JAPAN BAPTIST CONVENTION JBC Disaster Relief Committee Information

Distributing meals on the Oshika Peninsula on May 28th

Volunteers from the JBC Disaster Relief Headquarters served hot meals for the fourth time on Saturday the 21st at Ogihama Elementary School in Ishinomaki City. It was the 30th anniversary of their merging with a neighboring school. Thirteen energetic children were cheering and shouting under a blue sky with fishermen's large and colorful banners waving in the breeze. Upon the request of a representative from one of the refugee camps, two volunteer workers from the Sendai area helped with the work of reviving the local oyster farming industry. This was the 6th meal distribution in Kyubunhama, and the first one at Oginohama Middle School. A team of 24 volunteers, including some from the Sendai area were able to serve cheerfully with the prayer support of Rev. Akiyama. A Korean team from Mito Church prepared an authentic Korean dish bibimbap, which was greatly appreciated. We are thankful to the Christians all over Japan, and all over the world, who support these volunteers through offerings and prayers.

From yesterday's volunteer work and today's meal distribution

Volunteers from the JBC Disaster Relief Headquarters served hot meals for the
fourth time on Saturday the 21st at Ogihama Elementary School in Ishinomaki City. Upon the request of a representative from one of the refugee camps, two volunteer workers from the Sendai area helped with the work of reviving the local oyster farming industry.

Distributing meals at a school on Sports Day

Volunteers from the JBC Disaster Relief Headquarters served hot meals for the fourth time on Saturday the 21st at Ogihama Elementary School in Ishinomaki City. It was the 30th anniversary of their merging with a neighboring school. Thirteen energetic children were cheering and shouting under a blue sky with fishermen's large and colorful banners waving in the breeze.

May 19th 2011

We received many colorful paper cranes and letters from elementary, middle, and high schoolers, sent from Rhonde Marquardt Brackett High School in Texas. These paper cranes and letters will be delivered to a school in the affected area in Iwate Prefecture on Monday the 23rd.

Efforts to Support Disaster Areas

Listed below are some of the ways in which churches in disaster areas, as well as those areas themselves, are being supported. The vital Emergency Relief Fund, consisting of offerings from all of you, is being applied with great care in each support effort.

Support for church activities in disaster areas
Churches in affected areas are already developing various activities. These exhibit a wide range, including the provision of hot meals, listening closely, cleaning and sorting, clearing away mud, supporting the accommodation of volunteer workers, doing repair work, supporting shelters, performing funeral rites, providing spiritual support, etc. In each setting, the JBC's Emergency Relief Fund is being put to effective use.
One church provided some bedding and other items to a shelter in the severely damaged Ōfunato City. They were extremely pleased, and apparently replied “Today, finally, we will be able to sleep!”

Countermeasures against radioactive contamination
Currently, we have set up Geiger counters (radioactive particle detectors) in 3 churches in Fukushima Prefecture. We plan to do the same for churches in the Sendai area. We have received reports from those churches and their kindergartens expressing how helpful it is to be able to detect and measure the invisible radiation. On the 21st (this Saturday), there will be a lecture, including a question and answer session, titled “The Nuclear Accident: What to Know Now.” This will be an open lecture, so we hope that as many as possible will attend!

Concerning our relationship with shelters
We have been providing hot meals at the shelter in Oshika Peninsula in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture. Our basic stance is “establishing relationships with care.” Please remember this in your prayers. On the 21st (this Saturday), we will provide hot meals there for the 4th time. We are developing volunteer cleanup activities there as well.

May 12th to 14th

A team consisting of members from Kita Kanto and Tokyo distributed hot meals to people in shelters, helped people sort out their houses and did some cleaning in Ogihama and Kyubunhama, in Ishimaki City. They shoveled mud out of houses and rinsed them with water. Unfortunately, only a very small number houses were structurally sound enough to benefit from such cleaning.

May 4th

Nankodai Church distributed oshiruko (a sweet red-bean soup) at a shelter in Okada Elementary School in Miyabayashi Ward, Sendai City.











The Self Defense Force has been stationed in the shelter as they search for bodies in the debris, and have provided some meals to local residents there. However, it has been announced that the SDF will be leaving in mid-May, so the situation for those living in the shelter will become even more difficult.

May 2nd

A seminar on psychological care was provided by the Japan Baptist Convention's Research & Training Institute for Missions. Many pastors and staff ministers attended. There have been requests for more seminars for lay people, and for a seminar on the types of sermons that should be delivered in affected areas.