Report on the Cabin at Takayama

Joyce Kitano reports on the cabin at Takayama:

Good trip up to Takayama. Thanks to Bill Paris, Carol Paris and Amanda Fosburg for their help!

The cabin is in good shape--no damage, nothing broken except for one picture frame. They have electricity, gas and should be getting water soon.

It was heart-breaking to see the devastation and the people trying to pick up the pieces of their lives. May God bring HOPE and LIFE!

 

 

 

Setting up near Sendai

This morning Bill and Carol Paris, Joyce Kitano, and Amanda Fosburg set off for Takayama. Takayama is located northwest of Sendai near Shichigahama. (The area on the lower left is Takayama.)

They will assess the possibility of using a missionary's cabin in the community as a point for relief efforts. The community is located right on the coastline and was in the path of the tsunami. The community is fortunately located on a mountain that provided some protection from the tsunami. According to the mayor, there has been no running water, electricity, cell phone reception, Internet and landlines since the earthquake. Those who travel there will need to take their own supplies of kerosene for heat, gasoline for fuel, tools, food, etc.

Training

Convoy of Hope and Dr Jim trained us in how to measure radiation that the Relief Volunteers will be exposed to. They donated several Chirpers (warning buzzers) and Docimeters (measures accumulated radiation), special masks, etc. Thank you, Convoy of Hope! 

The equipment received from Convoy of Hope for helping our disaster relief teams know the level of radiation they are exposed to.

Joyce Kitano (AGWM Missionary), Ken Sensei ( the pastor in charge of the A/G Relief volunteers that are being sent) and Tomoko Kikuchi Sensei (a nurse who is also an A/G pastor)

 Dr Jim showing how to reset the Docimeters.

 Joyce, Ken Sensei, Tomoko Sensei with Convoy of Hope members

 Dr Jim explaining the dangers of radiation

Cleaning Up

The following update is from the Japan Assemblies of God blog:

"Praise God. Thank you for all of your prayers.

"Starting today (29^th) the disaster relief volunteers made up of pastors, Bible school students and believers sent out from the JAG will begin their 3 day/2 night ministry. From the first day a group of 20 people tackled the job of cleaning out the 30 centimeter (~1 foot) deep mud that the tsunami deposited in the houses of the Arai neighborhood in Higashi Matsushima city. They served by shoveling out mud, discarding furniture, dragging out tree branches and logs… and ended up covered with mud from head to toe! After they finished working they prayed over each household and ask for God’s healing, comfort and encouragement. Also, a believer who is a physician came along with us and gave examinations and distributed medicine within the neighborhood. A 20 member team working for 3 days and 2 nights is trivial. 100 people, even 200 people is insufficient. At any rate numbers of ministers and servants are needed. We have sufficient amounts of materials and food. What we lack is “man power”. In places where the Japanese military and municipal workers cannot make it to, civilian strength in our case unified Christian power is needed. We would be grateful if you would do everything possible to gather large groups of people and enroll as volunteers. We would also appreciate your prayers for those who are coming to the disaster areas and getting their hands dirty cleaning out the mud."

Relief Teams

Today three teams with the Japan Assemblies of God went into the Tohoku area. They will visit Iwaki, Koriyama, and Sendai for 3-4 days. The teams will distribute relief supplies, clean houses, remove sludge, and provide childcare.

According to an online article at Yahoo, http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ap_on_bi_ge/as_japan_earthquake, "The death toll from the twin disasters stood at 10,668 Sunday, with more than 16,574 people missing, police said. Hundreds of thousands of people are homeless."

The Japan Assemblies of God is planning two outreaches to take in supplies to the Tohoku (Northeast) area in April. The first team will go April 4-16, and the second team will go April 18-30.

There will be one container of Convoy of Hope goods arriving sometime after the 6th and then another arriving on the 14th. So they will be busy unloading the stuff and taking it up to Tohoku.

There is now a more simplified link for online giving to the Assemblies of God Disaster Relief Project.