That Old House

 Good Morning all.

When Tony slips back into his “country” roots, he likes to sing a song some of you might remember. We first heard it sung by the Cathedrals and the chorus goes like this:

Ain’t gonna need this house no longer

Ain’t gonna need this house no more

Ain’t got time to fix the shingles

Ain’t got time to fix the floor

Ain’t got time to oil the hinges

Nor to mend the window pane

Ain’t gonna need this house no longer

I’m gettin ready to meet the saints

Well, as Tony would say, “That song just preaches itself!” And it’s true, whether you’re talking about an old house or an aging body.

This week, we’ve had the wonderful chance to spend a few days in our own “old house” in Japan. It was built with materials shipped from America and put together by an American team of volunteer carpenters, working with a few local Christian Japanese builders. That’s a story in itself that I’ll have to share with you sometime.

All this happened about 35 years ago, and as they say, “If only these walls could talk!”

Besides us, several wonderful coworkers have called the place home over the years, including other mission families, our Japanese pastor, and now it operates as an extension of the church we started close by. They call it “Hope House”, and it’s used for everything from visiting mission teams to weekly Bible studies to special church events.

I can’t describe the feelings we had as we stepped into the “genkan” (entrance).  Everywhere we looked, we could see memories of our children jumping around every corner, countless friends, the thuds and thrills of church planting, oceans of tears – both of joy and of grief – and even of the time we burned a Japanese god shelf in the fireplace. I can still remember when we all practically levitated off the floor when one of the “gods” exploded while we were singing a hymn! So many years, and yet joyfully, the place still lives on and ministers every day of its life.

I do have to say that 35 years have taken its toll on the house. The fireplace suffered a case of termites and had to be closed up. The beautiful deck leading outside had to be torn down for the same problem. The big earthquake in 2011 put some cracks in the walls, and the heating system gave up the ghost somewhere along the line. This morning it was 4 degrees Celcius  (about 35F) in the bedroom. We have kerosine heaters but of course can’t run them at night lest you die of asphyxiation. 

I can’t tell you enough how rewarding it is to be here.  

Last night we had dinner with the parents of the first girl we baptised in Sendai, who was followed soon after by her younger sister. I’ll never forget the night they came to the house and said, “When we see our daughters, we know there must be a God. Will you tell us about Him?” Today the whole family walks with the Lord, and the parents are respected members in the church. Several of their grandchildren are valuable labourers in Christian fields around the world.  

But as I was thinking about this house today, and about the church right up the street, I’m so thrilled to see that both structures and the people who occupy them are still going strong. Yeah, the cracks are becoming more evident, and the windows whistle when the wind blows, but the foundations are strong. And even when this or that thing “gives up the ghost”, we have the assurance that there is a Master Carpenter who nurtures them and receives them with love. 

Now you’re wondering if I’m talking about a house, a church building or something else, but I’ll let you chew on that.

Thank You for your prayers that enabled Tony to stand back in the old pulpit today and deliver a Japanese sermon that, even if no one else was moved, made HIM cry!

Please continue to pray for our friend here who was the main reason we’ve come to Sendai. He’s recovering from pancreatic cancer surgery and seems to us at least, to be doing well.  He hopes to teach our grandchildren to ski as he did both us and our kids.  I was relieved that his surgery was the esteemed “Whipple method” which has seemed to work a miracle in another of our friend’s life.  Nonetheless we pray for Shinkichi’s recovery, as he’s more precious to us and the church than any deck or fireplace.  

Next time you hear from me, God willing, we’ll be passing through Hong Kong on our way to that “closed country” I mentioned last time. Please continue to pray for these two “old houses”, trying to cope with the aches and pains of travel, but thrilled to think what might be in store around the next corner.

We may indeed be getting “ready to meet the saints”, but until then we thank God for you, for the memories and for new opportunities.

Keep enjoying the lead up to Christmas, remembering the Reason for the season!

Marsha