Sunday, March 11, 2012

Our Hope is in the Lord

Sunday, March 11th, 2012

Today was our day off, but for some unknown reason I thought it would be cool to wake up at 4:30am.
Most of the morning was spent in the main “all-purpose” cabin fellowship with some of the other volunteers. Today went nothing like anyone had planned...
We were planning on attending a memorial service put on by the Billy Graham ministry but received an email detailing the event and realized that no one on base really had the required attire.
So later, at 10:00am, most of us new volunteers loaded up into 2 of the vans and headed to a church service – but never really made it. We got to the city the church was in 2 hours later and drove around for three hours looking at what was left of the city (and trying to find the church). The destruction was incredible, as were the tragic stories we heard of the people that had once lived there. At one point we stopped at an elementary school that was swarming with Japanese people dressed in black, and were informed that 80 of the young students had been swept away.
Through out the entire day the question that has been haunting my mind is this – Where do those who have lost everything, and do not know Christ, find hope for the future? Do they?
Our hope as Christians is in the Lord, but for where do the Japanese find their hope? Most of them have never even heard the name of Jesus – as someone on base said “Using the name of the Lord is nonexistent here, because they don't know it.”
I don't know...
It's been a very interesting day. I've been encouraged so much by the brothers and sisters in Christ here on the base, seen such tragedy, heard such sad stories, and yet I do not lose heart – yet not I in my own strength – I can literally feel the Lord breathing hope and life into me here, I just pay that it will overflow and spill on to all those around me.

**Okay, so I just kind of reread all of this and I apologize that it's all rather slapped together sounding, but you really have no idea how hard it is to try and put into words everything that I am experiencing.
Well- they say that a picture is worth a thousand words – so here are the pictures of the trip so far:

2 comments:

  1. All I can say is wow. I'm praying for you! (You probably already knew that though.) ;) Reading all your posts is making me want to jump on a plane right now and come help! I so wish I could. Miss you! <3

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  2. Good insight! Great pictures, too!
    May God use you mightily this week!

    I'll be praying for you...

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