I had been a bit concerned how a labyrinth, which is designed for people to access individually following a path round the room with different stations to engage with, might work doing it all communally from the front. There were just a few ladies who can't get to church on a Sunday so they come to the Thursday service. They seemed to be engaging with the different activities quite well, and were certainly praying at various points. I had not expected much in the way of feedback as that is not the Japanese way, but one lady hugged me at the end of the service - very unusual. We then went for a picnic with them all to a nearby park and after we had eaten Araki asked if any of them would like to share how they found the meditation. They all shared which was so special, it had all spoken to them in very different ways, but doing it communally is a much more Japanese way of interacting with something like this. At the end of the meditation they all received a palm cross and an Easter card to take home. Araki asked them to remember how they had felt during the service and what God had said to them as they saw the card and the cross in the coming days - continue to pray that God will speak to them as they think of all they thought about and prayed today.
Prayer requests
We are doing another prayer walk tomorrow, a local one round the mission place where harmony meets, one of the churches where Heidi runs an adult choir and a kids choir and we will also see Kira's new school. Please pray that the weather will be good - we had a glorious day today, but there has been rain in the air and it would be so much better to be walking in the dry, and even sunshine (sorry I am aware that the weather is awful in the UK!)
We need to plan next week a bit more and particularly to schedule in an evening where Dave and Heidi can go out for an evening by themselves. Pray that we can fit it into everything else we want to/need to do.
Cherry blossom update report
Today was the day I have been looking forward to all week - we had a Hanami - a cherry blossom picnic. It was even more beautiful than I had imagined. We feel so fortunate. Sometimes the blossom is only here for 3-4 days as for example if it becomes very windy all the blossom can blow off over night, and we have already had 6 days of it - wow God is good. Doing this reminded me of a picnic we had last year with some of Robby's family and Charlotte in Pembroke Dock on a cold Easter Saturday.
 |
| Cherry blossom picnic in Pembroke Dock April 6 2012 |
 |
| Cherry blossom picnic March 28 2013 |
 |
| Some of the people from the church setting out the picnic |
We have prayed for you doing the Meditation in Japan and we have done it here in Pembroke Dock, Wales. ('We' being Robby's Mum, Dad, sister Jill and her husband Mike) Afterwards we sat together and talked through some of the things that God spoke to us about - very special time. Later on today, Saturday, Jill and Mike are leading Ruth and Claire through it too. We will cntinue to pray.
ReplyDelete