Since life has been topsy-turvy these past couple weeks, I have neglected to post updated pictures of the “barn” addition’s progress. Norman ekes out a few hours here and there to try to finish this needed work. Our goal is to have it finished in time for our next interns who will arrive the first part of June.

The floor boards are down! Foundations are important.

The floor is in. It is covered by linoleum…and flattened cardboard boxes so we can step on it with our dirty shoes!

Next comes the outside framework to be able to attach wall boards

It’s coming along!

Putting on the outer siding and a recycled window

More siding progress

Amanda approves the addition next to her “cabin.”

Norman’s got the inside framework ready to go.

Now for a little insulation…

That’s where the project is up to for now! Norman’s also trying to get our storefront ready to sell coffee drinks and coffee beans. We hope to open that part of the gallery next week (May 5th). Fliers are written, printed, and ready for newspaper distribution. We hope to make many new friends and acquaintances through this avenue…as well as help pay the rent on the place we use for Bible studies.

An update on earthquake issues: Keiko will definitely have to move out of her apartment. Ensuing aftershocks made more cracks appear and more ceiling to fall down. Fellow missionaries and friends helped Keiko box up her things in preparation to move. She just decided to quit her job in order to pursue ministry in a bigger way, but her boss begged her not to quit for at least three months. (She works in real estate…which is under high demand now!) She will be moving temporarily to our homestead, as she finishes working her job and decides where God is leading her to serve. She is considering several options. Please keep her in your prayers, that she will know clearly what God would have her do. Quitting her job was a huge step for her, and I know God has something amazing in store for her!

We currently feel maybe one aftershock a day. Things seem to be settling down, thankfully. Most people have electricity, gas, and water, though some water isn’t fit to drink yet. Stores are pretty much back to normal.

Thank you for your prayers!

Wow. The past week has been up and down…literally! (Or maybe it’s side to side.) Anyway, schedules are out the window, people are in desperate states, and emotions are all over the place. We’ve been brought to the end of our physical and emotional strength, and have been encouraged to rely on God to get us through.

On Monday, fellow ABWE missionaries gathered at the preschool (owned by one of our church regulars) where our Sunday night Bible study currently meets. There was some damage to clean up, and the missionaries brought 4 van loads of supplies to distribute, which was great since stores in the Kumamoto area were quickly depleted.

Supplies! Lots of bottled water, instant food, paper products, and baby diapers!

Sorting and getting ready to distribute things

A corner inside where the wallpaper was torn during the quake

We as a family were blessed to have been away from home during the second quake. Stronger in strength than the first, the quake caused two bookshelves to fall over onto our beds…where we would have been at 1:30 a.m.! We are grateful that God protected us in this way. Besides that, we were able to have Keiko and Sue at camp with us. There’s nothing as scary as being in an earthquake all by yourself at night!

It was strange to enter a convenience store and find empty shelves. Many grocery stores were simply closed. There were gasoline rations or closed gas stations. It felt like the end of the world!

Then, after all of this, the volunteer fire department workers came to our door midday on Thursday (4/21) to “highly recommend” us to evacuate our house due to the threat of landslides. Our house is right next to a very tall, steep hill. In addition to that, we live at the base of mountain off in the distance. With heavy rain in the forecast, all our neighbors had already relocated temporarily. So, we packed up our family and Amanda, and we holed up in our storefront building about 15 minutes away. Nothing happened overnight, so we were able to return home the next day.

Last night (4/22) was the first night we didn’t feel so many aftershocks. The days right after the big quakes, we would feel 15+ strong aftershocks a day. Very unsettling. Our 75-year-old neighbor told us he’s never experienced anything like this in his entire life. Chloe and I had upset stomachs for several days due to the constant shaking. Adrenaline spikes up and down, and we end up feeling exhausted.

However, we continue to try to help those around us, starting with those we know personally. In coming weeks, as the ground returns to more stable conditions, there will be more work to be done near the epicenter in Mashiki Town. Melodie’s violin teacher had her house there, and it is unlivable. We hope to be able to help her and others like her. For a very short time, people may be more open to speaking about spiritual things. Please pray that we can be a light during this time…and that we’ll have strength to face the overwhelming physical needs of those who have lost everything.

Some of you may be wondering whether we are safe or not, following the recent spate of earthquakes in the Kumamoto area of Japan. We are grateful to say that we are all alive and well. A few items fell off shelves and shook us up a bit, but that’s the extent of it.

We felt a longer, violent shake around 9:30 p.m. (Thurs. night – Apr. 14). That’s when the stuff fell down. Norman, Chloe, and I had experienced a similar tremor back in language school 13 years ago. But this time around, the aftershocks kept coming and kept coming. Our family stayed up until 11:30 p.m., waiting for the tremors to stop, but we finally went to bed. Our sleep was interrupted a lot. It seemed like every 15-30 minutes another tremor would occur, rattling the windows and doors of our old Japanese house.

Melodie particularly didn’t care for the noise and uncertainty of things. She would grip the arm of whomever was closest! Our intern, Amanda, had a new adventure in Japan! It was an unforgettable night. Thank you for your prayers and thoughts.

A tree in our yard

Tulip and asparagus!

Cherry blossoms!

A definite sign of spring — people eating and relaxing under cherry blossoms!

Spring is definitely here! Today (April 2), we had temperatures in the upper 70’s. Our family has been in the process of planting our garden…as well as spiritual seeds where we can. Today, the kids, Amanda, and I were able to spend time with our friend Ritsuko.

Beautiful day to spend together

We are also springing ahead (slowly) in the progress being made on the barn addition.

Digging the trench for the water line

The frame for the addition

The frame with a roof on it

Putting on doors

Pink and blue water lines are in, ready for hooking up, after we finish the floor

The current state of our project — doors and windows! Next step: the floor!

Tango Gomez, who attends our Bible study regularly, came to do a homestay with our family for almost a week. He probably found our American ways to be a little strange, but he did his best to use English and do as we did. That included getting his hands dirty!

Cameron and Tango spreading gravel over the driveway

However, we didn’t do only work! We visited the petting zoo nearby to feed the kangaroos and other critters.

“I don’t carrot all if you feed me!”

Amanda has a little time off since this is the Spring Break between school years for the Japanese school system. The new grades begin in April, so she will begin working at the int’l preschool on April 6th. Keep her in your prayers. This is a new adventure for her! She is also making new friends and hopes to be a witness to them. Two of them are planning to come to our morning Bible study tomorrow!

Amanda and Ritsuko