Don't forget about Japan

Today was a long day and a hard day. We didn't do hard work with our hands, but we did hard work for our hearts. Today we went and fed evacuees and spent time with them. Words cannot describe the ache my heart felt when we entered their center. These people have lost everything they own, and many of them have lost loved ones, and they are living out of cardboard boxes and have spaces smaller than cubicles to live in. These people have been here for 3 months already, and for most...there is no end in sight. Unfortunately, because of the other world wide disasters and time, they are being forgotten, and support is running out.

This is Hidotoshisan. Amysan and I talked with him for over an hour. He watched as the tsunami waves took his home from him...he even pointed out a picture in today's newspaper of where his home used to be. His story broke my heart and I spent a lot of it trying not to cry, and the rest trying to figure out how to say what I wanted to. Amysan was a huge help, and she shared the Gospel with him.

This is a crew from YWAM and 2 Japanese volunteers that helped us serve lunch. Together, we served about 400 people. It was good to have the support of more people who speak English and Japanese. They sang and shared their testimonies and were an encouragement. It was nice to come back to the center to them, because just before that I had seen many broken people. They have nothing to do all day, so most of them just sleep off and on all day, because they are too old to get a new job.

Here's Amysan and me after serving and cleaning up. I am loving the team God put together, and enjoying the strengths of everyone. It's a blessing to be here with the team, and a blessing to know you are praying for us.

Below are just a few pictures of the destruction from the tsunami. After serving and talking, we went on a drive to the coast. The destruction is quickly apparent and only gets worse as you get closer. It was hard to see, and to smell.

I saw the ocean for the second time today...and I saw what the ocean can do. I am thankful that we are safe here, but broken for Japan. Around 15000 are still missing, which likely means they are dead. And total dead on top of that is around 23000 according to Naokisan. What a horrible tragedy. The stories I have heard today are not good for children, but can and will share them with grownups when I get home.

Please be praying for us, that we can love clearly and communicate effectively and stay united...and don't forget about Japan!