The Sweet Dropper

Thursday, July 23: Early start this morning as JNP and I did a bit of manual labor. We helped clean out a storage shed that belongs to the team. The shed sits on a property that is the site for a future church plant. The shed contains a lot of odds and ends–mostly home furniture that belongs (or belonged) to team members and is available for use by new team members and short-term workers as needed. There is also quite a bit of old office supplies and books from days gone by. When Linda Wixon opened the door, I saw that I couldn’t walk inside–it was that full. So we began hauling things outside. Linda and Peter decided whether to throw it away or keep it. The throwaways were then organized into ‘burnable’ or ‘non-burnable’, packed into a van or car, and hauled to the dump. We worked there until about noon. When we finished, I could walk inside and reach most anything inside the shed–very satisfying work…maybe I could try this skill I have learned overseas and apply it to the storage room in my own garage.

Andrew, one of the summer workers, took us to the onsen as a reward for our labors–and a great reward it was. Thursday evening, JNP spent time with the Bakelaars while I had the pleasure of being reunited with Rev. Takatoshi Mistumoto, pastor of the Megumi-no-Izumi (Fountain of Grace) Church. Pastor Mistumoto and I worked side-by-side almost every day during the summer of 1989. The church was just starting in those days. He and I walked through many neighborhoods distributing flyers and meeting people. I helped lead some of the first English classes held in the church. He took me out to eat (best meal I’ve had yet: Nagoya-style udon with chicken and clams!) and we visited for a long time, comparing photos and talking about Jesus’ work in building his church. Seeing him made me very happy and thankful.

If you want to see pictures from the first few days of our trip, click here.