One Year Ago.....

.....a country that is a big part of me suffered unimaginable devastation and loss.  Countless lives were taken and countless others were changed forever.  Sadly, many had no hope or "higher power" to hang on to. 

In the days, months, and year since, many have taken hope to the people of Tohoku.  That hope has been in the form of food, clothing, cleaning supplies, shelters, bicycles, and much more.  That hope has also been in the form of listening ears, hugs, personal touch, prayer, and sharing the love of God. 

Last fall my sister and brother-in-law, with their family, moved up to Ishinomaki, one of the hardest hit cities, from their mission home in Osaka.  Chad had been up there almost non-stop and they decided that it would be best if they ministered as a family there for a period of time.  The stories that they have shared of the lives they have touched and come in contact with have been amazing. 

Here is an email that Chad and Jennifer shared yesterday.  You can link to their ministry on my sidebar.  Please continue to pray for the people of Japan!

Dear Prayer Warriors,

This weekend, we remember with many of you around the world, as well as with the people we have come to know and love here in Ishinomaki, Japan, the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck the Tohoku region of Japan on March 11, 2011.  As images of the "then and now" flash across the television screens, we remember where we were that day, how our hearts cried out to God for the people here, and how His love compelled us to act and to go.  Through the following days, weeks and months, people from all across Japan and all around the world have joined with us to share God's love with the people of this precious nation.  We are so grateful for you, for your prayers, for your giving and for many of you who were even able to come and serve.

We ask you this weekend to remember once again, with a renewed intensity, the people of Japan.  Though streets are cleaned up, utilities and food supplies restored, the hearts of the people continue to suffer in pain, sorrow, loneliness, despair and for some, even guilt for having survived.  Many have told us they don't even want to remember.  They don't want to see the images on television.  Some are leaving the city for the day.  Others may, for the first time since the tsunami, visit places they haven't had the courage to go, just to remember those who were lost.  We can almost physically feel the darkness and pain over this city right now.  We beg you for your prayers!

Some of our friends plan to join us at the Be One house for a meal and gathering Saturday evening.  Others will come tomorrow as we plan to meet and then go to the ocean to pray for this city and those suffering.  Others will join us for a combined memorial concert and service that we have been planning with other Christian groups in this part of town.  Please pray that we may have the heart of Jesus as we share this time together with people.  Words are not enough, but we pray that the spirit of Christ will shine through us and the love of Christ will flow through us.  Please pray!

We believe that God is moving in a new and powerful way across this nation!  We believe that it is for such a time as this that He has prepared each of us, even those of you across the world, to join together to plead with Him for the comfort and salvation of the people of Japan.  Thank you for joining in with us.

In Him,

Chad and Jennifer