28 October 2011

One couple chose to have their honeymoon in Japan doing relief work.

A young lady used her first paycheck to buy an air ticket to Japan.

A father forwent his only son’s graduation ceremony to serve the Japanese.

A hearing-impaired Christian flew to Japan to help in the rebuilding process.

And the list goes on.

Since March 2011 after the massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan, Christians from different tongues, nations and denominations sacrificed their time and funds to serve the Japanese despite the ongoing concern of the unseen radiation. They were driven by one cause—to share the love of Christ to the Japanese through house cleaning, rebuilding and to extend friendship and care to the locals.

And like a city set on a hill, their compelling witness of God’s love is not unnoticed. Japanese who were well-known for their stoicism open up to the foreigners.  A missionary observed: “Japanese are not open to being hug. But when the Gaijin (foreigners) extended their arms to hug the elderly ladies, they readily embraced the hug. “ One lady shared that she has not found her parents yet, and she was unable to cry for many months because Japanese do not reveal their emotions in public. Before the foreigners, she was able to let down her guards and grieve freely.

The diverse group of volunteers from all over the world working joyfully as they cleaned the houses also attracted the attention of the Japanese. It led to the birth of Watanoha Christ Church in Ishinomaki. During the first meeting on October 30, the church building was overflowing with both Christians and non-Christians. Many of the unbelievers have expressed interest for pastors and Christians to visit their homes for bible study and prayer.

First meeting at Watanoha Christ Church in Ishinomaki on October 30. There were not enough seating spaces within the premises, and some of the people stood outside.

One elderly local shared that Japanese in the countryside used to be wary of Christians. But after the Tsunami, he experienced the love of God through the Christian volunteers who came to help. Now, he observed that many locals are curious to know about our Christian faith.

The local Christians were strengthen by the presence of the overseas Christians as well. A retired pastor said that through them, she was reminded that God has not forgotten Japan.

Special prayer request:

Winter has just started and it’s getting really cold. Many Japanese goes into depression during this period, what’s more for those who have lost so much. Some victims have committed suicide as they do not know how to face the winter. Please pray that God will bring the volunteers. The weather is cold and short daylight makes relief work a great challenge. Pray that God will give the many Christian organizations and churches in Tohoku (Northeast Japan) the grace, strength, wisdom and joy to serve through these months. May the presence of Christ through His people in the land bring hope to the hopeless.

Christian volunteers from Japan and overseas with the victims at the shelter.