Two months later...

The tragedy of the earthquakes and tsunami that began in March may have faded from the headlines here, but in Japan it is still very real and present.  Ever since they hit, we've been watching the news and photos from our friends around Japan.  We have a lot of questions in our mind about how we will have to adjust our life when we get to Japan, dealing with concerns about radiation and aftershocks, as well as how best to help Japanese people during this time.

Just recently, a friend posted pictures from Iwaki, Japan, which was hit by the tsunami.  There is simply too much damage to be cleaned up, and much of this may be there for months or years to come.  I can't include them all here, but I wanted to post a few for you to see.

(Thanks to Daniel Snow for these pictures.)

There is so much devastation, and so much need.  Fortunately, there is good news for those in need.  The church has continued to bring supplies and hope to the affected regions, sending well over a hundred truckloads of supplies from the Chiba area so far.  Mission to the World, our sending agency, continues to collect donations via their Minuteman Appeal, and you can get updates on their website.  SpendYourself.org, run by Danny Iverson, son of the team leader in Chiba, raised nearly $115,000 for aid in Japan.

Please continue to pray for Japan!  If you are able, consider sending money for supplies and workers.  If you are burdened to do more, there will be a number of teams going this summer, hopefully as many as 20 organized by Isaac Knopp and Tim Benson, working from the Chiba area but continuing to bring supplies, love, and hope to the affected regions to the north.  Please consider giving your time this summer, because the Japanese people are recognizing the love of Christ in the workers that come to help them, especially when they come from overseas at great personal sacrifice.  Click here for more details.

Also, please pray for and consider financially supporting the missionaries that are laboring in Japan or are trying to get to the field.  We have links on the right side of this page to many of them, and there are others listed on SpendYourself.org as well.  Many of the missionaries in Japan had to go through the terror of the earthquakes that still continue to shake the country now, and yet they are also giving of their time, money, and resources, to help those around them.  Pray that the Japanese would continue to be receptive to the Gospel during these troubled times, and that God would use this tragedy to sweep across the nation with His love and mercy through Christians in all corners of the land.