ODR Outlook

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Over the past 7 days I have  been in what seems like an endless cycle; reviewing CNN.com, MSNBC.com, FoxNews.com, and CBC.ca for details and news on what may become one of the largest nuclear catastrophies since WWII and Chernobyl.  I don’t know what has captivated my attention so much, with the news surrounding the trio of disasters in Japan this past week; for some reason it all seams so unreal and overwhelming thinking about the possibility of something as life changing as a nuclear catastrophe that would have world wide impact.

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As I devoured news headlines and updates on the escalating nuclear crisis–praying for God to intervene, the phrase the “Fukushima 50“, was continually em-blazed in my mind.  The unfolding story of  200 men working in shifts of 50, braving life threatening levels of radiation, doing everything possible to stave off a nuclear catastrophe that may change the lives of thousands around the world for many years to come.

Maybe the reason I am so captivated by the evolving crisis, is the thought of these men who are risking their lives, many with wives and small children, who they many never see again.  And as I ponder these thoughts and the sacrifice they are making for their country and for their world, I think of what Jesus has done for us, and if we are willing to give our lives for the thousands and millions around us so that they may experience the joy of salvation and eternal life with Jesus.

Prayers & Cards for Japan

Every Friday at school we have joint worship with our students, and this Friday like many I was not as prepared as I should have been, but as I woke up tossing and turning early Friday morning, Japan and the nuclear crisis popped in my mind.  ”We should have a prayer session for Japan, and make cards we can send them from our school”.

The pictures below show our joint worship this Friday where we were blessed to pray for Japan and hopefully share a little joy with those who read our cards, helping the people, the families, and maybe even the Fukushima 50, to know that people around the world are praying and thinking about them in what has been said to be the darkest day for Japan since WWII.

However, with God’s intervention and round-the-clock work of the Fukushima 50, nuclear disaster may be diverted yet.

Song Service with Mr. D

Students & Teachers During Worship

Prayer Session for Japan

Cards for Japan

Students Making Cards for Japan

More Students Making Cards for Japan

Random Student Picture

Japanese Student Translator in Action

Japanese Translation for My Card

Ronald with my Japanese Student Translator

It’s 4:15 in the morning and I’ve been on duty since 3:30 am, as each of the teachers and parents take turns on night duty during our annual Managaha camping trip.  Night duty has made the trip tiring, but this morning I’m on duty myself which has given me the opportunity to think, pray, and read the Bible.

As I was thinking about the evening devotional last night; I was praying for the students and reflecting on some of the decisions for Jesus some of them have already made. Our theme this weekend has been about the “Power of Forgiveness” and last night Mrs. Girlie was impressed by God to make an appeal after her devotional thought about, “How Do I Live After Forgiveness”.

Mrs. Girlie - Sharing During Sabbath School

As she shared about the prodigal son, how he realized what he had done and that he could still choose to live differently even after all he had done; Girlie appealed to the kids to accept Jesus’ gift of forgiveness and start living life differently. Approximately 6 students out of 30 students responded to the appeal, which made me start thinking…

Mrs. Girlie - With Students During Sabbath School

Alter Calls or appeals are never easy they cause us at first usually to feel uncomfortably and ask if God is prompting us to respond, then as we process those feelings we start to think, if I go up what will people think of me…our Pride starts to get in the way. As I saw these 6 kids respond to the promptings of God, I asked myself if the pressure the kids feel is different then the pressure adults feel when we are called to stand up and make a commitment, or a re-commitment to Jesus, or to change an aspect of our lives.

From my personal experience recently I think I am just better at justifying and covering my feelings, or reapply the appeal to mean something that does not apply to me. Which makes me think that I or us as adults can learn from the words of Jesus, if we want to enter the kingdom of heaven we must “become like little children” Matthew 18:1-4

Sunset - Waiting for Jesus To Come

More Pictures of Teachers & Kids During Worship

More Students During Worship

Worship Pictures of Students

Mrs. Odiyar & Student

Ronald - Worship with Kids - Managaha

Ronald - Sabbath Sermon - Managaha

It’s been a while since either Tiffany or I have blogged.  I personally have had a weird experience when it comes to blogging, because before I got to Saipan, I had all these ideas of what I could write about and what would make our blog interesting.  The weird part is that once I was in Saipan all those ideas left me, and it has been truly painful to even come up with any motivation to even blog about life’s daily events, as we busily move from one class to another and one event to another. Read the rest of this entry »