UPDATE We arrived safely in Machida late this afternoon. Thanks for praying as the trip was very uneventful and we were pleased to find gasoline quite available in town. Arriving here means some challenges but not a week ago. PRAY that our ministry in the neighborhood would be revived. ——————————— We are heading back to Machida, Tokyo today (Wed Am). After being with our missionaries here in Nara, we realize it is God’s time for…
Jeff Chapman, Converge Worldwide missionary called me to report that two vans have gone ahead and their truck left later. They were slugging it through snow, and it is cold. They have also had to negotiate their trip as roads were closed due to new aftershocks, then reopened. He reports there were long lines for rationed gas but as they noticed they were relief workers they filled the truck up. They have arrived in Sendai,…
Jeff Chapman and the other 7 drivers have made it to Niigata on the west side of Japan overlooking the Japan Sea. The roads got pretty ‘dicey’ once they got into Niigata, as there is a lot of snow on the ground. (There is snow forecasted for the next few days up there). THANK God for the journey so far. None of the drivers in his group have made the trip before, so they need…
Tonight over 200,000 people remain in over 1,500 evacuation shelters. The death toll now tops 9,000 with over 12,000 people still missing. Today there was deep sadness as we heard that Taylor Anderson, an American English teacher from Virginia, was killed in the Tsunami in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture. Probably many of you had seen news of her parents and her friends concern after she went missing after the earthquake and tsunami. It seems she was…
– Severed roads are hampering rescue and supply delivery efforts. PRAY that the areas transportation will improve. – The lack of fuel supply means people do not have heat during this cold weather. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cdjM9aE_jU&feature=player_embedded#at=104 PRAY that these shortages would end and people would be safe. – CRASH reports that they have lots of relief supplies available but are short of drivers and trucks. The 90 tons of supplies that arrived by plane the other day…
At about 11:30 Tuesday (JST), Jeff Chapman, a fellow Converge Worldwide missionary, left with several others to deliver much needed relief supplies to Ishinomaki city in Iwate prefecture. Since yesterday the convoy has grown to four vehicles and eight drivers in two groups. A one way trip takes about 17 hours of driving. They expect to arrive back in the Kansai area late Friday or early Saturday. Jeff wrote today, “Today is the day I…
Bruce Young (quoted earlier) is returning to Japan because even churches in the Nagoya area (LOCATION) are experiencing incredible response right now. “Missionaries tell us people are walking into the church asking questions as never before. This is a very emotional time for many and thus more are ready to hear the gospel message… and overwhelming the missionaries with endless opportunities.” PRAY that churches and believers would maximize all these opportunities.
Today I talked to one of the CRASH leaders. He told me they are so busy with volunteers and mobilizing other they are running out of room for their operations center. PRAY that God would lead them to a larger center to continue operations for over a year. PRAY as the leadership of CRASH as they pass more leadership to Japanese as they partner with the Japan Evangelical Association. CRASH Japan is a non-profit disaster…
Again the toll from this triple disaster has meant the death toll now over 8,600 and 13,000 people still missing. Search and Rescue work continues but several teams have wrapped up their work. Continue to PRAY for the comfort of all affected by this record disaster. Over 250,000 people are still in evacuation centers. After ten days in these often cold centers throughout the region means that many health issues have developed like influenza. PRAY…
Pray as Relief Gets Harder Those experienced in relief work report that it is grueling work, hard physically, emotionally and spiritually. As the recovery heads more into the second week now the long-term real problems are being evident. Sometimes relief workers can actually become victims of the disaster due to the effect on their lives. Staff at hospitals are reporting exhaustion and discouragement. PRAY that those doing the relief work would avoid compassion fatigue. Before…