Due to a very cold last winter we were able to adore the beautiful light-pink Sakura blossoms more than a whole 10 days earlier as in usual years.
Now that the new business- and school-year has started, almost all the Sakura trees have already traded their beautiful blossoms for fresh green leaves.
Japanese companies and schools also start their new year in April. Therefore for many company employees, the time around the end of March and the beginning of April is the most busy time of the year. Sometimes they even just learn a few weeks before the year closes whether and where they will be transferred to. So the work related to the closing of a business year, maybe moving to a different city, children starting a new year of kindergarden or school – everything happens around this time of year.
For us also this new year brings about a major change in our missionary appointment here in Japan. As for the beginning of April we started to work together with Kanayama church in Nagoya. As for now we have not yet settled down after these changes our schedules, moreover the change of roles and responsibilites. We are excited and happy about our new task, at the same time we feel uneasy, afraid in some instances even, and we are yet to get used to this new „shape“ of ours. We are thankful that whatever situation we find ourselves in, whatever concerns us – we can go to Christ with these things. To be able to know and experience, that he already knew what would happen in these times gives us peace. He wrote all of our days into his book, long before they came to pass. God is never surprised.
On April 8th I spoke about the time when Jesus provided food for over 5000 people as it is written in the gospel according to Mark. What moved me about this passage once again was, how Jesus was not at all surprised about anything about the situation he was in. The disciples found themselves in a situation they could not cope with. Jesus told them to give this huge crowd food. All they could think about was that the money they had with them would never be enough to buy all that would be necessary to accomplish this task. But Jesus knew about their finances. He also knew, that his Father in heaven was about to use him to perform a miracle through him. I also want to have this souvereignity. I wish to be so much more like Jesus, who always knew himself in his Fathers hands. We believe in the God who takes everyday occasions and turns them them into the starting point for a miracle. God is never surprised. Why should we be?