On March 11, 2011, on the North Coast of Japan a tsunami struck. What is happening two years later?

 

 

 Sendai is the closest airport. That's where we flew in. This map shows where the tsunami hit and the nuclear reactors were damaged.

 The coast line is beautiful. Surfers wait for the perfect wave. But on that day, March 11, 2011, they had no warning.

 

People went to the Shinto shrine that morning to offer an offering to their ancestors and wish for happiness.

 But on March 11, 2011, a 9.0 undersea quake sent waves barreling over this region. About 18,000 died, and 340,000 people displaced.  Missionaries and Japanese believers responded. The building you see was lifted and carried here. It has been left as a reminder of the disaster.

 The waves destroyed everything on their path. Even worse, the back flow took people out into the ocean, never to be seen again.

This is the first floor of a hospital on a hill. Linda is standing by the tsunami water line. The only people who survived on the first floor were those who ran up the stairwell. People outside in the parking lot watching the wave were washed away with the cars.

 

Where was God? This statue of Buddha survived but couldn't do a thing to help the people. But God heard the cries.

 People came from all over Japan and all over the world. They were mostly Christians. A team that was working further south moved in to area to share Christ's love in tangible ways. They worked together displaying the unity of the Body of Christ.

 

Many people do not want to move back to the region because of the painful memories, and in fact, don’t want to live near water. So as an incentive, the government will pay salaries to Japanese people who want to start businesses. The women on our team are working with Japanese on a project to collect shards of broken porcelain and make them into beautiful custom jewelry. It’s called the Nozomi (Hope) Project. Isn’t this a beautiful picture of what God is doing in the lives of people? Yuko became a Christian and was baptized after learning about Jesus. Her mother and pregnant sister got swept away in the tsunami, and her husband left her with 3 small children. She will be part of the jewelry making business which will provide her with some income.

We went to help the multicultural team we went to help ( members from U.S., Germany and Japan)  have been doing relief transition the starting a new church with those who are interested.

 

The multicultural team we went to help ( members from U.S., Germany and Japan)  have been doing relief and sharing God’s love with tsunami survivors through this Friendship Center. Japanese volunteers help out (pictured above). Rather than give handouts, they give Bingo prizes. Everyone receives a prize, even children.

 

Even the little girl got a prize!

 

 This building is a cooperative project between Samaritan's purse and other mission groups including ours.

 We found people quiet in public places, even the airport. But at the Friendship Center, they were loud, like Americans!... well almost.

 

 The team invited us to go on a strategic retreat with them for several days to discuss, “Where do we go from here to start this house church?” We met all day from 9-5, stopping only for lunch. We talked about strategy, evangelism, discipleship, and best practices for church planting. We looked at their spiritual gifts, some weak areas, and what they still needed to make their team complete, like additional Japanese workers. We will continue to coach them as they move ahead.

 

 We joined the team for worship in a house church. It is bilingual Japanese and English. Four churches have been started in Ishinomaki. But there are none up the coast in Oganawa. Not yet!

 We lived together in a house and prepared food. We shared our lives and their dreams, not just ideas.

Our friends want to start a house church in a nearby fishing town called Onagawa that has no church. They have been offered two plots of land: One, the city gave them to start a Welcome Center; another was offered by a businessman to start a second “Nozomi project” work place.

 

After dinner, we asked the team “What are your dreams?” As Linda listened to them, she had tears streaming down her face. They are men and women of faith. They all think that this time in history, can change Japan. Andy, the team leader, said, “The big waves of the tsunami, will bring about a new wave for the Gospel penetration.”

 

 

These American Japanese came to help out. They show with their lives and service "Our God has not forgotten you." Let us tell you about him. People don't forget the people of N. Japan.