Mission Trip to Tohoku 2018

Mission Trip to Tohoku

1. Date: December 11-14, 2018

2. Place visited: Ishinomaki in Miyagi prefecture (House of Hope, House of Prayer )

3. Participants: Mrs. Kikue Gen Mrs. Kikumi Gen Miss Takako Nanri

December 11. It has been seven years and ten months since the big earthquake and this is our seventh visit. Time flies! People are living differently now and our hearts were full of expectancy and prayer when we arrived at Sendai Airport. We arrived at the House of Hope with prayerful hearts. The House of Hope is operated by missionaries from the USA and it is a place of HOPE in the community. Dean and Linda (missionaries’ names) always welcome us with a wonderful dinner. Shortly after our wonderful dinner we prepared for the Christmas wreath lesson which we would do the next day. We were asked to share the Gospel and read the Word of God this time. We heard that a local pastor has been visiting the House of Hope once a month to preach. We were so surprised to hear that as it was what we prayed for last year.

December 12. We went to the House of Prayer in the morning. There were ten people who joined the Christmas wreath workshop. Mrs. Gen was a great teacher. We just supported the workshop and had a good talk. The ladies’ group usually get together for crafts and they are very nice people. It did not take much time to complete the wreath. As soon as they finished the workshop, a delicious home-made lunch was waiting for us all. One lady was MC and shared the Word of God from the book of Corinthians and she talked about love. We received some handmade gifts and we felt so welcomed by them. We felt like we came to give, but actually we received a lot! We received love, kindness and encouragement. They said to us, “Thank you for coming all the way from Fukuoka.” One of the impressive moments was seeing the face of one lady whose son was lost in the Tsunami. We saw her smile for the first time. It was such a joy. Thank You, God!

That night we had another workshop in the House of Hope. There were about ten people. Most of them joined our workshop last year, so we were very familiar with them. After the lesson, we had a time of ministry while eating dessert. Mrs. Gen shared what makes her come to Tohoku each year. Kikumi shared her testimony and explained how she accepted Jesus and encouraged them to meet Jesus in person. I was able to read Matthew 11: 28. Then I said, may I pray for you? They all closed their eyes and put their hands together. They were just waiting to receive the prayer. I prayed for quite a long time. I prayed for their healing, their peace, their families and their future. Even when I closed my prayer by saying, “Amen”, I saw several ladies continuing to close their eyes and praying by themselves. I felt the Kingdom of God is near.

December 13. It was our third workshop and ministry time. It was in the House of Hope. We knew most of the members as they joined the previous workshop. It was such a comfortable and fun time filled with laugher. This time we saw one new young lady. She shared about her experience and time when she was in the temporary housing and shared the struggles about raising her children. We just listened and we prayed for her. It was a wonderful time of ministry.

I realized the reality that God was opening people’s hearts little by little and people have been healed and are accepting and experiencing God’s love. Last year, the missionaries had told us, “we cannot share the Word of God.” Now, each month a local pastor is visiting and preaching. It’s God who has created the new way. We are just vessels and do whatever God ask us to do. God will complete His work. We give all the glory to God!

#Tohoku