Parable of the Papaya–part 1

Two years ago we planted a small papaya seedling in the ground. It has grown with remarkable speed and now is over 4 meters tall. When we first planted it, we had dreams of eating fresh papaya within a few months as some trees produce fruit relatively quickly. However, though the tree grew quickly, it did not flower for quite a while. And when flowers appeared, they did not produce fruit. Someone told us that we probably have a male tree so we would never enjoy fruit. We were disappointed. We decided to let the tree grow a bit longer as it has a nice tropical look to it.
Two years later, we now have some 20 papayas at various stages growing on the tree. Things did not happen in our timing, and we had all but given up on the tree, but in the end it produced fruit. This parallels our own experiences of working with church planters. You start out with enthusiasm, and get out to tell people about Jesus. However, it can be quite a while before one actually begins to see the fruit of the initial months, or even years, of work. In the end it is the result of what God is doing—Mark 4:26-29.

Pray for Japan!

 The past 2 weeks have been quite eventful for our family, and for the nation of Japan.  On March 11, 2011 a magnitude 9 earthquake, followed by tsunami on the east coast of the northern half of Japan, has left tens of thousands dead or missing, and caused hundreds of thousands to flee to makeshift evacuation centres.

Here are ways to be praying for Japan:

1. Pray for those who have lost loved ones in the disasters, or whose loved ones are still missing.
2. Pray for those that lost their home due to the earthquakes, tsunami, fires, etc.
3. Pray for those who have been traumatized by these events, particularly children.
4. Pray for those who are still lacking in adequate safe water, food, fuel, and medical care.
5. Pray for those who are involved in many ways to provide relief and aide that they would have continued safety and health.
6. Pray for the churches that have turned into evacuation centres and aide distribution centres, that they can shine God’s love and hope in the midst of pain and hopelessness.
7. Pray that the workers who are focused on bringing the nuclear crisis in the power plants in Fukushima under control.   Pray that solutions can be found for the myriads of issues.  Pray for the safety of the workers who are risking their lives.
8. Pray that the people of Japan will turn to God as their source of hope and salvation.
9. Pray for the Christians of Japan, that we would be able to mobilize relief efforts and provide for people’s need, both physical and spiritual.  Pray for the impact this is having on regular ministries, that Christians would be able to help their neighbours to remain calm, and that we would be able to provide comfort for the grieving.
10. Pray that God’s Spirit would move across this land, turning hearts to him, providing comfort, peace and hope in this difficult time.

Asian Access is working with a network of hundreds of churches across Japan to help meet the spiritual and physical needs in hard hit communities.  We are also working in conjunction with CRASH (Christian Relief, Assistance, Support, Hope), which has grown into the largest Christian relief coordinating agency in Japan.  (www.crashjapan.com)

You can help directly through the Asian Access Japan Tsunami Relief Fund. (asianaccess.org)

Video update from the Sonnenbergs

The earthquake and tsunami–our family

Thank you so much to everyone for your prayers and supportive e-mails.

 We are gathered with all of the Asian Access missionary family at a retreat centre in Karuizawa, Nagano.  On Friday afternoon we were gathered for an afternoon session when the chapel started to shake, lights started to sway and windows began to rattle.  Even for those accustomed to Japan, the quake seemed longer and more intense than normal.  When things settled down a little, we ran to collect children and went to the gathering point on the centre grounds.

We felt smaller aftershocks in succession for the next hour or more.  We learned of the tsunami warnings that were being given from Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south.  Then the footage of the tsunami hitting the east coast started on the tv.  It was hard to watch.

That night we slept with shoes, coats and backpacks at the door should we need to evacuate quickly in the night.  At 4 am, there was a sizeable aftershock that was centred in another part of Nagano that brought us out of our futons and into the doorways.

The aftershocks have continued and the details of the extent of damage and loss is slowly coming to light.  Our extended family in the Tokyo area is safe and well.

We have found comfort in Psalm 46 (God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble…)

We see how God has brought the Asian Access family together in one place specifically for this time.  The team from the Osaka went through disaster relief training just one week ago.  Asian Access is linking to other Christian relief groups already in Japan, as well as the Japanese churches of the JCGI network, and provide relief, help and love in this difficult time.  Details are posted at www.asianaccess.org.

Please keep praying for Japan, that through these disasters, people will turn to God to seek true and lasting hope.  Pray that the churches across Japan will be able to share God’s love effectively.  We are already hearing stories of churches in the hard hit areas that are serving as evacuation centres.

Thank you again for praying for us, Christian brothers and sisters across Japan, and the vast majority of Japanese who do not yet know Jesus.