Just heard a call from Jeff Chapman, Converge Worldwide missionary, that Jeff finally found his warm clothes, they had a good night’s rest, breakfast of rice and oranges, and they are nearly ready to depart this morning. They leave Sendai realizing many churches still do not have water service.
They have decided not to go to Ishinomaki, as they had planned. It seems that CRASH, as well as many other relief organizations, have already made it there. They have decided to go a few more hours up the coast to a town called Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture. They believe that there is no relief work happening there yet. They have heard of a group of people who have been without food for two weeks. PRAY they would find them.
One of the men in the group has family that has been missing from Kesennuma. They will try to make contact with this Kitamura family, as well as bring relief supplies to the people in that town. PRAY that they will contact his family. He is very concerned. Calm the heart of this man who is still not a believer in Christ.
The roads are treacherous, with 6-8 inch height differences at places in the road. There are temporary repairs that have been made, but it is still difficult. Jeff reports that in Sendai people park their cars on the street overnight and go home so they can be in line first in the morning. Even at night the lines are 1-2 miles long. All gas stations are out of gasoline, but have diesel. The (diesel) truck can be filled, but not the vans which are travelling with the truck. They are carrying gasoline on the truck as relief supplies, but they will have to use it to fuel their own vans in order to get the supplies farther north. The road conditions, along with the snow make it a long and difficult trip. PRAY for wisdom and skill in calculating their fuel needs, safety in driving and joy as they go.
They hope to make it to Kesennuma today, unload supplies and begin the trip back tonight. PRAY for wisdom, special divine guidance, safety, rest, and hearts of compassion.