The cherry blossoms started blooming here last week and the weather has been warm every day. In spring, various plants begin to wake up, reminding us of the strength of life that God has given us.

Also, every year around the end of March, more than 10,000 cranes fly over my house from Kagoshima in the south of Japan back to Russia, which is a very moving sight. Migratory birds have no borders or conflicts, and their flight back to their home continent of Siberia in flocks is so impressive that it seems to give us hope that one day we, too, will return to our heavenly home with Jesus.