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.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Groundbreaking- Haven Children's Homes
Groundbreaking News:
The building project for the Haven Foundation just broke ground!! This was a year-long design project that Lori has been working on since January of 2010. Now, the construction is underway, and we are expecting wonderful things for this children’s home complex in the coming year! We expect to see lives changes by the power and love of God in these homes, and a message sent to the surrounding community.
This children’s home complex is beginning with 6 homes (of 4 bedrooms each) and a central chapel and dining building. The plan is to later replicate the plans as more land is acquired and the financial means secured. The goal of this complex is to create smaller homes than NGO (non-governmental organization) foundations normally construct, with only 8 children per home. Each home will have its own house parents, which will create a family unit, and not the traditional “institutional” feel of most orphanages.
Building Renderings
The groundbreaking ceremony was really an all day party…and so it should be! The kids and staff celebrated all day with a BBQ, games, Christmas presents, and worship. It was beautiful to see the excitement of the children as they began to see things coming together for their new home. Lori was honored for all her design & engineering work on the project. Congratulations Lori!
Pray for the children that will be living in these homes that they will know Jesus personally and their lives will be changed.
The building project for the Haven Foundation just broke ground!! This was a year-long design project that Lori has been working on since January of 2010. Now, the construction is underway, and we are expecting wonderful things for this children’s home complex in the coming year! We expect to see lives changes by the power and love of God in these homes, and a message sent to the surrounding community.
This children’s home complex is beginning with 6 homes (of 4 bedrooms each) and a central chapel and dining building. The plan is to later replicate the plans as more land is acquired and the financial means secured. The goal of this complex is to create smaller homes than NGO (non-governmental organization) foundations normally construct, with only 8 children per home. Each home will have its own house parents, which will create a family unit, and not the traditional “institutional” feel of most orphanages.
Building Renderings
The groundbreaking ceremony was really an all day party…and so it should be! The kids and staff celebrated all day with a BBQ, games, Christmas presents, and worship. It was beautiful to see the excitement of the children as they began to see things coming together for their new home. Lori was honored for all her design & engineering work on the project. Congratulations Lori!
Pray for the children that will be living in these homes that they will know Jesus personally and their lives will be changed.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Extra, Extra Two Weeks Only!!
We are back on tour in California for two weeks only! Reserve your tickets now!
If you'd like to hear some of our recent stories, come to one of our Speaking Engagements!
And, if you'd like to see how we are aging, share a laugh or a hug, come to one of our Open Houses!
We apologize that we are not able to visit each and every one personally, but would sure love and welcome each and every one of you to come see us!
Email us for further directions or even just to say "Hello"!
Check the blog and Twitter feeds for additional appearances, or if you prefer- updates to this schedule!
If you'd like to hear some of our recent stories, come to one of our Speaking Engagements!
- Tuesday, October 19th 1730 @ TBD, Thousand Oaks, CA
- Wednesday, October 20th 1100 @ Bethany Lutheran, Lompoc, CA
- Sunday, October 24th 0930 @ Calvary Baptist, Lompoc, CA
- Sunday, October 24th 1800 @ Calvary Baptist, Lompoc, CA
And, if you'd like to see how we are aging, share a laugh or a hug, come to one of our Open Houses!
- Tuesday, October 19th 1400-1630 @ Peg's, Thousands Oaks, CA
- Thursday, October 21st 1800-2100 @ Walnut Ranch, Lompoc, CA
- Friday, October 29th, 1800-2100 @ Duroy's, Modesto, CA
We apologize that we are not able to visit each and every one personally, but would sure love and welcome each and every one of you to come see us!
Email us for further directions or even just to say "Hello"!
Check the blog and Twitter feeds for additional appearances, or if you prefer- updates to this schedule!
Monday, September 13, 2010
Bob's Final Bridge!
Our dear friend, coffee-connoisseur, fellow engineer, great supporter, encourager, self-elected politician, wise sage, guitar hero and spiritual mentor passed on to glory this past week . We will miss him dearly. But, without being too selfish, we are glad that He is now celebrating, pain free, with his Creator!
He was a fine civil engineer. He certified the bridge to the farm where I grew up. It supported even the heaviest farm implement and concrete truck! He was a fine guitar player too- inspired me to begin learning at age 10! Even though I sounded horrible, he always encouraged me and never refused to let me play along with him! He could be incorrectly perceived to be rough around the edges with his jokes, but it was so easy to see through to his kind heart, inside reflecting his King of Kings!
How appropriate that we can share his final civil engineering project with you this week...
He helped us from this…
To this!
This will mark the grand entrance to soon to be constructed Life Impact Children's Home Complex, housing over fifty at-risk children. These kids have been rescued from a life of poverty, living on the streets and human trafficking.
Here's Lori, the engineer, to explain the basics: This is your basic steel/concrete bridge. The concrete in itself can't hold anything up, and neither can the small amount of steel that is used. But together, when the cement binds to the steel bar and wire cage, it becomes much stronger than the individual parts. The former bridge lacked a supporting foundation and structure underneath. Without a supporting structure, cracks formed in the bridge. Because it was not repaired with sealant and a supporting structure, moisture and air seeped into the inner structure of the concrete and began to corrode the steel, affecting the concrete's ability to bind to the steel, causing chunks to begin to fall away, to the further detriment of the bridge. As building structures are my specific engineering expertise, Bob came to the rescue with his civil engineering knowledge and experience. We settled on a very cost-effective and easy foundation… to use the earth itself!
Not only was this his final civil engineering achievement here on this earth, but the more I thought about him and the more I couldn't help but write about his lasting impressions, legacy and parallels to the field of engineering.
In many ways we are like bridges. We can handle much of the everyday traffic to and fro, but every once in a while, something heavy comes along, which is hard to handle. If God is not there as our supporting structure, then we have nothing to lean on, so we bend and eventually fail.
We were constructed well from the beginning, with a soul, like steel in a bridge. But , if the bridge isn't inspected and properly maintained, sin, like moisture, gets in and begins eating away at us. The corrosion seems minor at first, but before we know it, the rust has rapidly spread and as the concrete that was previously bound to the steel begins to break away, so are pieces of our hearts also torn away.
Without God we are like an old broken bridge, like the first picture above, swaying to and fro, not sure where to go or what really to do. People run us over which leaves us cracked, broken and worn down over time. We can hold ourselves together for a little while, but at some point we'll crumble and eventually fail. The bridge was broken almost to the point of failure, but thankfully Lori recognized it beforehand. Neither when we are properly maintained, we're left cracked and broken like that old bridge. But, that is until we see who Christ is, in His radiance and glory, and He makes us into a new person and provides us that supporting structure.
Not only did he do a fine job in the field of engineering, but many this week honor him for his fine Christ-like influence. Thanks Bob! We'll see you again before we know it!
He was a fine civil engineer. He certified the bridge to the farm where I grew up. It supported even the heaviest farm implement and concrete truck! He was a fine guitar player too- inspired me to begin learning at age 10! Even though I sounded horrible, he always encouraged me and never refused to let me play along with him! He could be incorrectly perceived to be rough around the edges with his jokes, but it was so easy to see through to his kind heart, inside reflecting his King of Kings!
How appropriate that we can share his final civil engineering project with you this week...
He helped us from this…
To this!
This will mark the grand entrance to soon to be constructed Life Impact Children's Home Complex, housing over fifty at-risk children. These kids have been rescued from a life of poverty, living on the streets and human trafficking.
Here's Lori, the engineer, to explain the basics: This is your basic steel/concrete bridge. The concrete in itself can't hold anything up, and neither can the small amount of steel that is used. But together, when the cement binds to the steel bar and wire cage, it becomes much stronger than the individual parts. The former bridge lacked a supporting foundation and structure underneath. Without a supporting structure, cracks formed in the bridge. Because it was not repaired with sealant and a supporting structure, moisture and air seeped into the inner structure of the concrete and began to corrode the steel, affecting the concrete's ability to bind to the steel, causing chunks to begin to fall away, to the further detriment of the bridge. As building structures are my specific engineering expertise, Bob came to the rescue with his civil engineering knowledge and experience. We settled on a very cost-effective and easy foundation… to use the earth itself!
Not only was this his final civil engineering achievement here on this earth, but the more I thought about him and the more I couldn't help but write about his lasting impressions, legacy and parallels to the field of engineering.
In many ways we are like bridges. We can handle much of the everyday traffic to and fro, but every once in a while, something heavy comes along, which is hard to handle. If God is not there as our supporting structure, then we have nothing to lean on, so we bend and eventually fail.
We were constructed well from the beginning, with a soul, like steel in a bridge. But , if the bridge isn't inspected and properly maintained, sin, like moisture, gets in and begins eating away at us. The corrosion seems minor at first, but before we know it, the rust has rapidly spread and as the concrete that was previously bound to the steel begins to break away, so are pieces of our hearts also torn away.
Without God we are like an old broken bridge, like the first picture above, swaying to and fro, not sure where to go or what really to do. People run us over which leaves us cracked, broken and worn down over time. We can hold ourselves together for a little while, but at some point we'll crumble and eventually fail. The bridge was broken almost to the point of failure, but thankfully Lori recognized it beforehand. Neither when we are properly maintained, we're left cracked and broken like that old bridge. But, that is until we see who Christ is, in His radiance and glory, and He makes us into a new person and provides us that supporting structure.
Not only did he do a fine job in the field of engineering, but many this week honor him for his fine Christ-like influence. Thanks Bob! We'll see you again before we know it!
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