At the beginning of 2012 Cindy and I began our journeys between the Tohoku Region of Northeast Japan, which was affected by the earthquake and subsequent tsunami, and our residence in Osaka. The trip one way is around 750 miles.
Since then we have served in the disaster area 6 times. We normally stay between 1 to 2 months each time.
Each time we visited we worked with survivors to bring some physical, emotional, and spiritual relief. In the area there are many physical hurdles to overcome such as the lack of funds for people who lost homes to rebuild, devastated neighborhoods that remain desolate, and local and national government decisions that prohibit many from moving back to their old neighborhoods. This has caused despair among many people in temporary housing.
Because of those who continue to give generously to the International Mission Board and the Lottie Moon Offering we have been able to meet some physical needs. But more importantly, through meeting the physical needs of people in this affected area IMB missionaries have provided emotional and spiritual help as well. We have been able to visit some victims more than once.
As we return to revisit, some of these folks say, “You are back! You did not forget us!” It is important that victims understand we have not forgotten them, but the message that we try to convey is “God has not forgotten you, and He never will!”
Our desire is that the Good News of God’s love for mankind in the form of His Son, Jesus Christ, will be experienced through our love
for and assistance to each individual.
Cindy and I want those we have come into contact with to be able to rejoice when they understand God knows them so well He even
knows the numbers of hairs on their heads.
During this Christmas please pray with us that Japan will come to understand that there is cause for rejoicing, even in the midst of
tragedy and disaster.
“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.” 1 John 4:9
By: Ron Reynolds
