Konnichiwa loved ones,
Where were you on September 11th?
I think that is a question we have all been asked and can answer pretty easily because it was a significant moment in time for us. I think everyone in Japan could all agree that we will always remember where we were on March 11th when natural disaster hit Japan.
Where was I on March 11th? Tdub had left early that morning for a 2 week trip to Thailand, and I have training for my first ultra marathon (yes, first mistake :) and was out on a long run Friday afternoon. I felt really weird throughout the whole run and like something was off. My legs were super fatigued within the first quarter of the run and at one point I even started running sideways and thought it was a bit weird, but kept on. I stopped at a red light crosswalk and I looked down at my feet and legs and were shaking like crazy. I was about 3 hrs into my run at this point and thought, "I think i'm about to pass out because I'm really fatigued". I finally got back to base only to discover my friends and neighbors standing outside my tower telling me I had "missed" 3 earth quakes. It all began to make sense but the way they were explaining how scary and big the quakes were I couldn't believe I didn't feel them more. We are on the 5th floor of a tower building and when I walked into our house it looked like it had been ransacked and robbed. Almost everything had come off shelves and we had quite a few vases, picture frames and candle sticks damaged and shattered. Just thankful that we were not broken or shattered. Just
stuff.
I wanted to share a little of my heart. Where Japan's at, where I'm at, and what I've been processing through. This past week has changed me. I believe it's been for the good. The 9.0 earthquake that hit Japan with the ginormous 23 foot tsunami waves to quickly follow left all of us in Japan and the world speechless. Many people homeless, helpless and hopeless. Some things that were important to me when I woke up on Friday (March 11th) morning were no longer all that important at 4pm that afternoon.
People. People became the priority. Not stuff, not jobs, not homes, but people. I became worried about my friends and community here on Yokota making sure they were all ok, but more than that the people of Japan who just had their lives ripped away from them by a quake and a wave. I have been consumed with thoughts, feelings and prayers for the Japanese people and it's hard to even focus on anything else. My heart is aching. Today there is a death toll of 7,600 and still over 11,000 people missing. There are 1,000's in many little villages and places throughout the north without anything. Everything they had was washed away. Even most of the shelters have had no electricity and just a day or two after the earthquake and tsunami they were giving out 3 tablespoons of rice per person, per day because they did not have enough supplies, food and water for that many people. They are cold, they are hungry and they're hearts are hurting as they grieve the loss and unknown place of loved ones that are still missing. Life has forever changed for Japan. Even though we sit 200 miles away from the disaster it has affected all of Japan emotionally and economically. Most areas and towns close to us look a little ghost-towny. Most restaurants and grocery stores have closed because they have run out of food to provide and the trucks that would be bringing them supplies have no gas to get to them. Miles and Miles of parked cars sit in lines outside gas stations that are out of gas, as they hope that a gas truck will come refill the station for them to receive their 10 liter of gas. People can't get to work or school because the trains aren't working in order to conserve energy and they don't have gas in their cars to drive. With the power being out in many areas it is hard to carry on normal life and the economy and atmosphere around seems sad and a little frantic. Japan has had 650 earthquakes since March 11th. Most people are not able to carry on with normal life because their world keeps shaking and the feelings and images from Friday the 11th are not far from their minds.
It has become harder and harder to just sit here and watch the images flood past, listen to the news, and skim facebook. I have felt so helpless, but still full of hope for these people. Because I know the One that can bring hope and healing and is mighty to save. Physically it's like I'm so close, but not really close enough to do anything about it. The roads have not been working until recently to get up to the north and then with the radiation scare (which is currently stable and under control and they are working hard to cool the reactors and doing a great job) the Japanese government was not allowing people into the area. The rebuilding of Japan will take tons of workers, tons of money and tons of time. This will be an ongoing process for many years to come.
I am not trying to be debbie the downer, but paint an accurate picture (as I do not think the news is not giving you a completely accurate picture of what's going on and blowing things way out of proportion and focusing on all the negative, rather than rejoicing in the good things too) of what it looks like here and be a voice for the many 1,000's that are in need. There are so many good things already happening here in Japan. People care about people and immediately we had many personnel from other countries land at our base in order to offer relief and assistance. Our base, and Tdub's squadron are sending out C-130s and many other planes, landing on what's left of Sendai airport taking gas and kerosene for heaters, bringing blankets, fresh water, etc. Samaritan's Purse donated 93 tons worth of supplies and donations and our base was able to transport those supplies out for relief. The women on this base have opened their closets and pantries and shopping carts to donate and I was able to take one very full car load up to CRASH tonight for them to take to their base camps and have enough to take another full car load tomorrow too. Japanese families are still being united. There are 380,000 victims in 2,200 shelters and while that ratio is high those people have a roof over their heads and a place to be able to receive food and water as the supplies get to them. The Japanese government has been working hard in so many ways, but a priority has been to get a working railway to the north and they have been successful. Staring Friday there was plans for 10 planes filled with fuel and 15 trains full of fuel to be taken north, so that people can get in and out of the north to bring supplies and help. The Japanese people are opening their homes and lives (which is not Japanese culture) to help feed and clothe one another. One postal carrier was riding his bike around with undelivered mail in his basket from house to house (some that were half washed away) to see if the residents were there so he could give them their mail. Another man from a barber shop was going to different shelters to cut little boys hairs. A high school choir traveled to shelters singing for the refugees, they were deeply moved by the performances. A baby that had been swept away from her mother's arms was found in the rubble and reunited with her parents days after the tsunami. The first teams have arrived in areas with victims and shelters and have set up base camps and are beginning to bring relief to these precious people.
I am also so thankful and am praising the Lord for the safety and provision He has blessed us with here on Yokota Air Base. Clean air, pure water, electricity and power, heat and roof that I can sleep under. Our base commanders and officials are working very hard to keep us updated and taken care of, as well as constantly checking our air quality and safety. I do not take these things lightly as the story is not the same for most of our northern neighbors. I believe I have been blessed to be a blessing. I am so thankful that we are here in Japan for such a time as this. I am not scared, but have a constant peace that I know can only come from the Holy Spirit. The only thing my heart is stirring and anxious for is to get up to the disaster and begin helping in relief. I have had the impression since the first day when the earthquake hit that this is the reason I am in Japan. This is why God has placed me here. I have no doubt about it. My heart is heavy and burdened to go to the people of Sendai and surrounding towns and areas sometime soon to offer supplies and immediate needs to the people, but more than that to love on them and bring them The Hope. My Japanese is very limited and so I hope to be the hands and feet and free others to be the mouth speaking the Great News!
I have been praying and trying all week to find organizations that are offering relief and accepting volunteers, but because it has been almost impossible and not allowed to get up towards Sendai until recently many relief organizations are so in the beginning stages of even knowing the needs yet, much less looking for people to go. Thursday I was so encouraged because I traveled to Tokyo with my friend Edie to the headquarters of CRASH (Christian Relief, Assistance, Support and Hope).
CRASH is a network supporting Christians to do relief work in Japan and around the world. CRASH equips and prepares churches and missions to be there to help their communities when disasters strike and coordinates Christian volunteers to work with local ministries in the event of a disaster. The mission statement for CRASH is to equip Christians in Japan to be ready when disaster strikes to show the love of Jesus in practical and effective ways. Their method is to provide a model of action, accurate information and volunteer training to a broad network of churches and ministries across Japan.
About the disaster, CRASH Japan director Jonathan Wilson made the following statement: "Many of us are wondering how we can best respond to the news of the earthquake and tsunami that have devastated Japan. As the television screens pour out images, we pour out our hearts to the Creator to take care of this great nation. CRASH Japan, a non-profit established for just a time as this, exists to help victims of disasters. We have experienced people who know the culture and language on the ground ready to assess the situation and take appropriate action."
What can you do?
PRAY!
- Pray for the relief workers and organizations, the missionaries, medical personnel and teams that have already gone into the disaster areas. May have the essential resources needed to provide good care for the people.
- the military men and women that are working around the clock here on base and also off to support the mission at hand
- for the community here on base, that they would have wisdom and discernment on whether they should evacuate or stay and do what's best for their family without panic or craziness
- that the reactors would continue to remain stable and that they would be able to cool them enough to get the vials out and no more would be affected by the radiation
- for the Japanese and American government as they work alongside each other and make decisions and plans for coming days and years
- for CRASH as they continue to plan and discern when and where to set up base camps around the disaster, for the people that are working around the clock to plan, answer phones, collect items, funds, gas, etc and for volunteers to be willing to go into the disaster areas and begin to provide relief
- discernment for me and Tdub as we decide when and where or if I should go to offer relief up north and that in the process would stay safe, but also be affective and used.
GIVE!
There are many worthy relief organizations out there, but I am partnering with CRASH right now because I believe they are caring for people physically and emotionally, They are doing a lot with a little and are going in for the long run to help people get resettled in their communities, and having people take care of them for the long haul not just for a couple weeks. You can give financially online to CRASH at www.crashjapan.com giving financially is the best option for all relief organizations because they can do and buy with the money as the needs change in treating the disaster and with people's needs.
SEND!
I will post in another post on how what you can send if you desire to buy supplies and send a package. It is very important you stick to the specific needs or the supplies you send may go to waste as they may not be needed. :)
This came to me today as I was thinking and praying. Japan is often known as "The Land of the Rising Sun". Well, I am confident that it is becoming "The Land of the Rising Son". (yes, a little cheesy I realize) I know that Jesus is in the business of bringing beauty out of ashes, and I know that He has not forgotten about Japan or these Japanese people I have fallen in love with. He is in control and "will work all things together for good for those that love Him". As people need hope and healing and hear the message of Jesus and His unconditional love my prayer is that His name would rise in this country and He would be worshiped, honored and glorified.
Loving on Japan.
Kate Schrank Chapman
