We left the blistering heat in Thailand to find the local conditions very cold and has created a major hardship on many evacuees in the shelters. Just a couple of nights ago on our walk home, it began snowing! Supposedly it is even colder up north!
Next week we will leave for Sendai, which is one of the areas devastated by the tsunami. The goal is to connect with the local churches and work through them to meet the area needs. Lori will work at assessing the local buildings. Many of the churches have been destroyed or greatly damaged, so she will also look for solutions to repair the damaged buildings that will serve as forward operating bases. There is talk of possible building programs facilitated by CRASH for reconstruction efforts in the future. While in Sendai, Anders will be working at setting up operations at the first new base of operation.
CRASH stands for Christian Relief Assistance Support and Hope in answer to the crises. They have previously responded to eight disasters in other countries, and have figured out an excellent model for reaching the unreached. See the CRASH website for more information for continual updates: http://www.crashjapan.com/
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Working at the Command Center
Work has been continuing at the Command Center. Anders has been busy interviewing management and staff in preparation for modifications to the organizational structure. This process can be very long, but is moving forward quickly, as the organization is working towards having five base camps soon, and having the capacity to send out thousands of volunteers over the coming months!
Our host Mayumi and fellow consultant Erin who put on a team building workshop today!
Radioactive iodine was also found in the water, and declared by government authorities to be at unsafe levels for infants. Bottled water was subsequently cleared from the shelves in wake of that news. This should not be anything of concern, as these levels have now since declined and are within the safe zone. The radiation levels where we are at are also very low now, and are actually below the current readings of most metropolitan areas around the world. In the Alps of Austria they have a reading of .31 milliseverts/hour and here in Tokyo we are at .12!
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (The Message)
Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you've got, be resolute, and love without stopping.
 |
| From Japan Response |
Radioactive iodine was also found in the water, and declared by government authorities to be at unsafe levels for infants. Bottled water was subsequently cleared from the shelves in wake of that news. This should not be anything of concern, as these levels have now since declined and are within the safe zone. The radiation levels where we are at are also very low now, and are actually below the current readings of most metropolitan areas around the world. In the Alps of Austria they have a reading of .31 milliseverts/hour and here in Tokyo we are at .12!
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (The Message)
Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you've got, be resolute, and love without stopping.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Arrived- Tokyo!
Yes, it's been quite a lot to take into today, but we feel that we are ready to hit the ground running tomorrow.
Here's the latest: Anders will be working with the CRASH Director to properly set up their organizational structure to be functional for the long haul (5 year plan) and be capable of accepting 1000+ volunteers each month to aid in the rebuild effort by May of this year. Lori will be compiling intelligence into situation reports. Next week, she'll be assessing structures and providing emergency engineering support for retrofit of base camps and community centers next week in Sendai.
Discovered the kindness of the Japanese, as we seemed to be constantly getting turned around- even though there was that language barrier, they still held our hands, leading us to the right train and direction of travel! Thankfully most signs are also written in English!
Have a kind UK host who is putting us up in her house- we told her that they are just as much part of the relief effort as we are!
43 degrees Fahrenheit- Living in Thailand, we have forgotten what cold is. Maybe it doesn't help coming from 90 degree weather?
Here's the latest: Anders will be working with the CRASH Director to properly set up their organizational structure to be functional for the long haul (5 year plan) and be capable of accepting 1000+ volunteers each month to aid in the rebuild effort by May of this year. Lori will be compiling intelligence into situation reports. Next week, she'll be assessing structures and providing emergency engineering support for retrofit of base camps and community centers next week in Sendai.
 |
| From Japan Response |
Discovered the kindness of the Japanese, as we seemed to be constantly getting turned around- even though there was that language barrier, they still held our hands, leading us to the right train and direction of travel! Thankfully most signs are also written in English!
 |
| From Japan Response |
Have a kind UK host who is putting us up in her house- we told her that they are just as much part of the relief effort as we are!
43 degrees Fahrenheit- Living in Thailand, we have forgotten what cold is. Maybe it doesn't help coming from 90 degree weather?
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Japan Response
If the radiological situation continues to improve, we will be headed to Japan on Tuesday! We will be assisting CRASH www.crashjapan.com with the relief effort being mobilized from the base camp located just outside Tokyo. We will be helping them coordinate logistics of relief supplies to the hardest hit areas. They have already made connections with many Christian NGO’s such as Samaritan’s Purse and Food for the Hungry to get supplies into the disaster regions and shelters. As the situation is quite dynamic, we can’t be sure what to expect, but look forward to bringing an everlasting hope to the people. Our primary role upon arrival is planned to represent CRASH at cluster meetings to help them better coordinate among other relief agencies working in Japan.
Pray specifically for wisdom and protection. We will do our best to update the blog as regularly as possible (given local electricity and internet condition availability).
We are appealing for funds to assist in this and future relief efforts. Our goal is to raise $20,000 before March 31st! Help us help them! If you would like to give, you may do so by mailing a check made payable to IHS#210, PO BOX 14154, TULSA, OK 74159
IHS is a 501(c)3 registered non-profit organization, all donations through IHS are tax deductible.
If you aren’t looking for the tax-deductible status, you may donate to the Japan relief effort we're coordinating directly through Paypal.
 |
| From Japan Response |
Pray specifically for wisdom and protection. We will do our best to update the blog as regularly as possible (given local electricity and internet condition availability).
We are appealing for funds to assist in this and future relief efforts. Our goal is to raise $20,000 before March 31st! Help us help them! If you would like to give, you may do so by mailing a check made payable to IHS#210, PO BOX 14154, TULSA, OK 74159
IHS is a 501(c)3 registered non-profit organization, all donations through IHS are tax deductible.
If you aren’t looking for the tax-deductible status, you may donate to the Japan relief effort we're coordinating directly through Paypal.
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