What's going on with this nuclear plant that was in the news a few month ago?

While the headlines have forgotten Japan for weeks, and my focus has been on any articles I can dig up about the emotional/mental toll it has been taking, especially among the thousands living in shelters, one of the top questions I'm asked is about the nuclear/radiation situation. And I realize more and more how little I actually know, and how hard it is to find, understand, and summarize anything nuclear related.

I mean, even Lady Gaga is all about helping Japan. Somehow praying for Japan has become the cool thing to do... but I digress. So in answer to all questions about the nuclear plant, this article is the latest info I can find. Check out the little animated slideshow at the bottom of the article for a play by play of what happened.

In summary, they have started a system of pumping in loads of water that "will solve the problem of contaminated water, which gave all sorts of worries to the world. Second, it will enable stable cooling of reactors," and keep them on the path to their goal of a cold shutdown of the plant by January.

"We don't want to be forgotten. We want to go home."

Check out this article for an update on shelter life in Japan, particularly the mental/psychological toll on those who have lost everything.

Pray that they would not be crushed during this hard time, but that God would be the strength in their weakness, hope in their despair, peace in their anxiety. And that same prayer not just for those in the shelters, but the believers (Japanese, American, whoever) who go to help and encourage.

When I run out of words, which happens pretty often, I find myself praying songs, like this one:

Update

Just Another Day - Japan Disaster Relief from Shane Burgett on Vimeo.

Just wanted to share that video update from the team in Japan. See more at their vimeo page

More to come, but for now...my heart is full, my body is tired, and sleep beckons. Pray for Japan!

Random Reflection

Normal. Simple. Mundane. We (or at least I) tend to think of those words as negative. Boring. Pointless. But I've been thinking lately about the all-the-time, every-day things, the wonderful things that are (or should be) normal.

Simple reminders to take joy in the small things. Like realizing while practicing that I am childishly thrilled by the reflections in the piano. Or more importantly, the reflection of God in me. Praying without ceasing, having a posture of repentance, living in grace, walking with God. When lived out like they should be, all these wonderful things become...normal. So normal and everyday, and like a child, these "normal" things never stop thrilling us with joy. Isn't that beautiful?

...let your light shine. Not necessarily fireworks or laser light displays or blazing majesty. Just...shine.

Today in Tokyo

This week a short-term team of Christian musicians from Julliard are with my team in Tokyo. Below is an excerpt from their blog (Revive Our Hearts). I share this with you because it's awesome, it's the kind of conversation I could potentially have quite often, and because I would love to work with short-term teams like this one during my years in Tokyo.

"One uniquely encouraging conversation I had was with a flutist named Ayi. Through a translator Ayi wanted to know what I think about when I play. I told her that I always try to express as accurately as I can what I believe the composer tried to say through the music, but also that I play to glorify God who gave me the ability to play. She was amazed by the fact that all of us can play skillfully and passionately and yet we all believe that we received this power from God. She then wanted to know what role Christianity plays in my life. One thing led to another, and I was able to share with her the Gospel truth that in Christ God doesn’t look at us as servants, but as children. In most likelihood that was the first time that Ayi heard the Gospel."

Praise God for this team, their willingness to serve, and the gifts God has given them.
Join me in praying that God would bless them with health, personal growth in Him, and incredible opportunities to keep shining the light of His love and grace to those they meet.

Where in the World is Ellie?

I'm actually back in Danville! ...for now.

Tomorrow I leave for Living in Grace, a conference/discipleship training/retreat/thing for itinerant missionaries like myself. It has the potential to be an incredible time of growth, quiet time of rest with God, hopefully meeting some new friends...all kinds of good stuff. Plus it's not too far from Asheville, NC, (one of the best cities ever) so it has to be good, right?

For now...this was last week:
Those are a few pictures of my sister Denise and her girls, who I got to spend 9 days with on my way home...aren't they awesome? It was a really good week of playing with the girls, reading lots of books, (changing lots of diapers), late-night talks about life, and of course, making lots of cookies :)

Active Waiting

A friend of mine described waiting as active, and I feel that combination describes me quite well.

I am waiting. So incredibly ready to be in Japan. Every time I hear another story from Japan (no matter how amazing or heart-breaking), share my stories from Japan, or tell about my calling, my heart burns and leaps with desire. My spirit is all at once joyful, eager, and restless. It's a weird feeling, but a good one. And as the Spirit oozes a comforting chill of comfort, patience, and assurance, I know that this is exactly where I am supposed to be now, and the burn is just a healthy assurance that soon, I will go. Trusting and submitting to the peace of God. I am waiting.

But thankfully, that trusting and peaceful waiting does not mean sitting around. It means praying without ceasing for Japan and for my support-raising journey, and it means acting. Telling everybody I can about Japan, and what God is doing there. It means swallowing the lump in my throat and asking others to give money so I can go. Emails, phone calls, big group talks, letters, meetings, one-on-one conversations. It means studying Japanese, and practicing music. And sometimes hardest of all, it means living where I am right now; actively loving who I am with right now; not getting so caught up in the tomorrow that I ignore today. I am active.

We must "Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD" (Psalm 27:14) but also, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work" (1 Chronicles 28:20). It all seems like a weird paradox, but somehow...it works. When I actually do it, it works extremely well.