Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.”
- Psalm 42:1-2
Thirty children between the ages of 8 and 12 sit at Kama Elementary School in Ishinomaki, Japan. The school has no running water, electricity or heat. The children are waiting patiently, reading books or playing cards.
The teachers don’t know what to say to them, because the children are waiting for their parents to come get them after the March 11th earthquake and resulting tsunami. But so far, no one has come. It is expected their parents are among the thousands missing in this town of 160,000, 50 miles northeast of Sendai.
As in all of the 100+ countries where we bring the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, Youth for Christ International is ready to provide relief to the victims in Japan. We are on the ground and prepared to provide care and compassion, because we do it every day.
No new relief workers are being allowed to go where things are the worst in Japan; but that does not impact YFCI, because our teams already live there. We have not needed to find any translators to bring into Japan because our people speak Japanese already… they are Japanese.
Youth for Christ is made up of tens of thousands of indigenous people in over 100 nations each seeking to spread God’s message of hope to the young people of their nation. Because we already have workers in Japan, we are able to provide unique support to those affected by this terrible incident.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is reporting that the postal system is clogged up with people trying to send relief into the area. They are urging people to find out where help is needed most, and to send it there.
That is why Youth for Christ International has been able to be so effective during this crisis; we don’t need to send anything through normal postal channels, or set up an organization to go over there and lend assistance. WE ARE ALREADY THERE.
The March 11th earthquake was the 5th strongest in the world since 1900, and Japan’s worst. The tsunami that followed, and the damage at the Fukushima Nuclear Plant have combined to create a devastating catastrophe.
Japan’s population is 127.6 million. Across the country, approximately 434,000 people have been made homeless and are living in shelters. Thousands are dead and missing; the exact number is not known.
Now, the governor of Tokyo, Shintaro Ishihara, says he fears the Japanese people were being “punished.”
Spirits are low. They are too proud to ask for help, and too decimated to take action themselves. They are struggling with grief, loss, dangerous conditions and fear.
Now, more than ever, it is vital that Youth for Christ International staff and volunteers get into the street and talk to people, calm their fears, and soothe them with the word of God. Now is the time when our message, and our assistance, can reach the greatest number of people in need.
We want to send bicycles and tents to the affected areas, so the people can get around and not be stuck within the ruins. They need access to shelter, clean food, and water. They need to find their loved ones. (The bikes also have carriers to bring in supplies and carry people out—some for medical care). You have not heard it on the news, but it is a critical need. Many of our YFCI workers have other jobs and volunteer or received a small stipend—but there is no work now, and we need to continue to send them support.
As of March 25th, many roads are being cleared and repaired, so the bicycles will be put to great use in helping the sick and injured.
Our National Coordinator in Japan has asked for a special financial appeal. He sees two major needs that are currently not being given full attention. Bikes and tents are critical because:
Bicycles—Due to a major fuel shortage and damage to the roads and train tracks, people are unable to travel by train or cars in the affected areas. Youth for Christ will purchase a number of bicycles that have cargo capabilities to be able to transport the sick and injured to clinics and hospitals regardless of the condition of the roads. They will also provide people access to food and water.
Tents—Many people have been displaced from their homes. The majority have been relocated far from their place of origin, families and work places. You can purchase a tent and help those who find themselves homeless or those who have been relocated but would like to be situated much closer to their work or families. The tents purchased with your donations come with sleeping bags and cooking facilities.
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| Youth for Christ National Director, Kazunori Endo Reports from Nagoya, Central Japan
Our country, Japan, got hit by a large earthquake on Mar 11. I was working in my house and then felt a small but very long shake. Soon I remembered the quake in Kobe (app. 5000 died) in 1995. We Japanese citizens get use to experiencing earthquakes every year and we have been trained to do appropriate actions since childhood. But we have not imagined such a big one. I was afraid for our team members’ family and friends in the area. But the telephone and traffic system are totally paralyzed and I did not know what had happened to my friends there in the afternoon. Most information could be taken from the twitter site of my friend. She was hit by the quake in the train, and got out of it; it took her two hours to walk back home. On the way she tweeted from time to time with small pictures. TV & radio is OK, but they cannot cover our friends and families. We are having new information more and more. Atomic power plants are damaged, with more than 1,000 times the normal levels of radiation, which is leaking, causing nearby residents to take refuge. Some villages were washed away by tsunami in a moment. Fires are still going in some places. Some people were saved from the tsunami on the rooftops of the office buildings and it is still very cold over there. Electricity and gas supplies are stopped in the up-north area. |
Our Prayer Requests are:
- The rescue of the people still in the disaster area (especially for the activity of our defense force, fire station, and police officers)
- Care for the people who have been hurt, injured and traumatized by the quake
- The united work of our government and political parties
- The spiritual needs of the people
- Local churches’ cooperation
The Japan earthquake was 9.0 on the Richter scale; the Haiti earthquake was 7.0. The devastation is even greater now that radiation is affecting food and water; this is a situation that is quickly spiraling out of control after bad weather in the area has hindered rescue efforts.
It is a misconception that because Japan is a prosperous country, the damage is not as severe. That is simply not true. The earthquake, tsunami, nuclear damage and inclement weather have all combined to bring incredible suffering to very good people.
But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? I John 3:17
Please help us with our relief efforts in Japan.
Warmly,
David Wraight, President
Youth for Christ International
http://www.yfci.org
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