to the devastated areas of Tohoku.  They initially plan to go back to Ishinomaki where Chad and Beth just came from, and they will see where God leads them from there.

Today was an amazing day!  We started out with some already donated supplies in our garage, when, unexpectedly, people from several churches in Osaka began calling and bringing things over!  Then, to our surprise, around 6 p.m., our friends across the city, who have helped purchase the truck we plan to use for these efforts, sent us a picture of... a FULLY LOADED truck!!  We began to scramble for options, and finally someone was able to secure a van to rent.  Then, we scrambled some more and were able to find one more person to join the 3 guys going!!  God is good!!  By the time the truck and rental van arrived, more supplies had been delivered, with the end result being a fully loaded truck AND van AND a garage full of supplies to be taken up this coming Tuesday when another team is scheduled to go!  Praise God!  Everyone who brought things today expressed how excited they had been to find a way to actually DO something – they have been sitting here in Osaka watching the news and feeling so helpless!  And to think that part of the communication chain was started by one friend’s post on Facebook:

“Going shopping this morning to buy supplies for the truck heading to Tohoku for the victims of the earthquake. Pray I can find bottled water (and other vital supplies). Many things are sold out even here in Kansai.”

(Honey, maybe I’ll have to break down and join you on Facebook after all!  Or does this count?!)

Anyway, jokes aside, you could feel the excitement in the air tonight as we packed up the trucks and then came inside to wait on the 4^th member of the driving team, who dropped everything he had planned to do this weekend, packed his bag and spent 2 hours on the train to get here!  Thank you, Kitani-san!!  We sent them off in prayer and trust for God to protect them and to lead them where He wants them to serve. 

On another side note, I’m wondering if my neighbor’s jaw has moved back into place since I rang her bell to ask her if we could park a van in front of their house for a while.  Her jaw dropped the minute I told her that Chad was in Tohoku (TOHOKU?!?!), and that these people were heading up to join him with relief supplies.  I saw her awhile later, still standing around looking stunned at what was happening.  Our neighbor on the other side came out later, after I asked if we could park in front of their house too (^-^), and stood outside with her daughter for a long time watching.  Her daughter, Anika’s age, ended up hanging out with us the rest of the evening until after the caravan left!  Our love and our actions CAN have an impact on the people all around us!  And that goes for anywhere you live!  Please pray for our neighborhood as they begin to witness an outpouring of supernatural love from this place.  And may God always receive the glory.

Please pray for Keishi, Gavin, Bob (Japanese!) and Kitani-san.  They are all giving up their time, taking risks that many are unable or unwilling to take, and joyfully heading up to serve in unimaginable scenes of destruction and despair.  Also pray for the team from the Mustard Seed, as well as Chad and Beth!

With many other loose ends to tie before I head to bed, I will finish this.  Chad and Beth have posted many pictures at:  https://picasaweb.google.com/tohokuaid  , so please take a look.

You can also see photos of tonight’s activities here in Osaka at: https://picasaweb.google.com/osakachado/TohokuAidCaravan#

Thank you so much for your dedicated prayers and for so many of you who are giving sacrificially to help the people of Japan.  We feel so privileged to be a part of this HUGE body of Christ!

In His Arms,

Jennifer

P.S.  It was wonderful to see my kids and hear their cheerful voices tonight.  My mom brought them over for a bit and they got to enjoy the flurry of activity around here for a bit.  Anika decided to stay and help out, while Mom took the younger three back home for another night or two (?).  Thank you!!  Also, many have asked about Josiah – he has been lonely!!  He is feeling better, but the fever has not totally disappeared.  Please continue to pray for his recovery.

Japan - March 17th Update (from my sister)

Dear Prayer Supporters,

Thank you to all of you who have sent encouraging words, prayers and offers of help!!  We have no intention of ignoring you – it is becoming impossible to keep up!  I (Jennifer) have spent most of the day on the phone working to help communicate with people here trying to take a truck of supplies up tomorrow (Friday) night, as well as communicating with Chad and Beth when possible.  I also spent 2 hours at our local post office (long story for another day!) setting up an account solely for the purpose of earthquake relief so that we can have a place for people to send donations to within Japan, as well as even to wire money from overseas.  Since I don’t have much brain power left at 2 in the morning here, I should probably save giving out those details until tomorrow, so for anyone waiting on a response for that info, give me a few more hours and I will do my best!  With the church working hard here, we have enough supplies and cash on hand to send up our first truckload.

All of the kids except for Josiah are staying with my parents and doing well. Josiah is feeling a bit better, but as of tonight, he still had a fever.  He has been very patient with his busy mommy!  The kids will stay at my parents for another couple of days while we get through this initial push.

As for Chad and Beth, the stories that I have heard today just break my heart! God has led them to the city of Ishinomaki (http://goo.gl/maps/ckAG) where they were able to locate two churches and talk with leaders.  They were also able to distribute the rest of the supplies in the van to people wandering the streets looking for food and water, and after a long search, they were able to gather enough information to assure a friend living in Hokkaido that his aunt and uncle are safe somewhere.  This was after finding the aunt’s address and not being sure whether hers was a house that had been completely blown away or the one that was laying crumpled in pieces on the street.  What a relief, after visiting shelters and asking around to be told that they had been seen and had gone to stay with someone in a different town!

Anyway, they headed back to the Japan Sea coast (a few hours’ drive away) to try to restock the van and plan to head back to the same city.  One thing Chad requested that we send up with the truck was a pair of size 6 shoes for an old man he met on the street!  That’s my husband for you!  (^-^)  They plan to meet up with the truck coming from Osaka sometime on Saturday and distribute more in the same area before heading down to Tokyo next.

Phew!  There is SO much more I could talk about, but in order to function tomorrow, I had better get some sleep.  Thank you for your prayers!  Tomorrow will probably be another busy day, but God has amazingly been giving us all the extra strength we need to run on. It’s a different kind of “high” working for Him!  (OK, I really need to get to bed after that one!)  Good night!

Jennifer

Another Update From Japan

Thank you once again for the huge outpouring of love and concern that we have received for our family in Japan.  Your continued prayers are so crucial.  My parents and my sister and brother-in-law have been sending out updates and I've been able to talk with them freely.  So far, they have been able to make contact with all of their contacts and churches in the northern area.  Praise the Lord!  We are thankful for life, yet the devastation around them is horrific.  The Japanese people greatly need help. 

First some updates from my brother-in-law, Chad.  Chad drove through the night with a van full of supplies to Sendai area yesterday.  He has been able to drop off part of them with personal contacts and is seeking to find the best place to drop off the rest.  He will be traveling to Tokyo to meet up with the CRASH team to see how best to proceed.

Jennifer is home in Osaka coordinating efforts with their network of house churches to collect relief supplies.  They were able to purchase a truck and are hoping to send another team up on Friday with a truck full of relief items.  They will continue to make trips back and forth from the Osaka area (where supplies are much more readily available) as long as funds are available and supplies are needed.

I'll highlight a few specific prayer requests from my family.

1.  Please pray for wisdom in how best to go about helping the needy, that their steps would be Divinely directed.
2.  Please pray for favor from officials, the ones that grant access on the local highways in affected areas.  They must have permission to use the roads at this time, as well as to purchase gas (currently they are carrying extra fuel with them).
3.  Please pray for physical rest.  Chad and Jennifer and their team are running on severe lack of sleep.
4.  Please pray for emotional peace as they work to serve.  They have pushed down so much emotion in order to deal with the here and now.  

If you want to help financially you can send checks for Chad and Jennifer's ministry to:
Team Expansion
6200 S Old Village Rd
Columbia, MO  65203

If you want to help financially with my parents mission, that is channeling funds directly to the Christian churches in the Sendai area:
Osaka Bible Seminary
P.O. Box 1697
Columbia, MO  65205

Thank you for your prayers.  May He be glorified in all that is done!

A Visit from Grandma Susie

For the last five days we had the privilege of hosting "Grandma Susie" from central Illinois.  She is a long time family friend from when I was in grade school; I was best friends with her daughter.  We enjoyed hosting her, showing her around a bit, and involving her in our daily activities.

One day we took Susie up to the Amish area, then the next day we did some fun garage sale/thrift store shopping.  I think Susie has been known to have one of those "I Brake for Garage Sales" bumper stickers.  :)

And while the ladies shopped, the men hauled wood!

We took Susie to Benjamin's basketball game, as well as to a skating night.

Rather than skate, Susie challenged me to a game of air hockey.  I'll keep mum about who won!

All of our kiddos except for Elijah had met Grandma Susie before, and they all enjoyed having her around.  Thanks for the visit, Susie!

You Can Help

Below is a letter sent out by my sister and brother-in-law, missionaries in Osaka, Japan, with Team Expansion.  Chris and I have been their Forwarding Agents for several years (we serve to receive support funds for their ministry and handle Stateside accounting).  Chad and Jennifer have huge hearts for the Japanese people and are ready with a network of churches in place to go immediately to the devastated areas.  If you feel so led, 100% of your donations will be used toward this immediate need.  Your prayers are greatly appreciated!

Hello Everyone!

It has been a trying and sad time in so many ways:  whole towns are gone, thousands upon thousands are without homes and businesses.  The news coverage, especially as people's personal videos begin to hit the channels, is simply horrific.  And the unknown factor of a nuclear meltdown in the same area looms over it all.  But we know that our God is Good and that His desire is to turn this situation around so that many will find peace and comfort and He will be
glorified.  This is the time for the Christians in Japan (as few as they are! less than 1%) to unite, rise up and be the light.  We cannot allow this opportunity to love to pass us by.  I ask you to lift us up in prayer.

Many have asked about how they can help.  Pray!  Pray!  Pray!  We need people praying.  We cannot allow a spirit of fear or defeat be allowed to win out in the hearts and minds of the people and especially the Christians.  Pray for greater faith and for greater love (that drives out all fear) to overwhelm us all.  Pray for those suffering that they may find healing and peace.  Pray for protection from further tsunami, aftershocks and nuclear disaster.  Pray for us as we do our best to help.

Though this story may begin to fade from the media over the next few days and weeks (or not if nuclear meltdown does occur), the real work with people who have lost all will continue for months.  We have to start thinking strategically.  Our plans are starting to come together a bit, though all things are in flux during times like these.  We will be working with and coordinating
with CRASH a Christian disaster relief organization here in Japan that is doing great things.  Their main base is in Tokyo at the moment and they are working round the clock to network everyone, collect supplies, and set up work stations within the disaster area.  They also do a
great job of follow-up "heart" care with kids and people of all ages.

We also hope to make contact with personal friends and contacts of people from the church here and help them in any way possible.  As of now, all of our personal contacts, including the brother of our co-leader's wife, have been contacted and found safe.  However, many of them are currently in evacuation shelters, living without power and water, or living in constant fear of a
nuclear disaster.

As for financial needs, there are and will be many if you are interested and able to help.  The network of churches here in Osaka is also giving towards this.  Here is just a short list: 
1.  Truck - We are looking into the opportunity of buying a used 2-ton truck for only $4000 - $5000.  Instead of renting a truck for long periods of time to haul relief supplies, we may be able to use this truck for the next 3 - 4 months (?) of relief work and then sell it, coming out ahead in the end over renting.
2.  Relief supplies - We are currently planning to purchase supplies here in Osaka (shelves in stores in Tokyo were being emptied today by people stocking up!) and drive them up to distribute. These supplies will probably vary as the needs change, but they will include things such as water, cooking fuel, instant foods, diapers, formula, baby food, wet tissues, dry shampoo, feminine supplies... the list goes on. 
3.  Travel expenses - gasoline, food and water for teams making the trips. 
4.  Assisting the CRASH network with any excess funds collected.

If you or your church would like to support the earthquake/tsunami/fire/nuclear victims, you can send money through us and we will do our best to use it wisely and to the glory of God. Checks should be made out to Team Expansion.  Do not put a note in the memo, but add a note with the check indicating that it is for Earthquake Relief.  Send it to: 
Team Expansion 
6200 S. Old Village Road
Columbia, MO 65203

These donations will be kept separate from our regular support.  All monies will go towards the relief efforts.

As a side note, we are also thinking about ways to involve the community around us (neighbors, school contacts, mothers from the kindergarten, etc.) in these efforts.  Caleb's teacher walked all the way home from school with him today to talk to us and see if what Caleb had shared with her at school today was really true: that his Daddy was going to help the people in the earthquake.  She was shocked. We believe that our sharing the love of Christ with people suffering now can also have the effect of spreading the aroma of Christ in our own neighborhood.  Pray that we may not take any glory that belongs to God but that His love may be demonstrated through our words and actions.

Thank you so much for your prayers, emails of encouragement and support.  God is using you to bless us and others in so many ways!!

In Him,

Chad and Jennifer

Earthquake/Tsunami

As I'm sure all of you feel too, my heart is very heavy for the nation of Japan right now.  The devastation is hard to comprehend, simply unimaginable.

I love Japan, I love the Japanese people, it is my second home.  Most of you know that I spent three years during my teenage years there as a missionary kid.  My parents are still there (25 years), and also my sister and her family are there (12 years) as missionaries in the Osaka area.  I grieve for the loss of life, for the destruction that has occurred.  But most of all I grieve for the many that died not knowing Jesus as their Savior.  Only 1% of Japanese people claim Christianity.  Now THAT is a staggering number.

All of my family are safe and were mostly unaffected by the quake.  It was barely felt in Osaka, far to the south of the epicenter and main tsunamis.  As you can imagine though, "unaffected" is hardly the word to use.  While we thank God that they are safe and out of harms way, we grieve for the many that can not say that.

Here are some specific ways that you can pray:
*Pray for rescue workers to be guided to the needy
*Pray for the children and many that are living in fear, especially with each aftershock
*Pray for my brother-in-law, Chad, as he heads to the area on Sunday evening, that his steps would be divinely directed
*Pray that people would seek a Higher Power during this time of mass chaos, that their hearts would be more open than ever to the Gospel
*Pray that the gov't would readily accept help from nations around the world
*Pray for the Christians living in the affected area to hold fast to their faith
*Pray that God be glorified in all

Thank you so much to the many that have called our home and sent notes asking about my family.  Your concern is blessing to us.  Please join me in prayer during the many weeks and months ahead.

Also, this is the organization that Chad plans to be a part of:  http://crashjapan.com/.