Memorial Peace Park

Every monday is cultural day at CCBC. A group of students and staff went to the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum this week, located on the southern tip of the island. The memorial is in respect to the people who died in the Battle of Okinawa during WWII. An estimated 200,000 people, including more than 100,000 civilians and 12,500 Americans were killed in the battle. A very sobering place, we spent time at the park and museum. The park itself has small monuments that represent all of Japan's 46 prefectures. It also has the "Cornerstone of peace," a collection of large stone plates with the names of all fallen soldiers and civilians.
The museum itself has a lot of photos and videos from the war. I totally took advantage of the free English audio service they give you when you enter. Overall, it was educational and beautifully done, much like the Hiroshima bombing memorial in Hiroshima. I always love the conceptual thinking behind Japanese architecture and design. You definitely don't leave the place happy. But it made me think of Isaiah 26 - the prophet's vision of the Messiah coming back and reigning over Israel. God's promise is a place that's never going to be destroyed because it's a godly city, and it will stand and be a place of peace. A life in Christ on this earth is a life that's able to withstand any trial or war we will ever face because we're assured that there's more to it than this."You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You" (Is. 26:3).