Please Love Japan

Click here to see a video our gospel choir director made as an encouragement for those in the earthquake-tsunami affected areas. Several years ago Yamamoto sensei wrote this song. It is so appropriate for this time! Each time we sing it tears fall from my eyes.

Here are the Japanese words:
日本を愛してください
荒れたこの国を
平和と希望と癒しを今与えてください
心も体も傷ついた
明日への希望
闇に包まれ
そんな時にこそ
イエスさまが
救いの手を差し伸べられる
今日本のために
私を用いてください

And, Shan's loose translation:
Please love Japan, this desolate country
Please give us peace, hope and healing, now
Hearts and bodies are wounded
Tomorrow's hope is wrapped in darkness
Yet, we know Jesus will extend His hand of salvation
Please use me for the sake of Japan

The first minute and half, about, of the video is Yamamoto sensei talking and then he sings this song. Enjoy! And, keep praying!

How you can help

Now that we are over a week past the earthquake and tsunami disasters, people are starting to ask how to be involved. And, we are starting to have answers.


Here are two ways to get involved:

1. PRAY! I mentioned this in my last post, as well. Prayer continues to be the most important way to be involved in the relief efforts. Here are some specifics to pray about:
-Pray for the people who are living in the evacuation centers. Supplies are slowly, slowly, getting to them. Most of the places still have no running water or electricity, and, although today was warmer, it is supposed to get cold again.
-Pray for relief and rescue workers. Pray for strength, compassion, and rest.
-Pray for those who still have not found loved ones. There are still over 10,000 people unaccounted for.
(This is in no way an inexhaustible list!)

2. GIVE
There are many organizations helping in the relief efforts. Here are some which can get you started in your search:
CRASH
Christian Relief, Assistance, Support and Hope (CRASH) is a network supporting Christians to do relief work in Japan and around the world. CRASH equips and prepares churches and missions to be there to help their communities when disasters strike and coordinates Christian volunteers to work with local ministries in the event of a disaster.

Samaritan's Purse
Samaritan's Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan's Purse has helped meet needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God's love through His Son, Jesus Christ.

World Vision
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.

Thank you for taking time to read this, to pray for Japan and to consider how you can be involved.

Overwhelmed

I am sure others here in Japan not in the earthquake/tsunami affected areas would say the same thing. I am feeling overwhelmed. Watching the news, hearing the stories, seeing the devastation, etc, brings tears, feelings of guilt, feelings of helplessness.

Tonight we heard about a hospital that is running on a generator that will not last much longer. They have 200 patients on dialysis. They have enough supplies for 2 more days. Phones and cell phones are not working. The only way this info got out is because the TV crew happened to be there. Nurses and doctors have been there since the disasters on Friday.

What do I do with all of this? How do I respond?
Here is a quote from a friend's blog...
"What can I do for suffering people? I know that prayer is the answer and my mind knows that this is so much more powerful than anything else I could ever offer, but why does it feel so futile? Perhaps because it doesn't feel like I am really doing something and I like nothing if not to feel active and to see the results of my activity. With that in mind, I will continue to talk to God, knowing that He is bigger than all of this."

So, this is how I respond, for now.