Jeff and Alishia Root
Author's posts
Jul 12
The Sound of Wind
Summer has arrived in Osaka, and with it come hot humid days. The Japanese put bells in their windows and above their verandas to catch any breezes that might blow through. Our Japanese friend told us that the reason they do this is because the chime of the bell lets them hear the breeze and …
May 10
It’s Hard to put into Words
Sometimes it’s very difficult to put into words exactly what the Lord is doing in our lives here in Japan. For me this is one of those times. We’ve seen amazing highs and humbling lows over the last couple of months. So instead of the usual written update, we decide to share some recent photos …
Jan 27
One Year In
Sugoi! It has been quite a year for us living out our faith over here in Japan. This update is going to highlight both the difficulties and blessings this year has brought. Thank you so much to each of you who have gotten behind us and opened your hearts to the lost souls of Japan. …
Dec 17
Christmas Facade.
Christmas is in full swing here in Japan. There are decorations and lights in the parks and shopping malls. The stores are playing Christmas music. There are Christmas markets and holiday light shows that you can go watch. Unfortunately, they don’t understand why Christians are celebrating. So, while on the surface they seem more excited …
Sep 30
Peacekeepers are not Peacemakers
This past Sunday at Abide, Pastor Joseph started Matthew chapter 5, the ‘Sermon on the Mount’. We covered the Beatitudes, and one that stood out to those I spoke with after the service was ‘Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.’ The Japanese are all about keeping peace, but not …
Jul 30
Squeaky Bikes
Japan is a nation of being shiny and put together. The mess and grime is cleaned, covered, or hidden. Like any place in the world, entropy happens. In Japan, however, the break down and disorder are fought against as much as possible. The upkeep of possessions is done compulsively, especially items that other people will …
Jun 13
Blessed to be Back
After five weeks in America, we are thankful to be back home in Osaka. Thank you to everyone who blessed us in big and little ways while we were there. It was a packed trip and we wouldn’t have made it through the different legs if it wasn’t for the generosity of several of you. …
May 01
Short but Sweet
The title of this post is three-fold. It refers to our time so far here in Japan, the time we’ll be spending in the States, and this post itself. Even though it’s a quick one, we wanted to keep you up to date on our comings and goings. If you’d like to see us and …
Mar 25
A Place to Be
Several things fell into place this month. The Lord is faithful and He has blessed above anything we could have imagined and in His perfect timing. It’s easy to look back and write that now. It doesn’t mean that we didn’t have our share of anxious days and stress-filled nights. We haven’t always had peace …
Feb 17
Further Than We Ever Imagined
What a month we have experienced. Things have moved fast and obstacles have been removed, doors have been opened and bonds have been forged in the furnace of life on the mission field. Let’s go over some of the highlights. We headed towards Japan in a pretty humble way, by driving to California. On the …