Faith Baptist Church
Love God Love People
Working hard to reach and love people for Christ.
Faith Baptist Church
616 W. Lincoln
Cheboygan, MI 49721
ph: 231-627-2135
hesselin
Joyce Oshiro
Japan
My sister June and I are in different areas of the country with different needs. June and her family are in an area closer to the center of the quakes, and they still have electricity and gas, but no running water, so people need to stand in lines at local parks to get drinking water, a few gallons at a time.
I, being in the Tokyo area, have plenty of water, but the Tokyo power company is working desperately on plans to keep from running out of power, because losing the nuclear plants have made it impossible to keep up with normal needs. They're talking about deliberate daily power outages, but trying to figure out how to handle all the problems with trains, traffic lights, people with medical equipment, etc. Of course, we're praying they're able to keep the reactors under control and prevent a meltdown. The plants are actually closer to June, but they provide power for us down here in Tokyo.
June's daughter Emily has been camping out in my apartment a good bit of the time, in order to save heating/utilities. She was planning to go home this week for spring break, but now we don't know if she can. The roads aren't open yet, for one thing, and June doesn't know if she should come because of their water situation. I'm glad to have her here because she can read the Japanese captions on the TV news broadcasts which I can't, and explain the terms I don't understand.
I'm thankful that my parents, down in Okinawa, are far enough away so they're not affected by any of this. They did receive tsunami warnings, but that turned out to be quite benign.
Quakes are still continuing. It's quite nerve-wracking every time we feel another tremor, wondering if it's going to be a big one. It's awful that thousands of people are still missing. Emily was worried sick about one of her friends who goes to a college in Sendai, one of the disaster areas, because she couldn't get thru to her. But she finally was able to get her on the phone yesterday, so is VERY relieved that her friend is still alive! This is an unsaved girl that she'd invited to our spring camp at the end of this month, so we're thankful for the Lord sparing her so she can hear the gospel.
I sometimes find myself getting tired of keeping an eye on the news: how many more bodies they've found, how strong the last quake was, which trains are running or not running, which areas will have a power outage, yet another problem with the nuclear power plants, etc., etc. In the time it's taken me to write this, circumstances have changed several times, and no doubt will have changed again by the time you read this. We're definitely seeing that nothing is certain except the Lord's sovereignty. But that is more than enough! Please keep us in prayer, that more Japanese people may come to know certainty in our totally trustworthy Lord.
Resting in His sovereignty,
Joyce
Subject: One month later
One month after the earthquake that has significantly changed our lives in the eastern half of Japan! Things are slowly beginning to return to normal, but aftershocks are still part of daily life, and we had 2 especially large ones this past week. The first was last Thurs. night, at 11:32 PM, and the second was today at 5:16 PM, both with magnitudes over 7. I was home both times, and grabbed my emergency bag and prepared for my escape. Tonight, we continued to have smaller aftershocks (most over M4) for several hours. Not too bad down here, but must've been considerably worse up in Fukushima, where most of the quakes were centered. Some places up north had finally gotten their electricity restored, only to have it knocked out again by the aftershocks. And of course, the nuclear power plants continue to be of great concern to the whole country.
In the midst of all this fear and tension, we are continuing to go out with our message of hope. Our Joy Club last Saturday was attended by 5 children (all boys!), who along with their crafts and refreshments also heard the gospel. Next Sunday, we will be having another movie outreach, this time showing "Facing the Giants." Our members have been busy passing out fliers and are praying for the Lord to use this opportunity to show people the source of true strength and courage to face the giants in their lives.
On the home front, a highlight of my last week was being able to attend my nephew Raymond's high school entrance ceremony. It was the first I'd ever seen, and I was impressed by its gravity, where every student was called by name, much like a graduation. Very reflective of the society where there's fierce competition to get into schools and students have worked hard to get past their entrance exams. I could tell Raymond was very happy to be there! It's a commercial high school, and he will be majoring in computer science.
Another answer to prayer is that Raymond has come to church with us the last 2 Sundays. He hadn't been in church for over a year, so we're thankful for this opportunity to make another change in his life. Another boy in our church is close to his age, and they seemed to hit it off, so we hope that will encourage him to keep coming. Could you please remember him in prayer, that he would look to the Lord and choose to live for Him?
Now that the expressways are open, I'm planning a trip to Fukushima with my sister June and Raymond next weekend. Since they had no idea how long-term their stay would be, they came with only one backpack apiece. So we need to go in order to get more of their belongings, and also to do necessary paperwork for their move. We need to get pictures of damage to their home in order for them to receive earthquake evacuee status, which is required for Raymond's high-school acceptance. I sure hope they have water service back in thier house! June also looks forward to going to her church again, since their hasty exodus didn't give her a chance to say her good-byes last time. Now, if those quakes could stay away during our time there!
Would you please keep us in your prayers, that the Lord would continue to give us opportunities to share His love with others during the aftermath of these earthquakes, and that Christians here would be strengthened in their faith to be more powerful witnesses for Him? We certainly need to cling to our sure Foundation, in order not to be shaken by all the changes in our circumstances. Thank you so much for standing behind me.
Resting on the Solid Rock,
Joyce
P.S. Well, it's now Tues. morning, and we just had another M6.2 quake at 8:08 AM--this time in Chiba, which is in the eastern Tokyo area, a lot closer to me. I sure kept my shower short! :-) Taking off for Bible school . . . .
Faith Baptist Church
616 W. Lincoln
Cheboygan, MI 49721
ph: 231-627-2135
hesselin
