Tuesday, 26 April 2011
Thursday, 14 April 2011
Link to the Independent's Article "Their country may be shattered, but their spirit is unbroke"
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| Kiyoi Oikawa, 74, draws water from a well near her ruined home in Minamisanriku, Miyagi prefecture AFP/GETTY IMAGES |
Wednesday, 13 April 2011
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/their-country-may-be-shattered-but-their-spirit-is-unbroken-2266936.htmlThe closing paragraph is worth reading even if you don't follow the above link:
Above all, what will stay with me after these communities are rebuilt, the Fukushima plant is encased in its concrete coffin and the iodine, caesium and plutonium has stopped seeping from its bowels, is the way Japanese people carried themselves during this crisis. I'm thinking now of the smiles I saw around Iwate, of the many old people and children in the prefecture who shoved food into my hands and told ME to keep going. I think these qualities are social, not genetic, built up over generations, and possibly stronger in the northeast where life has traditionally been harsher. But whatever the reason, it works. And I'm staying.So true . . . and yet, at the same time, this is a nation where, every year, over 30,000 people take their own life. That is more than the total number of dead and missing in the recent earthquake/tsunami disaster. Join with us in praying that the good news of salvation in our Lord Jesus Christ will go forth with power in these regions and that, by God's grace, many will be born again to a living hope.
1God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.2Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,3though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah 4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God . . . .
Psalm 46 (English Standard Version)
God Is Our Fortress
To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song.
Tuesday, 12 April 2011
Martin Ghent Info - Tsunami Aftermath in Iwate, Japan - Update from April 8
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| Luke's Uncle Martin and Aunt Ruth Mae Ghent (OMF Missionaries) Delivering Supplies in the Disaster Zone |
Updated Prayer Request from 12 April 2011
We discovered that many of the shelters have no kitchens so they cannot cook hot food and people have been eating cold rice balls 3 times a day. We are trying to figure out how to help set up kitchens so that people in the shelters can cook for themselves. Right now the city is delivering 10000 rice balls 3 times a day. So many things to think about. Long term we want to contribute in a way that will lead to churches that will remain but we need to respond to some short term needs . . . .
. . . . . Todays main request is for land that can be used to set up 2 tents in each of the 4 places that we would like to focus on short and long term. Thanks for praying, Martin and Ruth MaeOriginal Post:
Please pray for Martin Ghent as he searches for facilities that will be suitable as a long-term relief base camp for OMF's relief work in the northern half of the disaster zone. He has already tried an empty restaurant (which had already been rented out the day before) and a little factory (which had also already been rented out the day before). At last report he was still awaiting word on a Farmer's Co-op building. He has continued the search this week.
Please also pray for wisdom as he discusses plans for future work with the mission.
The following is an exert from the prayer update sent out by Luke's Aunt Ruth Mae Ghent following the largest after-shock since March 11th. It gives an idea of how the earthquakes have been affecting life for OMF missionaries in Aomori Prefecture bordering the northern edge of the disaster area.
Our electricty was gone again-no connection to the outside world. While Martin was driving the world went black again-the cities and roads dark. But he made it home safely. This morning our grocery store decided to operate anyway so a clerk greets each customer at the door and walks with them through the dark aisles and writes down each item. It too is a somewhat eerie atmosphere but it's one of those things we just have to get used to in our new life since 3/11.
John Elliot - Tsunami Aftermath in Iwate, Japan - Learning, Perhaps . . . - 5-8 April 2011
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| OMF Missionary John Elliot Standing in Front of Ofunato Baptist Church |
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| OMF Missionary Martin Ghent Working on the Interior of Ofunato Baptist Church |
The first order of business Tuesday was to get Martin’s truck to Ofunato, along with kitchen cabinets, relief supplies, and a 4x8 foot garden shed. It was quite a load, especially with cross-winds on the highway. Along the way, I visited a small shelter in Kamaishi and Ofunato City Office with Laurie, Renee Williams, and Jean-Marc and Solveig Giffen, talking to people there and dropping off supplies. Yes, it was too much for one day. Renee had really hoped to go to Ohtsuchi as well, but we ran out of time. I had to get the truck to Ofunato Baptist church, so they ended up dropping the remaining stuff at the Kamaishi Shinsei church.
Friday, 8 April 2011
Largest Earthquake Since 3/11
We are thankful to report that once again, all of our family members are okay.
Luke's mother's FaceBook status reads:
Luke's mother's FaceBook status reads:
Laurie Elliot is fine! Husband is fine! Everyone is fine. It shook from Kanto to Hokkaido but the radio said there was no damage and they didn’t know why there was a blackout. (The blackout hit our house before the earthquake. Sarah and I were at home on the rock so it wasn’t too bad but Husband down in Ofunato had quite the adrenalin surge. Said everyone headed for the hills almost before they were dressed.Yuko had an opportunity to speak with her mother on Skype (her parents live in Hokkaido) and, although they were greatly shaken in their house and prepared to evacuate, everything turned out okay.
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