Hope Amidst the Chaos
This month we have watched the story of the Covid19 virus spread out around us. It has been bizarre to watch the explosion, and shocking to see the measures that have been taken to prevent the spread. While the United States have had a relatively quick spread and response to the virus, we, since the end of February, have been slowly moving to less and less gatherings and interaction outside of the home.
Schools have been closed by Prime Minister Abe since early March about two weeks before Spring break started, and other school clubs and non-essential gatherings followed suite, including our Kids English classes and my English cooking classes. I think the idea was to get ahead of this, and eliminate the spread so that Japan could still continue with plans to host the 2020 Summer Olympic games. However, just last week it was announced that the Olympics will be postponed until next year.
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Sisters "reading" together. Love it!
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It is hard to know what to believe, with all the numbers and statistics, mixed with opinions and false information, all so prolifically available. We have SO MUCH information at our fingertips, in our pockets, on our computers and television screens. Information travels so fast, and the first to report, (not necessarily the most correct) is the "winner". It can seem like dark times, but here in little apartment in Japan, we are putting our hope in Christ.
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It has been a time of slowing life down to knit together as a family. At first we took advantage of our lighter schedules, before the restrictions became more severe, to get out and enjoy creation. I, Becky, even had the chance to get away with ladies from our ministry team to do a mini overnight retreat, without kids. That was a first ever for me to go away by myself! (Travis and I have been away without the kids a few times, but never just me.) As restrictions became stricter, we have been focusing on our health, spiritually and physically. We have taken the opportunity to develop habits of discipline that have been on the back burner for too long. Although now we can't get out and visit, encourage or teach, we have been praying for our families, friends, and the world in general. We have also been praying specifically for our host country's families.
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The Japanese family unit, up until this time, has been pulled apart by the worries of the world. Fathers working long hours, kids overly busy with school and after-school clubs, part-time jobs and cram school classes; the social obligations in this group-oriented society are exceeding burdensome. We earnestly hope and pray that this time together as a family in their homes, would be a time of refreshing for the Japanese. We pray that they would be looking for answers, and find them, not in themselves, or in their families, or in their society, but in Christ! Please join us in praying for churches and missionaries here in Japan, that we can take every opportunity to share the good news and the love of Christ with the people we meet.
Grace and peace,
Becky
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