The End of an ERA

Life is full of changes.   People come into our lives and then the time comes for them to go on into what God has for them.  Things grow old and are disposed of.   In the midst of these changes it is very important to see and recognize what God is saying and doing.

Just last year we had an end of an era experience when we had to say a sad farewell to Lydia Jordi who had served on our team for two years.  It was the playful fun-filled smile on the photo of her staff application that won our hearts even before we met her.  Her smile continued on, as you can see from the photo!

In 2006 we  also experienced the end of an era when the building that had become the training centre for YWAM in the Tokyo area was put on  the market to be sold and we were unable to rent it any longer.  This photo shows all that could be seen soon after we left of what had originally been a maternity clinic and had given birth to the Training ministry of YWAM in Tokyo.

We moved on from there into central Tokyo where we are now in the outreach phase of the 3rd Discipleship Training School since our move.   Lydia was the new staff that saw the first DTS off to a good start and we were joined by Chloe & Derick for the second DTS.  Derick is now the Co-Leader of the current school.

This third picture also marks the end of an ERA.      The house that stood on this lot was the first house built in the area for missionary use and was still affectionately  referred to as Mitaka #1 house.  It was a gorgeous two-story wooden house with a lovely view of  Mt. Fuji on a clear day.  We were the last people to live in Mitaka #1 where we were for a year.  The first month of our second DTS in Tokyo, all ten students and three staff also shared the house with us.  In its final days the Mitaka House continued to fulill the reason for which it was built.

The era of those missionaries has come to a close and the Mitaka #1 House has gone, too.  It is the end of an Era.  BUT that means a new era is about to begin.  God is going to do new things here in the city of Tokyo.  We are now a team of 14 staff with five more applying to come in the autumn season.  People will come and some will go.  Buildings will be dedicated for the Kingdom and then they too  will fade away.  BUT the Kingdom of God will move forcefully on and if we keep our eyes and ears open to the true and living God, we can be a vital part of this new era in the Kingdom of God right here in Tokyo.