Resurfacing In Tokyo

..It is 7 p.m. Tuesday evening in Tokyo. There are almost more Starbucks here then in Seattle.
..Thursday through Monday I was on Etijima Island, across the bay from Hiroshima. With no internet, newspapers, TV, or radio available it was like being on the other side of the moon.
..The occasion was the four-day Fall Conference for Asian Access staff who serve and live in Japan helping Japanese pastors plant and strengthen churches. It proved to be an even more productive time than I had anticipated in reconnecting relationally with staff, casting vision, doing some strategic thinking and getting ministry updates.
..Today I had some excellent meetings and tomorrow and Thursday have two days of planning meetings.
..However, the best thing was that I was able to reconnect to the internet and call and talk with my Mary in Charlotte. It makes it seem not quite so far from home.