Check out all our sites to get the full picture!
Published March 15, 2012 | 
See our two other blogs (and linked websites) to get the full picture of our ministry: tokyolittles.net/blog and tokyochurch.org/blog.
Our most frequent updates are on our facebook page: www.facebook.com/japanlittles. If you “Like” our facebook page, you will get automatic notification of any updates we make there.
Developing tsunami recovery ministry opportunities
Published May 18, 2012 | Developing a few specific tsunami recovery ministry opportunities in the southern part of Miyagi prefecture (near or in Sendai city) is taking longer than expected. We are trying to focus on the south side of Sendai city and even further south toward Fukushima prefecture.
Kurt Saban teaching how to test for radiation levels in vegetables.
So far, it looks like our ministries could include the following:
- starting a quilting circle on May 23 in the apartment of a tsunami displaced family living nearby a temporary housing center in Wakabayashi-ku, Sendai
- holding mother and young children meetings once or twice a month in another temporary housing center also in Wakabayashi-ku, Sendai
- leading sewing classes in a few other temporary housing centers
- helping farmers in Iwanuma-shi (south of Sendai, near the Sendai airport) cleanse their fields of seawater salt, test their fields and vegetables for radiation levels, and construct a distribution facility for their produce.
Dale helping farmers assemble a wheelbarrow imported from China by TouchGlobal / ReachGlobal.
We are hoping that a few of these kinds of ministries might provide opportunities for short term missionaries to join us in sewing/quilting projects or in construction.
Our focus remains on developing opportunities for sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ and for linking our tsunami recovery ministry with church planting.
Easter weekend at Sendai Izumi Church, Apr 7-8
Published April 15, 2012 | 
children's program on apr 7
Larry Mori preaching on Apr 8
Sendai Izumi Evangelical Free Church held a children’s event on Saturday., Apr 7, and the Mori family led us in a small, family oriented worship service on Easter Sunday, Apr 8.
We are trying to link our tsunami recovery ministry in practical ways with the church planting already in full swing at Sendai Izumi church.
Visit to temporary housing center
Published February 24, 2012 | 
Larry Mori helping children with their homework at a temporary housing center.
We volunteered at a temporary housing center in Sendai during the evening of Feb 22, helping children with their homework. Most of the tsunami displaced children in Sendai live in apartments near temporary housing centers, rather than in the actual temporary housing centers.
Click here for pics about our visit on our Facebook page.
We are trying to get to know the leaders of temporary housing centers in order to help define our own tsunami ministry focus. Furthermore, we hope we can develop redemptive relationships with the volunteers who are university students.
The Lord supplies an apartment for us in Sendai
Published February 4, 2012 | 
Our apartment in Sendai--top right unit.
Floor plan of our apartment in Sendai
On Feb 4 the Littles made the arrangements to rent an apartment in Sendai. The search process has been intense and at times we were doubtful that we would be able to find a suitable apartment. But much to our delight, this relatively large apartment became available, our Japanese legal guarantor was accepted, and the landlord gave permission for us (a foreign couple no less!) to move in. The realtor told us the rental process would require 1-2 weeks. But it only took 4 days! Thank you for praying!
We pick up the apartment keys on Feb 6, return to Tokyo soon after to load up a rental truck with our stored belongings, and move our stuff in by Feb 11.
Dale and Ann begin process of renting an apartment in Sendai
Published February 2, 2012 | After days of visiting realtors looking for a suitable apartment to rent, we finally found an available one. Apartments in Sendai are scarce because so many tsunami displaced people are looking for them. The one we have selected is a little bit older and closer to the city of Sendai, making it less attractive. For us, however, it seems to be just about right.
But in order to move into an apartment, a two step process must be followed. First the Japanese friend we selected to be our legal guarantor (a foreigner will not do) has to be approved by the guarantor company (lots of middle men in this rental process!). And then the owner will decide whether to rent to us. It is possible that because we are foreigners, our application for renting this apartment might be turned down. We hope to know one way or the other by about Feb 8-10.
More here: http://www.facebook.com/japanlittles.
Dale and Ann’s first Sunday at Sendai Izumi EFC, January 29/2012
Published January 29, 2012 | 
Larry Mori preaching at Sendai Izumi church (Jan 29)
Curry rice lunch at Sendai Izumi church (Jan 29)
We arrived in Sendai on Jan 27 and are searching for an apartment. We plan to link our tsunami recovery ministry with the church planting project of Larry and Bella Mori at Sendai Izumi Evangelical Free Church. It we will be our home church for fellowship, worship, and service over the next year. We hope that our apartment will be located within 20 minutes of the church (by car).
Sewing machines for quilting classes picked up at Tokyo port
Published January 26, 2012 | 
On Jan 25 we picked up sewing machines at Tokyo port, taking them from warehouse to customs and then on “home.” Ann will use these machines to teach quilting and sewing classes at some temporary housing centers built for tsunami displaced people in the Tohoku (northeastern Japan).
Before we complete our year of tsunami ministry we hope to donate the four machines to a few community centers in the devastated coastal areas of the Tohoku.
For a few more pics of picking up these machines at Tokyo port, see this album on our facebook page.
Our tsunami recovery ministry vehicle
Published January 22, 2012 | 
On Jan 21, 2012, we personally purchased this used vehicle for our life and tsunami recovery ministry in northern Japan for the next year. It is a 1997 Toyota Hiace Regius 4WD, 2700 cc gasoline, 92000 km (57000 mi), 8 seater, or 5 seater with lots of luggage space.
We plan to drive north to Sendai city on Jan 26 and will begin looking for a rental apartment as soon as we get there.
Generous gift received from Hong Kong for our housing costs in Sendai!
Published January 19, 2012 | Generous gift from the EFC of China, Hong Kong, Overseas Missions Board covers most of our apartment rental costs in Sendai for one year!
The Evangelical Free Church of China — Hong Kong — Overseas Missions Board has given us a love offering to cover our rental housing costs for one year in Sendai city, where we will be based for our tsunami recovery ministry. This generous and unexpected gift comes close to covering our anticipated 2012 lacking support!
The donation from Hong Kong is due to our strategy of working closely with Larry/Bella Mori (ReachGlobal — EFC of America) over the next year in their church planting ministry at Sendai Izumi EFC. Bella is originally from Hong Kong and the Moris receive significant encouragement from the EFC churches in Hong Kong.
These funds were successfully deposited into our Japanese bank account on Jan 19.
We will begin apartment hunting as soon as we move to Sendai on Jan 26.
The Lord has richly blessed us through the EFC of China Hong Kong, Overseas Missions Board!
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