With the one year anniversary of the March 11th earthquake quickly approaching, the needs of the Japanese are changing. CRASH has been responding to questions and concerns regarding radiation by bringing in specialists. CRASH Safety Chief Nathan Williams has been working to ensure the safety of CRASH volunteers, and to bring comfort to Tohoku survivors. Also appearing in this video is Dr. James Lindgren, a highly qualified MD who came to CRASH HQ in Tokyo to present on radiation safety. Dr. Lindgren has many years of experience in disaster relief work and has the following credentials:
Chairman, Standards of Excellence in Short-Term Mission
As we move into the second year of our two-year disaster relief response plan CRASH Japan is committed to mobilizing volunteers safely and effectively.
The following report describes how three skilled musicians from Tokyo worked alongside a local church, CRASH Japan staff, and volunteers to set up a concert for a small group of survivors. "Was it worth it?" In an economy of numbers and concrete results the answer is clearly "no". Even in church circles many will dismiss a small event like this as a failure. In reality, an intimate setting like this where there is music, food and warm human interaction is a fantastic opportunity to connect with people at a level that just can't happen in large venues. Eyes meet. Food and drinks are shared. Survivors are aware that someone cares enough about them to go to all this trouble. Lives are touched.
We seem to so easily forget that Jesus went way out of his way to love one woman at a well, one man in a tree, and one world in need of hope.
"As I was clearing the mud from the boxes, I found myself taking extreme joy in doing something so simple; my servitude does not have to look a certain way. God is working and allowing this team to be a part of His great will in the most simplistic, yet meaningful way. I feel extremely unworthy to be a part of this team, but there is power in God's name and I'm renewed by His presence. Being able to listen to Mr. Ouchi and his mother's story has been the greatest gift and it's only been the first.
Pastor Takahashi Kazuyoshi -- leader of Tokyo based DRCnet -- shares how walls that separated groups and individuals in Japan have broken down. Christians in Japan are working together to bring hope in the midst of great suffering. In this video he says, "God, through this painful and difficult earthquake experience, has done remarkable things. The walls between churches have been torn down, the walls between churches and communities have been torn down, and the walls between Japanese and the foreign churches have also been broken. I feel that God has done wonders since the disasters."
The purpose of DRCnet is to collect, manage and disseminate information. CRASH Japan is pleased to be part of this group of cooperating churches and organizations.
Over forty Japanese pastors from many different denominations gathered in December for a time of rest and renewal.
A house church leader from Sri Lanka who experienced a devastating tsunami that hit his homeland visited Japan to encourage local pastors. Pastor Adrian DeVisser was invited to share how he and his network of house churches responded when a giant tsunami killed 100,000 Sri Lankans.
