In my last blog, I mentioned our friends Donn and Daisy who are OMS missionaries to Japan. We, like you, have watched with horror the incredible events happening in Japan. This old world that we live on is a dynamic and changing place and the more we think we (as humans) are in control, the more it seems life demonstrates that we really aren't.
And of course, because of my 'before missions' life, I have watched with fascination the nuclear problems, never believing that with all the safeguards and design redundancies, that such a thing could happen. Again, we think we humans can control every eventuality - we can't. We do the very best that we can to plan but in the end, we depend upon faith, whether it be in our government, our leaders (be nice if we had some), our technology, and our desire that nothing should change (it does!). There is only one place you can put your faith and trust with confidence. Our time here on earth is but a vapor and their are no guarantees. Tomorrow a comet could crash through the atmosphere changing everything we consider as normal. Peace only comes through trusting in a God who loves us and who is not limited by time, knowing the beginning and the end all at the same time. We have the promise of eternal life and the peace that surpasses all understanding as we work together to do what we can to make this world a better place.
The following is from our friends living outside of Tokyo as of today:
Donn and I went to bed early last night and were sleeping when we were
jolted awake by a strong aftershock that we heard later was centered in
Yamanashi prefecture, near Mt. Fuji. The shaking was so severe that we
scrambled out of bed to throw on some clothes and go outside, but the
shaking stopped before we got that far. We continue to speak, "Peace
be still" to the shifting foundations of this nation in crisis, as
Jesus did to the winds and the waves in the midst of a storm, and to pray
against fear which is contributing to the crisis here. The following was
posted on one website:
JAPAN EARTHQUAKE INFORMATION
"Please refrain from over-stocking supplies
"Food and supplies are selling out from the stores in the Tokyo
Metropolitan area, however this may cause in running short of supplies for
the worst stricken areas. Japanese government has announced that there are
enough supplies in stock. Please act calmly with patience."
Panic buying continues to be a big problem. One of the other missionaries
said she saw one woman buying four or five loaves of bread (Japanese-style
loaves, of course), and some of my students said the stores were out of
toilet paper. Some shelves at the grocery store we visited yesterday were
completely bare.
Although totals are changing constantly, here are some figures recently
posted:
"About 850,000 households in the north were still without electricity
in near-freezing weather, Tohuku Electric Power Co. said, and the
government said at least 1.5 million households lack running water. Tens
of thousands of people were missing.
"Hiromichi Shirakawa, chief economist for placecountry-regionJapan at
Credit Suisse, said in a note to clients that the economic loss will
likely be around 14-15 trillion yen ($171-183 billion) just to the region
hit by the quake and tsunami."
Please continue to pray with us for power/water/gas to be restored to
these homes soon and for the missing to be found.
People have been asking, "How can we help?" The following is
part of an email from Joel Silverman at OMS Greenwood:
"We are getting a lot of inquiries and questions with regard to the
OMS response to the Tsunami in placecountry-regionJapan. We have set up
project account #404180 for all donations. These donations will be used
for relief of those affected by the disaster. The exact use of these funds
will be forthcoming as we assess how we can best help the victims and
effectively witness for Christ among those suffering. As usual we want to
coordinate through our church partners in country-regionplaceJapan."
The Nuclear crisis continues to be a huge cause for concern as all workers
were removed briefly from the building today because of escalating amounts
of radiation being released. However, they have since returned. Please
continue to pray for this crisis to be brought under control, as well as
praying for peace for the families of Japan missionaries who are in the
States and very concerned about their loved ones.
Lord, in our limited capacities, we have a hard time understanding the tragedies that occur across this world. We see this tremendous problem in Japan and it overwhelms our understanding, yet every day in the cities within our own borders, as well as across the world, great tragedies continue to happen where man, without God, and in his own self-centeredness, perpetrates great harm to others. A world without Christ is actually a hopeless place. Come soon Lord Jesus.
Please guide the relief workers and thank you for the resources good people are bringing to bear on this horrific event. We need Your help, the organizations responding need Your help, and the people of Japan need You and Your help. Help us oh Lord. Amen.
Help to Japan through OMS:
One Mission Society
Japan Relief - #404180
PO Box 1648
Monument, Co 80132-1648
Dave and Ann
The disciples asked Jesus in the crisis of their own age: "...what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?
Jesus answered: '...for many will come in my name, claiming, "I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginnings of birth pains.... for there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now - and never to be equaled again....
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come...."
Matthew 24
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