Moving Forward

We missionaries in Tokyo met tonight and connected with others via Skype and an iPhone to discuss relief efforts being conducted with the Japan Assemblies of God and with Convoy of Hope. Please pray for the logistical details.

Although we have been told that we can move to another location like Okinawa or leave the country, all of us have chosen to stay as long as radiation levels don't present a real threat. Interestingly, we heard a couple of interesting stories about radiation levels in Tokyo. The Italian Embassy strongly urged their citizens to evacuate. Yet, a radiation check in Rome when compared to Tokyo's was found to be several times greater. Another incident includes an exchange student from Singapore who chose to stay in Tokyo. Each day he went to his university, the University of Tokyo, to check on the radiation level. He stated that Tokyo's level was lower than that of his home country, Singapore.

We have been asked about U.S. churches sending supplies. The Japan Assemblies of God has posted the following:

There are some guidelines in sending relief goods (based on the past experiences of great earthquakes by relief staff so as to avoid unnecessary procedure and confusion on site):

1. Gather all goods by church and sort them out by item.

2. Put the similar items in the same boxes.

3. Indicate what and how many items clearly on the surface of each box.

4. In case of sending different kinds of items altogether in an identical box, attach a list of the items and put it on the surface of it.

5. The following items should NOT be sent:

•               Food that is raw or has a short consumer or best-taste period.
•               Second-hand clothes are not acceptable, even if washed.
•               Fragile items
•               Medicine (which is perhaps against the law in Japan)

(Quoted from documents by NPO Japan Disaster Relief Volunteer Network)

 

What Is Needed:

1: For Ministers and Members of the Tohoku District Council

(As of March 17) Lifeline has been restored in most areas where AG churches are. There still are some areas and members’ houses where water is not available yet, however. They are short of food, too, as the transport network is not fully recovered yet. Because the whole region is in the cold north and a vehicle-society, the short of gasoline and kerosene is affecting their everyday life in shopping, work and air-conditioning.

2: For Neighborhoods of A/G Churches

Among neighbors or ‘seekers’ of the AG churches, there are people who cannot obtain information well such as senior people. Some churches, therefore, is sharing with them some relief goods necessary for everyday life such as food, drinking water, tissue paper, kerosene, etc.

3: Evacuation Centers

The Tohoku Pacific-Coastline Earthquake has created several types of sufferers. In Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima Prefectures, there are “Earthquake Sufferers,” “Earthquake-Tsunami Sufferers” and “Earthquake-Tsunami-Atomic Power Plant Sufferers.” The sufferers who need the most urgent relief action are those from tsunami and the atomic power plant. They have not received enough assistance. The JAG and our churches need to reach out our helping hands to these people.

Periods to Receive Relief Goods at the JAG:

1st Period: March 20-31

2nd Period: April 4-15

 

Address to be sent to:

c/o Jishin Taisaku-Honbu Shienbusshi-Gakari
Nihon Assemblies of God Kyodan
3-15-20 Komagome, Toshima, Tokyo
170-0003 Japan

 

For a list of desired goods, please refer to other posts here.
(list of desired goods)

Thank you very much for your prayers and action.

NOTE: Copied from The JAG Relief Action Update