2. Part: As a volunteer to Tohoku in the disaster area, five weeks after the earthquake.

After all the first day experienced I needed a little distance inside myself and made a small path around the block, where we had parked our car. I wondered about all the sandbags in front of the entrance doors and at a corner I suddenly discovered houses that where standing in the flood. What has happened now? People had been so far through a lot of worse, is it not enough, I thought by myself? Where is this water now came from? As I stood there the owner a man with a red raincoat and a backpack came up to me and explained that he and other residents had to fight another problem: the flood which overflow the first floor of all the houses in this district. The reason why this happended I did not completely understood what he explained me, anyway his first floor of the house now up to his knees is under water. He currently live in the 2nd floor. When we got to talk, he pointed to his backpack and joked, "Now I wear my wife with me always." At first I did not quite understood what he meant. Than he told me that his wife died five years ago. The most important things for him, is not the bank account or ID card, which people usually carry with them when they suddenly have to escape ... instead of this for him the most important thing is the urn of his wife. Because he did not know what will come next, he decided to carry the box with her bones with him always. It would help him to overcome his loneliness, he said. I realized this day that the Japanese do have their own views on salvation and the relationship to the deceased. They believe that their souls are around them even after death. For me as a christian this is not acceptable. That day it was not easy for me to see all these people with their grief and sorrow. It was one of the hardest day to say goodbye to them and leave them alone in their helpless situation. 

overflooded houses                   a man with backpack                        one of our distribute place

My first trip to Sendai

On Tuesday 19 April I took a night bus to Sendai and arrived next morning at 7:10 clock  their. Than I went to the center of the Organisation „Food for the Hungry“, to start with other helpers for our first destination: Ishinomaki. On the way we stopped by a large material storage and packed our bus brimming with boxes of materials like water, some food: such as vegetables, instant cup noodles, rice, soups, then we chose several pieces of clothe of all kinds for men, women, kids, baby, children's books and everyday things like toilet paper, tissues, etc. .. then the ride was over bumpy roads badly damaged by the quake on to Ishinomaki to share the things with lovely Japanese, who are despirately in need, because of the damage of the earthqake. 

This time we are not planing to go first to some of the camps, because people are there at the moment supplied regularly with food and the necessary daily needs, but there are many other people right now who have survived in their homes, but have no chance to go out to buy something. Because the daily stores were destroyed in their city. On the way to the first destination their I saw a picture of horror. I have no words, it is just like a big disaster. All about garbage, mud, the tsunami has washed out everything. A picture of horror, as after the war. 

What a devastation? Unthinkable? Arriving at the first destination, we went to the houses near by and rang the bell to announce to the owners that we have brought for them some good food and goodies. First the people were a little shy but as soon as the first people come to our vans to discover what we brought for them, other joined us too. Everyone took with lot of thanks in their hearts things we brought for them. Their faces where sad and frightened faces. But when we distribute some balloons and sweets to children, there came a big smile on their faces. When I carried the goods to their homes, I saw how dilapidated and poor their homes were. Although they were spared by the tsunami, but many things from the strong earthquake and some aftershocks had been destroyed and broken things were spread around the yard. 

  Child's smile, "Everyone who makes others happy will recieve a lot of joy!" 

I was at the end of this first day very happy to watch how these needy people went home with full bags. It was a big present for me to make others happy. Then we went to two other places, and experienced similar situations: first, some kind of hesitation and uncertainty, but then a special joy over the recieved things. I am reminded on the Biblevers: "To give is more blessed than to receive!" 

Earthquake in Japan- Prayerrequests

Here are guidelines and prayerrequests after the big Earthquake, which hit Japan recently. Thanks so much for your prayers. That´s what Japan needs most!
click here for detail prayerrequests:  Crash   -love on Japan.

Small Group

Yesterday we gathered together and have had a great time of sharing and fellowship. It´s so good to hear from each other and meeting together. Everyone faces new challenges and changes this year, but we trust, that with God´s help we can master it. One is going back to Australia soon and is looking for a new job, another one want´s to stand firm in the company and be strong in her own opinion, one is praying for guidance towards her future work and another one want´s to express her feelings more honest and not hesitate. How about you? What are your plans for this year?

Biblevers 2011

Every Year there is an annual biblevers choosen. For this year it is Romans 12, 21: „ Don´t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good!“ Let´s first have a look to this nice card. There is at first the tear of the „Evil“, which we do experience daily in our life. The Evil= Satan did his first bad work, when he could convinst Adam and Eve to eat from the forbidden fruit. Then, the tear between human and God was born. Thats why every human been naturaly seperated from God. You can read about it on the very first pages of the Bibel gen 3. Adam and Eva didn´t listen to God´s command. This has led to the quarrel between the first children of Adam and Eve: Cain and Abel. The results are: Fight, wars, unforgivness and revenge. Do you see the precise glance of the warm yellow light, which shines in the background of the tear. The light is a symbol for God, his glory and his greatest miracle: the resurrection of Jesus Christ. On the cross almost 2000 years ago he, Jesus, defeated Satan (the one, who destroys everything). The Evil is already defeated! The victory is in Jesus Christ! The light shines deep in the ditch and gives hope for a change. Do you see the tender red bridge over there? This means the dear love of Jesus Christ on the cross for us. Where are you focusing your eyes right now? On the big tear which means „conquer evil by doing evil' or are you looking to the bridge of love, which means „ conquer evil by doing good“. Conquer evil by doing good, this is the solution and the content of our annual slogan. Paul want´s to remind us: conquer evil by doing good! Unfortinatelly I have to say, to write down this trues is much easier than to do it in every day life. We fail, if we wnat to do this through our own strength. Which tears of Evil are there right now in your life? Do pray to f Jesus Christ, that he will help you to overcome evil with good. In this sense I wish you a sucessful NEW Year and the rich blessing of God. May He strengthen you and give you the willingness to forgive each other daily. 

Christmas is more than a nice wrapped present

Christmas is more than something like a nice wrapped packege! In Japan the outside looking is the most important thing, the good packaging. Every year all the Christmas preparations are wonderful even so in Japan. At the railway station, the Nagoya city, the castle, the streets, the shops and even some houses are nice decorated. In the shops you can hear the famous Christmas music, for example " Jesus Christ our Savior is born ... ", and still 99% of the population does not know, why we are celebrating Christmas every year. It looks like a wonderful wrapped present, but without content. Here it is again: just only focusing on the proper outside looking only! But this is a big mistake. What should be celebrated? It is the  "Child in the cradle, which we adore ! Yes, the most important thing on Christmas is still " the child in the cradle, Jesus Christ! Who wants to celebrate Christmas  without him, is someone who is only focusing on the packaging, not on the content. I do pray that in all the many Christmas- celebrations around Japan this will be come through: Christmas is to adore Jesus Christ, our saviour, who came 200 years ago to us on this earth. Thanks be to HIM!