Thank you so much for your outpouring of love and concern for us. I apologize that we have not been able to respond personally to most of the emails we've received! We would love to! Please know that we appreciate your prayers and that we appreciate the fact that you are letting us know that you are praying!
Yesterday, our fellow MTW missionaries near Tokyo were able to navigate the backroads (since all major roads and train lines are closed) with supplies into one of the hard hit areas in northern Japan. Apparently, the area they reached had not received any supplies since the earthquake even though there were hundreds of people in the emergency shelters. There are just too many people to help, that the government can't reach them all. A perfect time for the church to rise up! As the missionaries unloaded water bottles, the people in the shelter were crying for joy- not only for the needed commodity, but also that they were being cared for by strangers in another part of Japan.
Thus, our team in Nagoya and the churches of our presbytery are preparing to send trucks of supplies along with the missionaries near Tokyo. I may be able to drive a truck if my driver's license is approved.
Please pray!!!
That we will be able to get through to areas that desperately need these supplies
That God will provide the trucks necessary (renting trucks in March is next to impossible because it is when most people move before the new school year begins in April)
That God will provide the funds necessary to purchase and take the necessary supplies
That we will have the opportunity to proclaim Jesus' name as we carry out mercy ministry.
May these trucks be like the 5 loaves and 2 fish! Before He fed the groups of 5000 and of 4000 Matthew and Mark say that Jesus had compassion on the crowds. "When He went ashore He saw a great crowd, and He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd."
The areas hit by the quake are the least evangelized areas in Japan! May the light of His love shine through!
Here's the opportunity many of you have asked us about already. How can you help?
MTW has issued a Minuteman Appeal for Japan. The situation is unclear, and will be for some time, but we are committed to making a strong response. We do know that God has placed us in a position of strength with the depth of our team, their broad presence, and long ministry history in Japan. Please join MTW and our Japan team in urgent prayer that God will open many hearts to the gospel and that His Church will grow.
The account is 93993 Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. You may give online: click here . Or you may send a check to:
Mission to the World
P.O. Box 116284
Atlanta, GA 30368-6284
(Please be sure to write Project # 93993 on the memo line. )
Thank you for loving the people of Japan in word and in deed.
Thank you so much!
Tom, Teresa, Ian and Liana
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