You Can Help

Below is a letter sent out by my sister and brother-in-law, missionaries in Osaka, Japan, with Team Expansion.  Chris and I have been their Forwarding Agents for several years (we serve to receive support funds for their ministry and handle Stateside accounting).  Chad and Jennifer have huge hearts for the Japanese people and are ready with a network of churches in place to go immediately to the devastated areas.  If you feel so led, 100% of your donations will be used toward this immediate need.  Your prayers are greatly appreciated!

Hello Everyone!

It has been a trying and sad time in so many ways:  whole towns are gone, thousands upon thousands are without homes and businesses.  The news coverage, especially as people's personal videos begin to hit the channels, is simply horrific.  And the unknown factor of a nuclear meltdown in the same area looms over it all.  But we know that our God is Good and that His desire is to turn this situation around so that many will find peace and comfort and He will be
glorified.  This is the time for the Christians in Japan (as few as they are! less than 1%) to unite, rise up and be the light.  We cannot allow this opportunity to love to pass us by.  I ask you to lift us up in prayer.

Many have asked about how they can help.  Pray!  Pray!  Pray!  We need people praying.  We cannot allow a spirit of fear or defeat be allowed to win out in the hearts and minds of the people and especially the Christians.  Pray for greater faith and for greater love (that drives out all fear) to overwhelm us all.  Pray for those suffering that they may find healing and peace.  Pray for protection from further tsunami, aftershocks and nuclear disaster.  Pray for us as we do our best to help.

Though this story may begin to fade from the media over the next few days and weeks (or not if nuclear meltdown does occur), the real work with people who have lost all will continue for months.  We have to start thinking strategically.  Our plans are starting to come together a bit, though all things are in flux during times like these.  We will be working with and coordinating
with CRASH a Christian disaster relief organization here in Japan that is doing great things.  Their main base is in Tokyo at the moment and they are working round the clock to network everyone, collect supplies, and set up work stations within the disaster area.  They also do a
great job of follow-up "heart" care with kids and people of all ages.

We also hope to make contact with personal friends and contacts of people from the church here and help them in any way possible.  As of now, all of our personal contacts, including the brother of our co-leader's wife, have been contacted and found safe.  However, many of them are currently in evacuation shelters, living without power and water, or living in constant fear of a
nuclear disaster.

As for financial needs, there are and will be many if you are interested and able to help.  The network of churches here in Osaka is also giving towards this.  Here is just a short list: 
1.  Truck - We are looking into the opportunity of buying a used 2-ton truck for only $4000 - $5000.  Instead of renting a truck for long periods of time to haul relief supplies, we may be able to use this truck for the next 3 - 4 months (?) of relief work and then sell it, coming out ahead in the end over renting.
2.  Relief supplies - We are currently planning to purchase supplies here in Osaka (shelves in stores in Tokyo were being emptied today by people stocking up!) and drive them up to distribute. These supplies will probably vary as the needs change, but they will include things such as water, cooking fuel, instant foods, diapers, formula, baby food, wet tissues, dry shampoo, feminine supplies... the list goes on. 
3.  Travel expenses - gasoline, food and water for teams making the trips. 
4.  Assisting the CRASH network with any excess funds collected.

If you or your church would like to support the earthquake/tsunami/fire/nuclear victims, you can send money through us and we will do our best to use it wisely and to the glory of God. Checks should be made out to Team Expansion.  Do not put a note in the memo, but add a note with the check indicating that it is for Earthquake Relief.  Send it to: 
Team Expansion 
6200 S. Old Village Road
Columbia, MO 65203

These donations will be kept separate from our regular support.  All monies will go towards the relief efforts.

As a side note, we are also thinking about ways to involve the community around us (neighbors, school contacts, mothers from the kindergarten, etc.) in these efforts.  Caleb's teacher walked all the way home from school with him today to talk to us and see if what Caleb had shared with her at school today was really true: that his Daddy was going to help the people in the earthquake.  She was shocked. We believe that our sharing the love of Christ with people suffering now can also have the effect of spreading the aroma of Christ in our own neighborhood.  Pray that we may not take any glory that belongs to God but that His love may be demonstrated through our words and actions.

Thank you so much for your prayers, emails of encouragement and support.  God is using you to bless us and others in so many ways!!

In Him,

Chad and Jennifer