On the Eve of a Great Grandma's Death

I got a call that my grandma (my mother's mom) had a stroke yesterday.  Today she has continued to decline.  They say she most likely will not last the night.  As I pulled weeds in my yard I found myself starting to lament for my children and all of their losses.  To feel sorry for them and the sorrows that they have had to go thru thus far.  They have lost a lot, and gone through a lot for their young lives.

For a not quite 14 year to have lost a grandpa, an uncle (whom all my kids had a really special bond with), almost lose a sibling, have mental health and special needs issues part of your daily life that you have to witness and adjust to constantly, then this will be the 2nd great grandma in 3 months (both of which my kids knew well and have visited with often)- it is a lot more than her counterparts have had to go through.  Plus all of the uprooting and moving across the ocean so many times.  Hana will turn 14 in May.  When we move soon afterward it will be her 12th house she would have lived in in her 14 years of life.

As I sat in my yard I caught myself and realized that while I mourn the loss of all of these- that these things have shaped and formed who my children are.  I look at my eldest and am in awe of who God has made her, and continues to create her into.  She is not anything like I was at her age.  She is self reliant, self sufficient, self confident.  She is strong, and determined.  She has a world view like no other 13 year old I know has- and it is because of the life she has lived thus far.  It is because she has had to learn how to love, and lose, and grieve and trust no matter what.  How to make the best of what is given to you.  To still honor God in our lives- no matter what they look like, where we may be, what pain we may have been given.

While I miss the people whom my children have lost and were so very dear to them, I know that these losses have done something profound in creating who they are today.  I know that my kids have been changed.

I pray that these hard things that they have had to go thru will make them more compassionate, more loving towards others.  That these losses would give them tender hearts instead of bitterness.  That while they have lost, that they would have perspective and realize that there are those in the world who have lost so very much more.  That they would see the world thru eyes that look past themselves and see everyone around them instead.  

We will all miss G.G. but I know that my children knowing, and loving and having a relationship with her has been to their benefit (as has been with all they have lost).  I would rather them have known and loved and then lost than to not have lost at all.

Turning 10 the Japanese Way Thru Pictures!

Sorry we were not able to post while in Japan in October- our internet access was lacking greatly.

Please enjoy the story of our trip thru photos below!

Non stop media for 14 hours!  

For a boy who is always being told "you've had enough time- time to get off" 

he was lovin that he had unlimited access and his only rule was

LEAVE ME ALONE- you do your thing and I'll do mine

(we had a row of 3 all to ourselves both ways- was fabulous to have the extra room)

thanks to a brilliant husband who picked our seats (he is a genius!)

Super helpful in ALL the airports

he pushed carts, tried to help load 50 lb boxes

Even on the way home thru Canada where we basically spent 3 hrs in lines

HE WAS GREAT

Typical Titus

Our room

We had fifteen 2-3 year olds 

confined to this room ALL day

8am-12:30, 1:30-5pm, 6-9pm

It was LONG but wonderful!

We did Bible times

(Story, Music and Craft)

It was like a mini preschool

The kids loved all the different activities

Snack time

Everyone always loves to eat!

Coloring/craft time was always a hit

We got to crawl thru tunnels

Have secret hideouts

Even a BALL PIT!!

Lots of towers built, destroyed, and built again

And one day we even napped!

No- I am not the nap whisperer, 

I jacked up the heat and put them in front of a movie

-they had no hope!

Time spent not in the confines of the room were just as rewarding!

We got to meet new babies from long-time friends

Got his nose buttered for his birthday

(an old Iverson tradition)

Every night he took a nice, long Japanese bath

(trust me they are different and SO much better)

then caught up on some magazines.

(All while I got to catch up with all our old team-mates 

and get good quality girl time)

Got to try his hand at a unicycle

He did not ride it- just fixed it and then ran 

around trying to find someone who would ride it!

Got to see old neighbors whom we love SO very much!

Play basketball with an old buddy

And catch up with fabulous friends,

Some a little rougher than others!

All in all I would say it was a great time.  When we returned Titus said "can we go back next year?"  It was the perfect mix of the traditional missions trip (work you till you feel like you will fall over and sleep for the next month), and rejuvenating times catching up with old friends and getting to meet new babies, get ministry and family updates and just get to spend time with so many that we miss and love so very much.

I feel it was a great learning experience for Titus- how to keep going when we don't feel like it.  How to find something else to do/another area to help in when we are at our limit and need a change of scenery.  How to serve to the best of our ability, with joy and humility.  

Most of all how God makes us all unique and gives us each specific gifts and allows us to use them for His glory all around the world!

Day 5

Today was another special day for Hana.  She got to help her old teacher Ai-san with some things around the school and one of those was occupying Kanae for a while.  We loved meeting this little beauty- as they have been living in Philly and we just have never made it up there- it took both of us going to Japan to finally meet up!

I finished up stuff for the English camp and tutored a while.

We then got to help "Aunt Carol" with stuff for the school.  Hana was SO excited she got to go up to the attic and into a storage closet she had never been allowed to go before.  She was also excited to help clean the sinks and toilets (it truly is the little things!).

Hana and Kana

Helping Ai sort short term workers linens
(they have had a lot of teams come thru this summer)

The storage closet!!!

 Please pray for Jason and Ai (and Kanae).  They are currently living in Philly (just finished seminary) and will begin to start raising support to return to Japan as long term missionaries.  Pray for guidance for them as to which team to join, where God wants to use them and what He wants them to do.  Pray as they begin to travel to raise support (with a little one).  That they would see His guidance in all of this.

Please pray for Dan and Carol Iverson, as she is currently in charge of the school there, being stretched in so many ways.  They just left another child in America to start college, which is always a tough one for a mother's heart.  Pray they would get good times of rest, and that others would be able to take some things off their plates.

Day 3 & 4

Sunday we got to worship at our old church and Hana got to spend some time with some of her best buds from Japan Friday, Sunday and Monday.  She really enjoyed the time she got with these 2 girls.  It was really good for her!

They played out on the school field, helped me with camp prep, got to walk to the grocery store all by themselves to get lunch, went out to dinner and just had a great time.

I worked all day planning lessons and figuring out what activities we would do at the English camp, as well as tutoring.  During my time there I had the opportunity to work one on one with a man who will be taking the Tofoel test at the end of this month and hopes to start seminary this fall so that he can become a pastor in Japan.  He will be doing all this in English.

Giving her gifts to the girls

Emma, Hana, Kotoha- together again!!

She loves her ramen!

Walking to where we were staying- it was a 1/2 hour walk

cutting out medals for our olympic theme camp

numbering bingo sheets for an activity

the final result for the medals- they were Very proud of themselves

Please pray for Emma's family.  Her father will be made a pastor of Oyumino church at the end of this month, her mother does a lot of translating work to get good reading into Japanese homes.  She has done the Jesus Storybook Bible, as well as some Tim Keller stuff, and counseling pamphlets.

Please pray for Kotoha's family.  Her father is one of the pastors of Oyumino church.  Her mother is expecting their 8th child and has been having a difficult pregnancy. 

Please pray for Odante- san who will be doing seminary all in english, his wife is expecting their first child, and they plan to move to the States next year.

Day 1 & 2- Ishinomiya

After a good nights sleep (thanks to melatonin!!) we had some meetings on Friday about what we would be doing while there and started prepping for a 2 day English camp we would be doing the next week.  We then boarded a train and took our first trip- to a beach town, Ishinomiya, where our old neighbors live.  We got some great time with them Fri night and then got to help with an Awana club they had on Saturday.

On the train

LOVE those Hoshinos!!!

Great friends trying to stay cool

This cutie was a baby last time we saw her

Hana LOVED this sweet little boy Koki!

Going over Bible verses

She also loved meeting this little sweetie Ena!

Playing a game

Hana and Yutaka again fooling around

Singing songs at Awana

We loved our time with our old friends and it was great to meet their 2 new children since we left.  They are part of a small church plant in a coastal town.  Please pray for this family, the Hoshinos, as they seek to serve in this area.  Also for their family as the mom seeks to care for the children, often alone, because of the husbands long work hours.  They are very content and thankful for the job God has given him, but he leaves early and often gets home after the children have been put to bed.  Pray they would have energy to do all God calls them to do, as well as good rest and times together as a family and with their Savior to energize them and give them what they need each day.

4 AM doesn't look good on everyone

Leaving for the airport at 4 am was not my idea of a good start to the day, but it would get us to Japan at a good time- so that's what we went with.  You can easily tell from these pictures which kids take after me at the 4 am hour, and which ones have Kevin's capability to bounce up and be ok at any hour.

Check out that HAIR!!!

Dragging, but happy

Some don't believe me that he has endless energy-
this is proof- what kid would be
SO alive at 4AM?!!

Starting at the beginning with pictures

Sorry everyone, I had meant to give more updates from Japan- but the truth is we just were rarely where there was internet and I had time to write something quick- we were kept pretty busy.

We are back now- I am up at a decent time today- but I am HURTING majorly from jet lag- dragged all day yesterday just trying not to lay down.  We have never done the trip there and back in such a short time frame so this is a new experience for us.

Japan day 3

I promise pictures will come when we get back to the states- I am taking lots.

Today we went to Honda chapel for worship- where we use to go when we lived here, and got to see lots of old friends.  Hana got to hang out with one of her good friends all afternoon and then went to spend the night with her.  They will be leaving for vacation soon- so it will be some extra special time they get to spend together while they both are here.

It was so good to be at our old church- it seems as if we never left, children have gotten bigger- but it really does not feel like it has been almost 3 years since we have been here.

It has been great- we have had several moments where all of a sudden Hana will say "I remember this place, Ive been here before".  It has been fun to see as we go places to see her face light up remembering things, people and places.

I got to spend a good deal of time talking with a missionary friend and get to hear an update on their family and life, what is hard, where they need prayer etc.  It was good to get to talk with her and be reminded of the constant need to pray for those here.  How easily it has been to forget with being removed from it for a short while. 

Tomorrow Hana and I will begin to help Carol with CCSI stuff, cleaning out the school building, organizing and preparing for the coming school year, as well as I will spend about 3 hours tutoring in the morning.  Pray I know what to teach and how to help this man best prepare.
love to all
Hana and Rebecca

Japan Day 2

We rode the train last night to go stay with our old neighbors and help them with an AWANA club today.  It was great fun to see them and get some time with them.  When we left Japan they had 3 kids, and now they have 5!  It was great to meet their 2 newer kids and get to spend some good time with their older kids.  We LOVED our time there and visiting.  We spoke briefly at the AWANA club about why we are here in Japan now and what we are doing.  We returned to Honda this afternoon, after missing our train.  No big deal, only cost us about a 1/2 hour.  Hana has been working on prepping stuff for the kids camp next week this afternoon, and I met with and laid out the tutoring plan for while I am here.
We will head back to where we are staying (about a 1/2 hour walk), and head back this way tomorrow.

Japan day 1

We are here and well.  The flights were GREAT.  I LOVE flying with a 10 y.o.  she did her own thing and I got to lay down and try to sleep.  The plane was practically empty so we each had a three row seat to ourselves.  Right now Hana is off playing with her 2 best friends here while I am planning some lessons for a 2 day English camp we will do in Makuhari next Wed and Thurs (your time would be tues eve and wed eve).  Pray for lots of kids to show up and it be a great outreach to introduce kids in that area to the English lessons they host there.

Tonight we will take a train to old neighbors of ours, who now live by the beach to help with a 1 day AWANA camp.  Then I will begin to tutor another old friend as he begins to study to take the tofoel (sp?) test so that he can start online seminary courses.  Pray as I will be working with him over the 2 weeks here- this is KEY to ministry in Japan.  Another man who wants to be ordained is needed and HUGE.  Pray English comes easily and our intense time together would open his mind and not frustrate him.  Pray also as he studies to pass this test at the end of Aug so that he can begin his seminary soon.

We thank you for your prayers!!  We do not have internet where we are staying, so I will update as able from the school building when I am here.

Love,
Rebecca and Hana