Volunteer Report by Randy (2020 Kyushu floods)

Last week I was blessed to attend a volunteer service day in Ashikita with the Kyushu Lutheran Church. Pastor Adachi drove us down and we meet up with Pastor Sumimoto in Ashikita. After some prayer, we joined a work group cleaning helping a woman who's home had flooded badly. The damage to the home was severe. Her floors had been completely ruined and were torn out. We worked with a cheerful, dedicated crew to clean the foundations and the framing so that a new floor could later be installed. It was a long day of powerwashing, scrubbing, and scooping out water from the foundations, but in the end the framing was left shining, dirt and impurities blasted away by cleansing waters. I think it is a nice parallel to how Christ washes away our impurities and makes us new. We may go through terrible storms and be left covered in dirt and debris, but he is always there to make us new and clean again. I think, even in this difficult, terrible time, we need to remember to rejoice with thanks that God is always here to make us new.

-Randall Tallent