(I’m actually back in the States and am posting some backlogged offerings. We’re back safely, two words now dominate my vocabulary — “jet lag.” Please be patient as I catch up.)
The CRASH Japan offices are housed at a former Family Mart in Higashi-Kurume, located in Western Tokyo. Our effort, JapanRebuild is sending our volunteers directly to CRASH Japan to serve the country’s recovery efforts. In addition, there are five base stations currently serving evacuees and assisting in the clean-up effort throughout the northern part of the country, hardest hit by the earthquake and tsunami.
No one has a private office anywhere within the CRASH headquarters. It’s sometimes a challenge to find an open seat, let alone booking the meeting rooms for more than an hour.
I need to correct an earlier misstatement. Though most of the people in the CRASH Japan office are volunteers, some do get a stipend if they commit to a certain length of service. No one’s getting rich with the stipend. Of course, the money’s not why they’re working there.
I study human development. I’ve learned that each season of life has different interests and needs. I’ve worked mostly with college and young adults within the church, but have also been part of children’s ministries and try to be helpful with senior adult groups. I respect (albeit I don’t always understand) differences between doctrines and denominations. I remain a strong supporter of ministries that respect the diversity of God’s people.
Yet I’ve noticed something about the volunteers and staff of CRASH. Denominations, doctrines, and demographics don’t seem to make that much difference here. They come from all over the world, from different denominations, and represent a wide range of ages. Some are college aged, others are retirees. Some represent missions organizations, others are volunteers from secular vocations. The diversity comes together for a common cause.
To reiterate — albeit a paraphrase — what Pastor Akira Mori, who we met in Iwaki Prefecture, and whose church continues to aid the evacuees from the Fukushima area — when God’s people are working together in unity, there is joy. Remember I wondered if God would redefine what joy means to me on this trip? Maybe I’m beginning to get my answer.
As is often the case, I conclude with something that I find to be vitally important (once again, sarcasm alert…sarcasm alert…). When I was at the train station in Ikebukuro, there was a doughnut shop so popular that people were lined up about 50 feet away behind a barrier before being escorted in small groups to pick up the deep fried delectables. I think the name of the stand was “Spin Spin Spin.” My profound revelation — the doughnuts from the aforementioned vendor aren’t nearly as good as my favored chain, Japan’s “Mister Donut.” I don’t usually eat a lot of doughnuts, but there’s something about “Mister Donut” that I find quite satisfying to my palate. Give me one of their chocolate old-fashioned selections anytime. And please don’t tell anyone at my spinning (indoor cycling) class at the Culver-Palms YMCA.
It’s the last couple of days here in Nihon — let’s see what’s next. Once again, thanks for the prayers, kind thoughts, and good wishes.
