Transition Update

Hi all. I`m at Yuko`s house in Wakayama right now. We spent the past two days traveling and visiting some really beautiful places in the southern part of the main island. It was great. Pictures to follow when I can connect my laptop to the internet.

We were able to share a little bit of truth with Yuko`s mother. She feels responsible to worship her ancestors - to make sure that they don`t feel neglected. I told her that when people die, they are judged by God. When we die, we will also be judged by God. I can understand the longing to continue relationship with them, but we have to let them go. They aren`t here any longer. Their work on earth is done and they have been judged for it. Their eternal fate has already been determined. But ours hasn`t been. We need to seek God while we are still here.

I wasn`t able to share all of that, actually. Pretty much only the part about people being judged when we die. It wasn`t much, but I hope it will have some effect.

Today we will visit a nursing home where Yuko`s mother works. We`ll sing some Christian children`s songs and do some simple activities with them.

Tomorrow we will begin our trek back up to Tokyo where Mari lives. We will try to meet with friends along the way, but none our plans are confirmed yet.

This coming Friday the 24th is my concert at a coffee shop. Quite a few people are going to try to come - Christians and non-Christians. We will spend the weekend with Yuriko (in Tokyo) and then travel to Niigata next week.

Anyway, there are still a lot of things to do and I`m getting really worn out.
Travel is tiring.
Lack of sleep.
Lack of personal time with Jesus.

That`s really the biggest problem. I think that I could handle the rest a lot better if I were getting refreshed in God`s Presence.

I keep thinking of the Rich Mullins song "You Did Not Have a Home".

Oh, You did not have a home
There were places You visited frequently
You took off Your shoes and scratched Your feet
'Cause you knew that the whole world belongs to the meek
But You did not have a home
No, You did not have a home
...
Birds have nests, foxes have dens
But the hope of the whole world rests
On the shoulders of a homeless Man
You had the shoulders of a homeless man
And the world can't stand what it can't own
And it can't own You
'Cause You did not have a home

It`s hard not having a home, but this was part of the cost of following Him for His first disciples. It was worth it to them just to be near Him and learn from Him.

Just writing this has been a good reminder for me to spend time with Jesus!!! No wonder I`m worn out!

Now you know how to pray for me. :)