Little Things Matter

This Sunday promises to be chock full of emotions for us.  

Emotions of gratitude, mostly.

Some of you know our dear friends Bob and Gail Gierhart.  We have travelled through life with them since we were in college.  They went to Japan, then we went to Japan.  They came to Australia, then we did the same.  I know it looks like we’ve been following them around, but it was purely a “God-thing”, honest! 

They retired, so did we (A function of age, so couldn’t be helped).  Bob and Gail went directly BACK to full time work, whereas we didn't really, although sometimes it feels like it.

Anyway, this weekend, as you're reading this, they're retiring again, from Nuuanu Baptist Church in Hawaii.  They're young at heart like us and together we enjoy wondering what we're going to do with the 'rest' of our lives, and the abilities we’ve picked up along the way. We tend to spur each other on and call each other to reasonable tasks, so stay tuned.

Another event that's going on this weekend is the 75th anniversary of a church we worked in the last 5 years of our time in Japan.  It's called "Shinkoiwa Baptist Church". 

Try as I might, (one of the perks of getting old) I can't remember the actual story, but I know somebody named Uchino Tateishi became a Christian in Manchuria four generations ago.  Naturally, he was put in prison, but when the war ended, he got out and somehow made his way to Tokyo where he founded this church.

For these 75 years, it's been led by the same family, only calling an outside pastor last year.  Our friend Makito Watanabe, who's the Pastor of the Japanese church in Honolulu, is a direct descendant of the original founder, and he will be preaching the celebration sermon this Sunday.

How I wish we could be rich and agile enough to get to either of these celebrations, but alas, we have to realize SOME limits.  To leave and get back to be present for our responsibilities here would mean that we could only 'enjoy' these events for a couple of days and then head for home with the reverse 15 hour flight.  Plus we’ll be enjoying both Australian and Japanese church services of our own this weekend.  

And so I want to wrap up this strange rambling up with a thought.

What we do, MATTERS!. From that guy walking thru the snow in Manchuria to our friend finishing up leading a church for that many years, every step in the Way means people are reached, the Gospel is spread.

Both Shinkoiwa and Nuaanu churches are thriving today.  People are finding Christ, God is alive and well and we are loving spreading the news as we can.

Have a great week working on your legacy, thanking our Lord for every day He gives us.

Marsha

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