Japan - March 18th Update (from my sister)

Thank you friends for letting me continually post about something so close to my heart, rather than my usually cheery Wolfe family posts.  I've copied below my sister's most recent email newsletter to their friends and supporters.  If you'd like to directly receive their updates, just make a comment or send an email to me and I'll get you connected to their email list.  Thank you for your continued prayers! - Jocelyn

Dear Friends and Family,

Our second team is off to Tohoku!!  After moving non-stop for what is all a blur now, we were able to send off a second round of relief supplies at 12:15 tonight!  They are heading to the north up along the Japan Sea to meet Chad and Beth, who have spent the day in Niigata re-fueling and re-stocking for the trip back over to the Pacific side of Japan.  (Beth and Chad are staying with missionary friends in Niigata, the Mort family, tonight.)  On the way, this team will meet up with a a group carrying more supplies from the Mustard Seed team in Nagoya.  Then from Niigata, they will cross over through Yamagata to the devastated areas of Tohoku.  They initially plan to go back to Ishinomaki where Chad and Beth just came from, and they will see where God leads them from there.

Today was an amazing day!  We started out with some already donated supplies in our garage, when, unexpectedly, people from several churches in Osaka began calling and bringing things over!  Then, to our surprise, around 6 p.m., our friends across the city, who have helped purchase the truck we plan to use for these efforts, sent us a picture of... a FULLY LOADED truck!!  We began to scramble for options, and finally someone was able to secure a van to rent.  Then, we scrambled some more and were able to find one more person to join the 3 guys going!!  God is good!!  By the time the truck and rental van arrived, more supplies had been delivered, with the end result being a fully loaded truck AND van AND a garage full of supplies to be taken up this coming Tuesday when another team is scheduled to go!  Praise God!  Everyone who brought things today expressed how excited they had been to find a way to actually DO something – they have been sitting here in Osaka watching the news and feeling so helpless!  And to think that part of the communication chain was started by one friend’s post on Facebook:

“Going shopping this morning to buy supplies for the truck heading to Tohoku for the victims of the earthquake. Pray I can find bottled water (and other vital supplies). Many things are sold out even here in Kansai.”

(Honey, maybe I’ll have to break down and join you on Facebook after all!  Or does this count?!)

Anyway, jokes aside, you could feel the excitement in the air tonight as we packed up the trucks and then came inside to wait on the 4^th member of the driving team, who dropped everything he had planned to do this weekend, packed his bag and spent 2 hours on the train to get here!  Thank you, Kitani-san!!  We sent them off in prayer and trust for God to protect them and to lead them where He wants them to serve. 

On another side note, I’m wondering if my neighbor’s jaw has moved back into place since I rang her bell to ask her if we could park a van in front of their house for a while.  Her jaw dropped the minute I told her that Chad was in Tohoku (TOHOKU?!?!), and that these people were heading up to join him with relief supplies.  I saw her awhile later, still standing around looking stunned at what was happening.  Our neighbor on the other side came out later, after I asked if we could park in front of their house too (^-^), and stood outside with her daughter for a long time watching.  Her daughter, Anika’s age, ended up hanging out with us the rest of the evening until after the caravan left!  Our love and our actions CAN have an impact on the people all around us!  And that goes for anywhere you live!  Please pray for our neighborhood as they begin to witness an outpouring of supernatural love from this place.  And may God always receive the glory.

Please pray for Keishi, Gavin, Bob (Japanese!) and Kitani-san.  They are all giving up their time, taking risks that many are unable or unwilling to take, and joyfully heading up to serve in unimaginable scenes of destruction and despair.  Also pray for the team from the Mustard Seed, as well as Chad and Beth!

With many other loose ends to tie before I head to bed, I will finish this.  Chad and Beth have posted many pictures at:  https://picasaweb.google.com/tohokuaid  , so please take a look.

You can also see photos of tonight’s activities here in Osaka at: https://picasaweb.google.com/osakachado/TohokuAidCaravan#

Thank you so much for your dedicated prayers and for so many of you who are giving sacrificially to help the people of Japan.  We feel so privileged to be a part of this HUGE body of Christ!

In His Arms,

Jennifer

P.S.  It was wonderful to see my kids and hear their cheerful voices tonight.  My mom brought them over for a bit and they got to enjoy the flurry of activity around here for a bit.  Anika decided to stay and help out, while Mom took the younger three back home for another night or two (?).  Thank you!!  Also, many have asked about Josiah – he has been lonely!!  He is feeling better, but the fever has not totally disappeared.  Please continue to pray for his recovery.