The one year anniversary of the 3.11 triple disasters in North East, Japan is upon us. At 2:46 pm on Sunday, solemn ceremonies all over Japan will take place to remember the thousands of people who lost their lives and to pray for recovery. While every religion you can imagine will hold services of loss and recovery, including Japan Baptist Union, even the train lines will halt and hold a moment of silence and then hold various forms of evacuation readiness inspections. But will these efforts help to soften the wounds of people directly and indirectly affected? The whole ranges of emotions have and still consume the hearts of the people: hope, joy, anticipation, loneliness, anger, desperateness and hopelessness. These emotions don’t change the facts that remain: 15,854 people perished, 3,155 still missing, 344,000 living in temporary housing, not including those displaced living with relatives or other arrangements in other prefectures.

If and Because

If these disasters had not happened, many say, they would not have had to re-evaluate their life, experience God’s love in so many ways, and in some cases meet Christ. Because of the disasters many thousands for the first time ever, had the chance to leave their corner of the world and extend a helping hand. Volunteerism has advanced a decade’s-worth in just one year. People wear an invisible badge that says “I volunteered.” On the other hand, because of these disasters and feelings of total helplessness, since 3.11 over 1300 people have died by their own hand or (in a few cases) due to extreme conditions in shelters. Remarkably but on the other hand not surprisingly, the prefecture leading in this number is the prefecture with the fewest tsunami-related deaths and the prefecture receiving the fewest number of volunteers, Fukushima Prefecture. The problems of Fukushima have only just begun.

Everyone wants to know what progress has been made or lack thereof. It would truly take volumes to describe it. What has not happened: There is little building of brand new houses or schools. Half of the towns cannot decide where to build their new communities. Communities are divided by those who want to go back and build again near the sea, and those who want to build on the mountains which are not zoned for such. No municipality has submitted a comprehensive plan and gird as yet. Government funded reconstruction appropriations are being held up because of lack of materials needed for specific projects. The lack of improvement in public works by the government over the past ten years is contributing towards the stalemate. [Literally, there’s barely enough cement to go around and few workers who know how to dispense what there is, according to local newspapers.] Companies cannot rebuild for these same reasons, leading to massive unemployment (1/5 people are employed). Infrastructure of ports is still in arrays because the ground sunk up to two meters in some areas. Reformatting community cooperative efforts in temporary housing is spotty and often lacking. There is a great divide between “the haves” and the “have nots” both in and outside of the temporary housing areas Twenty million tons of garbage in piles remain to be cleared, sorted and disposed of and is taking up room needed for housing. Carpenters are in short supply because they are so busy with debris removal and processing. People are not flocking to churches but are willing to make friends with Christian volunteers who come to assist.

What has happened

This list is definitely longer! This week, prefectures all over Japan agreed to receive some of the debris and dispose of it. There are thousands of incidences of individuals awakening to their leadership capabilities, rallying people around them to begin working on projects without waiting for government assistance. Rice fields are being cleared of debris and sludge, and experimental crops are being tested everywhere for their tolerance of saline or contaminated soil. Small unaffected ports adjacent to large tsunami-destroyed ports are sharing their resources. Fish are returning to near-by ocean waters, much to the surprise of experts. Oyster and scallop farming is quickly being revived because forests are continuing to provide nutrients via rivers for production of plankton. All children are back to school, even though in many places two schools occupy the same campus.

Soft Evangelism

Missionaries and Japanese pastors of numerous denominations who have ministries in north east Japan are blanketing the devastated areas with love in the form of service, and bringing in thousands of volunteers. Although survivors in some areas are showing “volunteer-fatigue,” and prefer to not attend yet another free charity concert, they respond to well thought-out, needs-based programs. Other more forgotten areas welcome volunteers and concerts. A number of missions are buying land in desecrated, unchurched areas to live and start new ministries. Although without exception it is on land that Japanese will no longer build on, they are stepping forward in faith. Although churches are not allowed to openly do evangelism, by rules or customs, many churches have formed NPOs with a new non-religious name and are focusing on a narrow segment of the population, giving emotional support and helping to build cottage industries. In these areas they are also helping companies still in tact to sell their products all over Japan.

American Baptists at Work

If you’d like to know what American Baptists are doing, read on: One offering held once a year is called The One Great Hour of Sharing offering (OGHS) and is comprised of offerings that they have given toward aid in Japan this past year (or whatever disaster focus is current. In addition to the immediate response in March of last year, they have continued to give in an amazing way! OGHS department has received and disbursed more than $460,000 in aid in a one year period. The first installments were used as initial “condolence gifts” to Baptist churches and related families who lost loved ones and whose houses were partially or totally destroyed. This was money that helped many to stand on their own feet again, since many people had very little insurance and many didn’t use a bank! And of course, the majority of recipients just escaped with the clothes on their backs. Almost immediately, it made these people feel that they were not alone. Part of these gifts went to help out our Baptist schools as they dealt with the many students who were affected. It helped our pastors bring food to the shelters in the early days before any systems were in place for feeding people and keeping them warm. It helped our Baptist church members from other parts of Japan to reach areas that had become inaccessible to bring supplies and assess the needs.

They Make Me Proud

Other gifts from OGHS have gone toward various types of specific projects. For example, a large gift went to help Shokei church, our only church that was rendered unsafe. Due to a number of complications, plans for their new building are on hold. With the lack of supplies, 60% increase in costs of material and shortage of labor, the financial picture has changed. But our gift to them has given them a huge lift when they thought all was lost. Offerings from them gave them a financial lift toward reaching the total amount needed to begin rebuilding. I will keep you posted on their progress. Another project is the ‘OaisisLifeCare’ project of Rifu church. They minister to people in one section of Minami sanriku-cho area helping them to rebuild their lives, first by supporting fishermen who are trying to restart “sea farming.” Second, by sustaining a leather-work craft industry, and by support in other psychological and spiritual ways. Our funds are also going to help support staff at Morigo Camp while they work on rebuilding the badly damaged buildings. Some funds have gone to establishing the Ezel project of Shiogama church where the members come along side residents of a temporary housing area. (“Ezel” is the name of a doctor helping to finance this project.) The church helps in selling products of companies where their kindergarten children’s parents work. These include products made from salt, soba noodles, and senbei rice crackers. A recent project that their gifts are going toward is the Taira Kindergarten in Fukushima where playing outdoors is carefully monitored for radiation levels. There, the top soil had to be completely replaced as well as a number of wooden play structures replaced because of contamination.

It’s thrilling to know that their outpouring of love through this One Great Hour of Sharing offering has helped so many people. I hope your church is equally doing as much and more. As I talk to these leaders, it is evident that the gifts have practically left them without words and ways to properly thank you. Thank you also for “sowing generously, because we are reaping bountifully.” I trust that you have done what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver- – - and he loves those who have been receiving your gifts cheerfully. (From 2 Cor. 9:6-7). Just and offer, that you are welcome to contribute to this offering too, or better yet, to my ministry support!! Thank you anyway for all your prayers. I need them…and feel them.

In Christ,

Roberta (Stephens)

Larry, Rie and I left behind the difficult visual images of Shichigahama on July 29 and drove north. We left behind trashed beaches (cleaned every three days), and mountains of rubble from the clean-up operation. After driving inland for a few hours the same scenes sadly greeted our eyes again as we headed up along the coast toward Kesennuma.

The Good Samaritan

After settling in on the 2nd floor of the church we began helping with the Sunday school camp in progress. All the children involved had been deeply affected in one way or another by the disaster. I did not know if anyone would talk about the tsunami experience with the children. But Pastor Usui (shoe—sue- tea) and the Sunday school teachers unabashedly talked about the event. The theme of the camp was the Good Samaritan. Since the earthquake and tsunami, these children had continuously experienced the “Good Samaritan” story with them being “the fallen man on the road.”

The other reason for this theme was that at the church there was box after box, tent after tent, and even a truck with the words “Samaritan’s Purse” (S. P.) witten everywhere. Surely the children had noticed this and asked about it. As we “helpers” were to find out later, Samaritan’s Purse has been a major enabler in all the disaster-zones here. They have given any church desiring it, the opportunity to shine brightly by supplying disaster stage-appropriate goods while staying in the background! A few weeks later I had the chance to introduce S. P. to Rev. Oyama in Shichigahama. S. P. was looking for houses still intact structurally which needed the first floor rebuilt inside. Since S. P. wants to connect churches to the community rather than toot their own horn, they ask pastors like Rev. Oyama to become involved when they had found owners willing to get a free make-over. He has helped in the Christian dedication of a number of Buddhist and Shinto homes.

Back in Kesennuma

Back in Kesennuma, we helped Rev. Usui and other volunteers deliver S. P. goods to several newly-built temporary housing communities. The church was also stacked with goods from all over Japan, both necessary and unnecessary items. Everyday, a delivery truck arrived with more. Pastor Usui showed us three thick binders of delivery receipts. He has to respond to each one, of course. One day four large boxes of dry goods and two 100 pound bags of potatoes and onions arrived. They were from a Brazilian pastor, he said. My ears perked up when I suspected it might be from Humberto and Josy Kudo near Nagoya. They are tent-maker missionaries trained in Ann and Bruce Borquists Missionary training institute (JAMI) in Brazil. Although communication with us ABFMS missionaries was difficult at first, now this couple has picked up a lot of Japanese at their company, so we can communicate verbally in basic Japanese and use Google translator when we write letters.

In May, I had the chance to coach them on what to send to the disaster area. Now it was August, and many shipments later . I called Humberto on behalf of Rev. Usui to thank him. Then Rie, Larry, and I with Pastor Usui took off for temporary housing with a van and Samaritan’s Purse truck, to deliver the goods from the Kudo’s congregation. It gave me a boost to be able to make these connections.

Mission Accomplished

Although everything we did could be called our “main task,” our advertised-task of pulling weeds in church and kindergarten garden and around the parsonage occupied a number of hours. The Usuis seemed a little embarrassed that we had come this far to just weed and spruce up the large grounds, as if we were cleaning out a private closet in their home! But perhaps it was more the idea that most volunteers came to serve people in the community not them. Mrs. Usui kept saying “warui, warui” (I’m so sorry). Rev. Usui joked to the Sunday congregation that he had purposely neglected the garden so we would have something to do! But when it was finished, they said “it feels so good.”

More stories

We had many chances to hear stories wherever we went. One that stands out was the testimony of Mr. Hidenori Ashikaga, a new Christian. Rie translated for him on Sunday morning. On the day of 3.11 he was just outside of town on business. He entered town right in the middle of the chaos of the tsunami. He tried to drive to his home/office but it was totally underwater, so he spent the first night in his car. In his heart he apologized to his wife because he could not swim. It was so heart-wrenching to listen to him tell how he spent three days looking for his wife, and finally found her in a shelter. Later he jokingly remarked, “the results of this disaster is that I used to call my wife kanai (wife-in-the-house), but now she is so dear to me that I call her by her first name, Kazuko” (very rare for a Japanese man). Mr. Ashikaga is a scientist and has discovered and makes EM (Effective Micro-organisms), an amazing natural substance which is being used to enhance sanitation, remove odors, mold and rust, and also in agriculture. Someone in our group asked him what his greatest need is presently. He replied “sleep.” In spite of his scientific mind, gregarious personality and Christian faith, he said, “every time there is an earthquake at night I lay awake until morning waiting for the sirens to sound, warning us of a tsunami. I’m sleepy, but my faith is in God.”

Heartily, Heartily

Mr. Ashikaga, Rev. Usui, Volunteer Larry

Heartily, Heartily the volunteers and I felt like we left Kesennuma for Shiogama with a full plate. God had met our every need and we felt truly blessed, awed, sorrowful, joyful, all at the same time. What does God have in store for us next that will top this, I thought.

To all of you who prayed for us, a hearty, hearty thank you. To all of you who continue to give toward my support, enabling me to continue helping volunteers in Japan and ministering to Japanese, a hearty thanks. And thank you ahead for continuing that support. New supporters are heartily welcomed as well.

Now heartily, heartily give to the World Mission Offering.

If you would like more details on any of what I have shared here, please let me know. I’ve only been able to share briefly about traveling, Kesennuma, the Baptist church, Sunday school VBS and “damaged” children, kindergarten, contributions of Samaritan’s Purse, weeding (!), volunteer experience, Mr. Ashikaga and EM.

In the next journal I will share some of the final episodes 2011 summer‘s volunteers. Please stay tuned.

In Christ,

Roberta

So much has happened since I wrote last, that I may have to divide this up into several letters! When I wrote in July, I had the feeling that all of you had disappeared. Why? Because I didn’t hear back from anyone! But then again I might have goofed up putting the letter on the IM website. Sometimes it defies me. But now there is a new website. Please check it out when you have a chance. And if you didn’t receive the letter sent about July 25th, please let me know.

On the other hand, shortly after I wrote the journal, I disappeared with volunteers in tow, and felt a tinge of loneliness at that awesome task. It had been quite a task during June to determine who could go with me and who could not. In the end, two volunteers and I made up our team. Although my plans were for four volunteers, God had special tasks for this small group.

Volunteers Larry & Rie leave for NE Japan with Roberta (and boxed pet-Sunny)

Taking off with volunteers

There were two goals that we held in our hearts. One was to hear stories and another was to be of physical assistance in the form of gardening at two churches. Both of these external goals were fulfilled. But often it was accomplished in uncertain and unexpected ways. “Change” was the most common word we heard; to the extent that one volunteer declined my newly written-out schedule. Sure enough, an hour later there was another change! The experience reminded me of an Xtreme Team adventure.

Listening to stories in Shichigahama

Story of pain

Within fifteen minutes of arriving in Shichigahama none of us expected to hear a story poured out so soon. We had stopped to shop for food when I ran into an old friend whom I will assign the code name of “W.S.” (wandering sheep). Got my drift? She was surprised to see me and invited me and the volunteers to have coffee after shopping was finished. W.S.’s husband joined us from somewhere in the store and profusely thanked us for coming to help serve. I noticed that he was still wearing his Buddhist beads on his wrist. Five of us sat down for some welcomed ice coffee and before we knew it, as if on cue (but not from us), W.S.’s husband began to tell us every detail of his experience on THAT day, 3-11. I had never seen him so animated. Lastly he said, “every time I see a large puddle of water, the feelings of THAT day overwhelm me and I can’t sleep.”

Enjoying our first meal

I was so moved by his story as I reviewed the history of this couple in my heart, that I didn’t know what to say. However, volunteer, Larry, had the presence of mind to say “Why don’t you pray for them, Roberta?” (You see, this is why we need volunteers, to pick up the slack when we missionaries are left wordless!) I wouldn’t have made it through a prayer. So I asked him to pray, with volunteer Rie translating. This was just a prelude to discovering how open people were at sharing their stories. This experience repeated itself during the next two weeks.

Blessing

Two weeks later, both Rie and Larry had a chance to share a message of hope that had been forming in their hearts for a few weeks at Shichigahama Preaching Place. It moved a number of people to tears. Their short messages were just perfect for that moment for the hearts of a number of people. How could they have known that one member present had not attended recently because of deep grudges and personal exhaustion, or that another member was facing scary hand-surgery that might ruin her career?

Sunny has a new friend

Being Blessed

They left their mark in a small way on that community. As was true for the rest of their trip, LIVE THE WORD, PROCLAIM THE WORD, leading to BEING TRANSFORMED, was incarnated by these volunteers. We are reminded again of the chance to give to the World Mission Offering. And in a sense, when you give, that action is “LIVING the Word.” Here in Japan and around the world, you give us the chance to “PROCLAIM the Word” because of your gifts. The results are and will be “TRANSFORMATION” in lives overseas as well as in the volunteers themselves, and in me. Although for both Rie and Larry, this was a different experience than they had had up until now, both negative and positive, I think they would both agree that they experienced transformation of some sort, too.

Please Live the Word by prayerfully giving, so that we can continue to Proclaim it and lead to Transformation in both the giver (you!) and the receiver.

In Christ,
Roberta

Since the end of May, I have spent an increasing amount of time at the kindergarten with volunteer Laura in tow. Laura, a Navy wife from nearby Yokosuka has fit in fine as an International Ministries volunteer. She has gone through the “disaster-zone” of four-year olds where one never knows when one will be pinched, poked or picked at! But she survived one and a half months of service and now moves on to a permanent job on the Navy base. Thank you Laura! I assist a group of mothers who have formed the “Clover Circle’ to support an organization which is overseeing the needs of over 1250 orphans of the disaster in NE Japan. They are making items for their children to “buy” (!) to teach them the value of raising money to help kids who have lost their parents in the disaster. Every day the teachers help the children to pray for the children in the Taira Kindergarten in Fukushima who have been adversely affected by the radiation aspect of the disaster.

Volunteer Mid-Summer Dreams

While it is mid-summer for you who are reading this it is just the beginning for me. Until the recent typhoon #6, it was beastly hot. I don’t thrive in this kind of weather like I used to. This week’s respite from the heat was welcome as I hurried to finish up paperwork and stacks of “I’ll-do-this-later” stuff. This all should be finished today because one of the volunteers, Larry, arrived. One more adventurer, Rie, will arrive on Monday to complete our team.

Larry left his family in Illinois to come to serve in Japan, having done volunteer work both in Mexico and in various areas in the US which have experienced disasters. Rie lives with her husband in Vancouver, WA where she is finishing up courses in seminary in Chaplaincy. One of her most valuable assets to me is that she is Japanese and a great translator. Rie has spent a number of years helping me and other missionaries translate our sermons from English into Japanese. With Rie’s desire to provide emotional and spiritual support to those in the disaster zone, and Larry’s desire to use his physical skills and be an earnest listener, we take off anticipating being a blessing and used of God. We are “disguising” ourselves as gardeners!! We want to give the intact areas a facelift, weeding and planting with the hope that after we leave, blossoms or vegetables will bless the people we garden for. My experience with volunteers is that it’s a toss-up as to who is most blessed, they or the people they serve. Please pray for both to be blessed.

The Great Disguise

Although our work will not directly be related to the physical aspects of the disaster, there are plenty of dangers that await us. This is not a trip for the timid. We will be driving through and staying in the disaster zone daily. Aftershocks still plague the area. And, everyone we will be relating to is a survivor with scars of one kind or another. I think especially of the pastors who are very tired out from receiving thousands of inquiries, volunteers, and have distributed tons of disaster supplies. They are doing us a huge favor by providing us with such “trite” work to reach deeper needs. They are aware of the “great disguise” and are indeed the ones who suggested it in the first place.

The eyes of all look expectantly to You,
And You give them their food in due season.
You open Your hand
And satisfy the desire of every living thing….
The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.
He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He also will hear their cry and save them.

Psalm 145:15-16, 17-19 NKJV

While much of the world is now looking elsewhere for news, Japan continues to try to cope with the present realities while planning for a new start heading in a different direction. Japan has become a country of great contrasts as there is a great dichotomy between the “haves” and the “have-nots,” between those who are already on the road to recovery and those who are stuck at a dead-end. Although Japan continues to help itself and heal itself, volunteers and donations from abroad continue to surprise local churches and citizens. For example, last week a professor from Kanto Gakuin in Yokohama was visiting the office of the Akha Churches of (northern) Thailand when he was given a very heavy bagful of coins equaling $375. “This is our donation from our mountain villages to the people in the disaster area of Japan,” the church official said. And, there are other stories like this.

Finding Hope

While Japan has become aware of many new friends around the world concerned about her pain, who want to stand by her on her journey, they still stagger under the burden of her losses. There are over 15,327 confirmed deaths with 8,343 people unaccounted for. Many bodies remain unclaimed because whole families were wiped out. 99,592 people are displaced living in shelters and temporary housing in 2446 locations. Over 700 children were lost or are missing. More than 125,000 buildings were washed away with a number of these being school buildings, with children unable to escape. A high priority of the government was to first give the children hope. Students in schools where the buildings were destroyed began to attend classes in make-shift buildings set up close to evacuation centers as early as late April. Some schools were being used as evacuation centers, thus delaying the beginning of school because of having to move hundreds of evacuees out of or into a different area of the school to create more of a school-like atmosphere. In Shichigahama temporary houses are set up on the playground. Some other communities have combined two or more schools together. Children who have evacuated from the nuclear radiation zone in Fukushima Prefecture are attending different schools all over Japan. Japan Baptist Union’s Shokei Gakuin, for example, where 115 students lost family members, homes or income, began classes at the beginning of May and like other schools will continue without a summer vacation.

Of course, the psychological impact on all surviving young people is a continuing concern. Fifth grade Shiina of Shichigahama has adjusted to the rhythm of school-life and no longer has bad dreams. In Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, seventy-eight children were lost. Sixty-eight bodies have been recovered but six remain missing. Parents of the six continue to search in an attempt to come to terms with their loss. “If I find her remains I can say ‘welcome back, my daughter and then move on,” one father said.

Seminars on this subject are being held for all educators from nursery school teachers on up through university professors by trained professionals. There are qualified trainers in our Baptist congregations who are being kept busy giving seminars in various locations, in between helping the children themselves.

The emotional impact of this disaster still affects us all. There’s no “getting back to normal” if you live here. EW came to me and said, “I’ve got to talk to you.” It would soon be her turn to teach the primary age children at Sunday school. The story she was given was The Flood and the Rainbow. ‘I just can’t do it’ she repeated over and over through her tears. “God promised not to flood the earth again, but He did. Think of the pain of all those mothers who lost their children. I have a child, too. How could they possibly believe in a God that would punish them for not believing? And, to add insult to injury, I heard that as the tsunami hit Chiba Prefecture, people could see a rainbow.”

I knew that this was going to be a tough one. But she is not alone in asking such questions. Kids in Kanto Gakuin elementary school have been badgering the principal with the same questions, and he doesn’t know how to answer them. EW and I worked hard at trying to understand the meaning of this disaster, breaking down each element through the Word of God, of her misunderstanding of God as a vindictive-control freak, of man’s freewill and sin, and of Christ’s redeeming love. A mutual friend’s letter to her about the subject was vital to her coming to terms with this issue. It seemed cathartic to copy the letter a number of times by hand and pray. In late May, she came to me smiling and saying, “do you want to hear my lesson?” She did a beautiful job; but more than that her journey of faith was reaffirmed and she gained assurance that the road of faith she had chosen was the right road.

Your fellow-servant in Christ,

Roberta

The Lord continues to guide and direct me through the tasks he has given me to do. However, it seems like waiting patiently is a big part of it all. You all are probably saying the same thing in waiting for communication from me! “If I could just get an answer about this or complete this task, then I could make a report to my friends abroad.” This is how my thinking seems to run. Then, I wait! Once I get it all together, then my computer or internet is down. How we handle these tensions day in and day out reflects our Christian character. God continues to mold me and remold me as I deal with daily trials frustrations and joys.

New Opportunities and Saying Goodbye

John & Tomoko Armagost with Rev. Tanno, General Secretary

Over the recent holidays in early May, our J-Team got together. J-Team means International Ministry missionaries serving in Japan. The Hwangs, Armagosts and I had a good time visiting and finishing up some mission business. We spent a lot of time discussing volunteers as well as requests from churches about projects that VBS can work on this summer. We’re putting together a few proposals now. One of the main purposes was to say our goodbyes. John & Tomoko are leaving us. How sad it was! We’ve been colleagues for nearly 20 years. We are really going to miss them.

I did want you all to know about an opportunity for two volunteers to join a team of two others to do some “cosmetic” work around some churches and church member’s homes cleaning and fixing up their gardens! The ultimate purpose is to help lift their tired spirits. It is a way to connect to some of the church members who would perhaps just like to talk about their experiences on March 11, or just bring them a little cheer. This will take place in safe areas of disaster struck north east Japan, first in Kesennuma and secondly in Shiogama area. There will be a translator in the group, too. I will take the group up by car. Presently two people are registered. We need two more. This is your chance if you enjoy gardening, meeting other people, give an encouraging smile, or handshake (with dirty garden gloves! There will also be a chance to play with pre-school children who have gone through this disaster. Dates are July 23-August 9th. Please check out this link and make contact immediately. There is also a poster available at this site, or contact me.

Work at Kanto Gakuin

In continue to go to the kindergarten nearby to enter the kid’s world. Recently, I had the opportunity to give the Bible study for 35 mothers of elementary school students. We had a lot of fun studying and doing some interactive learning about how the Bible was put together. My style is different than Japanese teachers and I think they truly enjoyed it. Three women whom I taught Bible to for a few months in my home last year were there because their child is now if first grade! They were very supportive and kept flashing their encouraging smiles my way. I don’t know for sure but it seems, as I meet some of the women in other settings that a few are Christians and most of them are truly interested in Christianity.

If told you about my job as auditor at Kanto Gakuin. On Saturday, I left that job and became a member of the Board of Directors. This was due to the Armagosts vacating their positions. Now I will be required to attend the chaplain meeting of Kanto Gakuin. I don’t need more things to do but welcome the opportunity to perhaps become acquainted with the Christian endeavor on campus.

Great East Japan Earthquake/Tsunami

Personal pictures found in rubble of Shichigahama by volunteers waiting to be claimed

Although it may be “off your radar” it is still very much on our radar. Much of Japan is gearing up for the hot summer months when every household and company must cut electricity usage by at least 20%. Some companies are starting to move, lock-stock-and barrel to southern Japan where will be no electricity limitation. Some companies like iron works are shifting all their work hours to night-time only. This means more uprooting of people outside the disaster zones. Volunteerism is slowing down. Volunteer coordinators both here and up north, including pastors hosting groups are becoming very exhausted. They really need your prayers. Progress is being seen in many areas. But while there is progress, I’m learning of people who have fallen-through the cracks, so to speak. People on the edges of the disaster areas who did not loose their homes are now lacking food! There are no stores open in their areas, and disaster relief trucks have stopped coming around with supplies to receive or purchase. Supplies such as bread and rice are available in the main areas of disaster but people must line up for hours again for just a loaf of bread. As I hear of these people, I am trying with my friends to see how their needs can be met. In the meantime, we continue to pray and shed no few tears for our acquaintances who face such difficulties each day.

Personal prayer requests

Next week our JBU women will hold their annual meeting. I am giving a workshop there on the subject of Quite Time or Having a time of meditation. I really need your prayers for this. Looking ahead, I’ll give the message on Children’s Day at Seiro church. Special invitations are being sent out for this service. The church is very small but Rev. Toda is making a great effort to bring in the younger children, and God is blessing. June 29th I’ll bring the Bible study to mothers of kindergarteners. July 5th and 12th I’ll give a message during chapel at KG university. Each Friday night, I share the Word with three teachers who live across town and who come to the Hwangs to study with me. Mark these dates on your calendar for me. Thanks a head for your prayers.

Your gifts in terms of support have been meaningful. March showed a large increase in individual giving. April, well….fell far below normal. However, my monthly commitments remain the same, about 30% short of my goal. I do need your increased prayer for new people who are willing to invest in my ministry. On the other hand, we’ve had a tremendous response from American Baptists for relief in Japan. Our partners, the Japan Baptist Union are absolutely overwhelmed with your generosity. Your dollars are being put to good use. People here are weeping with those in the USA who have been hit by various natural disasters. It does truly seem “that the whole creation is groaning as in pains of childbirth, right up to the present time” and will continue in this way until the Lord comes…. “But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” Oh, there’s that word “patient” again. Please join me in ‘waiting with patience’ yet may our ‘waiting’ be active and not static.

Your fellow-servant in Christ,

Roberta

A narrow porthole

Dear Friends,

Sometimes our perspective is too narrow We make judgments, or base our feelings on the little porthole we’re looking through. But there is a wider picture we should be looking at. Even the wider perspective can be scary. This is an observation I made after seeing the devastation first hand in NE Japan. The porthole shows a container that escaped from the port in the tsunami. It’s full of goods which keeps it dragging on the ocean floor. Other debris floats nearby; two houses stuck together, tangled fish and seaweed nets. But when we broaden that picture, the negative or marooned container almost becomes invisible.

A Wider View Is Also Deceiving

To a wider perspective

Just looking at the devastation as I turned around 360 degrees was quite different from seeing it from one angle on TV. But this perspective of the devastation is deceiving. There are bright spots, namely the smiles of friends. Again, the smiles are deceiving. I heard the unbelievable stories of everyone. While visiting Mrs. Hashiura who has been bedridden for about a year, the Wata family came by. They each had their own story but are all glad to be alive. Shiina, the youngest, a 6th grader, saw the water rushing into the rice fields from her school window. At that same time, her mother, working at a hotel watched as her car floated away and crashed like a bobbing toy into other cars. Everyone spent the night just where they were, not knowing about the whereabouts of other family members. Shiina still has nightmares and the others wake up every morning thinking that life is as it was. Then with a jolt, they awaken to another day of struggle.

I Made The Rounds

Smiles but hurting

I made the rounds, visiting all the members of the Shichigahama Preaching Place in NE Japan, also visiting two extended family members who were dealing with the loss of a home, a deceased wife, missing nephews, missing friends. I brought fruit to everyone and passed out packages of seaweed I bought at Costco! The seaweed was the most appreciated. Shichigahama’s major industry is seaweed. I’m not sure which was most spectacular, seaweed ropes and nets on trees and telephone wires or the ship on the fishers’ shack.

Future

Ship aloft, Yoshidahama

Each community faces its own unique set of circumstances. Shichigahama is relatively small with its population of 22,000 compared to some of the other communities. In addition, loss of life is less, with 70 confirmed dead and 800 in shelters. But what about the future? Build back across the street from the sea or build on someone’s salty rice field which can’t be used for 3-4 years. Although 60% of those who no longer live in their home want to rebuild on higher ground, building on the local low mountains is not an option because 60% of Shichigahama is protected as national forest. The options are slim.

The Bright Light

The bright light is the little church there. It is the only church in town. Supplies pour in from all manner of Christian groups making it possible for Rev. Oyama to pass out supplies to the neighbors or to shelters. Pray that it and churches like it will be the very lighthouse that these conservative, tradition-bound communities need. I do pray that their Easter was truly the beginning of resurrection and I pray that it was the same for you.

He is Risen, Indeed,

Roberta

General Secretary Rev Tanno delivering supplies to Michie (center)

Dear friends,

Two weeks ago, if I had gotten a phone call from Michie, something might have gone awry. But God’s timing is perfect. When we pay attention to all the hints we are given we’re able to see God’s hand.

As you know, I’ve been doing what I can to mend a back problem. Finally with help from doctors, I’ve been able to overcome the problem. It’s been through exercise and strengthening certain muscles that I’ve been able to get better. During this time of recuperation and reflection the temptation has been great to run off to NE Japan to be of assistance and encouragement to those I know and love. I only had July or August to look forward perhaps, if I got well.

Ten days ago I was feeling a little better and thought that I could finally shop at Japan’s Costco and pack some boxes of supplies to send up. But alas, a phone call to Michie, the wife of Rev. Yamada at the Shiogama church caused me to pull back. She said that the groups she was dealing with no longer needed anything, at least at present. How could they have all they needed, I wondered. I decided to go shopping anyway, and send individual packages to each home of the members related to Shichigahama Preaching Place. After I finished the shopping, the phone rang, and it was Michie who said “I have something I want you to send up.” So I grabbed a pen and paper. Then she said “I want you to send yourself up!” “What?” I replied. Then she explained how discouraged the church was there. That each person was experiencing their own personal hardships and because of shortages of gas and energy had not been able to go to church once since 3-11. The pastor, Rev. Oyama and his wife had worshiped for three weeks in a row by themselves. In addition, the loss of Tomoko, their main-stay, had been great!

So, what should I do? I still had not tested the strength of my back yet to see if the long ride and extra strain would effect it negatively. On Monday, a friend and I finished filling seven boxes, and after sending them to North East Japan, I went off on a short 2½ day vacation for a little refreshment. I walked long distances and did some short trekking. During that time, while I prayed, the Lord made it clear that the time was now for me to go.

"I will lift up my eyes to the hills..."

As I glanced up at Mount Fuji, I recalled Psalms 123:

“¹ I shall lift up my eyes to the mountains; from whence shall my help come? ² My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.
…
“⁸ The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever.”

Yes, the Lord had kept me from going out when I shouldn’t have but will protect me as I go up north and come back.

So, on Friday as you are reading this I will be on my way to give an encouraging word to those who have all their earthly goods in tact but who are grieving over their relatives and acquaintances some of whom have lost everything. How can I comfort anyone in that position? I guess I just have to look up to the mountain, that reminds me that someone greater than me is my ever present help and will guard my coming and my going.

In Christ,

Roberta

My apologies to you for letting a few days pass without posting a letter. As much as I want to keep Japan in front of you particularly now, time to do so has slipped past. What have I been doing instead of sitting in front of my computer/TV? With the help of Tomoko Armagost, I continue posting a translation of new news from the Japanese version of our partner organization, the Japan Baptist Union. If you want to see Roberta’s blood-sweat-and TEARS check out: Crisis Tohoku 2011 . Be assured that I’m not doing this in order to practice my language skills. I hope some of you, at least are reading it sometimes! Here you can find the most up-to-date prayer request tucked in this report. I’ve also been working on solutions for my hip/back problem. Daily going for treatment and exercise club takes time. I’m seeing some results so I was able to drive one hour to church on Sunday! The fellowship was scrumptious! I’ve attended meetings lasting half a day or more at Kanto Gakuin (KG) last week as well.

Visitors

Last Wednesday a friend came to spend half a day with me. She was the first to ring my doorbell in two weeks! We went out to lunch. The fellowship totally invigorated me.

The next day the doorbell rang again! It was Kanda sensei. He is the faculty advisor of the KG University Sigma club.

Witness From a Hill Tribe

He had just returned back from Thailand with the volunteers from this club. He had a great report. I was especially interested in what he had to say about student “P.” “P” is a Thai international student at KGU. He went along as an interpreter for the group. He is not a Christian and neither are the Japanese students, yet they are doing work for primarily Christians in Thailand including a day each at the House of Love and New Life Center. Ethnic Thais generally look down on ethnic minorities such as the Akha hill tribes. On this trip, the students helped complete a chapel in an Akha village and then attended its dedication ceremony. The Sigma circle along with “P” spent about a week in the village staying in homes of Christian Akhas. What a transformation there was in this young man! The Akha Christians were true to their name in loving this young man. Not only did he have his pre-conceived ideas of hill tribe people crushed, he also became acutely aware of the contrast between these families and the rest of the village. Please pray for Thai student “P.”

Back Here in Japan

Back Here in Japan schools are on break before the new school year begins. I learned on Saturday that the KG University has learned that 479 students from first to third-year level have lost their homes, loved ones, source of income or have been adversely affected by the earthquake, tsunami, or nuclear reactor accident. It is not clear how many will be able to return to school in April. The school is studying what it might be able to do regarding school fees. Of course, as mentioned before, Shokei Gakuin faces a much graver situation. Please continue to pray for these two schools.

Conditions in the North

Conditions in the North continue to improve in varying degrees. The lack of gasoline and fears related to the nuclear reactor still remain as the top two problems. One half of the ports used for ships transporting gasoline were destroyed. Gasoline production has increased at depots in western Japan but getting it to a port that has storage facilities is still a slow nearly impossible process.

Each week, a few trucks from one or other of our Baptist churches heads up north to help Baptist pastors with resources and to keep up their spirits. Now a public transport company (‘kuroneko’) has resumed the business of transporting goods…so that I can send up supplies, too. Over 17,000 of our American military are helping in the clean-up efforts, transporting goods and assisting in the Nuclear reactor repair.

The Japan Baptist Union

The Japan Baptist Union (JBU) has established a conservative emergency plan goal of $250,000 (¥20,000,000) needed by the end of May! This barely takes into account what is needed at my beloved Shokei church where I served for eighteen years. They have set up a tent for worship (even though it still snows occasionally) since the structural damage is so great. The Itako church just north of Tokyo has a similar problem although a complete new building is not necessary. They are meeting in the kindergarten building some distance from the church. The Kesennuma church has similar needs.

The JBU churches are bewildered by this figure, and yet it is far too little. Many cannot even fully support their pastor. As a partner to them, we really need your help as well. Your gifts will not only help with supplies but it will help our churches to continue to minister to the thousands upon thousands displaced who are in the stricken areas now without home or income. Earthquakes still rock this area, even today, as if there is not enough terror. I believe that God is in charge but wants to work through you and me. Does the scripture “let us not be weary in well-doing” apply to you? If it does not apply, then God is surely asking you to get involved.

You Can Help

The quickest way to get money here is to send it through the One Great Hour of Sharing offering, or you may give it directly online. Checks should be made out to International Ministries.

My prayer for all my friends in distress (and you too) is that you can:
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s might hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

I Peter 5:6-7 NIV

In Christ,
Roberta

I haven’t written for a few days, not because I had nothing to say but because I’ve been helping translate a web page into English that some of you might be interested in seeing. Those of you who are familiar with Japan or have served here will particularly be interested. It’s not quite ready yet but will be the next time I write. In addition I thought I’d share the link to the English version of NHK TV broadcast. I’ve been glued to this on my computer recently. Here is the link:
NHK World TV

Some Good News Last Week

Although I was fairly miserable with lower back problems, I still attended the graduation ceremony for Kanto Gakuin Kindergarten.

Kindergarten graduation at Kanto Gakuin

It was so wonderful and simply delightful. There were a lot of surprises and the children were charming. I was given a front row seat so could not concentrate on taking good pictures. So I gave the camera to someone to take pictures for me. They tried very hard, I’m sure, but most pictures are just too dark for you to realize how wonderful it was. All the children were dressed in quite formal attire, with a few girls dressed in kimono. Goodness! A little early to introduce adulthood but, why not! You only graduate from kindergarten once! Did I say that?? The parents were also dressed in formal black with accents of bright color. Later I will be getting some pictures taken by a professional photographer. I hope to share them with you again. It was truly a pleasant diversion from the job of gleaning information on the earthquake and tsunami for public consumption. That same afternoon I had a Board of Directors meeting, with a one hour study session for auditors preceding it; a boring end for a delightful day.
 
I limped back that Thursday evening and realized that I really need to figure out a way to get some medical attention. The additional problem of how to get there without having to walk was stumping me. If I went to the doctor’s office at the hospital where I had had my first exam with the back problem I could park in their parking lot. But from there, it is still a long uncomfortable walk. I really wanted to try out a small Orthopedic Clinic a few blocks from my apartment. I didn’t know if there was parking there or not. The solution was rather simple, ride my bicycle. It has been sitting getting rusty for 2 years. My balance was not up to par and is the reason I had started back to do training at the athletic club. But since I had a lengthy cold, busy schedule, then increased back problems, I stopped training. With my back as painful as it is, was this wise? I tried it out, riding around in circles in front of my house….no pain! Wow! What a surprise! As long as I didn’t dismount and have to mount again? I ended up riding about 50 yards at a time, dismounting, walking over the barrier (hill, big bumps) and made it to the clinic. I was sooooo happy because it was so simple and relatively painless.

Since then I have gone for three treatments and am making progress. On one trip, I rode down to a vegetable store and found eggs, milk, and tofu as well as a variety of fruits and vegetables. No more shopping at the supermarket for awhile.

On the “war” front, I’ve been able to talk to many friends up in the Tohoku district. One conversation that left an impression on me was with Toru Abe, the manager of the business office at Shokei University. He lives in Rifu which suffered relatively little damage. For the first few days, he stayed on campus which is about a 26 kilometer distance from Rifu. There were 100 students at the school at that time of the earthquake. Twenty were able to make their way home while the rest stayed for a few more days until they could contact someone to receive them. Each teacher, whether high school or college has what we might understand as a homeroom. The teachers immediately began trying to contact their charges. Currently, approximately 97% have been contacted. Nearly all the students are from Tohoku and many from the outlying districts. A number of students lost their homes and a few have lost their families. Others are still in evacution centers with no place to go. Is it a part of the duties of teachers in the US to go find the students in their class in case of a disaster?

The next problem is college graduation. The high school graduation took place March 1st and did not present a problem. However, college graduation should have taken place this week. You only graduate from college once, right? But delaying the ceremony would be impossible. The students who can will come to school on the 24th and pick up their certificates. But most of the student can’t. So, the teachers will once again go looking for them and hand the certificates to them personally. In some case, this will mean going to evacuation centers or towns that have been devastated to find the students. Tell me what we can learn from them?

Toru said that after the 3rd day he was really feeling like he needed to get home. He drove as far as the high school only to realize that he wouldn’t make it to Rifu because he was almost out of gas. So he struck out and walked from the high school in mid-Sendai to his home in Rifu. He hiked for three hours. Because there still are no trains, he can’t return to the college and is stuck at home.

My friend Kiyomi is extremely frustrated. She works at a nursing home in Sendai. Because she can’t get gas she walks two hours to work and two hours back each day.

Gasoline cannot be shipped north because the train tracks are not in service. Pray for people like Toru and Kiyomi who faired well in the crisis and are attempting to help others but cannot without gasoline. It is times like these when the rubber hits the road that our faith gets tested to its limits.

Good news

The Japan Baptist Union Website in English for this emergency is up and ready to be viewed. Note, that it will probably only make sense to people who have been to Japan as a missionary, staff person or volunteer. But for anyone it will give the sense of the scope of the task a head. Here is the link:
Crisis Tohoku 2011

“Happy” reading!

Your servant in Christ,

Roberta