Where in Japan are Bob & Chris February 16

Bob and Chris were in Shizuoka City remembering their trip from the Kyushu District to the West District of the JELC. Before arriving in the West District and locating in Kamagasaki and the ministry of Kibo-no-Ie they made a stop on January 12th in Hiroshima, Japan. They were blessed to be met at the train station and spend an afternoon in the company of Hitoshi and Mioko Miyazaki. The Miyazakis are survivors from the dropping of the atomic bomb on the morning of August 6, 1945. They were junior high school students at the time. Part of the afternoon was spent at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and walking among the monuments of the Peace Memorial Park. At the museum Bob and Chris saw historic and graphic displays of the history and horror of the nuclear bomb. They also saw a display that told the story of 1000 cranes. According to the story Sadako Saski was a little girl two years old the day the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Living one mile from ground zero saved her life the day of the bombing but did not save her from developing leukemia in 1955 as a result of the exposure to radiation and other effects. In August of 1955 a friend, Chizuko Hamamoto visited her in the hospital and while there cut out and folded a crane from a piece of gold paper. When Chizuko told her friend Sadako that she was doing this because of the Japanese saying that anyone who folds 1000 paper cranes is granted a wish, Sadako was inspired to begin folding the paper cranes. Her goal was to fold 1000 and make her wish for recovery. She did complete her 1000 cranes before she became another victim of the atomic bomb when leukemia claimed her life. Her friends finished the 1000 cranes and placed them with her body in death. Her death and the story of the cranes started a movement that built a monument to all the children who were victims of the bomb at the Peace Memorial Park. About 10 million folded cranes are received and hung as part of the monument each year. The cranes have become the symbol of a world that prays for peace. Bob and Chris were moved by the day spent in this place with victims and survivors of the atomic bomb. A few days after they were moved again when word came from St. Paul Lutheran Church in Aiken South Carolina where they are members and Bob is Pastor. The word that came was that the youth and members of St. Paul had folded 1000 cranes and wished to send them to Hiroshima along with their prayers for peace. Since Bob and Chris were now in Kamagasaki, Osaka, Japan they would not be able to take the cranes to the monument. God had a better idea. Bob contacted Mioko Miyazaki and asked if the cranes could be sent to Hiroshima and for the youth of her church to take them to the Children’s monument at the Peace Memorial Park. The youth and members of Hiroshima Lutheran Church embraced the idea. The cranes were sent to Hiroshima Lutheran Church. On February 15th they were dedicated during Sunday worship with prayers as they were placed before the altar in Hiroshima. They will remain in the church until February 22nd. They will then are taken to the Children’s monument at the Peace Memorial Park, registered at the same monument and take their place as a symbol of our continuing petitions before God for peace in this world. Both the youth and members of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Aiken South Carolina, and Hiroshima Lutheran Church, Hiroshima Japan will be in prayer together on that day. Because of the Holy Spirit working in and through members of both churches a special relationship of praying for peace has begun. Only God knows where it might lead in the future.

Keep praying,

Zen Ben