For the one year anniversary of the disaster CRASH Japan is cooperating with the Celebration of Hope in Sendai and a special prayer meeting in Tokyo that will feature guest speakers Philip Yancy, and Rev. Akira Sato -- pastor of "The Exodus Church."
As CRASH Japan moves towards its second year of serving survivors of the March 11 disaster, there are still plenty of opportunities for volunteers. CRASH is taking measures to ensure the safety of volunteers, including the recent addition of safety chief Nathan Williams to the headquarters staff. Among many places in the disaster zone, Nathan recently visited a temporary housing site in Fukushima City where he measured environmental radiation levels. CRASH Japan is committed to mobilizing volunteers safely and effectively. Please pray, give, and/or volunteer today. For more information on radiation safety in Japan we recommend the following site: http://xkcd.com/radiation/
Written by John Houlette, World Venture missionary
It was Thursday night in Folsom, California. I was in the midst of leading a Japanese Pastors' Tour, and we had just finished a presentation on short term ministry to a group of on-fire college students at Lakeside Church.
Several stayed after the service to pray and talk about pursuing ministry in Japan. Blessed but exhausted, I returned to my host family's home and sat down to watch the 10 PM news. What followed changed my life forever.
When traveling through one of the most devastated areas in Miyagi prefecture as a volunteer Rie Wilson found a pink teddy bear in the debris. She named him "Ricky." Finding Ricky abandoned and alone inspired an original illustrated children's book called "Ricky the Bear and the Rainbow Egg."
In the book Ricky is a little bear with a beautiful multi-colored Easter egg on his chest. He lives in a gift shop in the beautiful seaside town of Minamisanriku waiting for someone to adopt him and love him as their own. One day the unexpected happens. A strong earthquake sends everyone running out of the shop and Ricky flying to the floor with all of the other gifts. Then a huge wave comes and carries everything away.
Ricky's story is beautifully illustrated by artist Graham Fleming and written in Japanese by manga artist and essayist Minami Nanami. The story helps children who have been through disaster to recognize that it was something that actually did happen, and start to talk about some of their fears. The story introduces hope that even when all seems to be lost there can be a new beginning.
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