Dear Praying Friends
I'm sure I speak for many Christians here when I say that the tsunami in March has given us a new injection of energy for ministry, renewed love for the lost, more opportunities taken, awe at the privilege of being co-workers in Japan with Almighty God and joy in the gospel etc. The tsunami was sent by God to wake Japan up and we have yet to see that happen- at least in Sendai - there hasn't been the turning to the Lord for which we have prayed. But God has done something else: He has polished up the Church so that she shines brighter. So even though the tsunami was a great catastrophe the result may still be a great blessing which is exactly what we would expect from a God who is both sovereign and good.
1. Christians have been prominent in the relief work. Japanese churches have mobilised their members and along with Christian aid organisations and missionaries have pulled far beyond their weight in numbers and been a good example of the love of Christ.
2. Christians sense that God has acted in this disaster and their moment to bear witness has come. We've seen SECC members more convinced of the truth of gospel, more willing to work hard and cooperate, feel more responsible for the salvation of their neighbours and family, be less materialistic, more prayerful and more aggressive in evangelism. This spiritual refreshing has been repeated in many evangelical churches throughout Japan.
3. Many churches have started to cooperate, not in the formal way we sometimes had in the past but zealously and generously. I have been encouraged by the initiative and love shown by many in their 20s and 30s from other churches who have helped at our temporary housing site (THS) evangelistic events and how SECC people have done the same and I am sure that this networking and cooperation is going on in other places in Miyagi, Iwate and Fukushima. Young Christians who were drifting have found focus by serving.
These are concrete spiritual blessings which only God could have done and should make us thirsty to go on praying and to work expectantly for Him to do yet greater things. A refreshed and vibrant church is a good beginning.
Let us keep praying for boldness in telling the gospel. When Paul recounts how he did it in Galatia he says he vividly portrayed Jesus Christ as crucified before them, meaning he clearly and persuasively explained what Christ's death meant for them (Gal 3:1). Until we've done that we can't say that we have done real evangelism. Pray that Christians don't stop short with material relief only, or handing out literature, or befriending people but use these opportunities to do what God has sent us here for. Giving Christ to people is real relief.
Let us pray that tsunami victims and others in the NE get converted. Many are becoming more religious, increasing their religious performances at shrines etc and we have seen cardboard buddhist altars in temporary homes, also the sects like JWs are active. Only God can open hearts to receive the gospel.
Many of you have contributed to the Sendai Earthquake Relief Fund for which we gratefully thank you. Here are some of the ways the fund has been used,
1. Distribution of bibles, vitamin drinks etc
Our aim is to distribute a pack containing a New Testament, tract, church invitation and vitamin drink at each temporary home. Tadamitsu Nishimura, our fulltime evangelist doing relief work, has done most of it himself but we have had at least 4 teams who have gone along with him to do this. Several thousand have been distributed already.
2. Distribution of other relief supplies.
'Food for the Hungry' has a large warehouse with supplies and Tadamitsu has assisted in their distribution. Also they are happy to supply what we feel we need to give out, like heaters, fans, rice, bicycles etc. We have also bought items ourselves for distribution where we have seen a need.
3. Mobile Cafes
Tadamitsu has held many of these at various THS. Usually he has help from SECC members and friends from other churches. They serve drinks and pizzas and other snacks, and give out bibles and tracts, and listen and chat. This Wednesday (9 Nov) we have another in Natori and the church ladies are going along to assist.
4. Mini-concerts
Twice a month a couple from a Tokyo church bring up a team of musicians to do a concert, either outside under a tent or inside the community centre most of the THS have. Because there is a bigger team of helpers we supply various foods like curry rice. SECC and Tadamitsu supply the logistics and organisation in Sendai to make this happen. As Christmas approaches we are planning events in various THS.
5. The Relief Centre.
We have now been refused 9x by estate agents when we have applied to rent shops or office space. Last time it was explicitly because we were a church. We are also applying for an apartment for Tadamitsu. While we are still contacting them we are exploring doing it privately through Samaritans Purse which is a relief organisation who use volunteer carpenters to restore damaged homes. At the moment Tadamitsu stays with his parents which means his petrol expense is about double what we estimated and time is wasted travelling. Please pray we find a suitable place for a relief centre and accommodation for Tadamitsu.
6. Teams.
We have an increasing number of teams who want to help. Please pray for guidance in using them effectively.
OMF has now closed SERF but it is possible to send donations to Local Project Japam: Sendai Evangelical Christian Church.
This coming Sunday (13 Nov) we are having a church picnic in the local park.
On a personal note, we give thanks for a good visit to Christine during Hebron halfterm and we look forward to also seeing Esther and maybe Amy, Sam and Andrew over Christmas.
Thank you!
Monday 7 November 2011
Wednesday 5 October 2011
Prayer Partner Letter Sept 2011
Dear Praying Friends
Thank you for you prayers, we have just put some news and prayer points (a bit hurriedly).
1. The outreach to the temporary housing sites continues, with distribution of supplies, mobile cafes, mini-concerts etc. We have many teams coming through, some who need accommodation and other help.
2. The church continues in good spirits, united and cooperative. They are a great support to the work and there is a 'buzz' in Sunday worship. We thank God for them.
3. We have been refused 6x for office/ shop space we have tried to rent for an outreach centre in Arai Machi, near Sendai harbour. Our 7th application is in and we are waiting to hear. If the Lord has a different plan for us, please ask for his guidance.
4. On Monday Esther started at Farnham University of Creative Arts, doing Fine Art.
5. On Tuesday Tadamitsu took 8 tsunami victims to a charity concert run by Korean Christians. He is building up good relationships with many people.
6. On Wednesday Rod had the opportunity to give a New Testament, Two Ways to Live tract, and church invitation to the Vice-Mayor of Sendai and some other senior staff who received them politely. Very satisfying but they are just like anyone else really.
7. On Thursday, a team of 8 US pastors helped Tadamitsu hand out welcome packs (Bible, vitamin drink etc).
8. On Friday (today), Rod preached to 1200 boys at their morning assembly. Nearly didnt make when the car picked up a nail (our 4th puncture - the roads are full of nails). And Glenda had English classes with housewives.
9. On Monday 19th we have another Miniconcert at a Temporary housing site.
10. On Monday 26th we have an outreach at a coffee shop in Watari which an hour south of Sendai. It is being organised by a church member.
Please pray that God will draw many Japanese to faith in Christ and the 'earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea'.
Yours in Christ
Rod and Glenda Thomas
Thank you for you prayers, we have just put some news and prayer points (a bit hurriedly).
1. The outreach to the temporary housing sites continues, with distribution of supplies, mobile cafes, mini-concerts etc. We have many teams coming through, some who need accommodation and other help.
2. The church continues in good spirits, united and cooperative. They are a great support to the work and there is a 'buzz' in Sunday worship. We thank God for them.
3. We have been refused 6x for office/ shop space we have tried to rent for an outreach centre in Arai Machi, near Sendai harbour. Our 7th application is in and we are waiting to hear. If the Lord has a different plan for us, please ask for his guidance.
4. On Monday Esther started at Farnham University of Creative Arts, doing Fine Art.
5. On Tuesday Tadamitsu took 8 tsunami victims to a charity concert run by Korean Christians. He is building up good relationships with many people.
6. On Wednesday Rod had the opportunity to give a New Testament, Two Ways to Live tract, and church invitation to the Vice-Mayor of Sendai and some other senior staff who received them politely. Very satisfying but they are just like anyone else really.
7. On Thursday, a team of 8 US pastors helped Tadamitsu hand out welcome packs (Bible, vitamin drink etc).
8. On Friday (today), Rod preached to 1200 boys at their morning assembly. Nearly didnt make when the car picked up a nail (our 4th puncture - the roads are full of nails). And Glenda had English classes with housewives.
9. On Monday 19th we have another Miniconcert at a Temporary housing site.
10. On Monday 26th we have an outreach at a coffee shop in Watari which an hour south of Sendai. It is being organised by a church member.
Please pray that God will draw many Japanese to faith in Christ and the 'earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea'.
Yours in Christ
Rod and Glenda Thomas
Tuesday 16 August 2011
Prayer Partner Letter August 2011
Dear Praying Friends
In the early 1900s there was a rebellion in NE Japan which was brutally suppressed by troops from Kyushu. When we served in Hachinohe (200 km N) in the 1980s there was still strong resentment towards that southern part of Japan. But since the tsunami many volunteers, police forces, emergency vehicles, water trucks, food supplies etc have converged from all over Japan to help in Sendai, the area hit worst by the tsunami. For example last week we attended an impressive display of dance, songs, stories, karate with 50 performers from Okinawa, which is as far away as anywhere, with free food. The stated purpose was to 'cheer up the people of NE Japan' and it worked: we really enjoyed it! Friendly policemen from near Tokyo have offered us chocolate, and when there was no water, trucks from Mt Fuji delivered it. The government must be pleased at this breaking down of internal barriers but I wonder if God's purpose in this is to make Japanese evangelists more acceptable no matter what part of the country they come from or go to, when the revival comes. Let us pray and work for this. I believe we are living in historic times.
We have found a small office to start our relief/ evangelism centre in Arai Town. It is small but adequate and visible. Please pray that our application is accepted and that the landlord reduces the 'key' money from 6 months rent to 2 or less.
Tadamitsu our church evangelist has made good relationships with the leaders and many of the occupants of the temporary housing sites in Arai Town where the tsunami homeless are housed. We have visited many homes and shared the gospel and helped people in material ways. Please pray that they will open their hearts not just to us but to the Lord.
Christine flies to India on Monday: we will miss her. Please pray for safety. She got 2 of her AS results back and got 'A' s for which we thank to God! Esther still hasnt got anywhere with Student Finance regarding the student loan and the promised accommodation in Farnham has fallen through so she is looking for alternatives. Andrew is back in UK and has an important test 22-27th Aug. Amy and Sam have moved to Glasgow.
Glenda has been teaching about 60 university students and about 10 women each week : please pray for conversions.
Please pray for the normal church life and ministry as well as for God to do great miracles of saving grace.
Yesterday I spoke to a man sitting on the beach. He looked depressed and said he was sad that the beach was empty in mid-summer and that he worked at the town office and heard nothing but complaints all day. We had a good talk and I told him the gospel but he bowed deeply and walked away...
Thank you for your faithful and loving prayers,
Yours in Jesus, who never gives up with us,
Rod and Glenda Thomas
In the early 1900s there was a rebellion in NE Japan which was brutally suppressed by troops from Kyushu. When we served in Hachinohe (200 km N) in the 1980s there was still strong resentment towards that southern part of Japan. But since the tsunami many volunteers, police forces, emergency vehicles, water trucks, food supplies etc have converged from all over Japan to help in Sendai, the area hit worst by the tsunami. For example last week we attended an impressive display of dance, songs, stories, karate with 50 performers from Okinawa, which is as far away as anywhere, with free food. The stated purpose was to 'cheer up the people of NE Japan' and it worked: we really enjoyed it! Friendly policemen from near Tokyo have offered us chocolate, and when there was no water, trucks from Mt Fuji delivered it. The government must be pleased at this breaking down of internal barriers but I wonder if God's purpose in this is to make Japanese evangelists more acceptable no matter what part of the country they come from or go to, when the revival comes. Let us pray and work for this. I believe we are living in historic times.
We have found a small office to start our relief/ evangelism centre in Arai Town. It is small but adequate and visible. Please pray that our application is accepted and that the landlord reduces the 'key' money from 6 months rent to 2 or less.
Tadamitsu our church evangelist has made good relationships with the leaders and many of the occupants of the temporary housing sites in Arai Town where the tsunami homeless are housed. We have visited many homes and shared the gospel and helped people in material ways. Please pray that they will open their hearts not just to us but to the Lord.
Christine flies to India on Monday: we will miss her. Please pray for safety. She got 2 of her AS results back and got 'A' s for which we thank to God! Esther still hasnt got anywhere with Student Finance regarding the student loan and the promised accommodation in Farnham has fallen through so she is looking for alternatives. Andrew is back in UK and has an important test 22-27th Aug. Amy and Sam have moved to Glasgow.
Glenda has been teaching about 60 university students and about 10 women each week : please pray for conversions.
Please pray for the normal church life and ministry as well as for God to do great miracles of saving grace.
Yesterday I spoke to a man sitting on the beach. He looked depressed and said he was sad that the beach was empty in mid-summer and that he worked at the town office and heard nothing but complaints all day. We had a good talk and I told him the gospel but he bowed deeply and walked away...
Thank you for your faithful and loving prayers,
Yours in Jesus, who never gives up with us,
Rod and Glenda Thomas
Saturday 16 July 2011
Prayer Partner Letter July 2011
Thank you so much for your prayers.
1. The shop we applied to rent as a preaching point/ relief centre has fallen through when the owner found out that we were going to have bible studies there. The estate agent was very apologetic but it means we have to start again. Please pray that God will provide a suitable place in Arai Machi if it is his will, or else lead us to a better place.
2. Tadamitsu is working hard as our church's evangelist. He has visited temporary housing sites (THS) where the tsunami victims are housed in prefabs, and has handed out welcome packs containing a vitamin drink, New Testament, tract and church invitation. He was (illegally) prevented at one by the caretaker who objected to the bibles. Hopefully next week he will have the use of a van - we are waiting on the issuance of the parking certificate by the police - a formality but pray anyway.
3. On Monday 18th we are having our first mobile cafe at one THS - with free food, literature... and bibles (ohoh), and a church in Tokyo is helping us put on a miniconcert at the same time. We would like to do this regularly. There are at least 17 THS within a 40min drive.
4. From 25-28th a dance team of Christian young people will be coming from Tokyo to do workshops on breakdancing etc. We are hosting them at some venues. Tadamitsu has received a police certificate for street performances in downtown Sendai. They are keen to give their testimonies and tell the gospel, as we are they should, so please pray that is effective. Our English cafe will be led by a Hong Kong team on 29th.
5. It is great to have Christine back who arrived safely from India. She is awaiting her UK passport renewal and Japan visa renewal before she goes back on 15 Aug, which is tight. Also Glenda and Rod need visa approval in the next two weeks. Esther is safely back in UK after an exciting time of ministry in South Africa. Please pray that the student loan we have applied for will be granted. Their automated system doesn't seem to handle oddities like our family situation.
6. Our annual holiday is 24th July - 8th Aug. It is already filling up with work (see above), which is OK as we can always rest later and don't want to miss these opportunities but pray above all that we maintain our walk with the Lord, freshness and obedience, and for revival in Sendai.
David said 'But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever' (Ps 52:8), which is impressive faith when you consider his state of mind after 1 Samuel 21 &22.
Yours in the steadfast love of Jesus
Rod and Glenda Thomas
1. The shop we applied to rent as a preaching point/ relief centre has fallen through when the owner found out that we were going to have bible studies there. The estate agent was very apologetic but it means we have to start again. Please pray that God will provide a suitable place in Arai Machi if it is his will, or else lead us to a better place.
2. Tadamitsu is working hard as our church's evangelist. He has visited temporary housing sites (THS) where the tsunami victims are housed in prefabs, and has handed out welcome packs containing a vitamin drink, New Testament, tract and church invitation. He was (illegally) prevented at one by the caretaker who objected to the bibles. Hopefully next week he will have the use of a van - we are waiting on the issuance of the parking certificate by the police - a formality but pray anyway.
3. On Monday 18th we are having our first mobile cafe at one THS - with free food, literature... and bibles (ohoh), and a church in Tokyo is helping us put on a miniconcert at the same time. We would like to do this regularly. There are at least 17 THS within a 40min drive.
4. From 25-28th a dance team of Christian young people will be coming from Tokyo to do workshops on breakdancing etc. We are hosting them at some venues. Tadamitsu has received a police certificate for street performances in downtown Sendai. They are keen to give their testimonies and tell the gospel, as we are they should, so please pray that is effective. Our English cafe will be led by a Hong Kong team on 29th.
5. It is great to have Christine back who arrived safely from India. She is awaiting her UK passport renewal and Japan visa renewal before she goes back on 15 Aug, which is tight. Also Glenda and Rod need visa approval in the next two weeks. Esther is safely back in UK after an exciting time of ministry in South Africa. Please pray that the student loan we have applied for will be granted. Their automated system doesn't seem to handle oddities like our family situation.
6. Our annual holiday is 24th July - 8th Aug. It is already filling up with work (see above), which is OK as we can always rest later and don't want to miss these opportunities but pray above all that we maintain our walk with the Lord, freshness and obedience, and for revival in Sendai.
David said 'But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever' (Ps 52:8), which is impressive faith when you consider his state of mind after 1 Samuel 21 &22.
Yours in the steadfast love of Jesus
Rod and Glenda Thomas
Wednesday 6 July 2011
Prayer Partner Letter June 2011
Dear Praying Friends
Thank you so much for your prayers. Our big official prayer request last year was to be fully supported. We are very grateful to all our supporters because this year so far we are. Another prayer was that we wouldn't be bored if and when we got back. (Although Japan is unreached it can be boring; the same meetings, faces, problems etc). Well, the tsunami took care of that - everyday has been different and exciting and challenging, though we never wished for this tsunami!
1. Tadamitsu
OMF has given a grant from the Sendai Earthquake Relief Fund to our church to open a preaching point and relief centre staffed by church member, Tadamitsu Nishimura. Three years ago our church sent him to New Zealand to study theology and he returned a few weeks before the tsunami. He will give up his job at the end of June and our first decision will be where to locate. Arai Machi is our first choice. The new subway terminal will be located here when it opens in 2013. The station itself will be just south of the Sendai Higashi motorway exit. Arai Machi was hit by the tsunami and the area seaward of it, Arahama, was totally destroyed. Tadamitsu has already done relief work in this area. We are looking for a shop front which is accessible and public. It can be then used to stage relief supplies, or a coffee shop, a 2nd hand clothes shop, Christian bookshop, or short termers could teach English - the possibilities are endless. His first plan would be to work through the volunteer centres, but the needs change with time, and he will learn on the job. Please pray that the Lord will guide us to choose the right place, Tadamitsu's preparation, and for this to be fruitful etc.
2. Higashi
Many of our church members have become more zealous, serious, joyful, prayerful and evangelistic. This is true of Yoshiya Higashi. He is our treasurer and a professor. Because his university has a Christian constitution he has many opportunities to use his influence for the gospel and is getting more and more busy so please remember him.
3. Ministry
At Shichigahama by the time most of you read this the evacuation centres will all be empty and the evacuees will have moved into temporary housing and will face loneliness, higher living costs etc. Pray for us as we must adapt and find new creative ways to minister to them.
4. Christine will be coming back to Japan on 23-24 th June. It is quite a journey: 8 hr bus journey to Bangalore, flight to Hong Kong, another flight to Tokyo and then a 5 hour car drive to Sendai. Esther will be leaving Cape Town for UK on 9th July. Please pray for safe travel.
Thank you for your prayers
Thank you so much for your prayers. Our big official prayer request last year was to be fully supported. We are very grateful to all our supporters because this year so far we are. Another prayer was that we wouldn't be bored if and when we got back. (Although Japan is unreached it can be boring; the same meetings, faces, problems etc). Well, the tsunami took care of that - everyday has been different and exciting and challenging, though we never wished for this tsunami!
1. Tadamitsu
OMF has given a grant from the Sendai Earthquake Relief Fund to our church to open a preaching point and relief centre staffed by church member, Tadamitsu Nishimura. Three years ago our church sent him to New Zealand to study theology and he returned a few weeks before the tsunami. He will give up his job at the end of June and our first decision will be where to locate. Arai Machi is our first choice. The new subway terminal will be located here when it opens in 2013. The station itself will be just south of the Sendai Higashi motorway exit. Arai Machi was hit by the tsunami and the area seaward of it, Arahama, was totally destroyed. Tadamitsu has already done relief work in this area. We are looking for a shop front which is accessible and public. It can be then used to stage relief supplies, or a coffee shop, a 2nd hand clothes shop, Christian bookshop, or short termers could teach English - the possibilities are endless. His first plan would be to work through the volunteer centres, but the needs change with time, and he will learn on the job. Please pray that the Lord will guide us to choose the right place, Tadamitsu's preparation, and for this to be fruitful etc.
2. Higashi
Many of our church members have become more zealous, serious, joyful, prayerful and evangelistic. This is true of Yoshiya Higashi. He is our treasurer and a professor. Because his university has a Christian constitution he has many opportunities to use his influence for the gospel and is getting more and more busy so please remember him.
3. Ministry
At Shichigahama by the time most of you read this the evacuation centres will all be empty and the evacuees will have moved into temporary housing and will face loneliness, higher living costs etc. Pray for us as we must adapt and find new creative ways to minister to them.
4. Christine will be coming back to Japan on 23-24 th June. It is quite a journey: 8 hr bus journey to Bangalore, flight to Hong Kong, another flight to Tokyo and then a 5 hour car drive to Sendai. Esther will be leaving Cape Town for UK on 9th July. Please pray for safe travel.
Thank you for your prayers
Sunday 29 May 2011
Preaching point and relief centre
Praise God! We have been given the go-ahead to start a preaching point and relief centre in Arai Machi, east Sendai, an area hard-hit by the tsunami. We will start in a month's time and it will be staffed by church member Tadamitsu. OMF has agreed to release part of the Sendai Earthquake Relief Fund for this and the church voted 19 to 0 to proceed.
Saturday 21 May 2011
Prayer Partner Letter May 2011
Dear Prayer Partners
Thank you for all your prayers, and expressions of support both financial and in other ways.
Please pray for,
1. Mr Sato, a fisherman who lost everything and is reading the bible
2. The Agatsuma family who also lost everything and say they want to come to church.
3. Four different Endo families with whom we have had significant contact.
4. The Aikawa family who spent the night of the tsunami in our house and who we see almost daily
5. The many people who have heard the gospel in Shichigahama and Sendai to believe.
6. That God do great and wonderful things.
7. As a church we have submitted a request to OMF to receive funds from the Sendai Earthquake Relief Fund to start a preaching point/relief centre at Arai Machi staffed by church member Tadamitsu Nishimura, that it would be granted in full.
8. Praise for the cooperation and zeal and love we have seem among church members.
9. For us to be spiritually alert and obedient.
10. For the Lovestrands who leave us for home assignment in US.
11. For Glenda's English class ladies to be converted.
12. For Christine writing AS levels in Hebron, India.
13. For Esther applying for a loan for UK university
And as last month please continue to pray for,
14. The Japanese church and the missionaries to speak the gospel with boldness.
15. God to truly convert many to faith in Christ and churches to be planted in these devastated coastal areas.
For a map of the inundated area and places mentioned in our diary see
http://rodthomas.drivehq.com/mission/Submerged_Sendai.htmll
For old and recent pics see
http://rodthomas.drivehq.com/mission/Tsunami_2011.htmll
For some thoughts concerning evangelism in a disaster area see
http://rodthomas.drivehq.com/mission/Evangelism_and_the_Tsunami.html
Here is our video of the 3rd (small) tsunami
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ox-VRFJ6f8c
Thanks again
Thank you for all your prayers, and expressions of support both financial and in other ways.
Please pray for,
1. Mr Sato, a fisherman who lost everything and is reading the bible
2. The Agatsuma family who also lost everything and say they want to come to church.
3. Four different Endo families with whom we have had significant contact.
4. The Aikawa family who spent the night of the tsunami in our house and who we see almost daily
5. The many people who have heard the gospel in Shichigahama and Sendai to believe.
6. That God do great and wonderful things.
7. As a church we have submitted a request to OMF to receive funds from the Sendai Earthquake Relief Fund to start a preaching point/relief centre at Arai Machi staffed by church member Tadamitsu Nishimura, that it would be granted in full.
8. Praise for the cooperation and zeal and love we have seem among church members.
9. For us to be spiritually alert and obedient.
10. For the Lovestrands who leave us for home assignment in US.
11. For Glenda's English class ladies to be converted.
12. For Christine writing AS levels in Hebron, India.
13. For Esther applying for a loan for UK university
And as last month please continue to pray for,
14. The Japanese church and the missionaries to speak the gospel with boldness.
15. God to truly convert many to faith in Christ and churches to be planted in these devastated coastal areas.
For a map of the inundated area and places mentioned in our diary see
http://rodthomas.drivehq.com/mission/Submerged_Sendai.htmll
For old and recent pics see
http://rodthomas.drivehq.com/mission/Tsunami_2011.htmll
For some thoughts concerning evangelism in a disaster area see
http://rodthomas.drivehq.com/mission/Evangelism_and_the_Tsunami.html
Here is our video of the 3rd (small) tsunami
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ox-VRFJ6f8c
Thanks again
Thursday 19 May 2011
Tsunami Diary Part 4
Sun 24 Apr Easter
Stormy sea. Sunny. Good numbers at church (33 including Miss WhiteStone). Preach on resurrection in Japanese service and Ps 30 in English service.
Mon 25 Apr
Sunny followed by violent thunderstorm. Mr Takeuchi brings us his Honda Civic to borrow until we get another car. He comes with 4 other guys and they go to Shiogama to work there as volunteers. They have come all the way from Tokyo. We really appreciate the loan of his car! Go to International Centre which is being used as an evacuation centre. Talk to another Mrs Aizawa. Her house was destroyed at Gamo near Sendai harbour and she has come to visit her sister who lives here. Interest her in the US house kits. She had lived hear here when young and gone to church at Takayama and taken missionary kids for horse rides. Witness to her. Mr Sato the fisherman comes to see me, he is very friendly and almost hugs me, he accepts the bible and tracts and says he will treasure them. Pray that God will convert him. Meet Yasuko the old lady who got Glenda’s coat. She bows deeply. I give her a tract with my name and tel. Hear the telephones may be re-connected by the middle of May - but this turns out to be a rumour. There are photos of houses with maps saying ‘We are looking for the owner of this house’. International Centre staff say they would like pork.
Tues 26 Apr
Bible study at church (with 4). Stuck in traffic jam coming back. Take pork to International Centre. The welder comes to fix the Takayama gate. He’s a very friendly and uncomplicated guy and we chat for ages. Witness to him too.
Wed 27th Apr
Earthquake mg. 3. Old Mrs Endo comes to talk and she has started to plant vegetables in her garden which was under 7m of water during the tsunami! Glenda goes off to Ladies Meeting and English class. We meet the two Mrs Aikawas coming up to meet us. They bring a 5 kg bag of rice and some knitted neck warmers to say thank you for having them on the night of the tsunam. They will move back in to their house tomorrow. Prayer meeting.
Thurs 28th Apr
Visit Mr Agatsuma at yacht basin. Meet Mrs Suzuki: she has lost her seaweed processor machine (10 million yen). Her house is still standing but she is depressed and undecided about what to do, as it will cost so much to fix. Their car was also destroyed and tell her I will leave a bicycle outside next week. Sato the fisherman says he wants to study the bible which is great news. Earthquake mag 4.
Fri 29th Apr
Go to International Centre with Glenda. The workmen start to clear the roadside near the beach at Azukihama. The Endos come and talk.
Sat 30th Apr
Pastor Otomo from Shiogama Baptist Church visits. He has 70 members and they have been helping a kindergarten connected to a Buddhist temple to get cleaned up and this has given them an open door. He wants us to teach English there on Tuesdays but both Glenda and I are busy then.
Sun 1 May
Go to church. (30 adults). Joel speaks on judgement. Talk about Field Director’s visit next week with a committee we appoint for the task. We decide that our main need is land and buildings for a church. The conversation between services is about funeral flowers. Tadamitsu says that he would like carnivorous plants at his funeral because he enjoyed meat when he was alive! Speak on Ps 2 for English service. We have a good discussion on how to witness to people in the aftermath of the tsunami. Take 10 cabbages to the International Centre.
Mon 2 May
Take bicycle to Mrs Suzuki but she isnt there. Arrange for 6 Assemblies of God volunteer workers for Agatsuma and Endo. This is very worthwhile. While I am clearing wood from the beach carpark Kumiko Miura comes to talk who is grieving for her friend Kondo who worked in a dentist surgery in Shobutahama and died in the tsunami. She seems friendly and interested.
Tues 3 May
AoG team clears out the mud from the lower gate area at Takayama.
Wed 4 May
Go for walk with Glenda. Meet 77 yr old Mrs Aikawa who was coming to back to the International Centre because she missed her friends. She says it is boring being back home (which her son has cleaned up and made habitable!). She has brought each person there a banana! Talk to Sato in his room. It is encouraging that he reads his Bible, may he really have faith.
Thurs 5 May
2 Kings 5 Elisha just leaves Naaman to go off in rage and doesn’t intervene. Says to Gehazi ‘Was it a time to accept money?’… Note the danger of covetousness.
Some Christians are very disappointing. I take a huge team of 20 men to lift the Aizawa’s steel shed out of the ditch and they take one look and say “Impossible.. Too dangerous” and walk away. Not the same religion as David or Nehemiah or Paul! Walk with Glenda, and chat with an old lady who is going into temporary housing and worried about doing her own shopping from now on. In the evacuation centre all their meals were provided. Have a little Bible study with Sato on Lk 15 which encouraged me. Feel tired all day.
Fri 6 May
Same tiredness. 2 Kings 5 They call the prophet mad but still believe him and act on his words! Maybe people say the same about us but it doesn’t matter so long as they believe! Help a bit with a family by the harbour. Chat with Agatsuma. Prepare sermon. There were fewer casualties here because people had high ground they could easily escape to. It was different in Ishinomaki or Natori which were flat. Visit Shichigahama Church for the 5th time of trying: and at last meet Rev Oyama and pray with him.
Sat 7 May
Prepare Sermon. Visit Sato in International Centre and read Prodigal Son together.
Sun 8 May
Preach on John 15 Jesus the Vine. OMF Field Director talks with church committee. Take him around Arai Machi and Yuriage and Iwanuma. Meet church member Miho Onodera who is a Natori City councillor where she is introducing a music group to bystanders. I feel great regret when I see the devastation at Yuriage, We never tracted here even though we were the closest church. She tells me that theft was commonplace after the tsunami: many thieves stole from houses when the occupants had fled. So the media is quite wrong to praise the Japanese for honesty the way they do.
Mon 9 May
Wasted day - tired. Speak to an old but elegant lady called Ichikawa Mitsue who has come to encourage the people in the evacuation centres. Apparently she used to be a famous singer and she gives me some of her songs, and I give her a bible. Visit from De Wets.
Tues 10 May
Good talk with Suzuki Chiaki with Lovestrands - it seems that God is working in her life and go through the tract Two Ways to Live with her. She stays for bible study. Take plastic storage boxes to International Centre. Mrs Agatsuma says she will come to church one day. Apparently 400 temporary homes have been built and they will be moving everybody out of all the evacuation centres in 3 weeks.
Wed 11 May
Go for run. Glenda goes to Ladies meeting. Work from 9:30 to 3pm at Agatsuma’s yard clearing rubbish. A yacht owner Morita comes to help. Tell him about God. Go to Softbank and get iPhone 4 which is free with a 2-year contract, get haircut and suction hose from DIY. Talk with Tadamitsu and Joel about Wolfgang’s request for a proposal for funding for our church’s preaching point and use of relief funds, good time of prayer.
Thurs 12 May
Go for run. Heavy rain in the evening. Decide to buy the car which the Takeuchis have found for us.
Friday 13 May
Well nothing unlucky happened today! Glenda goes off to English Classes in pm. Take my black suit to Sato in the International Centre for so he can attend the funeral of his sister and neice. He is very grateful and I’m glad he felt free to ask.
Saturday 14 May
Chat to workmen who are clearing the beach carpark. Go out for Glenda’s birthday. Turn on gas for a team of relief workers
Sunday 15th May
35 adults and 5 children in church and preach on Luke 13:1-9 on repentance. How many more would have died if the announcement over the loudspeakers had been inaudible- an how the church must be a faithful watchman to Japan to warn of the coming judgement (Ezekiel 3). 15 of us hand out tracts around Nakada Chuo Park. The tsunami came near here but the motorway acted as a dike and prevented it pouring even further inland. People friendly.
Monday 16th May
The Takeuchi volunteer team of 5 come up for a very early breakfast at 0630! Do some of the car documentation with them. One of them is the daughter of Mrs Tamura my English teacher from Sapporo 24 years ago - it is a small world (esp for Christians in Japan)! 1Chr. 16:11 “Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually”. A good verse for these days. Old Endo comes and thanks me for the work we have done for him.
Tuesday 17th May
Meet the Chiba Grace church team again. Bible Study at church (only 3 come). Glenda has first day of teaching at Shokei University. Go tracting at Higashi Nakada for 2 hours. I feel this is very worthwhile. People are friendly but no meaningful conversations - pray for this. Get a Mobile Broadband. Now we have internet! Spend night in flat near the church.
Wed 18th May
There is a heap of tsunami rubbish near the church and the kind watchman there lets me take a bicycle wheel. Fold tracts and go off to hand them out at Higashi Nakada. Pray with Ladies meeting. Tracting again in the afternoon. Nichiren Buddhist man challenges me and we have a goodnatured argument. He thinks everything was made by the sun. He wont listen to anything I say so I say I’ll pray for him. ‘Lord open his eyes’. Write proposal for preaching point staffed by Tadamitsu. Two German men come into the church and I assume they are normal Christians but they are ‘prophets’ who think that the tsunami means God is punishing Japan who is going to send another tsunami. One of them has ‘The Wrath of God ‘in Japanese and Rom 1:18 on his T shirt. They can’t speak Japanese so they can’t explain this or point anyone to Christ, or I’m not sure even if they truly believe themselves. I don’t know what they hope to accomplish by coming to Japan and I fear they will just discourage people and make our job more difficult. When I point this out they start accusing me of being disobedient. They don’t have the means to evangelise nor the right attitude. Zeal for God is not enough. God is primarily glorified when sinners repent which they wont do unless Christ is preached. After 1 hr I ask them to leave. Have a good prayer meeting with Joel, Tadamitsu and Higashi. We are longing for even just one conversion which might be the start of an explosion.
Thurs 19th May
Endo comes with a load of gravel and fix the eroded road as best we can. Get ready house for the OMF relief team coming next week. 70 days since the tsunami and still the phones havent been connected!
Stormy sea. Sunny. Good numbers at church (33 including Miss WhiteStone). Preach on resurrection in Japanese service and Ps 30 in English service.
Mon 25 Apr
Sunny followed by violent thunderstorm. Mr Takeuchi brings us his Honda Civic to borrow until we get another car. He comes with 4 other guys and they go to Shiogama to work there as volunteers. They have come all the way from Tokyo. We really appreciate the loan of his car! Go to International Centre which is being used as an evacuation centre. Talk to another Mrs Aizawa. Her house was destroyed at Gamo near Sendai harbour and she has come to visit her sister who lives here. Interest her in the US house kits. She had lived hear here when young and gone to church at Takayama and taken missionary kids for horse rides. Witness to her. Mr Sato the fisherman comes to see me, he is very friendly and almost hugs me, he accepts the bible and tracts and says he will treasure them. Pray that God will convert him. Meet Yasuko the old lady who got Glenda’s coat. She bows deeply. I give her a tract with my name and tel. Hear the telephones may be re-connected by the middle of May - but this turns out to be a rumour. There are photos of houses with maps saying ‘We are looking for the owner of this house’. International Centre staff say they would like pork.
Tues 26 Apr
Bible study at church (with 4). Stuck in traffic jam coming back. Take pork to International Centre. The welder comes to fix the Takayama gate. He’s a very friendly and uncomplicated guy and we chat for ages. Witness to him too.
Wed 27th Apr
Earthquake mg. 3. Old Mrs Endo comes to talk and she has started to plant vegetables in her garden which was under 7m of water during the tsunami! Glenda goes off to Ladies Meeting and English class. We meet the two Mrs Aikawas coming up to meet us. They bring a 5 kg bag of rice and some knitted neck warmers to say thank you for having them on the night of the tsunam. They will move back in to their house tomorrow. Prayer meeting.
Thurs 28th Apr
Visit Mr Agatsuma at yacht basin. Meet Mrs Suzuki: she has lost her seaweed processor machine (10 million yen). Her house is still standing but she is depressed and undecided about what to do, as it will cost so much to fix. Their car was also destroyed and tell her I will leave a bicycle outside next week. Sato the fisherman says he wants to study the bible which is great news. Earthquake mag 4.
Fri 29th Apr
Go to International Centre with Glenda. The workmen start to clear the roadside near the beach at Azukihama. The Endos come and talk.
Sat 30th Apr
Pastor Otomo from Shiogama Baptist Church visits. He has 70 members and they have been helping a kindergarten connected to a Buddhist temple to get cleaned up and this has given them an open door. He wants us to teach English there on Tuesdays but both Glenda and I are busy then.
Sun 1 May
Go to church. (30 adults). Joel speaks on judgement. Talk about Field Director’s visit next week with a committee we appoint for the task. We decide that our main need is land and buildings for a church. The conversation between services is about funeral flowers. Tadamitsu says that he would like carnivorous plants at his funeral because he enjoyed meat when he was alive! Speak on Ps 2 for English service. We have a good discussion on how to witness to people in the aftermath of the tsunami. Take 10 cabbages to the International Centre.
Mon 2 May
Take bicycle to Mrs Suzuki but she isnt there. Arrange for 6 Assemblies of God volunteer workers for Agatsuma and Endo. This is very worthwhile. While I am clearing wood from the beach carpark Kumiko Miura comes to talk who is grieving for her friend Kondo who worked in a dentist surgery in Shobutahama and died in the tsunami. She seems friendly and interested.
Tues 3 May
AoG team clears out the mud from the lower gate area at Takayama.
Wed 4 May
Go for walk with Glenda. Meet 77 yr old Mrs Aikawa who was coming to back to the International Centre because she missed her friends. She says it is boring being back home (which her son has cleaned up and made habitable!). She has brought each person there a banana! Talk to Sato in his room. It is encouraging that he reads his Bible, may he really have faith.
Thurs 5 May
2 Kings 5 Elisha just leaves Naaman to go off in rage and doesn’t intervene. Says to Gehazi ‘Was it a time to accept money?’… Note the danger of covetousness.
Some Christians are very disappointing. I take a huge team of 20 men to lift the Aizawa’s steel shed out of the ditch and they take one look and say “Impossible.. Too dangerous” and walk away. Not the same religion as David or Nehemiah or Paul! Walk with Glenda, and chat with an old lady who is going into temporary housing and worried about doing her own shopping from now on. In the evacuation centre all their meals were provided. Have a little Bible study with Sato on Lk 15 which encouraged me. Feel tired all day.
Fri 6 May
Same tiredness. 2 Kings 5 They call the prophet mad but still believe him and act on his words! Maybe people say the same about us but it doesn’t matter so long as they believe! Help a bit with a family by the harbour. Chat with Agatsuma. Prepare sermon. There were fewer casualties here because people had high ground they could easily escape to. It was different in Ishinomaki or Natori which were flat. Visit Shichigahama Church for the 5th time of trying: and at last meet Rev Oyama and pray with him.
Sat 7 May
Prepare Sermon. Visit Sato in International Centre and read Prodigal Son together.
Sun 8 May
Preach on John 15 Jesus the Vine. OMF Field Director talks with church committee. Take him around Arai Machi and Yuriage and Iwanuma. Meet church member Miho Onodera who is a Natori City councillor where she is introducing a music group to bystanders. I feel great regret when I see the devastation at Yuriage, We never tracted here even though we were the closest church. She tells me that theft was commonplace after the tsunami: many thieves stole from houses when the occupants had fled. So the media is quite wrong to praise the Japanese for honesty the way they do.
Mon 9 May
Wasted day - tired. Speak to an old but elegant lady called Ichikawa Mitsue who has come to encourage the people in the evacuation centres. Apparently she used to be a famous singer and she gives me some of her songs, and I give her a bible. Visit from De Wets.
Tues 10 May
Good talk with Suzuki Chiaki with Lovestrands - it seems that God is working in her life and go through the tract Two Ways to Live with her. She stays for bible study. Take plastic storage boxes to International Centre. Mrs Agatsuma says she will come to church one day. Apparently 400 temporary homes have been built and they will be moving everybody out of all the evacuation centres in 3 weeks.
Wed 11 May
Go for run. Glenda goes to Ladies meeting. Work from 9:30 to 3pm at Agatsuma’s yard clearing rubbish. A yacht owner Morita comes to help. Tell him about God. Go to Softbank and get iPhone 4 which is free with a 2-year contract, get haircut and suction hose from DIY. Talk with Tadamitsu and Joel about Wolfgang’s request for a proposal for funding for our church’s preaching point and use of relief funds, good time of prayer.
Thurs 12 May
Go for run. Heavy rain in the evening. Decide to buy the car which the Takeuchis have found for us.
Friday 13 May
Well nothing unlucky happened today! Glenda goes off to English Classes in pm. Take my black suit to Sato in the International Centre for so he can attend the funeral of his sister and neice. He is very grateful and I’m glad he felt free to ask.
Saturday 14 May
Chat to workmen who are clearing the beach carpark. Go out for Glenda’s birthday. Turn on gas for a team of relief workers
Sunday 15th May
35 adults and 5 children in church and preach on Luke 13:1-9 on repentance. How many more would have died if the announcement over the loudspeakers had been inaudible- an how the church must be a faithful watchman to Japan to warn of the coming judgement (Ezekiel 3). 15 of us hand out tracts around Nakada Chuo Park. The tsunami came near here but the motorway acted as a dike and prevented it pouring even further inland. People friendly.
Monday 16th May
The Takeuchi volunteer team of 5 come up for a very early breakfast at 0630! Do some of the car documentation with them. One of them is the daughter of Mrs Tamura my English teacher from Sapporo 24 years ago - it is a small world (esp for Christians in Japan)! 1Chr. 16:11 “Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually”. A good verse for these days. Old Endo comes and thanks me for the work we have done for him.
Tuesday 17th May
Meet the Chiba Grace church team again. Bible Study at church (only 3 come). Glenda has first day of teaching at Shokei University. Go tracting at Higashi Nakada for 2 hours. I feel this is very worthwhile. People are friendly but no meaningful conversations - pray for this. Get a Mobile Broadband. Now we have internet! Spend night in flat near the church.
Wed 18th May
There is a heap of tsunami rubbish near the church and the kind watchman there lets me take a bicycle wheel. Fold tracts and go off to hand them out at Higashi Nakada. Pray with Ladies meeting. Tracting again in the afternoon. Nichiren Buddhist man challenges me and we have a goodnatured argument. He thinks everything was made by the sun. He wont listen to anything I say so I say I’ll pray for him. ‘Lord open his eyes’. Write proposal for preaching point staffed by Tadamitsu. Two German men come into the church and I assume they are normal Christians but they are ‘prophets’ who think that the tsunami means God is punishing Japan who is going to send another tsunami. One of them has ‘The Wrath of God ‘in Japanese and Rom 1:18 on his T shirt. They can’t speak Japanese so they can’t explain this or point anyone to Christ, or I’m not sure even if they truly believe themselves. I don’t know what they hope to accomplish by coming to Japan and I fear they will just discourage people and make our job more difficult. When I point this out they start accusing me of being disobedient. They don’t have the means to evangelise nor the right attitude. Zeal for God is not enough. God is primarily glorified when sinners repent which they wont do unless Christ is preached. After 1 hr I ask them to leave. Have a good prayer meeting with Joel, Tadamitsu and Higashi. We are longing for even just one conversion which might be the start of an explosion.
Thurs 19th May
Endo comes with a load of gravel and fix the eroded road as best we can. Get ready house for the OMF relief team coming next week. 70 days since the tsunami and still the phones havent been connected!
Friday 22 April 2011
Tsunami Diary Part 3
Tuesday 5 Apr
Go to volunteer centre and Mrs Hoshi the lady in charge thanks me profusely for helping and asks if WE can use any volunteers - obviously there is a glut! Do water duty at Kimigaoka and Shiomidai. Have chat with the guy in charge about church - he lives opposite the one in Shichigahama. Ask at International Centre if they need anything and they want air deodorizer and pork, phone this through to church member Mrs Tada. Go looking for 83 year Mrs Abe Mii who used to visit us a lot but of her house only the foundations remain and there is no sign of her at the Matsugahama evacuation Centre near her house. Get a puncture from a big nail and get it fixed. There is so much debris on the narrow roads.
Wednesday 6 Apr
Water is still off, we hope it is fixed soon. Do Ladies meeting at church and finish Romans. Mrs T gives a testimony about how she was so upset by the tsunami, tearful and unable to sleep at night and then when Joel prayed for her last Sunday she felt a sudden peace come over her and she hasnt been anxious since. The return to Shichigahama is very slow. Now that petrol is available traffic is back to normal but the roads are narrowed with debris and many traffic lights are still out. Deliver pork and deodoriser to International centre. Go to Kimigaoka and Shiomidai water points in the afternoon. Stop off at the huge rubbish tip and chat to a guy there. He seems stunned when I talk about the Creator and the tsunami. I regret not giving him a tract. He says that the tsunami was 18 m here and 23m further up the coast. 900 homes have been lost in Shichigahama. Go round to the Shichigahama Church but nobody is there - it’s state sounds pretty dismal (there are 7 members, one who was killed in the tsunami, the pastor is sick, and some other members are depressed). Find that our water has come back on! Spend some time getting our toilet flush fixed- maybe dirty water had blocked the valve.
Thurs 7 Apr
I try to cancel the car tax by phone but keep losing reception but the patient lady at the other end keeps phoning back until she gets all my details and I can cancel the car registration. Thank you Lord!
Kawauchi the welder comes and arranges to fix the gate. Ask OMFers for special prayer to be able to have Bible Studies in the evacuation centres. At 2332 there is really strong (7.4) quake. This is violent and scary. No electricity, again. I see this quake as answer to prayer for the 3 evac centres and I am sure many people in them are very upset. 2 houses at Takayama have been broken into. Is this rightists threatening us or just thieves?
Friday 8 Apr
Still no electricity all day which is tiresome. No generator either. May the Lord lead me pastorally like He led Gideon, challenging him, helping his weakness, not upbraiding him etc. Feel I really have to act as if God is answering those prayers for the evac centres, so go to the International Centre and set out books below a small notice saying who Jesus is. Give 10l petrol for their generator. Chat to a few people there. Have a nice long chat with Mrs Agatsuma who sleeps in her car with her dog. She and her husband lost her house, shop, business and café to the tsunami at Yoshidahama. Interest her in the US house kits which a friend of mine is planning to import. She says 1/2 the people want to rebuild while the others never want to return. She is a tough determined lady. Give her bible and she thanks me for 'the reading matter'. Go off to the Community Centre evac centre. Put out book table but don’t stay long. Go off to the Yoshidahama Evac centre and when I ask the guy at the desk what the needs are he says 'healing of the heart'. He invites me in. Very interesting time and I virtually preach to the 10 people there.- I am asked why did God send the tsunami, is this a trial? (no), a punishment? (no) but it is a warning to repent! God is now seeking you and Jesus loves sinners etc. Go to get bibles and then find I’m not allowed back in! This is disappointing and catches me off guard. Now it is over to God. Acts 4:30 “Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” I commit them to you! Apparently the last big tsunami was 870 AD - they know this from archaeology and mud deposits.
Sat 9 Apr
Electricity comes on! 2 Tim 1 - Don't be ashamed of 1. the gospel, 2. those who suffer for the gospel v8 or 3. the actual suffering itself v12. Go up to Int Centre. Give some muffins from Glenda to Mishima’s room - only Mrs Watanabe is there. She is chatty and says how she has seen Glenda reading while walking on the beach and once gave her an orange! There is a big clothes shop going on and my books have disappeared but not the notice. At the Community Centre there is another shop going on and everything has disappeared. Another chat with Agatsuma.
Sun 10 Apr
Go to flat with fridge etc. We have 31 adults in church, 3 visitors, so numbers are back to normal even though Oshima is still in Korea, Kuroda in Yokohama etc. Preach on Ps 115 in Japanese service. The only way to glorify Jesus is push ourselves down, like Paul! Warn against depression which renders us useless. We all hand out tracts between services. This is so important - to keep on evangelising and not to get sidetracked. Speak on Mark 4 - storm on the lake- in the English service. Take charcoal to Int Centre. They don’t want old clothes.
Mon 11 Apr
Visit 83 yrold Mrs Abe in Shiomidai Minami who is staying with relatives. She is pleased to see me and adores Glenda. She said she was visiting the hospital with a sore leg and thus was saved from the tsunami - I ask her who ordered that and she said Jesus (but she will not give up her shrines and ancestor worship). 2nd visit to the church here but no one is home. Volunteer team of 6 from Tokyo Bible college arrive at night when it is raining.
Tues 12 Apr
Go through to Bible Study at church, there are 5 and we do the wilderness judgements and Joshua as preparation for studying Judges. Get certificates from Ward Office. Earthquake (mag 6) on the way into Sendai - the car bounces up and down on the Hirose bridge. Walk with Glenda on the beach. Come back with more wood. No water from 10pm...Apparently they need to fix the waste water system!
Wed 13 Apr
Still feeling frustrated and at a loose end. Glenda goes off to Ladies Meeting. See a military crane so go and ask if they can lift my car out (so it can be scrapped) but they are still looking for missing people ie bodies. Talk to Mrs Kamata and her family who are watching this crane smash up her house’s 2nd floor which had washed 100m away from where it once stood. She built this house 4 years ago and still has to pay for the loan! Tell her about Phil’s US house kits. 78 dead and 15 missing. Go to prayer meeting and there are 6 men - we have a good time as we pray for breakthrough. Hear part of this blog will be published in Evangelicals Now.
Thurs 14 Apr
Warm day. Meet another Mrs Endo opposite where I am re-setting the paving stones. She said that 1/2 the people here are called Endo and they are all related (so it's a bit like a Welsh valley). Her house survived even though the wave came up to the top of the ground floor and was directly in it's path. Everything is filled with sand. Talk about God, the tsunami and repentance. She broadly agrees and says that Ishihara (the rightwing Tokyo governor who is a bit of a fruitcake) says that this was a judgement from heaven (hmm...if it really was the whole of Japan would have been wiped out, still it is interesting that he should say that). She stops short of believing. Apparently there was a small tsunami in 1960s but it didn't go over the seawall. 1 Sam. 14:36 - brave priest. Pray that God will set Japan free. A waste of a day spent in front of the computer.
Friday 15 Aprl
1 Sam 15 Saul was small in his own eyes - so he didn’t think what he did was important - was sent on a mission- yet flew upon the spoil- don’t be like him. AoG team help me re-erect some fences on the edge of the Takayama - these will cost a lot to fix. Feel great after a bucket shower. Do water duty at Ekiraku elementary school with 2 army guys. They use a water trailer pulled by an army truck - on each side there are 3 taps so really you need a team of six. So I spend 2 hours busily filling bottles for a long queue of people to the gratitude of soldiers. One bows like a safety pin afterwards and gives me his tinned coffee! These young guys are also part of the mission field.
Sat 16 Apr
Phone Mrs Kamata - she is no longer going to see my US house contact as arranged- she seemed to say it is too early and the municipality hasnt given permission to rebuild on low ground yet. Prepare sermon. Go to Kimigaoka Water point. Crowds of people. Very busy as I’m the only volunteer helping the army water trucks again - 3 taps to one guy. Long queues as the water trucks run out of water. Some are irritable with me! Most though are friendly. Meet one lady who says she had just moved back from Yokohama, when I witness to her she says that she used to come to church as a child at Takayama, not the first old person who has told me that. Maybe that seed sown will bare fruit. Again get on well with the soldiers. At Inter Centre meet Mr Sato, he is a fisherman and has lost his house, his boat, his business, car and 2 family members. What can I say? Only that the God who took everything away is the only hope to give back, and that I will pray to God for him. This was very inadequate.
Sun 17 Apr
Drive through Natori and Iwanuma coastal areas with Glenda. In Japanese service preach on the Meaning of the Cross (for our sins, as our example, to cope with suffering). 39 adults. Budget meeting goes well. Glenda's hearing aid sent by Dad in UK arrives! Ps 107 in English Service. God redeems but he upsets the status quo v32ff to do so. 'He turns the fruitful field into a salty waste': he has certainly done that here. (Some say it will be 10 years before rice can be planted again in the inundated areas). We are supposed to be awestruck by the storm even while it threatens our life (v24). Makiko the middle school teacher attends. Her school in Watari was flooded and 400 people were stranded on the 2nd floor for 2 days w/o food or water. To me it is noticeable that Christians are becoming more zealous and God-centred...
Mon 18 Apr
Mrs Aoki from the Water Board tells me that the water is now drinkable so the water distribution has finally ceased. So in the 38 days since the quake we had no running water for 30 days or electricity for 29 days. We have 39 volunteers in 2 huge teams staying at Takayama in 4 houses and I have to get the LP gas working in one of them.
Tues 19 Apr
Pouring with rain. After the Bible Study I am sitting at the Transport Office getting a scrap certificate for our old car. There is a 4 hour wait because so many cars were destroyed by the tsunami. Long and boring and they should have increased their capacity to cope with the numbers. 2 old women sit next to me and I overhear them, “Is he reading English?’, " No he is reading Japanese’, "it’s a bible" so I start talking to one of them and she used to go to Sunday School and was defensive when challenged but I told her straight. Cold and snowy in the evening.
Wed 20 Apr
1 Sam 30:6 David strengthened himself in the Lord. Glenda goes off to Ladies Meeting. Go to Endo the carpenter and he will have the AoG team from Thurs. He lost his house and everything in it. His large warehouse remains but his wood is covered with mud (in Japan carpenters build houses). Go to church prayer meeting.
Thurs 21 Apr
Spend all day cleaning off Endo’s wood with 3 of AoG team using two water jets.
Fri 22 Apr
Spend morning cleaning off Endo’s wood with the 9 of the AoG team. They are cheerful and bright and create a good impression, and old Endo is very buoyant, full of good humour and is obviously encouraged - a big change. The young athletic guy from Saitama who I did water duty with stops in the road to say goodbye. Go to International Centre and meet policeman and woman. They are friendly and talkative and I can chat about the Lord and give them bibles which they accept.
Sat 23 Apr
Prepare sermon, carry up timber. Pouring with rain all day and windy. Visit the Shichigahama church and again no one is there. Glenda and I go for a walk along the beach, but 3 police buses stop, policemen pour out and tell us a tsunami is coming. So we rush off the beach. They try to take us to the evacuation centre but we say we are going up to our cabin. Phone Wendy to warn her. We go to the cliff to look: there is no tsunami. We later find out that this is a storm surge warning. We can expect many false alarms now.
Go to volunteer centre and Mrs Hoshi the lady in charge thanks me profusely for helping and asks if WE can use any volunteers - obviously there is a glut! Do water duty at Kimigaoka and Shiomidai. Have chat with the guy in charge about church - he lives opposite the one in Shichigahama. Ask at International Centre if they need anything and they want air deodorizer and pork, phone this through to church member Mrs Tada. Go looking for 83 year Mrs Abe Mii who used to visit us a lot but of her house only the foundations remain and there is no sign of her at the Matsugahama evacuation Centre near her house. Get a puncture from a big nail and get it fixed. There is so much debris on the narrow roads.
Wednesday 6 Apr
Water is still off, we hope it is fixed soon. Do Ladies meeting at church and finish Romans. Mrs T gives a testimony about how she was so upset by the tsunami, tearful and unable to sleep at night and then when Joel prayed for her last Sunday she felt a sudden peace come over her and she hasnt been anxious since. The return to Shichigahama is very slow. Now that petrol is available traffic is back to normal but the roads are narrowed with debris and many traffic lights are still out. Deliver pork and deodoriser to International centre. Go to Kimigaoka and Shiomidai water points in the afternoon. Stop off at the huge rubbish tip and chat to a guy there. He seems stunned when I talk about the Creator and the tsunami. I regret not giving him a tract. He says that the tsunami was 18 m here and 23m further up the coast. 900 homes have been lost in Shichigahama. Go round to the Shichigahama Church but nobody is there - it’s state sounds pretty dismal (there are 7 members, one who was killed in the tsunami, the pastor is sick, and some other members are depressed). Find that our water has come back on! Spend some time getting our toilet flush fixed- maybe dirty water had blocked the valve.
Thurs 7 Apr
I try to cancel the car tax by phone but keep losing reception but the patient lady at the other end keeps phoning back until she gets all my details and I can cancel the car registration. Thank you Lord!
Kawauchi the welder comes and arranges to fix the gate. Ask OMFers for special prayer to be able to have Bible Studies in the evacuation centres. At 2332 there is really strong (7.4) quake. This is violent and scary. No electricity, again. I see this quake as answer to prayer for the 3 evac centres and I am sure many people in them are very upset. 2 houses at Takayama have been broken into. Is this rightists threatening us or just thieves?
Friday 8 Apr
Still no electricity all day which is tiresome. No generator either. May the Lord lead me pastorally like He led Gideon, challenging him, helping his weakness, not upbraiding him etc. Feel I really have to act as if God is answering those prayers for the evac centres, so go to the International Centre and set out books below a small notice saying who Jesus is. Give 10l petrol for their generator. Chat to a few people there. Have a nice long chat with Mrs Agatsuma who sleeps in her car with her dog. She and her husband lost her house, shop, business and café to the tsunami at Yoshidahama. Interest her in the US house kits which a friend of mine is planning to import. She says 1/2 the people want to rebuild while the others never want to return. She is a tough determined lady. Give her bible and she thanks me for 'the reading matter'. Go off to the Community Centre evac centre. Put out book table but don’t stay long. Go off to the Yoshidahama Evac centre and when I ask the guy at the desk what the needs are he says 'healing of the heart'. He invites me in. Very interesting time and I virtually preach to the 10 people there.- I am asked why did God send the tsunami, is this a trial? (no), a punishment? (no) but it is a warning to repent! God is now seeking you and Jesus loves sinners etc. Go to get bibles and then find I’m not allowed back in! This is disappointing and catches me off guard. Now it is over to God. Acts 4:30 “Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” I commit them to you! Apparently the last big tsunami was 870 AD - they know this from archaeology and mud deposits.
Sat 9 Apr
Electricity comes on! 2 Tim 1 - Don't be ashamed of 1. the gospel, 2. those who suffer for the gospel v8 or 3. the actual suffering itself v12. Go up to Int Centre. Give some muffins from Glenda to Mishima’s room - only Mrs Watanabe is there. She is chatty and says how she has seen Glenda reading while walking on the beach and once gave her an orange! There is a big clothes shop going on and my books have disappeared but not the notice. At the Community Centre there is another shop going on and everything has disappeared. Another chat with Agatsuma.
Sun 10 Apr
Go to flat with fridge etc. We have 31 adults in church, 3 visitors, so numbers are back to normal even though Oshima is still in Korea, Kuroda in Yokohama etc. Preach on Ps 115 in Japanese service. The only way to glorify Jesus is push ourselves down, like Paul! Warn against depression which renders us useless. We all hand out tracts between services. This is so important - to keep on evangelising and not to get sidetracked. Speak on Mark 4 - storm on the lake- in the English service. Take charcoal to Int Centre. They don’t want old clothes.
Mon 11 Apr
Visit 83 yrold Mrs Abe in Shiomidai Minami who is staying with relatives. She is pleased to see me and adores Glenda. She said she was visiting the hospital with a sore leg and thus was saved from the tsunami - I ask her who ordered that and she said Jesus (but she will not give up her shrines and ancestor worship). 2nd visit to the church here but no one is home. Volunteer team of 6 from Tokyo Bible college arrive at night when it is raining.
Tues 12 Apr
Go through to Bible Study at church, there are 5 and we do the wilderness judgements and Joshua as preparation for studying Judges. Get certificates from Ward Office. Earthquake (mag 6) on the way into Sendai - the car bounces up and down on the Hirose bridge. Walk with Glenda on the beach. Come back with more wood. No water from 10pm...Apparently they need to fix the waste water system!
Wed 13 Apr
Still feeling frustrated and at a loose end. Glenda goes off to Ladies Meeting. See a military crane so go and ask if they can lift my car out (so it can be scrapped) but they are still looking for missing people ie bodies. Talk to Mrs Kamata and her family who are watching this crane smash up her house’s 2nd floor which had washed 100m away from where it once stood. She built this house 4 years ago and still has to pay for the loan! Tell her about Phil’s US house kits. 78 dead and 15 missing. Go to prayer meeting and there are 6 men - we have a good time as we pray for breakthrough. Hear part of this blog will be published in Evangelicals Now.
Thurs 14 Apr
Warm day. Meet another Mrs Endo opposite where I am re-setting the paving stones. She said that 1/2 the people here are called Endo and they are all related (so it's a bit like a Welsh valley). Her house survived even though the wave came up to the top of the ground floor and was directly in it's path. Everything is filled with sand. Talk about God, the tsunami and repentance. She broadly agrees and says that Ishihara (the rightwing Tokyo governor who is a bit of a fruitcake) says that this was a judgement from heaven (hmm...if it really was the whole of Japan would have been wiped out, still it is interesting that he should say that). She stops short of believing. Apparently there was a small tsunami in 1960s but it didn't go over the seawall. 1 Sam. 14:36 - brave priest. Pray that God will set Japan free. A waste of a day spent in front of the computer.
Friday 15 Aprl
1 Sam 15 Saul was small in his own eyes - so he didn’t think what he did was important - was sent on a mission- yet flew upon the spoil- don’t be like him. AoG team help me re-erect some fences on the edge of the Takayama - these will cost a lot to fix. Feel great after a bucket shower. Do water duty at Ekiraku elementary school with 2 army guys. They use a water trailer pulled by an army truck - on each side there are 3 taps so really you need a team of six. So I spend 2 hours busily filling bottles for a long queue of people to the gratitude of soldiers. One bows like a safety pin afterwards and gives me his tinned coffee! These young guys are also part of the mission field.
Sat 16 Apr
Phone Mrs Kamata - she is no longer going to see my US house contact as arranged- she seemed to say it is too early and the municipality hasnt given permission to rebuild on low ground yet. Prepare sermon. Go to Kimigaoka Water point. Crowds of people. Very busy as I’m the only volunteer helping the army water trucks again - 3 taps to one guy. Long queues as the water trucks run out of water. Some are irritable with me! Most though are friendly. Meet one lady who says she had just moved back from Yokohama, when I witness to her she says that she used to come to church as a child at Takayama, not the first old person who has told me that. Maybe that seed sown will bare fruit. Again get on well with the soldiers. At Inter Centre meet Mr Sato, he is a fisherman and has lost his house, his boat, his business, car and 2 family members. What can I say? Only that the God who took everything away is the only hope to give back, and that I will pray to God for him. This was very inadequate.
Sun 17 Apr
Drive through Natori and Iwanuma coastal areas with Glenda. In Japanese service preach on the Meaning of the Cross (for our sins, as our example, to cope with suffering). 39 adults. Budget meeting goes well. Glenda's hearing aid sent by Dad in UK arrives! Ps 107 in English Service. God redeems but he upsets the status quo v32ff to do so. 'He turns the fruitful field into a salty waste': he has certainly done that here. (Some say it will be 10 years before rice can be planted again in the inundated areas). We are supposed to be awestruck by the storm even while it threatens our life (v24). Makiko the middle school teacher attends. Her school in Watari was flooded and 400 people were stranded on the 2nd floor for 2 days w/o food or water. To me it is noticeable that Christians are becoming more zealous and God-centred...
Mon 18 Apr
Mrs Aoki from the Water Board tells me that the water is now drinkable so the water distribution has finally ceased. So in the 38 days since the quake we had no running water for 30 days or electricity for 29 days. We have 39 volunteers in 2 huge teams staying at Takayama in 4 houses and I have to get the LP gas working in one of them.
Tues 19 Apr
Pouring with rain. After the Bible Study I am sitting at the Transport Office getting a scrap certificate for our old car. There is a 4 hour wait because so many cars were destroyed by the tsunami. Long and boring and they should have increased their capacity to cope with the numbers. 2 old women sit next to me and I overhear them, “Is he reading English?’, " No he is reading Japanese’, "it’s a bible" so I start talking to one of them and she used to go to Sunday School and was defensive when challenged but I told her straight. Cold and snowy in the evening.
Wed 20 Apr
1 Sam 30:6 David strengthened himself in the Lord. Glenda goes off to Ladies Meeting. Go to Endo the carpenter and he will have the AoG team from Thurs. He lost his house and everything in it. His large warehouse remains but his wood is covered with mud (in Japan carpenters build houses). Go to church prayer meeting.
Thurs 21 Apr
Spend all day cleaning off Endo’s wood with 3 of AoG team using two water jets.
Fri 22 Apr
Spend morning cleaning off Endo’s wood with the 9 of the AoG team. They are cheerful and bright and create a good impression, and old Endo is very buoyant, full of good humour and is obviously encouraged - a big change. The young athletic guy from Saitama who I did water duty with stops in the road to say goodbye. Go to International Centre and meet policeman and woman. They are friendly and talkative and I can chat about the Lord and give them bibles which they accept.
Sat 23 Apr
Prepare sermon, carry up timber. Pouring with rain all day and windy. Visit the Shichigahama church and again no one is there. Glenda and I go for a walk along the beach, but 3 police buses stop, policemen pour out and tell us a tsunami is coming. So we rush off the beach. They try to take us to the evacuation centre but we say we are going up to our cabin. Phone Wendy to warn her. We go to the cliff to look: there is no tsunami. We later find out that this is a storm surge warning. We can expect many false alarms now.
Tuesday 5 April 2011
Prayer Letter Tsunami Part 2 April
Dear Prayer Partners
Thank you for upholding us in prayer. We have had good opportunities and many open doors to tell the gospel and have had meaningful interaction with many people here. No conversions that we know of yet.
Pray for
1. The Japanese church and the missionary community to speak the gospel with boldness. In Acts 4:31 we read of two miracles, an earthquake and the church speaking the gospel with boldness. In Japan God has done the one, now we need the other. Only a miracle wrought by the Holy Spirit will give us that boldness inspired by conviction and joy to speak with irresistible clarity. (BTW we have never prayed for any disaster to strike Japan but we do see God's hand in the tsunami especially as we had been praying at church prayer meetings for revival).
2. God to truly convert many to faith in Christ and churches to be planted in these devastated coastal areas, especially Shichigahama. Tsunamis don't convert anybody (neither do atom bombs, nuclear meltdown etc) they are simply not powerful enough. The only power that can humble the pride of the Japanese (or anybody else) so that they willingly give themselves to Christ, is the gospel of the grace of God.
Please pray for these two big items (and I don't see the second fulfilled without the first).
We continue to be well and provided for. Electricity was restored a week ago, water should be soon, and telephone lines and internet maybe a little longer. Petrol is very short and so we havent had midweek meetings at church for 3 weeks, though we are starting this week. Shops are slowly opening.
The Christian relief effort has been small-scale but effective and we have been involved guiding in supply trucks and introducing them to the Town Office and evacuation centres and delivering smaller quantities ourselves, which generates enormous goodwill. Our main role is telling the gospel whenever possible and encouraging the church members to live out the gospel and be evangelistic. Rod is working as a volunteer driving people back to their homes with the water they have collected for their families. This work has given us many friends and warm relationships and opportunities. Please pray for guidance for the next step. We would like to have bible studies at the evacuation centres...
We have got a flat near the church but can't move in without a hiring a truck which is difficult in Sendai now and because the opportunities are here at Shichigahama at the moment.
Christine will be staying with a dorm friend in Bangalore for Hebron's April halfterm and then will do her AS level exams. Esther continues her street work in Cape Town and writes a better prayer letter than we do (if you'd like them please email her at estar_123thomas456@hotmail.com Please remove the numbers before emailing).
I will leave it there. I have appended part 2 of our tsunami diary.
Thanks again
Rod & Glenda Thomas
Sendai Evangelical Christian Church, Nishi Nakada 5-27-40, Taihaku Ku, Sendai, 981-1105, JAPAN
+81-90-8256-2408
For tsunami pictures and our blog see
http://rodthomas.drivehq.com/mission/welcome.html
Tsunami diary part 2
Wednesday. 23rd March. Do the washing up in rain water and burn some rubbish but decide not to again in case someone calls the fire brigade which would cause hassle. Young people are busy helping at the No 1 Sports Ground water point and doing a good job keeping people amused with their silly sense of humour. One young guy enjoys teasing me but I give as good as I get, and he becomes much more respectful after hearing my age! Glenda makes two large date cakes which I take round to the Mishima's room in the International Centre. Only Mrs Aizawa is in but she is very appreciative. In the afternoon we are moved to a different water point near Yamazawa. This is slow because there is only one water truck but no one needs a lift because they all live close by. The man in charge doesnt like me offering lifts and says 'We Japanese don't give lifts to each other' … Hmm. They do when they become Christians. So happy that I can buy some apples, tomatoes, and lettuce at vegetable stall set out by an enterprising green grocer - how civilized!- now I feel the end of this ordeal is in sight.
Thursday, 24 March
Announce to my line of water-seekers that I am happy to give a lift to anyone who is elderly or who has walked a long way and they mustn't worry about the petrol because I am a church pastor so the petrol belongs to Jesus Christ. There is a stunned silence. Jim says he can get us a generator! Gets very cold and dark in the afternoon. Water distribution is poorly organised. They keep people waiting for over an hour and then when the truck runs out of water they tell them that they must wait another 30 minutes! When it starts to rain the remainder disperse and I can sense their anger.
Friday, 25 March
Josh 6-7 The walls of Jericho fall down, each man does his duty, except one who tries to get rich, may that not be me. If Japan is like Jericho, only God can bring down its walls. It will take more than 2 atom bombs, defeat in WWII, a huge tsunami to break the pride of the Japanese people. It will take the gospel of the grace of God which is stronger than all these combined. Maybe the generator is no good it might need a inverter. I am told by one lady that her sister Yoshiko is missing. Tell her I will pray. Endo (it seems every second person in Shichigahama is called Endo) tells people waiting for water that I am good bloke and not a strange foreigner! Strong earthquake in the evening, like yesterday. In the afternoon go around some of the wrecked homes to help people clear up but they are waiting for their insurance assessors to see the damage first. We are blessed by a surprise visit from the Jabushes, Canadian family who come to our church. They bring lots of supplies, (water, rice, apples, veg, cake, etc), so kind and thoughtful. They had to move out of their rented house after the quake as it nearly fell down and is irreparable.
Saturday, 26th March
Tiring day even though I only do morning water duty. Jim comes with a lot of supplies which we drop stuff off at the International Centre and he has a generator for us. The Town Office are pleased with the hygiene boxes from Samaritan's Purse and could use another 1000! Take 2 blue sheets to someone in Ekiraku, hygiene packs to Endo and Ito, and paraffin to Ito, hygiene pack and groceries to Aikawa, take 3 bottles to lady in Shiomidai. Meet Joel who comes with about 120 hygiene boxes which we take to the Town Office who are very grateful. Generator seems OK and hasn't fried my Mac yet. Thanks Jim! It is from Food for the Hungry, and the sticker says 'Hunger Zero Africa'. I wonder where it has been in its lifetime. Another earthquake about magnitude 5. There are 1300 people are in evacuation centres in Shichigahama, 300 of whom are in the International Centre. There are 75 dead and 18 missing - not too bad considering that 900 houses were washed away. The low casualty rate shows how well prepared Shichigahama a town of 21,000 was for the tsunami. We were given 40 minutes warning of the wave by loudspeaker. The evacuation and procedures had been all rehearsed in advance. I have heard of some villages of 200 that had the same number of deaths. Rain in the night which gives us lots of 'toilet flushing water'. End the week with more petrol than I started: Matt 6:33 proved!
Sunday, 27th March
Go to church and pass a queue for petrol, there are 94 cars in the road which continues round the corner and so we give up counting. Members responded very well to request for veg and fruit which I take to International Centre to their gratitude. 17 people come to church. Speak on boldness Acts 4:31: on how God does 2 miracles; the earthquake and making his church bold. God has done the one, now He must make his church bold because now is the time to tell the gospel. We pray for boldness in both services. I am told that 2 members are doing volunteer work and can't come to church. This is wrong. They need the means of grace - I know do! Forget all about the annual budget meeting we had scheduled but so did everybody else! So we have a short believer's instead and discuss the month's schedule and Easter which seems a long time away. It is surreal to go to Nishi Nakada to see everything undamaged after the splintered wreckage and devastation of the coast. In fact I get slight culture shock when I go there. On the coast people are easy going, friendly, help each other, are easy to talk to, tolerant and patient: back in the city they are formal, easily irritated, rule-bound, busy and don't greet you in the street. There has always been this difference between city and country in Japan but the disaster has accentuated it. (Though that doesn't mean people on the coast are more open to the gospel). When we come back the electricity is on!
Monday 28th March
Most days are sunny now which is great! According to Josh 9:23 it was a curse to be a drawer of water. Well that is what I am now for the sake of the gospel. But I'm quite happy about it. Go to Sakaiyama water point but few people so Mr Sato takes me to the Koyo Middle school water point. He refuses a lift back and walks instead - typical of the self-sacrificial, hardworking Japanese official. They may not be Christians but I think we can trust them to be incorrupt with aid that we deliver to the Town Office. Some Christian organisations avoid contact with such officials. One young guy with Tohoku Gakuin written on his track suit is amazed that I was the pastor there, preaching at the morning worship on 11th March a few hours before the tsunami. Meet OMF team from Chiba at Town Office and deliver their 2 car loads of veg etc to Town Office to the Relief Officer and Mayor (both have lost their houses) and very grateful. At last OMF has sent something. Better late than never! Mr Ogino, the kayaking enthusiast tells me he has found his sea kayak - still wrapped in plastic, undamaged and 500m away from his smashed house. Congratulate him and agree to go out paddling together. Jim turns up with a few hundred boxes of hygiene packs. Take some veg to the International Centre. This is good for the gospel and good for OMF. See old lady in the car park who expresses the need for a warm jacket but stupidly forget to ask her name, but I find one at home and get it ready just in case. Have tea in our cabin with 12 missionaries!
Tues 29th March
Sunny and warm. Do water duty at Koyo Middle School. Give about 4 lifts. I go to the International Centre and find the old lady I promised a coat too (she is the first one I see) - answered prayer. She beams delightedly in her smart navy coat. Do water duty at Wa-fu. The military are still spending a long time looking for bodies though they have started clearing rubbish and taking it to a huge tip next to the International centre.
Wed 30th March
Sunny and warm and rains in the evening. Do water duty at Koyo Middle School. Visit Mrs Mishima, she is sitting on a rock in her garden looking thru letters and her bank book. Tell her the gospel, pray for her with her. Give her a tract and some OMF aid money. She makes me think of the stiff upper lip and cheerfulness that Japanese are widely reported to be showing in this adversity. In some ways you admire it but it is also just one more defence against God and reality (how much better for them to turn to Him, recognise that He has done it and say in tears, 'why?', and then they would find Him). The temporary housing being erected on the sports field is growing daily and will soon house 100 families. Two quakes. When a quake starts I freeze and pray that it wont be big and then give thanks when it subsides.
Thurs 31th March
Raining. Read about Peter in Mark 14. I am more likely to copy Him denying the Lord than boldly proclaiming Him as in Acts 2. Pray against this. When it comes to being useful here in the kingdom of God. I sometimes just don't know what to do.. I feel like Jake in Avatar 'Baby.. Moron'. Pray about this too... for opportunities, that I will use them and that I will say what I should as per Eph 6:19-20. Joy in the Lord is the absolute key. Help people in the pouring rain. Feel very cheerful. Not many 'customers' but more people want lifts. Anda tells me about a family near the harbour in Yoshidahama who heard the tsunami warning and had to decide between saving their bedridden Granny and their young child. They chose their child and left their Granny who dies. How important it is to tell people like that about the Saviour of sinners.
Fri 1 Apr
Do the morning shift at Koyo Middle School water point. One old guy asks me to take him home because his back is sore. Until now he has refused me. He is quite talkative. Load the car with stuff and go to get the key to the flat in Nishi Nakada. On returning I have a nice chat with a middle-aged couple near the fire station and give them a tract and an NT. Bill Parris brings some veg and toilet paper etc, most of which I take thru to the International Centre. Many kind people have shown love to us and enabled us to give. Be careful of not misusing all the goodwill this help generates - it is to open hearts to the gospel not to me. Psa. 115:1 'Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.' It is a definite pitfall in giving aid that one accepts thanks and praise without giving God the glory or telling the gospel. Decide to preach on this text.
Sat 2 Apr
Go to water station and meet Dutch Christian free-lance journalist Dietrich. He helps out carrying water for people and obviously enjoys it. There is a lot of goodwill generated which we hope points to Jesus Christ. Rumours are a persistent feature of disasters. (First it was that our house had been destroyed, then it was Mrs Ansai's house had been destroyed, now it is when water be restored.) Frequent tremors today. Prepare sermon and then realise that it is Joel's turn.
Sun 3 Apr
On the way to church we see that Tagajo is still a mess with lots of wrecked trucks and cars by the side of the road and lots of dead traffic lights which Japanese seem to ignore and travel though at full speed (unlike South Africans who are used to faulty 'robots' and treat them nonchalantly as 4-way stops). The church members excel themselves in bringing fresh veg and fruit. Mrs Tada volunteers to buy 20000 yen worth of vegetables with OMF aid money. 29 adults in church which is better, maybe my email in which I told them that attending church in these times is essential, was effective.
Mon 4 Apr
Judges 5:2 It is a sign of God's blessing when leaders lead and people serve willingly. Dan Iverson's group is going up the coast to feed hundreds of people. He has a great attitude. Give him tracts to distribute. As I go off to do the volunteer water station work, I see a big black car in parking lot and later find out that 3 men had been sitting on our deck smoking and drinking, one of them is dressed in military gear: Glenda sensibly locks herself in. I assume they are rightists come to check on the 'foreigners'. (They are probably taking their lead from Tokyo governor Ishihara who said that all foreigners should be locked up in the case of a major disaster in case they turn to crime!). Later I tell the police. Go to water point but there are very few people because the water has come on in that area - but is it still not drinkable. I go to the Mishimas and help him to wash all the mud off his shop. I'm given lunch, say grace and have a good chat and talk about the Lord. On the way back drop in to Endo the builder having lunch outside his warehouse. He and his son have lost their homes and they seem depressed. I lend him some tools. Take a lady back in afternoon from Wa-fu to Shiomodai and find that I had already given her a tract earlier. Chat to Mrs Futo clearing up her house. 'Lord speak to me that I may speak...' is a great hymn for such a time as this (all 7 verses).
Thank you for upholding us in prayer. We have had good opportunities and many open doors to tell the gospel and have had meaningful interaction with many people here. No conversions that we know of yet.
Pray for
1. The Japanese church and the missionary community to speak the gospel with boldness. In Acts 4:31 we read of two miracles, an earthquake and the church speaking the gospel with boldness. In Japan God has done the one, now we need the other. Only a miracle wrought by the Holy Spirit will give us that boldness inspired by conviction and joy to speak with irresistible clarity. (BTW we have never prayed for any disaster to strike Japan but we do see God's hand in the tsunami especially as we had been praying at church prayer meetings for revival).
2. God to truly convert many to faith in Christ and churches to be planted in these devastated coastal areas, especially Shichigahama. Tsunamis don't convert anybody (neither do atom bombs, nuclear meltdown etc) they are simply not powerful enough. The only power that can humble the pride of the Japanese (or anybody else) so that they willingly give themselves to Christ, is the gospel of the grace of God.
Please pray for these two big items (and I don't see the second fulfilled without the first).
We continue to be well and provided for. Electricity was restored a week ago, water should be soon, and telephone lines and internet maybe a little longer. Petrol is very short and so we havent had midweek meetings at church for 3 weeks, though we are starting this week. Shops are slowly opening.
The Christian relief effort has been small-scale but effective and we have been involved guiding in supply trucks and introducing them to the Town Office and evacuation centres and delivering smaller quantities ourselves, which generates enormous goodwill. Our main role is telling the gospel whenever possible and encouraging the church members to live out the gospel and be evangelistic. Rod is working as a volunteer driving people back to their homes with the water they have collected for their families. This work has given us many friends and warm relationships and opportunities. Please pray for guidance for the next step. We would like to have bible studies at the evacuation centres...
We have got a flat near the church but can't move in without a hiring a truck which is difficult in Sendai now and because the opportunities are here at Shichigahama at the moment.
Christine will be staying with a dorm friend in Bangalore for Hebron's April halfterm and then will do her AS level exams. Esther continues her street work in Cape Town and writes a better prayer letter than we do (if you'd like them please email her at estar_123thomas456@hotmail.com Please remove the numbers before emailing).
I will leave it there. I have appended part 2 of our tsunami diary.
Thanks again
Rod & Glenda Thomas
Sendai Evangelical Christian Church, Nishi Nakada 5-27-40, Taihaku Ku, Sendai, 981-1105, JAPAN
+81-90-8256-2408
For tsunami pictures and our blog see
http://rodthomas.drivehq.com/mission/welcome.html
Tsunami diary part 2
Wednesday. 23rd March. Do the washing up in rain water and burn some rubbish but decide not to again in case someone calls the fire brigade which would cause hassle. Young people are busy helping at the No 1 Sports Ground water point and doing a good job keeping people amused with their silly sense of humour. One young guy enjoys teasing me but I give as good as I get, and he becomes much more respectful after hearing my age! Glenda makes two large date cakes which I take round to the Mishima's room in the International Centre. Only Mrs Aizawa is in but she is very appreciative. In the afternoon we are moved to a different water point near Yamazawa. This is slow because there is only one water truck but no one needs a lift because they all live close by. The man in charge doesnt like me offering lifts and says 'We Japanese don't give lifts to each other' … Hmm. They do when they become Christians. So happy that I can buy some apples, tomatoes, and lettuce at vegetable stall set out by an enterprising green grocer - how civilized!- now I feel the end of this ordeal is in sight.
Thursday, 24 March
Announce to my line of water-seekers that I am happy to give a lift to anyone who is elderly or who has walked a long way and they mustn't worry about the petrol because I am a church pastor so the petrol belongs to Jesus Christ. There is a stunned silence. Jim says he can get us a generator! Gets very cold and dark in the afternoon. Water distribution is poorly organised. They keep people waiting for over an hour and then when the truck runs out of water they tell them that they must wait another 30 minutes! When it starts to rain the remainder disperse and I can sense their anger.
Friday, 25 March
Josh 6-7 The walls of Jericho fall down, each man does his duty, except one who tries to get rich, may that not be me. If Japan is like Jericho, only God can bring down its walls. It will take more than 2 atom bombs, defeat in WWII, a huge tsunami to break the pride of the Japanese people. It will take the gospel of the grace of God which is stronger than all these combined. Maybe the generator is no good it might need a inverter. I am told by one lady that her sister Yoshiko is missing. Tell her I will pray. Endo (it seems every second person in Shichigahama is called Endo) tells people waiting for water that I am good bloke and not a strange foreigner! Strong earthquake in the evening, like yesterday. In the afternoon go around some of the wrecked homes to help people clear up but they are waiting for their insurance assessors to see the damage first. We are blessed by a surprise visit from the Jabushes, Canadian family who come to our church. They bring lots of supplies, (water, rice, apples, veg, cake, etc), so kind and thoughtful. They had to move out of their rented house after the quake as it nearly fell down and is irreparable.
Saturday, 26th March
Tiring day even though I only do morning water duty. Jim comes with a lot of supplies which we drop stuff off at the International Centre and he has a generator for us. The Town Office are pleased with the hygiene boxes from Samaritan's Purse and could use another 1000! Take 2 blue sheets to someone in Ekiraku, hygiene packs to Endo and Ito, and paraffin to Ito, hygiene pack and groceries to Aikawa, take 3 bottles to lady in Shiomidai. Meet Joel who comes with about 120 hygiene boxes which we take to the Town Office who are very grateful. Generator seems OK and hasn't fried my Mac yet. Thanks Jim! It is from Food for the Hungry, and the sticker says 'Hunger Zero Africa'. I wonder where it has been in its lifetime. Another earthquake about magnitude 5. There are 1300 people are in evacuation centres in Shichigahama, 300 of whom are in the International Centre. There are 75 dead and 18 missing - not too bad considering that 900 houses were washed away. The low casualty rate shows how well prepared Shichigahama a town of 21,000 was for the tsunami. We were given 40 minutes warning of the wave by loudspeaker. The evacuation and procedures had been all rehearsed in advance. I have heard of some villages of 200 that had the same number of deaths. Rain in the night which gives us lots of 'toilet flushing water'. End the week with more petrol than I started: Matt 6:33 proved!
Sunday, 27th March
Go to church and pass a queue for petrol, there are 94 cars in the road which continues round the corner and so we give up counting. Members responded very well to request for veg and fruit which I take to International Centre to their gratitude. 17 people come to church. Speak on boldness Acts 4:31: on how God does 2 miracles; the earthquake and making his church bold. God has done the one, now He must make his church bold because now is the time to tell the gospel. We pray for boldness in both services. I am told that 2 members are doing volunteer work and can't come to church. This is wrong. They need the means of grace - I know do! Forget all about the annual budget meeting we had scheduled but so did everybody else! So we have a short believer's instead and discuss the month's schedule and Easter which seems a long time away. It is surreal to go to Nishi Nakada to see everything undamaged after the splintered wreckage and devastation of the coast. In fact I get slight culture shock when I go there. On the coast people are easy going, friendly, help each other, are easy to talk to, tolerant and patient: back in the city they are formal, easily irritated, rule-bound, busy and don't greet you in the street. There has always been this difference between city and country in Japan but the disaster has accentuated it. (Though that doesn't mean people on the coast are more open to the gospel). When we come back the electricity is on!
Monday 28th March
Most days are sunny now which is great! According to Josh 9:23 it was a curse to be a drawer of water. Well that is what I am now for the sake of the gospel. But I'm quite happy about it. Go to Sakaiyama water point but few people so Mr Sato takes me to the Koyo Middle school water point. He refuses a lift back and walks instead - typical of the self-sacrificial, hardworking Japanese official. They may not be Christians but I think we can trust them to be incorrupt with aid that we deliver to the Town Office. Some Christian organisations avoid contact with such officials. One young guy with Tohoku Gakuin written on his track suit is amazed that I was the pastor there, preaching at the morning worship on 11th March a few hours before the tsunami. Meet OMF team from Chiba at Town Office and deliver their 2 car loads of veg etc to Town Office to the Relief Officer and Mayor (both have lost their houses) and very grateful. At last OMF has sent something. Better late than never! Mr Ogino, the kayaking enthusiast tells me he has found his sea kayak - still wrapped in plastic, undamaged and 500m away from his smashed house. Congratulate him and agree to go out paddling together. Jim turns up with a few hundred boxes of hygiene packs. Take some veg to the International Centre. This is good for the gospel and good for OMF. See old lady in the car park who expresses the need for a warm jacket but stupidly forget to ask her name, but I find one at home and get it ready just in case. Have tea in our cabin with 12 missionaries!
Tues 29th March
Sunny and warm. Do water duty at Koyo Middle School. Give about 4 lifts. I go to the International Centre and find the old lady I promised a coat too (she is the first one I see) - answered prayer. She beams delightedly in her smart navy coat. Do water duty at Wa-fu. The military are still spending a long time looking for bodies though they have started clearing rubbish and taking it to a huge tip next to the International centre.
Wed 30th March
Sunny and warm and rains in the evening. Do water duty at Koyo Middle School. Visit Mrs Mishima, she is sitting on a rock in her garden looking thru letters and her bank book. Tell her the gospel, pray for her with her. Give her a tract and some OMF aid money. She makes me think of the stiff upper lip and cheerfulness that Japanese are widely reported to be showing in this adversity. In some ways you admire it but it is also just one more defence against God and reality (how much better for them to turn to Him, recognise that He has done it and say in tears, 'why?', and then they would find Him). The temporary housing being erected on the sports field is growing daily and will soon house 100 families. Two quakes. When a quake starts I freeze and pray that it wont be big and then give thanks when it subsides.
Thurs 31th March
Raining. Read about Peter in Mark 14. I am more likely to copy Him denying the Lord than boldly proclaiming Him as in Acts 2. Pray against this. When it comes to being useful here in the kingdom of God. I sometimes just don't know what to do.. I feel like Jake in Avatar 'Baby.. Moron'. Pray about this too... for opportunities, that I will use them and that I will say what I should as per Eph 6:19-20. Joy in the Lord is the absolute key. Help people in the pouring rain. Feel very cheerful. Not many 'customers' but more people want lifts. Anda tells me about a family near the harbour in Yoshidahama who heard the tsunami warning and had to decide between saving their bedridden Granny and their young child. They chose their child and left their Granny who dies. How important it is to tell people like that about the Saviour of sinners.
Fri 1 Apr
Do the morning shift at Koyo Middle School water point. One old guy asks me to take him home because his back is sore. Until now he has refused me. He is quite talkative. Load the car with stuff and go to get the key to the flat in Nishi Nakada. On returning I have a nice chat with a middle-aged couple near the fire station and give them a tract and an NT. Bill Parris brings some veg and toilet paper etc, most of which I take thru to the International Centre. Many kind people have shown love to us and enabled us to give. Be careful of not misusing all the goodwill this help generates - it is to open hearts to the gospel not to me. Psa. 115:1 'Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.' It is a definite pitfall in giving aid that one accepts thanks and praise without giving God the glory or telling the gospel. Decide to preach on this text.
Sat 2 Apr
Go to water station and meet Dutch Christian free-lance journalist Dietrich. He helps out carrying water for people and obviously enjoys it. There is a lot of goodwill generated which we hope points to Jesus Christ. Rumours are a persistent feature of disasters. (First it was that our house had been destroyed, then it was Mrs Ansai's house had been destroyed, now it is when water be restored.) Frequent tremors today. Prepare sermon and then realise that it is Joel's turn.
Sun 3 Apr
On the way to church we see that Tagajo is still a mess with lots of wrecked trucks and cars by the side of the road and lots of dead traffic lights which Japanese seem to ignore and travel though at full speed (unlike South Africans who are used to faulty 'robots' and treat them nonchalantly as 4-way stops). The church members excel themselves in bringing fresh veg and fruit. Mrs Tada volunteers to buy 20000 yen worth of vegetables with OMF aid money. 29 adults in church which is better, maybe my email in which I told them that attending church in these times is essential, was effective.
Mon 4 Apr
Judges 5:2 It is a sign of God's blessing when leaders lead and people serve willingly. Dan Iverson's group is going up the coast to feed hundreds of people. He has a great attitude. Give him tracts to distribute. As I go off to do the volunteer water station work, I see a big black car in parking lot and later find out that 3 men had been sitting on our deck smoking and drinking, one of them is dressed in military gear: Glenda sensibly locks herself in. I assume they are rightists come to check on the 'foreigners'. (They are probably taking their lead from Tokyo governor Ishihara who said that all foreigners should be locked up in the case of a major disaster in case they turn to crime!). Later I tell the police. Go to water point but there are very few people because the water has come on in that area - but is it still not drinkable. I go to the Mishimas and help him to wash all the mud off his shop. I'm given lunch, say grace and have a good chat and talk about the Lord. On the way back drop in to Endo the builder having lunch outside his warehouse. He and his son have lost their homes and they seem depressed. I lend him some tools. Take a lady back in afternoon from Wa-fu to Shiomodai and find that I had already given her a tract earlier. Chat to Mrs Futo clearing up her house. 'Lord speak to me that I may speak...' is a great hymn for such a time as this (all 7 verses).
Tuesday 22 March 2011
Prayer Partner Letter Tsunami 2011
Dear Prayer Partners
This one is a bit longer than usual. On 11th March God gave Japan a tap with his little finger to wake it up. These are momentous times and it is an immense privilege to be here. We returned from SA and UK on 26th Feb and were staying at Takayama, a holiday place for missionaries by the sea at Shichigahama in Miyagi Ken. 10 years ago we bought one of these old wooden cabins from our mission, OMF International, because they couldn't afford the maintenance, and each holiday period we would come here with our family. (Today we were due to move to a flat near the church in Sendai, but can't contact the estate agent). There is devastation on both sides of the hill and it seems that we are in the eye of the storm. We have had great opportunities to help people, show sympathy and at the same time tell the gospel and give out tracts. Please pray that we will be faithful as we try to make the most of the opportunities we have each day and that the seed sown will bear fruit in fertile soil. We have no water, electricity, phone, or internet but we have gas and plenty of wood for the fire so we are warm and cozy and there is no need to worry about our welfare. We have been running on adrenalin. Thank you for all the messages of concern. On Sunday after church I was able to download all my 600 emails as the area around there is almost back to normal. I enclose my abridged diary for the events since 11 Mar. Since the tsunami, we have heard only the radio news and while we are aware that this is not a local event we havent seen the TV news so you will all know more about the big picture than we do. All the Sendai church people are fine though some have moved to different parts of the country. One man lost his car to the tsunami as did we but the church and member's houses suffered no major damage. The past 2 weeks we cancelled mid-week meetings because we had so few attend on Sunday 13th and I wanted to concentrate on ministry here.
Anyway please keep us, this ministry at Shichigahama and the Sendai church in prayer (that they will all live out their faith at this time especially),
God bless
Rod & Glenda
PS A word about support and sending relief
We are unable to receive goods to distribute from overseas. If you wish to donate, please refer here.
http://rodthomas.drivehq.com/mission/Donate.html
Let us never forget that Japan's main need is still to hear and respond to the gospel, the same as before the quake. I believe that is why God sent it. So let us cooperate with that purpose and do our part to evangelise this country.
PPS For photos see here.
http://rodthomas.drivehq.com/mission/Tsunami_2011.html
Some of these links might not be operational yet as they take so long to upload so please come back in a few days.
Tsunami Diary
The earthquake struck at 1448 on Friday, I was down at the car park about to load some tools into the car. Early that morning I had spoken at the Miyagi Gakuin service to 1100 boys and done an English class in the church and was looking forward to fixing the Takayama gate.
There was a roar and rumble and the pheasants squawked and the dogs barked as always at the beginning of a quake. The car started to bounce up and down and the trees swayed and rocked violently. I ran back up to the cabin which was like running along the deck of a rolling ship. Glenda was outside looking up at our cabin as it swayed back and forth. After about 4 minutes it stopped and we went inside to see bookshelves and tape shelves had toppled over etc, but no serious damage. We made the fire safe and rushed to the cliff to see the tsunami that had been predicted over the loud speakers that are dotted along the coast. We saw small boats fleeing the harbour and a tanker trying to head for deep water. After 30 min nothing had come and visibility was worse now because it had started to snow. So we went inside and started to clear up. After 10mins we heard screaming. A huge tsunami had hit. We ran down to the car park and saw a mass of grey water rushing in, there was a smell of HS and a terrible noise of crunching buildings. The car park is about 7m above SL and our green Subaru car was floating around in over 1m of water. (News reports said that Sendai harbour had been hit with a 10m tsunami). I ran back up to the house to get some ropes to secure the car so it wouldn't be swept away. These took some time to find and by the time I had got back the water was receding from the car park and our car was being carried further into the small ravine that goes down to the sea. I put two ropes onto the front wheel but it was too late. Just then there was a call from across the fence and neighbours Mrs Aikawa and her 77yr old mother were trying to get in. Their ground floor had been flooded and they had taken refuge in their upstairs and they wanted to be let in before the next tsunami came. The gate was blocked with debris and after clearing it, told them to go up to our cabin where Glenda would give them a cup of tea.
Then the 2nd tsunami came with a roar and reached to where our car had been dumped (this one was 5m). That slowly receded. Then I went to the cliff again to look and the seabed was visible for 500m out to sea where there is normally 3-4 m depth of water. Then the 3rd tsunami came. It was small and didn't go over the sea wall. Visibility was better and the sun had come out. Hanabuchiyama (to the east of our hill) was devastated: hardly a house remained where there had been a fish factory, shops and many nice homes. Looking west toward Sendai the skyline looked like a WWII air raid with many fires and columns of black smoke (even the breakwater about 1 km offshore had a burning house that had floated out). Shobutahama (to the west of the hill) was flattened, only foundations remained where houses once stood and the second storeys of houses were sitting disconnected in the roads. Looking out to sea there were many containers bobbing and it seemed that a container ship had lost its load when it was hit by the wave.
It was getting dark and I went back to help Glenda look after our guests. It was very cold and we lit two wood fires. Electricity and water were off and there was no cell phone reception. We lit some candles. Our gas oven however was working. We unpacked the'earthquake kit' which had a small radio and listened to the news. It was an 8.8 quake on the Japanese scale (later upgraded to 9.0) and the wave had hit the whole of the Japanese Pacific coast. We tried to chat to our guests. Mrs Aikawa was ill at ease and seemed hesitant to accept our hospitality. Glenda made a chicken and broccoli pie and put it out along with soup, salad, cake, rice etc but they hardly touched it. Her mother was cheerful and talkative. I found some water we had stored. We put our 2 Japanese guests in the downstairs bedroom and tried to sleep though after-shocks continued throughout the night. Then about 10pm we heard loud reports rumbling like thunder. I got dressed and went out on the hill. The petrol/oil depot connected to the oil refinery about 5km away to west had blown up. Huge flames were leaping up and a column of black smoke ascended'like the smoke from a furnace' (Gen 19). Fortunately there was no wind.
Saturday. We woke up about 0530 and made tea. The Aikawas were up early too and the younger one went down to her house to get her mother's diabetes medicine. We spent the day surveying the devastation and trying to cope with what had happened. We put out buckets to catch the snow melt water to use for washing, washing-up and flushing the toilets. I also tried to contact relatives by phone but no there was reception. We went for a walk along the beach and were stunned by the desolation. We made sure we had firewood and Glenda tidied up. The sky was full of army helicopters and there were many announcements on the loud speakers to stay off the beach. I also tried to prepare my sermon and charged my Macbook by running Glenda's car.
On Sunday we went to church. We left home at 0645. We were appalled at the mess and devastation at Tagajo further inland, usually a busy shopping centre. (We learned later that many people were killed here trying to leave a department store car park). We spent a long time trying to thread our way through upside-down cars covered in seaweed and streets deep in mud, before heading a long way inland and then turning west. We arrived at church about 9am and were relieved to find it undamaged. (Tadamitsu had been in on Saturday and cleared up some broken cups and fallen books). Only about 6 had come by 1030. We started anyway and I spoke on Heb 12:28 on 'God's unshakeable Kingdom'. By the end of the service we were 11, whereas normally we are 35 adults. Glenda had cooked up 2 kgs of mince and we ate that and some took it back to their families. The church had running water but there was no electricity anywhere in Sendai. We decided to cancel the English service. Then we came back to Shichigahama. On the way we were able briefly to get cell phone reception and called Esther in South Africa with a request to tell everyone that we were OK. After that reception was lost. There were long lines of people queueing outside shops and cars outside petrol stations. We arrived back after 2 hours - it normally takes 35 mins. We heard late that night that the tsunami warnings had been lifted.
On Monday we got up early and I went down to help some the people who had started to sift through their belongings and remains of their houses. Gave out some tracts and spoke about the Lord. Most of them were elderly and put a brave face on it and said they were grateful to be alive. Helped an old couple called the Mishimas sort through their devastated house full of broken stuff and found his medicine which he was happy about. Offered a few others help and said they could come and borrow tools. I went off in late morning to try and phone and eventually got through to a few people and had a clear call from California though most of them couldn't hear me. There was a grey atmosphere and a strong smell of burning oil. I stopped at a 7-11 and met an Al-Jezeerah film crew, no doubt telling the Arab world this was the wrath of Allah. The 7-11 guy came out and said they had no more food. In the afternoon went for a walk and spoke to the neighbour of the Mishimas who works for the Town Office, who tells me sadly that he lost his two kayaks, one which he bought for 400,000 yen 3 years ago. Never mind that his house has been smashed by the wave, he is grieving for his sport. I like this guy! I tell him about my surfskis and to come out sometime. Glenda cooks up a huge meal for 5 members of a Dutch film crew.
Tuesday. Go to the International Centre. Our freezer is defrosting so deliver meat to old Mr Endo in makeshift shelter (and later our green tent) and to the main person in the International Centre (which is now an evacuation refuge looking after those made homeless).
There is a lot of worry about atomic dust from the Fukushima Power plant which later turns out to be exaggerated. Walk with Glenda around Yoshidahama - terrible destruction with boats on top of houses etc. Chat to a few people and hand out tracts. Put out buckets for rainwater again after seeing that the fallout is only 30 km radius. Surprise visit from 5 UK Embassy staff who are very nice and let me use their sat phone to call Mum and Dad.
Wednesday is a miserable cold day with a strong wind, driving snow and temp doesn't rise above 3C. Go to old Mr Endo and put up tent. Give blue sheet to young family camping in the carpark. Go inland to try to download emails but nothing comes through. Cant phone anybody or buy anything. Come back and find that the tent has blown over because they didn't peg it down - too busy drinking beer in his shelter. Queue for 1 1/2 hours in the freezing wind for 20l water. Find one of Glenda's hearing aids - the other one is lost. Try unsuccessfully to siphon fuel out of the Subaru and hear from my mechanic friend that it is definitely a write-off which is a pity as the roadworthy certificate was expensive.
Thursday. As always get up at 0530 and go to bed at 8pm (no electricity). Today is also a miserable cold snowy day but I feel much happier. I think I have found my little niche by offering lifts to people who have collected water on foot. This is greatly appreciated and gives me a captive audience to tell the gospel. Some of them have walked for 4-5km, queued for 2 hours for 10l water, all in a blizzard (it also means I can re-charge the Mac & phone while the car is running). The woman in charge expresses concern in case I have a car accident while carrying passengers. This is priceless. We have all survived the worst tsunami in memory and she is worried about a car accident! Loads of Facebook emails etc from people interested in sending relief - it would be nice if they also considered ensuring the missionaries on the ground were fully supported. I go to the Town Office and ask what I should tell foreign volunteers and local churches concerning the needs. I'm introduced to the head of the relief committee and she says the needs are futons, blankets, petrol, containers for petrol and water, paraffin, nappies, food etc but that these could change within a short time. When I ask if they are happy with me giving lifts, they very happily give their blessing, but I would do it anyway because it meets a real need. Phone Mrs Takada and ask her to tell all the church people to bring any of the above to church on Sunday. Had a long call from a pastor in Dallas who I don't know but had to cut him off as I was giving people a lift. Go for a walk with Glenda along Shobutahama Beach in a blizzard. How everything has changed! No houses left. New streams and lakes. Route 58 is cut by a huge gully just before the Cosmo station. Find half a litre of milk in a fridge in a wrecked house and lots of kitchen stuff (detergent, bleach etc) along the beach that we collect. Also 10 litres or so of petrol that must have fallen off a fishing boat. The Lord provides! The blessing with the cold weather is that the food in the freezer is still frozen. See in an email that some missionaries are following embassy advice and leaving Japan. I wouldn't swop this time or place for anything and I don't even want to move to Sendai. It has been the most fulfilling interesting week. May the Lord help us to use this small window of opportunity when Japanese might be feeling a little less self-sufficient, more open to the gospel, and when we have the ability to show practical help they actually need. This is not a criticism of those with small children and health problems who leave. Mark 13: 8-10 Earthquakes arent signs of the end but birth-pangs of the kingdom. Jesus says they must happen. So what must we do? Preach the gospel to all nations - and then the end will come!
Major roads are now cleared and the rubbish is being removed.
Friday. Sunny and cold. Arrive at the water station and am told that I need to register as a volunteer, which I do, so now I have a little blue vest to wear. Do two shifts 9-11 and 3-5. Well organised but the water distribution is very slow and people have to queue for hours. Give about 10 lifts to people - some of whom really were in dire need. Clear up the beach gate with Glenda. Phone around and fine . Two UK embassy staff visit and try to persuade Glenda that we should leave (irony: would they give her a visa??). The tsunami was a week ago.
Saturday. Sunny and warm. Do lots of trips carrying water. Tell my car occupants that this tsunami wasn't caused by some little deity but the Big One who made heaven and earth and that the meaning of the tsunami is that people should repent from sin and believe in the Creator. One woman said she was atheist but in complete agreement! At least the Japanese aren't embarrassed about being inconsistent. Make some phone calls. Drop in at International Centre to see the casualty figures of Shichigahama: 27 confirmed dead (the youngest 17 yr-old girl and the oldest 101 yr-old lady) and 42 missing - many of those will likely be dead. The hardest hit area is Hanabuchihama. Grim. Apparently 4000 are homeless in Shichigahama alone.
Sunday. Load frozen stuff into the car. Leave early and travel without delay to the church. Find a free wifi spot and download 100s of emails which takes ages. Send some emails. We have about 15 to the service. Happy cooperative sympathetic atmosphere. Praise the Lord. Preach on Ps 67. May we be blessed so as to be a blessing. All we have learnt up until now might be for this very time (Esther 4). We must use our faith (Luke 8:22-25). Mrs Kuroda is chirpy and brought her 2 sons. She always seems to rise to a crisis. Takuma brings food for everyone. Mrs Takada does our washing and gives us bags of food. Miyoko lets me use the internet. Mrs Higashi brings us a box of food. Mrs Tada and Mr Higashi give water tanks and blankets to distribute. Have the English service and do Ps 46. All meetings cancelled this week too. Mr Abe comes and I have a nice phone call with Joel using his phone!
Monday. Collect useable timber from the beach. Phone CNN (Constance Cheng emailed me just after the quake to set up an interview but her email was buried among the 600 or so I had to download), anyway she didn't seem very interested now - probably moved on to the next big story. Oda-sensei from Kuroishi Church phones to find news of the church and if we are all OK. He delivers newspapers to stay in the ministry and deserves all our respect and in my opinion our support. Here that the wife of the mayor of Shichigahama was killed in the tsunami - but he keeps working. Also two people among the volunteers have lost their homes. I'm not sure I would volunteer or keep working if the same had happened to me. A large water truck comes from Iwata City, Shizuoka Prefecture and the queue moves fast. (This is a nationwide rescue: we have had a police team from Chiba come through our area searching for survivors or bodies and a generator truck from Kansai providing power to the International Centre. Japanese civil defence has moved in high gear helped by the military). People are friendly and recognise me. Visit the International Centre and met the Mishimas and chat. The evacuation centre has put them in different rooms according to their neighbourhoods, so that your bed space is next to your neighbours (so the Oginos, Aizawas and Mishimas are all in a row). Talk about the Lord, the tsunami and repentance. Mrs Aizawa is feisty and says she will re-build in the same spot and invite us over. I say 'Not somewhere higher?', she replies 'No! The same spot!'. These are elderly Japanese and used to deprivation and suffering. I wonder how the younger generation would cope. Slightly dispirited - nothing in the way of aid has come through to us, even though I feel we are at the sharp end of ministry. It has been 11 days since the quake. Still we are so much better off than those who have lost everything.
Tuesday. Still feel down. Tell the Lord that I don't feel strong in Him but I certainly feel weak in myself, if that is good enough for Him. Sing hymns in the car esp 'Guide me O thou great Jehovah' and feel my faith and joy come back. A voice mail from Thierry Richards says he is in Shiogama with petrol for me. A angel from heaven! And within an hour six young people (2 from MTW and 4 from Chiba Grace Church) in two trucks deliver 40 l of petrol to me and fruit and underwear to the Town Office warehouse. Very much encouraged after this.
This one is a bit longer than usual. On 11th March God gave Japan a tap with his little finger to wake it up. These are momentous times and it is an immense privilege to be here. We returned from SA and UK on 26th Feb and were staying at Takayama, a holiday place for missionaries by the sea at Shichigahama in Miyagi Ken. 10 years ago we bought one of these old wooden cabins from our mission, OMF International, because they couldn't afford the maintenance, and each holiday period we would come here with our family. (Today we were due to move to a flat near the church in Sendai, but can't contact the estate agent). There is devastation on both sides of the hill and it seems that we are in the eye of the storm. We have had great opportunities to help people, show sympathy and at the same time tell the gospel and give out tracts. Please pray that we will be faithful as we try to make the most of the opportunities we have each day and that the seed sown will bear fruit in fertile soil. We have no water, electricity, phone, or internet but we have gas and plenty of wood for the fire so we are warm and cozy and there is no need to worry about our welfare. We have been running on adrenalin. Thank you for all the messages of concern. On Sunday after church I was able to download all my 600 emails as the area around there is almost back to normal. I enclose my abridged diary for the events since 11 Mar. Since the tsunami, we have heard only the radio news and while we are aware that this is not a local event we havent seen the TV news so you will all know more about the big picture than we do. All the Sendai church people are fine though some have moved to different parts of the country. One man lost his car to the tsunami as did we but the church and member's houses suffered no major damage. The past 2 weeks we cancelled mid-week meetings because we had so few attend on Sunday 13th and I wanted to concentrate on ministry here.
Anyway please keep us, this ministry at Shichigahama and the Sendai church in prayer (that they will all live out their faith at this time especially),
God bless
Rod & Glenda
PS A word about support and sending relief
We are unable to receive goods to distribute from overseas. If you wish to donate, please refer here.
http://rodthomas.drivehq.com/mission/Donate.html
Let us never forget that Japan's main need is still to hear and respond to the gospel, the same as before the quake. I believe that is why God sent it. So let us cooperate with that purpose and do our part to evangelise this country.
PPS For photos see here.
http://rodthomas.drivehq.com/mission/Tsunami_2011.html
Some of these links might not be operational yet as they take so long to upload so please come back in a few days.
Tsunami Diary
The earthquake struck at 1448 on Friday, I was down at the car park about to load some tools into the car. Early that morning I had spoken at the Miyagi Gakuin service to 1100 boys and done an English class in the church and was looking forward to fixing the Takayama gate.
There was a roar and rumble and the pheasants squawked and the dogs barked as always at the beginning of a quake. The car started to bounce up and down and the trees swayed and rocked violently. I ran back up to the cabin which was like running along the deck of a rolling ship. Glenda was outside looking up at our cabin as it swayed back and forth. After about 4 minutes it stopped and we went inside to see bookshelves and tape shelves had toppled over etc, but no serious damage. We made the fire safe and rushed to the cliff to see the tsunami that had been predicted over the loud speakers that are dotted along the coast. We saw small boats fleeing the harbour and a tanker trying to head for deep water. After 30 min nothing had come and visibility was worse now because it had started to snow. So we went inside and started to clear up. After 10mins we heard screaming. A huge tsunami had hit. We ran down to the car park and saw a mass of grey water rushing in, there was a smell of HS and a terrible noise of crunching buildings. The car park is about 7m above SL and our green Subaru car was floating around in over 1m of water. (News reports said that Sendai harbour had been hit with a 10m tsunami). I ran back up to the house to get some ropes to secure the car so it wouldn't be swept away. These took some time to find and by the time I had got back the water was receding from the car park and our car was being carried further into the small ravine that goes down to the sea. I put two ropes onto the front wheel but it was too late. Just then there was a call from across the fence and neighbours Mrs Aikawa and her 77yr old mother were trying to get in. Their ground floor had been flooded and they had taken refuge in their upstairs and they wanted to be let in before the next tsunami came. The gate was blocked with debris and after clearing it, told them to go up to our cabin where Glenda would give them a cup of tea.
Then the 2nd tsunami came with a roar and reached to where our car had been dumped (this one was 5m). That slowly receded. Then I went to the cliff again to look and the seabed was visible for 500m out to sea where there is normally 3-4 m depth of water. Then the 3rd tsunami came. It was small and didn't go over the sea wall. Visibility was better and the sun had come out. Hanabuchiyama (to the east of our hill) was devastated: hardly a house remained where there had been a fish factory, shops and many nice homes. Looking west toward Sendai the skyline looked like a WWII air raid with many fires and columns of black smoke (even the breakwater about 1 km offshore had a burning house that had floated out). Shobutahama (to the west of the hill) was flattened, only foundations remained where houses once stood and the second storeys of houses were sitting disconnected in the roads. Looking out to sea there were many containers bobbing and it seemed that a container ship had lost its load when it was hit by the wave.
It was getting dark and I went back to help Glenda look after our guests. It was very cold and we lit two wood fires. Electricity and water were off and there was no cell phone reception. We lit some candles. Our gas oven however was working. We unpacked the'earthquake kit' which had a small radio and listened to the news. It was an 8.8 quake on the Japanese scale (later upgraded to 9.0) and the wave had hit the whole of the Japanese Pacific coast. We tried to chat to our guests. Mrs Aikawa was ill at ease and seemed hesitant to accept our hospitality. Glenda made a chicken and broccoli pie and put it out along with soup, salad, cake, rice etc but they hardly touched it. Her mother was cheerful and talkative. I found some water we had stored. We put our 2 Japanese guests in the downstairs bedroom and tried to sleep though after-shocks continued throughout the night. Then about 10pm we heard loud reports rumbling like thunder. I got dressed and went out on the hill. The petrol/oil depot connected to the oil refinery about 5km away to west had blown up. Huge flames were leaping up and a column of black smoke ascended'like the smoke from a furnace' (Gen 19). Fortunately there was no wind.
Saturday. We woke up about 0530 and made tea. The Aikawas were up early too and the younger one went down to her house to get her mother's diabetes medicine. We spent the day surveying the devastation and trying to cope with what had happened. We put out buckets to catch the snow melt water to use for washing, washing-up and flushing the toilets. I also tried to contact relatives by phone but no there was reception. We went for a walk along the beach and were stunned by the desolation. We made sure we had firewood and Glenda tidied up. The sky was full of army helicopters and there were many announcements on the loud speakers to stay off the beach. I also tried to prepare my sermon and charged my Macbook by running Glenda's car.
On Sunday we went to church. We left home at 0645. We were appalled at the mess and devastation at Tagajo further inland, usually a busy shopping centre. (We learned later that many people were killed here trying to leave a department store car park). We spent a long time trying to thread our way through upside-down cars covered in seaweed and streets deep in mud, before heading a long way inland and then turning west. We arrived at church about 9am and were relieved to find it undamaged. (Tadamitsu had been in on Saturday and cleared up some broken cups and fallen books). Only about 6 had come by 1030. We started anyway and I spoke on Heb 12:28 on 'God's unshakeable Kingdom'. By the end of the service we were 11, whereas normally we are 35 adults. Glenda had cooked up 2 kgs of mince and we ate that and some took it back to their families. The church had running water but there was no electricity anywhere in Sendai. We decided to cancel the English service. Then we came back to Shichigahama. On the way we were able briefly to get cell phone reception and called Esther in South Africa with a request to tell everyone that we were OK. After that reception was lost. There were long lines of people queueing outside shops and cars outside petrol stations. We arrived back after 2 hours - it normally takes 35 mins. We heard late that night that the tsunami warnings had been lifted.
On Monday we got up early and I went down to help some the people who had started to sift through their belongings and remains of their houses. Gave out some tracts and spoke about the Lord. Most of them were elderly and put a brave face on it and said they were grateful to be alive. Helped an old couple called the Mishimas sort through their devastated house full of broken stuff and found his medicine which he was happy about. Offered a few others help and said they could come and borrow tools. I went off in late morning to try and phone and eventually got through to a few people and had a clear call from California though most of them couldn't hear me. There was a grey atmosphere and a strong smell of burning oil. I stopped at a 7-11 and met an Al-Jezeerah film crew, no doubt telling the Arab world this was the wrath of Allah. The 7-11 guy came out and said they had no more food. In the afternoon went for a walk and spoke to the neighbour of the Mishimas who works for the Town Office, who tells me sadly that he lost his two kayaks, one which he bought for 400,000 yen 3 years ago. Never mind that his house has been smashed by the wave, he is grieving for his sport. I like this guy! I tell him about my surfskis and to come out sometime. Glenda cooks up a huge meal for 5 members of a Dutch film crew.
Tuesday. Go to the International Centre. Our freezer is defrosting so deliver meat to old Mr Endo in makeshift shelter (and later our green tent) and to the main person in the International Centre (which is now an evacuation refuge looking after those made homeless).
There is a lot of worry about atomic dust from the Fukushima Power plant which later turns out to be exaggerated. Walk with Glenda around Yoshidahama - terrible destruction with boats on top of houses etc. Chat to a few people and hand out tracts. Put out buckets for rainwater again after seeing that the fallout is only 30 km radius. Surprise visit from 5 UK Embassy staff who are very nice and let me use their sat phone to call Mum and Dad.
Wednesday is a miserable cold day with a strong wind, driving snow and temp doesn't rise above 3C. Go to old Mr Endo and put up tent. Give blue sheet to young family camping in the carpark. Go inland to try to download emails but nothing comes through. Cant phone anybody or buy anything. Come back and find that the tent has blown over because they didn't peg it down - too busy drinking beer in his shelter. Queue for 1 1/2 hours in the freezing wind for 20l water. Find one of Glenda's hearing aids - the other one is lost. Try unsuccessfully to siphon fuel out of the Subaru and hear from my mechanic friend that it is definitely a write-off which is a pity as the roadworthy certificate was expensive.
Thursday. As always get up at 0530 and go to bed at 8pm (no electricity). Today is also a miserable cold snowy day but I feel much happier. I think I have found my little niche by offering lifts to people who have collected water on foot. This is greatly appreciated and gives me a captive audience to tell the gospel. Some of them have walked for 4-5km, queued for 2 hours for 10l water, all in a blizzard (it also means I can re-charge the Mac & phone while the car is running). The woman in charge expresses concern in case I have a car accident while carrying passengers. This is priceless. We have all survived the worst tsunami in memory and she is worried about a car accident! Loads of Facebook emails etc from people interested in sending relief - it would be nice if they also considered ensuring the missionaries on the ground were fully supported. I go to the Town Office and ask what I should tell foreign volunteers and local churches concerning the needs. I'm introduced to the head of the relief committee and she says the needs are futons, blankets, petrol, containers for petrol and water, paraffin, nappies, food etc but that these could change within a short time. When I ask if they are happy with me giving lifts, they very happily give their blessing, but I would do it anyway because it meets a real need. Phone Mrs Takada and ask her to tell all the church people to bring any of the above to church on Sunday. Had a long call from a pastor in Dallas who I don't know but had to cut him off as I was giving people a lift. Go for a walk with Glenda along Shobutahama Beach in a blizzard. How everything has changed! No houses left. New streams and lakes. Route 58 is cut by a huge gully just before the Cosmo station. Find half a litre of milk in a fridge in a wrecked house and lots of kitchen stuff (detergent, bleach etc) along the beach that we collect. Also 10 litres or so of petrol that must have fallen off a fishing boat. The Lord provides! The blessing with the cold weather is that the food in the freezer is still frozen. See in an email that some missionaries are following embassy advice and leaving Japan. I wouldn't swop this time or place for anything and I don't even want to move to Sendai. It has been the most fulfilling interesting week. May the Lord help us to use this small window of opportunity when Japanese might be feeling a little less self-sufficient, more open to the gospel, and when we have the ability to show practical help they actually need. This is not a criticism of those with small children and health problems who leave. Mark 13: 8-10 Earthquakes arent signs of the end but birth-pangs of the kingdom. Jesus says they must happen. So what must we do? Preach the gospel to all nations - and then the end will come!
Major roads are now cleared and the rubbish is being removed.
Friday. Sunny and cold. Arrive at the water station and am told that I need to register as a volunteer, which I do, so now I have a little blue vest to wear. Do two shifts 9-11 and 3-5. Well organised but the water distribution is very slow and people have to queue for hours. Give about 10 lifts to people - some of whom really were in dire need. Clear up the beach gate with Glenda. Phone around and fine . Two UK embassy staff visit and try to persuade Glenda that we should leave (irony: would they give her a visa??). The tsunami was a week ago.
Saturday. Sunny and warm. Do lots of trips carrying water. Tell my car occupants that this tsunami wasn't caused by some little deity but the Big One who made heaven and earth and that the meaning of the tsunami is that people should repent from sin and believe in the Creator. One woman said she was atheist but in complete agreement! At least the Japanese aren't embarrassed about being inconsistent. Make some phone calls. Drop in at International Centre to see the casualty figures of Shichigahama: 27 confirmed dead (the youngest 17 yr-old girl and the oldest 101 yr-old lady) and 42 missing - many of those will likely be dead. The hardest hit area is Hanabuchihama. Grim. Apparently 4000 are homeless in Shichigahama alone.
Sunday. Load frozen stuff into the car. Leave early and travel without delay to the church. Find a free wifi spot and download 100s of emails which takes ages. Send some emails. We have about 15 to the service. Happy cooperative sympathetic atmosphere. Praise the Lord. Preach on Ps 67. May we be blessed so as to be a blessing. All we have learnt up until now might be for this very time (Esther 4). We must use our faith (Luke 8:22-25). Mrs Kuroda is chirpy and brought her 2 sons. She always seems to rise to a crisis. Takuma brings food for everyone. Mrs Takada does our washing and gives us bags of food. Miyoko lets me use the internet. Mrs Higashi brings us a box of food. Mrs Tada and Mr Higashi give water tanks and blankets to distribute. Have the English service and do Ps 46. All meetings cancelled this week too. Mr Abe comes and I have a nice phone call with Joel using his phone!
Monday. Collect useable timber from the beach. Phone CNN (Constance Cheng emailed me just after the quake to set up an interview but her email was buried among the 600 or so I had to download), anyway she didn't seem very interested now - probably moved on to the next big story. Oda-sensei from Kuroishi Church phones to find news of the church and if we are all OK. He delivers newspapers to stay in the ministry and deserves all our respect and in my opinion our support. Here that the wife of the mayor of Shichigahama was killed in the tsunami - but he keeps working. Also two people among the volunteers have lost their homes. I'm not sure I would volunteer or keep working if the same had happened to me. A large water truck comes from Iwata City, Shizuoka Prefecture and the queue moves fast. (This is a nationwide rescue: we have had a police team from Chiba come through our area searching for survivors or bodies and a generator truck from Kansai providing power to the International Centre. Japanese civil defence has moved in high gear helped by the military). People are friendly and recognise me. Visit the International Centre and met the Mishimas and chat. The evacuation centre has put them in different rooms according to their neighbourhoods, so that your bed space is next to your neighbours (so the Oginos, Aizawas and Mishimas are all in a row). Talk about the Lord, the tsunami and repentance. Mrs Aizawa is feisty and says she will re-build in the same spot and invite us over. I say 'Not somewhere higher?', she replies 'No! The same spot!'. These are elderly Japanese and used to deprivation and suffering. I wonder how the younger generation would cope. Slightly dispirited - nothing in the way of aid has come through to us, even though I feel we are at the sharp end of ministry. It has been 11 days since the quake. Still we are so much better off than those who have lost everything.
Tuesday. Still feel down. Tell the Lord that I don't feel strong in Him but I certainly feel weak in myself, if that is good enough for Him. Sing hymns in the car esp 'Guide me O thou great Jehovah' and feel my faith and joy come back. A voice mail from Thierry Richards says he is in Shiogama with petrol for me. A angel from heaven! And within an hour six young people (2 from MTW and 4 from Chiba Grace Church) in two trucks deliver 40 l of petrol to me and fruit and underwear to the Town Office warehouse. Very much encouraged after this.
Thursday 10 March 2011
Prayer Partner Letter March 2011
Dear praying friends,
Greetings from a freezing Japan! We thank the Lord for his undeserved mercy in bringing us back here and for giving us a good home assignment. The official purpose of HA, according to OMF, is 'support development' both prayer and financial, and we thank God for all the wonderful supporters we have met and that our support has increased from 63% in 2009 to 81% in 2010. Time was too short though to improve our South African English. Speaking like 'I scheme I'll graze some lekker pronutro and boerewors' will have to wait for next time!
Yesterday was our first Sunday service and it was a joy to see two believers baptised, a mainland Chinese student and Joel and Seiko's 9-year-old daughter. The church was full and all the believers were glad to see us. It is such a privilege to minister here and please pray with us for God to pour out his Spirit in Sendai that the Word will spread and his Kingdom will grow. The church is still discussing property purchase issues and we hope that as their faith increases it wont be long before we can buy our own land and buildings.
We have got our car through its roadworthy certificate and found a flat to rent behind the church. Please pray that if it is God's will the contract will go through so we can live really close and use it as a Sunday School room. Tadamitsu, recently returned from theological studies in NZ, is now working in Sendai and is a useful layman in the church.
Our children are each on different continents: Amy in Scotland, Andrew in the Arabian Sea, Esther doing street ministry from Fish Hoek, South Africa and Christine at Hebron School in India. Please pray for their spiritual and physical well-being and that they don't lose touch with each other.
On Friday, Rod will be speaking at a high school chapel service to 2000 boys.
Pray that we will be faithful and obedient to the Lord.
God's richest blessings,
from Rod and Glenda
PS A whole month til our next letter, ag, shame!
Greetings from a freezing Japan! We thank the Lord for his undeserved mercy in bringing us back here and for giving us a good home assignment. The official purpose of HA, according to OMF, is 'support development' both prayer and financial, and we thank God for all the wonderful supporters we have met and that our support has increased from 63% in 2009 to 81% in 2010. Time was too short though to improve our South African English. Speaking like 'I scheme I'll graze some lekker pronutro and boerewors' will have to wait for next time!
Yesterday was our first Sunday service and it was a joy to see two believers baptised, a mainland Chinese student and Joel and Seiko's 9-year-old daughter. The church was full and all the believers were glad to see us. It is such a privilege to minister here and please pray with us for God to pour out his Spirit in Sendai that the Word will spread and his Kingdom will grow. The church is still discussing property purchase issues and we hope that as their faith increases it wont be long before we can buy our own land and buildings.
We have got our car through its roadworthy certificate and found a flat to rent behind the church. Please pray that if it is God's will the contract will go through so we can live really close and use it as a Sunday School room. Tadamitsu, recently returned from theological studies in NZ, is now working in Sendai and is a useful layman in the church.
Our children are each on different continents: Amy in Scotland, Andrew in the Arabian Sea, Esther doing street ministry from Fish Hoek, South Africa and Christine at Hebron School in India. Please pray for their spiritual and physical well-being and that they don't lose touch with each other.
On Friday, Rod will be speaking at a high school chapel service to 2000 boys.
Pray that we will be faithful and obedient to the Lord.
God's richest blessings,
from Rod and Glenda
PS A whole month til our next letter, ag, shame!
Saturday 12 February 2011
Prayer Partner Letter January 2011
Dear Praying Friends
Recently we had an encouraging email. When we were in Tokyo about 10 years ago Ryoko attended church. She didn't believe and after a while left in a huff. But she has now become a believer and as part of her baptismal preparation wrote to apologise. Praise the Lord. Also, that church is now independent with a delightful Japanese pastor.
It is a little daunting to think of returning to Sendai, Japan on 26th Feb. 1) We will be back in ministry immediately and inevitably have missed out on events in people's lives and they will have moved on. And we need to have a smooth handover with Joel who has been pastoring in our absence. We have had a very varied home assignment in UK and RSA but however busy we've been, we have not had to lead a church, which has made it like a holiday. This will all change in 6 weeks. 2) We need to lead the church forward to independence. This in itself sounds like a contradiction. To push, train and delegate the members into taking leading roles while still being responsible expresses it more clearly. Maintaining the status quo will just make them dependent on us. Also the church needs to grow in size. 3) Everything will be in Japanese, and despite one's best efforts to study we have got a bit rusty, as neither of us are especially gifted at the language.
Our goal is for the church to be independent, fruitful and strong, please pray for the Holy Spirit to work through us to attain this.
Thank you for your prayers! We have had a great family holiday with Esther, Andrew and Christine. We are now staying in Simon's Town, hopefully until we leave. Esther needs a furnished flat to rent in Muizenberg until July. Christine arrived safely from India despite being involved in a car accident in Mumbai and being the last to board her flight there. She starts the return journey on 24th Jan. Please pray for it to go smoothly and safely.
Ministry until we leave looks like this:
16th Jan Sun am St Peters Fish Hoek CESA
30th Jan Sun am Bellville Emmanuel CESA
5th Feb Sat Leave for Jo'burg
6th Feb Sun Horison, Krugersdorp CESA
13th Feb Sun Blairgowrie CESA
14th Feb Mon Return from Jo'burg
16th Feb Wed St James Kenilworth CESA
18th Feb Fri Meadowridge OMF prayer group
24th Feb Thu Leave Cape Town for Japan
26th Feb Sat Arrive Japan
"We rejoice and delight in you" (Songs 1:4). May we and you all rejoice and delight in our Saviour, Jesus Christ, and then this 2011 will be blessed no matter how God orders our outward circumstances.
love from Rod and Glenda
Recently we had an encouraging email. When we were in Tokyo about 10 years ago Ryoko attended church. She didn't believe and after a while left in a huff. But she has now become a believer and as part of her baptismal preparation wrote to apologise. Praise the Lord. Also, that church is now independent with a delightful Japanese pastor.
It is a little daunting to think of returning to Sendai, Japan on 26th Feb. 1) We will be back in ministry immediately and inevitably have missed out on events in people's lives and they will have moved on. And we need to have a smooth handover with Joel who has been pastoring in our absence. We have had a very varied home assignment in UK and RSA but however busy we've been, we have not had to lead a church, which has made it like a holiday. This will all change in 6 weeks. 2) We need to lead the church forward to independence. This in itself sounds like a contradiction. To push, train and delegate the members into taking leading roles while still being responsible expresses it more clearly. Maintaining the status quo will just make them dependent on us. Also the church needs to grow in size. 3) Everything will be in Japanese, and despite one's best efforts to study we have got a bit rusty, as neither of us are especially gifted at the language.
Our goal is for the church to be independent, fruitful and strong, please pray for the Holy Spirit to work through us to attain this.
Thank you for your prayers! We have had a great family holiday with Esther, Andrew and Christine. We are now staying in Simon's Town, hopefully until we leave. Esther needs a furnished flat to rent in Muizenberg until July. Christine arrived safely from India despite being involved in a car accident in Mumbai and being the last to board her flight there. She starts the return journey on 24th Jan. Please pray for it to go smoothly and safely.
Ministry until we leave looks like this:
16th Jan Sun am St Peters Fish Hoek CESA
30th Jan Sun am Bellville Emmanuel CESA
5th Feb Sat Leave for Jo'burg
6th Feb Sun Horison, Krugersdorp CESA
13th Feb Sun Blairgowrie CESA
14th Feb Mon Return from Jo'burg
16th Feb Wed St James Kenilworth CESA
18th Feb Fri Meadowridge OMF prayer group
24th Feb Thu Leave Cape Town for Japan
26th Feb Sat Arrive Japan
"We rejoice and delight in you" (Songs 1:4). May we and you all rejoice and delight in our Saviour, Jesus Christ, and then this 2011 will be blessed no matter how God orders our outward circumstances.
love from Rod and Glenda
Tuesday 11 January 2011
Prayer Partner Letter December 2010
Dear Praying Friends
Thank you for your prayers! Christine leaves school tomorrow to fly to Mumbai and then to Jo'burg and then Cape Town. It is a long unfamiliar journey. Please pray for God's blessing and protection. She arrives Friday afternoon. Andrew has been with us since yesterday. We have until the end of the year as time off.
Joel writes that the farm buildings that the Sendai church were considering buying have been sold to someone else. On top of that some of the church members expressed reservations about it being further from public transport. So we trust that God has somewhere better for us. But we are glad that it has set them thinking and they will be better prepared to consider the next opportunity. Our goal is for the church to be independent, fruitful and strong.
We give thanks that our latest donation report shows that we are 85% supported. Thank you too, Lord, for the army of supporters whose sacrifices have made this possible.
In a passage speaking of the Messiah's reign, the Lord says "I will make the lame a remnant, those driven away a strong nation." Micah 4:7. How true this is in Japan where the national sin is pride! God often takes those with mental problems, those at the end of their tether and those who haven't been successful in society and incorporates them into his church rather than the successful and self-sufficient, so that no one may boast, as Paul also says in 1 Cor 1:28-29. Please pray for us as we prepare to go back to the work in Japan and for Joel and Seiko there.
Finally, thank you all for your prayers and support this past year and may God give you a very happy Christmas with family and friends.
love from Rod and Glenda
Thank you for your prayers! Christine leaves school tomorrow to fly to Mumbai and then to Jo'burg and then Cape Town. It is a long unfamiliar journey. Please pray for God's blessing and protection. She arrives Friday afternoon. Andrew has been with us since yesterday. We have until the end of the year as time off.
Joel writes that the farm buildings that the Sendai church were considering buying have been sold to someone else. On top of that some of the church members expressed reservations about it being further from public transport. So we trust that God has somewhere better for us. But we are glad that it has set them thinking and they will be better prepared to consider the next opportunity. Our goal is for the church to be independent, fruitful and strong.
We give thanks that our latest donation report shows that we are 85% supported. Thank you too, Lord, for the army of supporters whose sacrifices have made this possible.
In a passage speaking of the Messiah's reign, the Lord says "I will make the lame a remnant, those driven away a strong nation." Micah 4:7. How true this is in Japan where the national sin is pride! God often takes those with mental problems, those at the end of their tether and those who haven't been successful in society and incorporates them into his church rather than the successful and self-sufficient, so that no one may boast, as Paul also says in 1 Cor 1:28-29. Please pray for us as we prepare to go back to the work in Japan and for Joel and Seiko there.
Finally, thank you all for your prayers and support this past year and may God give you a very happy Christmas with family and friends.
love from Rod and Glenda
Prayer Partner Letter November 2010
Dear Praying Friends
Greetings from Fish Hoek in W Cape. It is lovely to be here. We have been kindly lent a flat overlooking the sea until 6 Dec.
I (Rod) have just returned from 9 days in Kwazulu Natal and it was a joy to meet enthusiastic mission-minded churches and prayer partners who have been praying for many years. Later we went to Dept of Home Affairs to apply for an ID book for Esther. There were crowds of Zimbabwean asylum seekers but we were surprised how quick and efficient it was. We also had to renew our driving licence cards which had expired. Next, we have to go back for Esther's and Christine's passports which have expired and Rod's permanent residence. This month and December we will be visiting churches and prayer groups in the Cape (I have appended our schedule below).
Please urgently pray for Sendai church. They have found some farm buildings (residence, barn and office) for sale and are considering buying. It is about 1 km from the present rented place, not so accessible by public transport, nor so visible but it is large, and adequate for a residence for a future pastor and suitable for a church and means that our monthly payments will go into a mortgage instead of rent. So the church led by Joel needs to discuss this among themselves and come to a decision. Personally I am positive about this but there are other buyers interested. So please pray that the Lord's will is done and that at the very least it will be a positive experience for the church members.
Christine travels back from Hebron School, India, through Coimbatore, Mumbai and Johannesburg, an unfamiliar route, but is more cheerful about it now that we have found someone to help her transfer airports in Mumbai the night of Dec 16/17th. Andrew joins us on 14th. Our support percentage has gone up to 75%, so give thanks and keep praying!
Thank you for your prayers
Greetings from Fish Hoek in W Cape. It is lovely to be here. We have been kindly lent a flat overlooking the sea until 6 Dec.
I (Rod) have just returned from 9 days in Kwazulu Natal and it was a joy to meet enthusiastic mission-minded churches and prayer partners who have been praying for many years. Later we went to Dept of Home Affairs to apply for an ID book for Esther. There were crowds of Zimbabwean asylum seekers but we were surprised how quick and efficient it was. We also had to renew our driving licence cards which had expired. Next, we have to go back for Esther's and Christine's passports which have expired and Rod's permanent residence. This month and December we will be visiting churches and prayer groups in the Cape (I have appended our schedule below).
Please urgently pray for Sendai church. They have found some farm buildings (residence, barn and office) for sale and are considering buying. It is about 1 km from the present rented place, not so accessible by public transport, nor so visible but it is large, and adequate for a residence for a future pastor and suitable for a church and means that our monthly payments will go into a mortgage instead of rent. So the church led by Joel needs to discuss this among themselves and come to a decision. Personally I am positive about this but there are other buyers interested. So please pray that the Lord's will is done and that at the very least it will be a positive experience for the church members.
Christine travels back from Hebron School, India, through Coimbatore, Mumbai and Johannesburg, an unfamiliar route, but is more cheerful about it now that we have found someone to help her transfer airports in Mumbai the night of Dec 16/17th. Andrew joins us on 14th. Our support percentage has gone up to 75%, so give thanks and keep praying!
Thank you for your prayers
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