Our work objective for this day was to clear debris some buried, and clear mud from the foundation of the owner’s home.  Fortunately the structures of  his house and fish processing facility remained standing though gutted. While the owner and his helper worked on restoring the processing facility, our groups worked on the house and the area around them.

In this area the ground had sunk about four feet. There were sandbags around in an attempt to keep the sea from areas which had formerly been dry. One group began picking up debris from this area. Another group uncovered gutters and cleared them of mud and debris. A smaller group pressure washed the floor joists and foundation of the owners house.

Our group worked a little over four hours that day and made a small dent in the work needing to be done. It is hoped that with the cleaning of the house repairs can begin soon. The owner is working hard to restore his fish processing plant and the livelihood of several in the area. He was most grateful for our efforts.

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We had three tasks given to us.  The one requiring the most workers was painting the entire first floor walls.  Someone had put up tape and plastic to keep the paint off what they did not want to be painted.  All we had to do was paint the walls. We set about quickly hoping to finish before leaving for the day.  Some did the trim work while others filled in the large spaces inside the trim.  With many workers we were able to complete one coat before we broke for lunch.

While most were painting, one of our group worked on a bathroom ripping out dry wall, cleaning, and making the toilet usable again.  This took a great deal of time.  Judgment had to be made as to how much and what was removed.  Mold from the water is a very serious concern.

Another part of our group worked on grounding an outlet in another bathroom. While this seems straight forward work, it took some ingenuity to accomplish with damaged walls, cramped quarters, and limited equipment.

After lunch we all returned to the unfinished tasks from the morning.  A second coat went up on the wall. This was followed by clean up – removing masking tape, plastic, cleaning floors and equipment. The toilet and bathroom was completed and usable. The electrical outlet was grounded, insulation installed, and made ready for dry wall to be put up.

As we left we could see concrete effects of our work.  The walls looked great with all the furniture replaced and the room cleaned up. The toilet and bathroom were usable. The other bathroom was ready for dry wall though not yet usable. It was a good feeling of accomplishment, but there was still so much more to do.

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In various parts of the town of Ishinomaki are temporary housing. These are generally 2-3 rooms with a kitchen, bath, and toilet. They are fully furnished and are connected together in rows of about 8 apartments to each row.

Today our goal was to serve a hot meal to these people and encourage them. The night before we prepared hamburger patties and fish for roasting on grills. These were wrapped in foil with some vegetables. Additionally there was fruit, rice balls, and pickles.

The weather cooperated beautifully with bright blue sky and temps in the low 60′s. With the grills set up, we began cooking the hamburger patties and fish steaks as well as roasting onigiri (rice balls) basted with miso.

People began lining up and were delighted to get such a wonderful meal. Most commented about the food and appreciated a warm meal. Three ladies came walking up, one with the help of a cane, saying the aroma enticed them to come. They were not disappointed.

Within two hours we had set up, cooked, and fed over 100 people. What a blessing to be able to serve in this way.

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Our first day together accomplished two tasks. We toured the areas where we would work which gave us a feeling for the magnitude of the destruction and how much progress had been made in spite of it. Second we shopped for food and then prepared it for the barbecue the next day.

We toured two areas where we would work. The first was the Ishinomaki area where we would host a barbecue the next day. Words cannot express the destruction nor the progress which had been made in spite of extensive damage. With hurricanes and floods the destruction generally occurs over a period of time. What we were seeing happened within an hour. While it was hard to contemplate the physical damage done, it was impossible to fully understand the human suffering involved.

The second area we toured was the Onagawa area a bit further from the center of Ishinomaki. Here the typography of the land intensified the effects of the tsunami. With narrow valleys between ridges which jut out to the sea, the tsunami was compacted until the height of the wave was an estimated 60 feet or more. All that was left were the foundations of houses and buildings. There were at least two building which were uprooted and turned on their side. Their foundations were exposed.

Due to ground subsidence areas which were once above the ocean were now under water. Roads will need to be re-routed and buildings moved. In a matter of minutes the lives of these villages were changed. As we surveyed the damage we stopped to pray for those involved and for the work of reconstruction. Much has been done, but there is so much yet to be done and determined – to build or to relocate.

After surveying the damage in areas where we would work, we bought food for the barbecue. Then back in Sendai we began the process of preparing the food for the meal. Onions and carrots needed to be peeled. Hamburger patties needed to be formed and partially cooked. The hamburger and fish were put into foil packets with the vegetables to be ready for heating the next day. Many hands make light work, but it still took about four hours to do all the necessary preparation.

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Ladies' Class with Ochanomizu church

Our sixth Sunday in Japan was spent with the Ochanomizu church. The Saturday before Josephine had a ladies class discussing the topic of “The Twilight Years.” She also had a larger class on Sunday afternoon discussing “Christian Maturity.” Josephine writes her lessons out and gives them to the translator. Each class member is given a copy of the English and Japanese for that lesson. There is always a time of good discussion following the lesson.

Sunday’s sermon at Ochanomizu was another one on elders. This text came from 1 Peter 5:1-5 entitled “The Chief Shepherd’s Servants.” The Ochanomizu church is about to reaffirm existing elders and appoint new elders. Times of change such as this can be unsettling. The church is growing in their understanding of elders and their responsibilities.

Monday-Tuesday, September 19-20

JSE Lectureship Group

Monday, September 19, was a holiday in Japan, Respect for Elderly Day. The Japan School of Evangelism uses this day each year for a lectureship commemorating the beginning of the school twenty-one years ago. Hideki Ataka, minister for the Omika church, gave his final two lectures on the seven last words of Jesus from the cross. This is part of what is called GolDenKoza (a rough translation would be “class whose goal is teaching”). These classes are recorded for future use by individuals and congregations. The lectureship was well attended by many from several different congregations. The lunch time is always a great occasion to renew friendships and share information.

JSE teachers meeting

Following the lectureship teachers for the school met over night to discuss curriculum and other items. It was a very positive, productive meeting. We discussed how to improve the curriculum, recruit new students, and future classes for the GolDenKoza. The current student is scheduled to graduate next spring. There are possibly two other individuals wanting to begin their studies.

Wednesday-Wednesday, September 21-28

Each year we purchase a Japan Rail Pass for travel to distant congregations and for visiting. This year we purchased a two week pass which ran from September 21 to October 4. Our first visit was a day trip to Niigata to see one of Josephine’s former students.  She and her family, husband and two boys, lived in Memphis for three years. During that time Josephine shared the Bible with her through English. We have maintained contact with them through the years. Their eldest son is now in college in Tokyo. He and his mother visited with the Ochanomizu church the Sunday we were there.

On our return from Niigata a typhoon came ashore. By the time we arrived in Tokyo all trains stopped for over three hours due to rain and wind. We were stranded in Tokyo Station along with thousands of other people as we awaited the restarting of the trains. We were able to get the first train out of Tokyo, but it was very crowded. It is amazing how efficient the train system is in Japan and you don’t appreciate it until something goes wrong.

Meal with Utsunomiya friends

The next day we headed to Utsunomiya to spend a couple of nights with another couple Josephine taught while in Memphis. Their house was damaged by the earthquake in March, but structurally was still sound. The weather after the typhoon was great and we had a very enjoyable time with them. Their daughter is now five and goes to a Christian kindergarten. Her mother also attends a Bible class there. We are thankful for the continued Christian influence in their lives.

From Utsunomiya we headed to Hachinohe for a weekend seminar hosted by the small Hachinohe congregation. Christians from Sendai, Morioka, and Misawa also attended. We studied Psalm 139, God and Me, on Saturday. On Sunday the lesson was from the Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector.

Hachinohe members barbecuing with help from Misawa members

Saturday following the classes we had a Japanese style barbeque. Everyone brought something to share and the Hachinohe congregation did the cooking. The food was good and the fellowship even better. Then on Sunday following worship together we had another pot luck with the leftovers from Saturday being added to curry for curry rice.

With Hasbroucks in Sapporo

Immediately following cleanup from the pot luck we took off for Sapporo overnighting in Hakodate. Sapporo is the capital of the northern big island of Hokkaido. It is about seventeen hours by train from Tokyo. This was our first time in Sapporo and our purpose was to visit Steve and Marcia Hasbrouck. It had been over thirty years since we last saw them though we have made contact via mail through those years. We had a delightful visit with them for over three hours learning about their work and their family.

Thursday, September 29

Speaking at Ibaraki Christian University chapel

We returned to Tokyo long enough to change clothes, then headed on September 29 to Omika to speak in chapel at Ibaraki Christian University. The Omika congregation supports Junichi Uzawa as campus minister. Yoshiya Noguchi, minister for the Ochanomizu congregation, is chaplain for the university.

During chapel I encouraged the volunteer group on campus known as “GooSama” short for “Good Samaritan.” This group does different works of service. I reminded them that Christians serve (love) because they have first been loved by God (1 John 4:19). Additionally we are to do what we can with what we have and are not expected to do things based on what we do not have (2 Corinthians 8:12).

Following the earthquake and tsunami on March 11, so many Christians in the United States began to call my office to ask how they could help. I shared with those in chapel some of the letters I received with these contributions. The son of former members of the Park Avenue congregation sold lemonade to raise funds to send. Another elementary girl collected funds from her congregation to give. Others had garage sales. All did what they could. I encouraged the students to do what they could as well.

We had lunch with Jim Batten, chancellor for ICU, and his wife. This was another good opportunity to learn things about the school, the earthquake relief, and the Omika congregation. Then returning to the school we met with a young mother about a possible trip to the U.S.

The highlight of the day was supper with the Yoshiya and Emiko Noguchi and their family. They are very busy with school, the congregation in Ochanomizu, caring for aging parents, and two young children. It was a blessing to be with them.

Saturday-Sunday, October 1-2

Hysten family

We returned to Tokyo for one day and then headed west to Shizuoka. Here we stayed with Ken and Etsuko Hysten and their four children. This is another family who is busy working with the Nakada congregation. We enjoyed an afternoon with them on Saturday and then went to worship with the Nakada church Sunday.

Worship with the Nakada church

The Nakada church was begun by Hattie Lee Ewing shortly after the war. Fumio Maeda is the minister for this congregation. Ken Hysten began working with him two years ago. This was our first time to worship with them. There were over twenty in attendance. One couple we had not seen since our Motosu Camp days in the early 1980’s. There was one who had been a Christian for only one year. There was a young couple with a four month old. The husband was baptized at the Tachikawa church building and his parents still live in Tachikawa. He and his wife met via a Christian matchmaking service. Following the assembly, you guessed it, we had a pot luck lunch which lasted over two hours. What a wonderful time of fellowship.

Monday-Tuesday, October 3-4

Visiting the Black Castle of Matsumoto ending our 2011 trip

Returning to Tokyo following the pot luck, we began to prepare for our return. As I type this it is now Tuesday evening, October 4. We leave tomorrow afternoon. We had a wonderful lunch time with Nao and Noriko Fukushima Monday. Today we used the last day of our pass to make a trip to Matsumoto and the Black Castle. Some trees are beginning to show signs of autumn, and the view of the mountains and even Mount Fuji were beautiful.

We begin our long trek back to Memphis tomorrow. As I look back on the past ten weeks, I am truly humbled by the kind hospitality we have received and the opportunities to share some things about the God who loved us enough to give his Son. I continue to be encouraged by the faith and service of Christians here. The Word is being proclaimed and lived out. May God continue to bless each one to be light and salt to this dark nation.

Bible class with the Ochanomizu congregation

This year we did four classes with the Ochanomizu church on Wednesday evenings and the Tachikawa church on Thursday mornings. The theme this year was “The Bible Story and Me.” The first three lessons were an overview of the Bible by dividing it into three historical periods. The fourth lesson was on how Peter’s story merged with God’s story completed in Jesus Christ.

There was some concern that this would be too simple for the group. However, they really did appreciate the overview of the Bible and seeing God’s story unfold over time. We each have stories and must work to integrate our story in with God’s. “The way we understand human life depends on what conception we have of the human story. What is the real story of which my life story is a part?” [Lesslie Newbigin, The Gospel in a Pluralist Society, p. 15]

Tachikawa Bible class

“To be human means to embrace some such basic story through which we understand our world and chart our course through it.” [Bartholomew and Goheen, The Drama of Scripture: Finding Our Place in the Biblical Story, p. 18]

“The whole point of Christianity is that it offers a story which is the story of the whole world. It is public truth.” [N. T. Wright, The New Testament and the People of God, pp. 41-42.]

The class at Tachikawa is different than the one at Ochanomizu even though the material was the same this time. The Thursday class at Tachikawa is open ended. Beginning at 10:30 it sometimes lasts until 2 in the afternoon.  Following the actual class, which can last until noon, there is usually table fellowship and conversation.

Ohagi with pickles, egg, and pig in the blanket

For two of the classes a sister who travels an hour and a half to the class brought good things to eat and even prepared most of the meal one time. She made some homemade ohagi which is sweet beans wrapped in sweet rice and then rolled in ground black sesame seeds or in soy bean flour. The second meal was boiled vegetables with miso soup and grapes for dessert.

Thursday afternoon we attended a memorial service for one of the Tachikawa members who died suddenly this past May. We were stunned when we got word in May. She was a very kind and encouraging sister. When she appeared things got lively. She was born in Okinawa and remembered things during the Battle of Okinawa. She came to the mainland to study. She had a very strong faith.

Memorial Service for sister Nakaji

The family wanted to remember her which is a Buddhist tradition to have memorial times at specific intervals. This was a way to honor that desire to remember her as well as an opportunity to once again proclaim the love of Christ which she found and which was important in her life. She was the only Christian in her family. Nao Fukushima, minister for the Tachikawa congregation, did an excellent job of honoring her life as well as sharing the Gospel and the One she had placed her faith in.

Friday-Sunday, August 26-28

We were invited to the Ochanomizu church’s Bible camp in Hakone. There were only 36 participants this year. We board a bus near the church building and journey out of Tokyo to the next prefecture. On the way we stopped over at the Onshi-Hakone Park for a picnic lunch together. This was originally the summer retreat for the Emperor before they gave it to the prefecture shortly after World War II. The weather was sunny and delightful. It is always good to get out of the city.

Ladies' Bible Class at Hakone Bible Camp

During the camp Josephine shared two classes on forgiveness. These were well received and an encouragement to those present. Emiko acted as translator and had translated the transcript of what Josephine taught. This is a way of leaving something written behind for those who were unable to participate in the class.

The first night we had a review of the relief work being done in the Tohoku area. Several from the Ochanomizu church had been there to help and they reported on the work they did. I gave a presentation showing some of the letters we have received along with the contributions. It was a great encouragement to those present to see the letters of those who sent funds.

Bible class during the Hakone Bible Camp

There was a class on aging members and how we can keep them involved in and informed of the church family life. Not only the church, but Japan as a whole, is facing the aging of their society.

The Ochanomizu church is reconfirming their current elders and appointing new ones. In conjunction with that, I shared a lesson from Acts 20 regarding the role and responsibilities of elders. It centered on the three terms used to designate this group of leaders in the early church – elder, shepherd, and bishop/overseer. Since there were not that many at the camp, I will give a related sermon from 1 Peter 5:1-5 later is September.

Mount Fuji showed itself during the Hakone Bible Camp

At the end of that lesson we had time for questions. I was supposed to give the answers. One question in particular was especially good. One sister asked what the response from members should be toward elders. That gave me the opportunity to think about elders from that perspective.

For Sunday worship we traveled to Numadzu to worship with that church family. It was good to be reunited with many of those we had fellowship while missionaries in Japan. I shared a lesson from Matthew 16 on the theme of the camp – Putting the Lord First.  Following the assembly we went to the nearby harbor for lunch. Being a major fishing port, there was every kind of fish you could imagine. Many were dried fish. One brother remarked after getting off the bus how good it smelled. Josephine and I had a different opinion.

Worship with the Numadzu congregation

After lunch we returned by bus to Tokyo, said our good-byes, and returned to Tachikawa.

Sunday, September 4

Today we worshiped with the Yokota congregation. Masa and Mari Nonogaki work with this congregation and also assist the Yokota military congregation. Over the years the congregation has grown slowly. Following the completion of the new building, it has become easier to assemble and improved their presence in the neighborhood.

New sign for Yokota Japanese congregation

Masa has put up several signs advertising the Japanese congregation. This along with his website and distributing invitations in the neighborhood has helped. One of the member is currently putting a fence around the parking area. After this they plan on adding some landscaping to further improve the looks of the building. The old bright blue building was functional, but did not look very appealing. You can see some pictures of the construction on this website.

Masa shared a lesson that morning from John 15 concerning Jesus as the vine. A couple who was in the area stopped in to worship with us. Another indication that some of the advertising has paid off. They were returning to their home after visiting the lady’s mother. They are members of a Christian group in Kanagawa Prefecture as I remember.

Fellowship with Yokota congregation

We were scheduled to go to Uenohara immediately after the assembly, but were prevented from doing that because the roads were closed from Tokyo to Uenohara. The day before a weak typhoon blew through the area, but it was slow moving and carried with it a lot of rain. This caused landslides which blocked roads. They would not permit anyone to pass until they could inspect the roads for safety.

This however gave us time to fellowship with the folks at Yokota. One brother was baptized this past April. He introduced himself and told me when he was baptized. He then said something like, “I’m learning to entrust things to Jesus.” ｢イエスに委ねると学ぼうとします。｣That struck me as interesting and I asked Masa about it later.

Masa and Mari Nonogaki with Josephine

He is a worrier and before becoming a Christian was very concerned about many things. He does shiatsu which is a type of massage using pressure points for relaxation and healing. He felt so guilty about something that he stopped charging his clients in order to earn forgiveness. He had not done wrong to the client, but was using the free service as a work to overcome the bad he had done. I can see how understanding the forgiveness which comes from Christ is liberating. I think we all should “learn to entrust things to Jesus” more and more.

Saturday-Monday, September 10-12

We journeyed back to the Ibaraki area to stay with a former missionary in Sendai and his wife who was an intern with the Sendai church. They have been married for about three years and we had not seen either of them since well before their marriage. It was good to reconnect with them and we certainly appreciated their hospitality. They are both working as Assistant English Teachers (AET) with the Mito School system. He works with elementary students and she, with junior high students. They have also helped with the relief work in the Tohoku area.

Worship with the Mito congregation

Sunday we worshiped with the Mito congregation. They were in a sermon series from 1 Peter. I was assigned 1 Peter 5:1-5 dealing with elders. I had preached on elders the previous year so this was almost the same type of sermon. Fortunately I was asked to change my sermon and speak on elders at Ochanomizu. I could use the same sermon there.

Following the morning assembly where about eighty attended, we were invited out to lunch with a group from the church. This was a time to reconnect with folks and learn a little about them and the work in Mito. We were to have had lunch with the minister at Mito, but a situation came up which required his attention.

Gaku, helper with relief effort, and Dwight - Mito

We were able to meet with he and his wife later in the afternoon. We were able to discuss some things with them and offer some advice based on our experiences. It was also a good time to learn about their children and how things are going with the work in Mito. They have been working with the congregation for about two and a half years now.

Monday, September 12, we met with the Ibaraki North ministers. There were seventeen of us representing nine congregations in the area. Brother Noguchi gave an excellent devotional thought on thankfulness emphasizing that it is the only thing we are truly can give the Lord since everything else we have comes from him in the first place. Give thanks in all circumstances, for this [here he emphasized that this is singular and refers to thanksgiving] is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Following the devotional was a time of discussion. I was given an opportunity to share some of the things concerning the contributions we have received at Park Avenue for the relief effort. I had done this on other occasions with the Tomobe, Ochanomizu, Tachikawa, and Mito congregations.

Ibaraki North ministers' meeting lunch

After further discussion about topics, we dismissed for lunch. It was another good meal and good fellowship. After the meal Marlin Ray took us to the train station for our trip back to Tachikawa.

Disaster relief group, August 22

During this trip I wanted very much to get into the Tohoku area to see the devastation and to help with some of the relief work. I had to coordinate my schedule with the schedule of those going to help. That opportunity came on Monday, August 22. I headed up to Sendai on Sunday evening where part of the group picked me up and took me to the Sendai church building where we would stay.

Breakfast with relief group

The following day after breakfast and a devotional time, we made the hour and half ride from Sendai to Ishinomaki. There we received our work assignment for the day. It involved helping clean and clear out two homes which had been flooded by the tsunami following the earthquake on March 11.

Our group divided into two smaller groups and joined others to help with the two houses. My group worked in a house where the tsunami reached almost to the ceiling of the first floor. Some worked in the living room cleaning up furniture, going through items drenched by the flood, and straightening up things so the owner could go through them. By this time things had dried out and there were no bad odors except when you hit a pocket of trapped water from the tsunami.

Wrapping dishes for one survivor

My team worked in the kitchen wrapping and boxing glass items, plates, tea pots, etc. The owner will need to take these to another location before any work can be done on the house. After wrapping and boxing everything, we cleaned the kitchen as best we could.

The water had reached a height of a little over 6 feet, totally wetting everything on the first floor. The owner had retreated to the second floor to escape the rising waters not knowing how much further the water would come.

Bags of mud and debris from street gutter

Another part of our team worked on the outside cleaning the street gutter around the house. I helped them a bit in order to get outside in some fresh air. There was so much stuff in the mud – roof tiles, broken glass, dishes, wood, even the rear view mirror from a car. All of this material was bagged up and taken to the dump where debris was being assembled and processed.

After finishing this house, we went to another house where another part of our group had been working. We helped them finish their work. Again we were cleaning up the house for the owners so they could see it one last time in as good as shape a possible. This house had flooded to the second floor. It was located less than a mile from the sea coast.

Group helping at second home

In all likelihood this second house will be torn down. However, the government has not yet decided if they will permit the people to build again in this location. It is susceptible to tsunami waves so they can anticipate it happening again.

We helped load two trucks with debris to go to the dump. When they returned we had a time of prayer and dismissed for the day. Our group returned to Sendai, but made a brief stop at an evacuation shelter to visit a lady they had helped in the past. Two of the workers established a relationship with this lady as they worked to clean her house. While there I got to see firsthand the living conditions for these victims.

In an average size elementary school gym there were rows and rows of small rooms made by three to four feet high pieces of cardboard. They were perhaps eight to ten feet square with a small opening for entering and leaving. Inside were the personal possessions of someone whose house was destroyed by the tsunami. This was perhaps the saddest experience I had. They had been living this way for five months.

March 11 - Tsunami strikes Eastern Japan

Reconstruction is pretty complicated. The governments, national and local, are discussing ways to rebuild the communities or whether they need to move them away from these areas because of the possibility of future tsunamis. In the meantime, these people are in limbo not knowing if they can rebuild or if they will need to move.

Further compounding things is the relationships with neighbors and friends these people have grown accustomed to. The displaced people would still like to retain the community they had before the tsunami. This means they will need to coordinate the relocating of groups of individuals as groups. If they build an apartment complex to house the people on higher ground, then they would like the same community of people to be a part of the complex. All of these things must be taken into consideration as they determine how to proceed.

Another caveat in this is the support for living expenses. While in the shelters all their living expenses are covered by the government. For people who have lost their jobs and have little if any savings, this is a big help. But should they move to temporary housing provided by the government, they would then need to provide their own living expenses. How can you do that without a job? The temporary housing is fully furnished with appliances and furniture. If they live there for two years, then they can keep everything. But some refuse to go because they have no jobs or means of earning a living with their community totally destroyed.

After they said their goodbyes to the lady they had helped, we made our return trip to Sendai. The church building is used as lodging for workers as well as a place to assemble supplies. There was some damage to the building from the earthquake, but it is still structurally sound.

The roads around Ishinomaki were cleaned of debris. Cars which had been washed everywhere by the tsunami had been removed as well as boats and other items. But things were just bare except for a building here and there whose first floor seemed to be cleared away except for posts and walls supporting the floors above.

As time passes the relief work will change from physical clean up to dealing with post tsunami emotional and spiritual trauma. I did not get to interact with the people whose houses we cleaned on this one day trip, but that will become more necessary as time passes.

Tuesday, September 6

East Japan Disaster Relief Committee meeting

Since this is related to the relief efforts, I will discuss the meeting of the committee utilizing funds contributed through the Mito church here rather than in chronological order with other reports. There are seven congregations in addition to the Mito congregation who make up the committee. The chair person is Shiro Obata, minister for the Haruna church in Gunma Prefecture. He has experience with earthquake relief from the Great Hanshin earthquake of 1995. While the relief efforts in the Tohoku area are compounded by the tsunami, he still has a great deal of insight and wisdom about helping.

East Japan Disaster Relief Committee meeting

This was the second meeting the committee had since being formed in April. Brother Obata underwent surgery in early June so was unable to travel to Mito to call a meeting. Much of their communication and discussion has been done via e-mail.

Shortly after the earthquake and tsunami, Japanese ministers began getting calls from many people wanting to help and asking how they could do that. After some discussion at the area ministers’ meeting, they decided to recommend the formation of a committee open to congregations interested in being involved in the relief effort. A total of eight congregations decided to participate and brother Obata was chosen to chair the committee since he had some experience in earthquake relief efforts.

Without a person totally dedicated to the relief efforts, it would be difficult to have a presence in the area full time. Those involved had other responsibilities and would need to balance those with the relief efforts. Joel Osborne, missionary with the Mito congregation, took on the responsibility of coordinating relief efforts with the assistance of part time helpers – Hiro, Gaku, and Emiko.

Through their efforts groups began being sent to the area each week for two to three days to work while Joel and Hiro remain for longer periods of time. You can read some of their reports of these initial efforts on this website. There is also a dedicated blog concerning their work as well. Because of the magnitude of the effort, time for reporting was limited so initial reports of work were sparse for those not directly involved in the efforts.

Volunteer opportunities to help with relief

Contributions came in from many directions and from all over the world. The Park Avenue church and Bramalea church received funds from the U.S. and Canada respectively. Other funds were sent directly to the East Japan Relief fund set up by the Mito church and to other sister congregations in Japan. The committee exercised stewardship of the funds they received and set up guidelines for their use. Other sister congregations receiving funds exercised stewardship over the funds they received or sent their funds to the relief fund.

At this meeting on September 6 efforts up to this point were reviewed. Each individual involved in direct relief efforts reported on things from their perspective. Following this the group reviewed the current situation and looked to the future and how relief efforts will change.

A recent Japan Times article marking the sixth month since the earthquake/tsunami reported that “some 20,000 people are dead or missing” and “more than 800,000 homes were completely or partially destroyed.” “The Japanese Red Cross estimates that 400,000 people were displaced.”

One of many piles of debris

There are signs of progress with debris cleared or at least placed in large piles for processing. Cars and boats washed up by the tsunami have been removed and many of the evacuees have moved out of gyms to temporary housing or apartments. Supplies, which were critical at the beginning, are now easier to find in the disaster areas.

But there is still great frustration about the future. The governments have yet to decide whether to rebuild or move the people to different locations. This is a very difficult thing to do when inhabitable land is so sparse.

East Japan Disaster Relief Committee meeting

The committee discussed these things as well as how to coordinate future groups both domestic and foreign who want to help. Now that most debris has been cleared away, relief efforts will change to emotional/spiritual care. A schedule for relief efforts through November was presented. People wanting to help need to realize that they need to coordinate their times of service with those leading the relief efforts. They cannot on the spur of the moment decide to come and help.

The meeting, attended by representatives of six of the eight congregations, was a very positive one. Their plan is to continue relief efforts through 2012 at least. During that time they will need to periodically evaluate their efforts and adapt to changing needs. But with prayer for the Lord’s help and a willingness to be of service, I am sure they will continue to have an impact of those they help. There is still a need for funds so they can continue as planned through 2012. If you are moved to continue giving or have questions, please view this page for additional information.

With that fixed we left over two hours later than scheduled and arrived in Dallas as our plane to Tokyo-Narita was to have taken off. But it too was delayed so we had a nice layover in Dallas which gave us an extra blessing.

While getting lunch we saw a familiar face, a friend from college days at Harding. She was booked on the same plane to pick up her daughter. She was born in Tokyo and was a member of the Ochanomizu church before going to Harding College and marrying. What a blessing to spend some time with her and catch up on things.

The flight to Tokyo was uneventful. They have not shortened the flight time so we were ready to arrive, catch a bus to Tachikawa, and get in bed. The ride from Narita to Tachikawa took three hours, but we slept better on the bus ride than on the plane.

Wednesday, July 27

Our first day in Japan was a full one. We traveled to Shin Misato, Chiba, and met up with Steve and Debbie Carrell. They work with the Matsudo church. They took us to Costco to pick up food for our time in Japan. We had lunch together – pizza – and enjoyed the fellowship with Steve and Debbie as well as with the newly weds Kyle and Nahoko. We hosted them for their visit to Memphis a few months earlier.

After shopping we headed to Tachikawa to drop off the things we bought and then on to Yokota for the Wednesday evening assembly. Steve is teaching this quarter. Brother Shima from the Tachikawa congregation let us ride with him back to Tachikawa.

Friday-Wednesday, July 29-August 3

Faithful for Fifty - 50th Asian Missions Forum

Today we boarded a bus very early to make another trip to the Tokyo-Narita airport. We headed to Bangkok, Thailand, where we overnighted before heading on to Chiang Mai. That is where the 50^th Asian Mission Forum was held this year. The theme for the forum was “Faithful for Fifty.”

50th Asian Missions Forum - Chiang Mai, Thailand

What a wonderful time of fellowship and up lift. Over 200 from various countries in Asia attended. Some came as far as New Zealand. The accommodations were five star and the worship, Bible study, and fellowship surpassed that. The city of Chiang Mai reminded us of Japan when we first visited in 1969.

One touching moment was when they asked all those involved in Japan to come forward. There were about seventeen of us who came forward. They prayed for us and for the relief work in Japan. A contribution of over $4,000 was taken up for the relief effort. What an encouragement for those directly involved in the relief effort.

Prayer for relief work in Japan at Asian Missions Forum

Wednesday-Monday, August 3-8

Meal with Andrew and Natalie Hayes in Phnom Penh

From Chiang Mai, Thailand, we headed to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to visit Andrew and Natalie Hayes. They were former members of the Park Avenue congregation. They work as vocational missionaries teaching English. They have a house church as well as helping other congregations in the city.

Cambodian history is so sad. We read several things about the culture, history, and religion before going. They have only had a stable government for a little over twelve years. They are making improvements, but poverty is still a very big problem as is political corruption in the government.

We worshiped with two congregations in the city. Dwight was asked to speak in the morning with the minister as a translator. Andrew translated for the speaker at the evening assembly. Andrew’s and Natalie’s ability in the Khmer language is very good.

Monday-Tuesday, August 8-9

We returned to Bangkok Monday afternoon and waited for our evening flight to Tokyo-Narita. We flew all night arriving Tuesday morning. After going through immigration and customs again, we boarded a bus for Tachikawa.

This first leg of our trip was so encouraging. God is at work in the Orient through some wonderful people.

We returned to Japan August 9 with some type of cold or bronchitis. It took us the better part of two weeks to get over it.  It left us with a nagging cough which gradually got better.

66th Annual Ibaraki Summer Seminar

This forced us to cancel our trip to the Ibaraki Summer Seminar, August 12-13. We have gone to this in the past and it is an excellent time to meet a large number of people from different congregations at one time. That was a decision we were saddened to make. But it did give us a couple of days to improve health wise.

Sunday, August 14

Worship with the Tomobe church

Saturday afternoon we took a train up to Tomobe to spend the night with Marlin and Jeanne Ray. They have worked with the Tomobe congregation for over 25 years. They are great hosts and important workers in the Ibaraki area. They have also been involved in relief efforts in the Tohoku area of Japan struck by the earthquake and tsunami.

Sunday I shared a lesson with the congregation. Then afterwards the Rays had arranged a hamburger cookout for the congregation and those involved in English Bible classes. The hamburgers were good and the fellowship as well. One treat for this visit was to meet a mentor and fellow minister brother Terakado. He can no longer drive so is limited in how he can get out to other congregations. He lives in Oyama about an hour drive from Tomobe.

Masao Terakado with Dwight at Tomobe

We would have liked to stayed longer, but headed back to Tachikawa that afternoon. We were still recuperating. For the next few days we stayed in working on lessons. This year was hot again. With the request to conserve electricity, we used the air-conditioning as little as possible.

Tuesday, August 16

Today we journeyed by a train line we had never taken before to Takasaki, Gunma. This was a kind of back roads train winding through hills and farm land. There we visited with Paul, Stacey, and Titus Herrington and brother Obata. The Herringtons have worked in Haruna for two years through the Helpers In Missions (HIM) program overseen by the Memorial Road church in Edmond, Oklahoma.

Meal with Herringtons and Obata in Haruna

Following the earthquake in March they moved briefly in Kojima, Okayama, away from possible radiation. While there their first child, Titus, was born. He is a healthy boy and will grow up to appreciate the wonderful parents he has.

For two years the Herringtons have done a very good work with brother Obata in Haruna. Their reports also appear on this website. We hate to see them leave Japan and pray that they might be led once again to come and work here.

Brother Obata is a big help and encouragement for the relief efforts in the Tohoku area. Surgery this past June has limited the amount of help he could give, but as he gradually recovers he will become more involved. He has experience with earthquake relief having worked with relief efforts following the Great Hanshin earthquake in 1995.

Sunday, August 21

The commute on this Sunday was very easy. We walked down one floor to the Bible class. Today we worshiped with the Tachikawa church. Nao Fukushima, minister for the congregation, led the class from Matthew 24 concerning the signs of the end of the age. He did a very good job of explaining a very difficult passage.

Children's lesson before sermon at Tachikawa

Following class I shared a sermon with the congregation. At Tachikawa before the sermon the speaker shares a simplified message with the children before they are dismissed to their own classes. Following the assembly we had a meal together. These are always good times for fellowship. We deeply appreciate this congregation permitting us to stay in the dorm on the third floor. This becomes our home and base camp while in Japan.

We leave Memphis Monday, July 25, for Japan.  We will settle our things at the dorm in Tachikawa before heading to Thailand, July 29, and then Cambodia, August 3.  We will return to Japan August 9 and stay until October 5.  Confirmed engagements include:

• Attend the Ibaraki Summer Seminar – August 12-13
• Worship with the Tomobe congregation – August 14
• Worship with the Tachikawa congregation – August 21
• Four classes with the Ochanomizu church – August 24, 31, September 7, 14
• Four classes with the Tachikawa church – August 25, September 1, 8, 15
• Attend the Hakone Bible Camp with the Ochanomizu church – August 26-28
• Worship with the Yokota and Uenohara congregations – September 4
• Worship with the Mito congregation – September 11
• Attend the Ibaraki area ministers’ meeting – September 12
• Worship with the Ochanomizu church – September 18
• Attend the Japan School of Evangelism lectureship – September 19
• Worship with the Hachinohe, Morioka, and Misawa military congregation – September 25
• Worship with the Nakada congregation – October 2

We hope to get into the Tohoku area to see the relief efforts coordinated by the Mito congregation and others.  There will be opportunities to visit with many as we travel.   We appreciate the leadership and members of the Park Avenue congregation for giving us the time to do this and for those who help with the expenses.

Phil McMillion and Dwight Albright will report on the status of the work in Japan at the evening assembly November 7.  Dwight and Josephine Albright spent nine Sundays in Japan and Phil McMillion was there for two of those.