2011年 03月 19日
March 18, Friday- 19, Saturday
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7:25pm Report from a representative of the Disaster Relief Headquarters, Rev. Kato (excerpts from a letter sent to churches throughout Japan):
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Outline of the situation to this point
1). Churches from the Tohoku Area Association, the Kita Kanto Area Association (especially Ibaraki Prefecture), and the Tokyo Area Association (especially Chiba Prefecture) experienced earthquakes measuring from 6 to 7 on the shindo scale.
We were unable to reach the Sendai area by phone until the 14th. We were greatly concerned, but none of the church buildings were severely damaged.
Some churches were unable to confirm the safety of all of their members, but to this point, no physical injuries have been reported.
2). With the severe cold weather and food shortages in mind, we began preparations to send supplies as soon as we could, with support from the Kita Kanto Area Association. However, we have not been able to help them directly since the highways are blocked, gasoline and supplies are lacking even in the Tokyo area, and the situation around the nuclear power plant is worsening.
3). On the 13th (Sunday) we sent 2 vans carrying 6 members of the BWAid rescue team “Rescue 24,” including members of their press department, driven by 2 attendees of the ministerial training program (held from March 10-11 at the JBC office) who have to this point been unable to return to their homes (Morioka Church and Sendai Church).
4). On the 16th (Thursday) we intended to send 3 vans of relief supplies gathered from churches of the Kita Kanto Area Association. However, as a safety precaution in light of the snowy road conditions, we were able to send only one van, via Niigata, Yamagata, and on to Sendai.
5). Tomorrow, on the 19th (Saturday) we will send 4 vans with relief supplies to Sendai and Ishimaki.
6). Also, on the 15th (Wednesday) in the middle of the night, Rev. Masayoshi Fukuda of Hakodate Mihara Church was sent off with prayers from his church members, and took a ferry to visit churches in Aomori and Iwate. Those churches did not have major damage to their church buildings, but because of the tsunami, ports were severely damaged. We are reminded of the importance of praying face to face with our brokenhearted brothers and sisters in Christ in the Tohoku region after such a disaster.
Rescue and Support from this point
1). In response to a request from JBC churches in the Sendai area to “please send relief supplies to the areas that need them most urgently,” we will dedicate a two-week period, starting today, to emergency support, and we will continue to send supplies not only to JBC churches, but also to other local churches already engaged in relief work, and shelters that require more food. Our goal will be to send supplies 4 times a week.
This will be done with the full support of the Kita Kanto Area Association.
2). We will continue to support those churches that are engaged in supporting affected areas.
3). Norcross Japanese Baptist Church of the United States will send their pastor, Rev. Sakamaki for two weeks (arriving on the 24th). The JBC will send him to Sendai to continue our research into which areas to support and how best to do so. We will support those areas, groups, and shelters (including homeless shelters) that are having difficulty receiving support from municipal offices.
4). We will continue to consider what types of support are needed for those people in the Kita Kanto and Tokyo areas who, although not directly impacted by the disaster, lost their jobs as a result of it, and those foreigners living in the Tokyo area who require assistance.
5). For those churches concerned about radiation damage to children and pregnant women, we will provide the JBC office as a shelter and we will provide transportation to the office.
6). When sending volunteers, we will pay careful attention to the ongoing reports of radiation damage and send them with extra caution.
7). The JBC Sexual Discrimination Issues Committee will send a request to the government that initiatives be taken toward preventing sexual violence within shelters such as that which occurred following the Hanshin/Awaji (Kobe) earthquake.
8). The Texas State Convention offered their support, and they will send Rev. Yutaka Takarada of North Texas Japanese Church, along with 2 specialists, next week, and we will collaborate with them.
9). There are many Japan Baptist Union (JBU) churches in the Tohoku area, so we will work closely with them as we support the victims of this disaster.
The Okinawa Convention (OBC) has already sent financial support to the JBU and the JBC. We hope to unify our efforts and prayers, especially at a time like this, as “the 3 Baptists” of Japan.
10). In light of daily requests for information and offers to send financial support from foreign countries, we will continue to share information and prayer requests.
11). After the initial period of urgent relief work (1 month) we will make plans to support affected churches and areas in the mid- and long-terms.
10:30pm
Report from Rev. Fukuda of Hakodate:
Morioka Church (Morioka City):
Met with Revs. Masato and Ayako Osuga. Confirmed that all members are uninjured. Many are from the Sanriku area, and they are all worried for their hometowns.
The earthquake (experienced here as 6 on the shindo scale) caused a significant crack in the church building, and just prior to the earthquake heavy snow destroyed the roof of the pastorate.
Electricity, natural gas, and running water are all back on. The gasoline shortage is very severe (it seems to be completely unavailable all over the city). Food is scarce.
As details regarding the damage in their prefecture trickle in, their feelings of shock and fatigue increase.
Routes to the Sanriku area have been cleared, but only emergency vehicles are allowed to use them.
It has been reported that the Kita Kanto Area Association team entered the Sendai area. Rev. Fukuda decided not to go any further south and donated some gasoline to this church.
Morioka City is not often featured in the media, but they lack supplies necessary to their daily lives.
Also, Mr. and Mrs. Osuga were concerned that rescue supplies were not reaching Fukushima Prefecture because of the media coverage of the incident at the nuclear power plant, and they were greatly concerned about the conditions in Kouriyama City and Fukushima City.
Rev. Fukuda went back to Aomori from Morioka and then took a ferry back to Hakodate.
March 18th, 9:30pm: Rev. Fukuda returned home safely and would like to thank everyone for your prayers, from the bottom of his heart.
6:15pm From the Disaster Relief Headquarters:
The first-response emergency-supply transport team (one car, Mr. Ishii and Mr. Okada) of the Kita Kanto Area Association just returned at midnight on the 17th.
They visited churches in Sendai City and delivered supplies to them. They informed us that kerosene, food, and very basic supplies related to daily life and hygiene are needed.
They travelled a route first through Niigata, then Yamagata, and then on to Sendai. On their way home they experienced a heavy blizzard that caused low visibility and dangerous conditions.
Tomorrow, a second supply transport team consisting of four cars (personnel: Noguchi, Hamano, Takebayashi, Okada, Fukuda, and Andou) will depart.
Many have expressed their concern about the radiation leak from the nuclear power plant. The team will secure their safety to the best of their ability.
Regarding supplies, requests change from day to day.
As of March 17th, they need kerosene, portable stoves and their gas canisters, food, powdered milk, wet tissues, diapers, maxi-pads, etc.
5:30pm
Information Regarding Members of Sendai Church:
Sendai Church was able to confirm that all of their members were uninjured (73 active members).
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Outline of the situation to this point
1). Churches from the Tohoku Area Association, the Kita Kanto Area Association (especially Ibaraki Prefecture), and the Tokyo Area Association (especially Chiba Prefecture) experienced earthquakes measuring from 6 to 7 on the shindo scale.
We were unable to reach the Sendai area by phone until the 14th. We were greatly concerned, but none of the church buildings were severely damaged.
Some churches were unable to confirm the safety of all of their members, but to this point, no physical injuries have been reported.
2). With the severe cold weather and food shortages in mind, we began preparations to send supplies as soon as we could, with support from the Kita Kanto Area Association. However, we have not been able to help them directly since the highways are blocked, gasoline and supplies are lacking even in the Tokyo area, and the situation around the nuclear power plant is worsening.
3). On the 13th (Sunday) we sent 2 vans carrying 6 members of the BWAid rescue team “Rescue 24,” including members of their press department, driven by 2 attendees of the ministerial training program (held from March 10-11 at the JBC office) who have to this point been unable to return to their homes (Morioka Church and Sendai Church).
4). On the 16th (Thursday) we intended to send 3 vans of relief supplies gathered from churches of the Kita Kanto Area Association. However, as a safety precaution in light of the snowy road conditions, we were able to send only one van, via Niigata, Yamagata, and on to Sendai.
5). Tomorrow, on the 19th (Saturday) we will send 4 vans with relief supplies to Sendai and Ishimaki.
6). Also, on the 15th (Wednesday) in the middle of the night, Rev. Masayoshi Fukuda of Hakodate Mihara Church was sent off with prayers from his church members, and took a ferry to visit churches in Aomori and Iwate. Those churches did not have major damage to their church buildings, but because of the tsunami, ports were severely damaged. We are reminded of the importance of praying face to face with our brokenhearted brothers and sisters in Christ in the Tohoku region after such a disaster.
Rescue and Support from this point
1). In response to a request from JBC churches in the Sendai area to “please send relief supplies to the areas that need them most urgently,” we will dedicate a two-week period, starting today, to emergency support, and we will continue to send supplies not only to JBC churches, but also to other local churches already engaged in relief work, and shelters that require more food. Our goal will be to send supplies 4 times a week.
This will be done with the full support of the Kita Kanto Area Association.
2). We will continue to support those churches that are engaged in supporting affected areas.
3). Norcross Japanese Baptist Church of the United States will send their pastor, Rev. Sakamaki for two weeks (arriving on the 24th). The JBC will send him to Sendai to continue our research into which areas to support and how best to do so. We will support those areas, groups, and shelters (including homeless shelters) that are having difficulty receiving support from municipal offices.
4). We will continue to consider what types of support are needed for those people in the Kita Kanto and Tokyo areas who, although not directly impacted by the disaster, lost their jobs as a result of it, and those foreigners living in the Tokyo area who require assistance.
5). For those churches concerned about radiation damage to children and pregnant women, we will provide the JBC office as a shelter and we will provide transportation to the office.
6). When sending volunteers, we will pay careful attention to the ongoing reports of radiation damage and send them with extra caution.
7). The JBC Sexual Discrimination Issues Committee will send a request to the government that initiatives be taken toward preventing sexual violence within shelters such as that which occurred following the Hanshin/Awaji (Kobe) earthquake.
8). The Texas State Convention offered their support, and they will send Rev. Yutaka Takarada of North Texas Japanese Church, along with 2 specialists, next week, and we will collaborate with them.
9). There are many Japan Baptist Union (JBU) churches in the Tohoku area, so we will work closely with them as we support the victims of this disaster.
The Okinawa Convention (OBC) has already sent financial support to the JBU and the JBC. We hope to unify our efforts and prayers, especially at a time like this, as “the 3 Baptists” of Japan.
10). In light of daily requests for information and offers to send financial support from foreign countries, we will continue to share information and prayer requests.
11). After the initial period of urgent relief work (1 month) we will make plans to support affected churches and areas in the mid- and long-terms.
10:30pm
Report from Rev. Fukuda of Hakodate:
Morioka Church (Morioka City):
Met with Revs. Masato and Ayako Osuga. Confirmed that all members are uninjured. Many are from the Sanriku area, and they are all worried for their hometowns.
The earthquake (experienced here as 6 on the shindo scale) caused a significant crack in the church building, and just prior to the earthquake heavy snow destroyed the roof of the pastorate.
Electricity, natural gas, and running water are all back on. The gasoline shortage is very severe (it seems to be completely unavailable all over the city). Food is scarce.
As details regarding the damage in their prefecture trickle in, their feelings of shock and fatigue increase.
Routes to the Sanriku area have been cleared, but only emergency vehicles are allowed to use them.
It has been reported that the Kita Kanto Area Association team entered the Sendai area. Rev. Fukuda decided not to go any further south and donated some gasoline to this church.
Morioka City is not often featured in the media, but they lack supplies necessary to their daily lives.
Also, Mr. and Mrs. Osuga were concerned that rescue supplies were not reaching Fukushima Prefecture because of the media coverage of the incident at the nuclear power plant, and they were greatly concerned about the conditions in Kouriyama City and Fukushima City.
Rev. Fukuda went back to Aomori from Morioka and then took a ferry back to Hakodate.
March 18th, 9:30pm: Rev. Fukuda returned home safely and would like to thank everyone for your prayers, from the bottom of his heart.
6:15pm From the Disaster Relief Headquarters:
The first-response emergency-supply transport team (one car, Mr. Ishii and Mr. Okada) of the Kita Kanto Area Association just returned at midnight on the 17th.
They visited churches in Sendai City and delivered supplies to them. They informed us that kerosene, food, and very basic supplies related to daily life and hygiene are needed.
They travelled a route first through Niigata, then Yamagata, and then on to Sendai. On their way home they experienced a heavy blizzard that caused low visibility and dangerous conditions.
Tomorrow, a second supply transport team consisting of four cars (personnel: Noguchi, Hamano, Takebayashi, Okada, Fukuda, and Andou) will depart.
Many have expressed their concern about the radiation leak from the nuclear power plant. The team will secure their safety to the best of their ability.
Regarding supplies, requests change from day to day.
As of March 17th, they need kerosene, portable stoves and their gas canisters, food, powdered milk, wet tissues, diapers, maxi-pads, etc.
5:30pm
Information Regarding Members of Sendai Church:
Sendai Church was able to confirm that all of their members were uninjured (73 active members).
by baptist2
| 2011-03-19 23:59