It's been a week since the Kumamoto Earthquake, and while things are settling down, I'm hearing that there are still many who cannot return home yet and have to continue sleeping in their cars or in public or school gymnasiums. Utilities are slowly being restored but there are still places in desperate need of supplies, especially food, water, and shelter. A couple of the Lutheran churches in Kumamoto are serving as evacuation centers still. Little by little things are stabilizing, and in their various social media and blog updates it seems that church folks are still finding bright spots in the middle of an otherwise rough situation. (In a Kengun Church blog post about the delicate toilet situation there, they called it [the Japanese equivalent of] their "number-two problem.") Still, it's going to be a long and arduous journey to the region's recovery. Please keep the people of Kumamoto in your prayers.
Since the quake I've also been closely following blog of Kuwamizu Church's Pastor Sumimoto. I was struck by an entry from the Sunday after the quakes. Originally Kuwamizu was going to cancel the service for that day, given the tenuous state of the older church building and the aftershocks, but several members still gathered together in the play yard of Kuwamizu Kindergarten next door to worship that morning. "Especially in a time like this," Pastor Sumimoto says, "were were able to deeply, deeply feel the joy of being able to sing hymns, the gratefulness at being able to pray, and the blessing of being able to hear God's word." May they continue to be strengthened.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13 (NIV)
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