Supplementary Material to Ottawa's Heart4Asia Presentation: "Japan Earthquake: How Should We Respond" (Click "Read More" for Full Text of Slide Presentation)

OMF Kanto/Tohoku Earthquake from Mike McGinty on Vimeo.

Please Also Feel Free to Contact Us Directly

The following websites are a good place to start in finding information on:

• How to Pray
• How to Give
• How to Volunteer (Short Term Opportunities)

CRASH Japan - Love on Japan 2011

OMF International - Japan Field

If you are interested in joining a short-term mission trip for relief work in Japan, try:

CRASH Japan's volunteer FAQ page (you can find a link to their online application form at the top of their homepage)

SEND Canada - Check out SEND Canada's "Help Wanted" section at the bottom left hand side of their home page (or if you don't live in Canada, try SEND International Missions' homepage for your own country)

If you would like to read earthquake/tsunami relief and recovery reports from our OMF missionaries in the field try:

For my uncle, Martin Ghent's updates, visit His FaceBook Page

A blog of Prayer Partner Letters posted by our missionaries in Sendai

For my father, John Elliot's reports, browse through his site (you can click on "2011 tsunami" under "Labels" on the right sidebar)

Also, be sure to browse through the OMF Japan Field's Earthquake and Tsumami page

Now updated to include full slide presentation . . .

Vol. 1.4 - April 2011 - Click on the Prayer Letter to Enlarge

Or View and Download as PDF File

Interview of a Local Pastor in the Earthquake/Tsunami Disaster Zone in Iwate Prefecture (with Subtitles)

Link to the Independent's Article "Their country may be shattered, but their spirit is unbroke"

Kiyoi Oikawa, 74, draws water from a well near her ruined home in Minamisanriku, Miyagi prefecture
AFP/GETTY IMAGES

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/their-country-may-be-shattered-but-their-spirit-is-unbroken-2266936.html

Wednesday, 13 April 2011

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/their-country-may-be-shattered-but-their-spirit-is-unbroken-2266936.html


The 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.

Martin Ghent Info - Tsunami Aftermath in Iwate, Japan - Update from April 8

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 Mae 

Original 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

OMF Missionary John Elliot Standing in Front of Ofunato Baptist Church

Having spent the better part of 2 weeks in “the zone”, I returned to Ajigasawa for the weekend. It was nice to be back, and a little strange. I tackled a number of pressing jobs, enjoyed fellowship on Sunday, and tried to relax on Monday. Then, back to Iwate.

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.

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: 

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.