Feeding EveryChild EveryDay
Pastor Makota from Tokyo Bible Church has been travelling and providing assistance to survivors in Sendai. Since he began travelling there in March he has noticed the children are really struggling in the evacuation centres.
With over 25,000 dead or missing, many children have been orphaned by the Tsunami. First the children were forced to deal with the shock of losing their parents. Then the children began to form friendships with other children and adults in the evacuation centres, but due to logistical problems, the Government is doing its best to empty those centres and relocate people to across the country. For some children, orphaned by the tsunami, and with no family to relocate too, they have suffered the grief of separation a second time as their new friends have moved away.
These children are very much on the mind of Pastor Makota from the Tokyo Bible Church. This need has become a heavy burden, they need to provide the agape divine love of God to a generation of children suffering the pain of abandonment.
The mayor of Sendai has contacted Ps. Makota and offered an abandoned hotel in the city centre for use as an orphanage. A large facility with many rooms, commercial kitchen and open areas for church services this location seems ideal for a new orphanage.
FTH and Ps. Makota are praying through the details, but we expect to welcome this new work into the EveryChild EveryDay orphanage support program very soon.
Feeding their Spirits
Whenever FTH distributes food around the world we share the Gospel so that everyone has the opportunity to accept Jesus as Lord. We do not make it a requirement to accept our food, but food is the small key that opens hearts, especially in times of trouble.
Within a few short weeks, a large shipment of 44,000 scripture booklets in Japanese will arrive from the US. FTH has also sourced a local supplier of New Testament Bibles in Japanese that we will buy to add to future food distributions.
The lack of suitable gospel literature relevant to the disaster has been noted. And we continue to source any Gospel literature that will help encourage survivors of this great disaster.
TBC mention that within 500 sq km there were only 10 churches. 2 were destroyed and the others are badly damaged. Most pastors in the affected regions have realised how little impact they have made in their own communities – how little they achieved to reach their neighbours with the gospel.
TBC will hold an evangelical concert in Sendai on May 4th and are praying for hundreds of people to attend, be encouraged, hear the Gospel and receive Jesus as Lord. Over 150 volunteers will work in the region preparing and distributing food, clothing and other relief items. They will build portable showers and create safe play areas for children in the evacuation centres. Authorities are estimating that it could take 6 months before they have removed all radioactive materials and began rebuilding the devastated areas.
Feeding the Hungry
Even some of the Japanese themselves don’t realise how bad the situation is. FTH Germany Director Jean-Pierre was asked to speak at a fundraising dinner in Tokyo on his trip to raise funds for Sendai. It was reported in some secular news outlets that survivors in some areas waited over four weeks to receive their first hot meal.
8 large shipping containers will arrive in Japan later this month on three separate ships. Three each from Germany and Two from the United states of America. FTH Directors, Jean-Pierre Rummens (Germany), Armanda da Roza (Hong Kong) and Ben Evans (Australia) will arrive with the containers to assist in the distribution.
The containers hold bottled water, brand new pots and pans, blankets, protein bars, scripture booklets in Japanese. The government officials continue to be difficult in terms of getting aid into Japan. Strict restrictions remain in place regarding importation of any food items, especially rice. Authorities have warned that once the containers arrive in Japan, it could take over three weeks to clear customs.
Although we have additional supplies ready to send from overseas locations, the uncertainty of the customs situation, and the apparent unwillingness of the Japanese Government to assist charities help hungry people... future food, water and relief items will be purchased of necessity in country. FTH Germany will send 20 bicycles to affected regions to assist pastors with visiting people in their communities. These will be airlifted this month.
Locations of Activity
CRASH (Christian Relief Assistance Support + Hope) established five base camps in Iwate, Miyagi,Tochigi and Ibaraki prefectures around the Fukushima power plant. FTH support through CRASH was funnelled to the Nakoso Christ Church, under Pastor Sumiyoshi in northern Ibaraki prefecture, one of the first established. The Ibaraki Base operated into Southern Fukushima prefecture itself - an area was not only hit by the quake and tsunami, but is also the largest population facing serious radiation risks.
TBC (Tokyo Bible Church) focused distributions in Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures itself. TBC provided food packs, hygiene products, clothes and cooked meals for the elderly and needy. TBC purchased 4 mobile kitchens and 5 mobile shower units which are taken to different evacuation centres to assist survivors in Ishinomaki, Onagawa, Mianmi Sanrikucho, Sendai Arahama, and Fukushima city.
CHURCH TO CHURCH
“I received the following details this morning from Pastor Sumiyoshi in Iwaki. Supplies purchased by CRASH at Costco with funds from Feed The Hungry, China Care, along with other donations gathered by CRASH, were delivered to the Nakoso Christ Church in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture.
At the time (mid March to mid April) an average 50 disaster survivors and evacuees per day were visiting the Nakoso Christ Church to receive supplies of food, water, clothing, and hygienic supplies. As a result of this ministry, as many as 13 visitors per Sunday attended worship services, and approx. 5 individuals have started attending regularly. The supplies were also shared with 5 other area churches which also served as distribution centres.
The Nakoso Christ Church was one of the few churches in the area, whose members had suffered little from earthquakes, tsunami, or radiation, and so church members were able to use the supplies to provide hot meals at the various evacuation centres in the area. These were greatly appreciated by the evacuees, who primarily had been subsisting on unheated foods.
In total, approximately 1500 survivors visited the Nakoso church during that one month period of time. Pastor Sumiyoshi said that while the frenetic round the clock ministry was exhausting, it was a time of great blessing for the church members, as they were able to minister to so many others, emotionally and spiritually, because of the material supplies that were available to distribute.
Pastor Sumiyoshi and his family are currently visiting relatives in the Southern island of Kyushu for some much needed rest.
“Thank you for your part in providing for these needs. ”
Tim Cole Logistics / CRASH Japan 10th May 2011
“We are currently working in Ishsomomaki in northern Japan. About 8 kilometers from Sendai and about 140 miles from Fukushima. In 25 years of international relief efforts, I have never seen this level of destruction.”
In Sendai we are working with the Ps. Makoto from Tokyo Bible Church (TBC). This means we can distribute not only supplies, but be in the distribution also a testimony to God's love by helping and the people have an open ear.
We will continue cooking for people, as many still live in Centers. They will also get involved incleaning up houses so that people can move back to their homes, in this area. Ps. Makoto hopes to
help the refugees to live better, a lot of the houses still full of mud, people can’t stay there, can’t
cook.
The team from the community makes a great work among the victims. They listen, give testimony
and pray for and with people. Ps Makoto appreciates all that FTH has helped.”
FTH Director
Jean-Pierre Rummens
27th May 2011
