Tobie de Wet and Stephan van der Watt (delegates of Tobie de Wet and Stephan van der Watt (delegates of Mission Japan) were accompanied by Rev. Kei Mission Japan) were accompanied by Rev. Kei

Kataoka (delegated by the RCJ* Shikoku Presbytery Kataoka (delegated by the RCJ* Shikoku Presbytery as well as Tokushima en Tokushima West as well as Tokushima en Tokushima West

congregations). congregations). Rev. Taka Ashida (delegate of RCJ Synodal Rev. Taka Ashida (delegate of RCJ Synodal

Commission for International Relations) acted as Commission for International Relations) acted as our escort.our escort.

*RCJ = Reformed Church in Japan*RCJ = Reformed Church in Japan

Feedback on visit to disaster areaFeedback on visit to disaster area in North-Eastern Japan from in North-Eastern Japan from

Tu. 29 March to Th. 31 March 2011Tu. 29 March to Th. 31 March 2011

The main purpose of our visit was to: 1) Visit as many RCJ congregations in the region as possible

and to assure them personally of our love, prayers and support;

2) Assess first-hand the actual situation and the needs of the people in the disaster area;

3) Determine what the local congregations were doing to help deal with the immediate needs of the

afflicted communities;4) Hear what the long term plans of the Church at

grass-roots level are to help deal with the situation;5) Provide feedback as soon as possible and to discern

in which way Mission Japan and the broader Church in South Africa could support churches within the disaster area to help relieve the need of surrounding communities.

On the way from Tokushima to Sendai On the way from Tokushima to Sendai (about 1000km)(about 1000km)

Police officers in readiness Police officers in readiness on the way to disaster areaon the way to disaster area

Japanese defence force members Japanese defence force members set and ready with first aidset and ready with first aid

Praying for guidance on the road ahead with Praying for guidance on the road ahead with Japanese pastor-friendsJapanese pastor-friends

Point of Call 1: RCJ Shiroishi Point of Call 1: RCJ Shiroishi

Aiba couple – part of a 6th generation Christians Aiba couple – part of a 6th generation Christians who initially helped establish churches in Tohoku who initially helped establish churches in Tohoku

RegionRegion

Earthquake Earthquake damage in damage in

Aiba Aiba couple’s couple’s

homehome

Front wall of Front wall of RCJ Shiroishi RCJ Shiroishi

church collapsed church collapsed as result of as result of the quakethe quake

Point of Call 2 – RCJ Watari Mission StationPoint of Call 2 – RCJ Watari Mission Station

A colleague off-loading emergency suppliesA colleague off-loading emergency supplies

Tobie with Mr Inomata - (rice)bread-baker Tobie with Mr Inomata - (rice)bread-baker and member of RCJ Watari and member of RCJ Watari

The local nursery school utilized as part of the The local nursery school utilized as part of the mission station (all are safe, mission station (all are safe,

including Rev. Hayashi, local pastor)including Rev. Hayashi, local pastor)

Point of Call 3: Yamashita Railway Point of Call 3: Yamashita Railway StationStation

Destruction exposed at Destruction exposed at Yamashita Station (close by RCJ Watari)Yamashita Station (close by RCJ Watari)

The last memory of a grandmotherThe last memory of a grandmotherand her grandchild...and her grandchild...

The vehicle in which their bodies The vehicle in which their bodies had been discoveredhad been discovered

Cars had been swept Cars had been swept along like pieces of toysalong like pieces of toys

One neighbourhood after the other lies One neighbourhood after the other lies destitute, devoid of children’s voicesdestitute, devoid of children’s voices

Crockery had been flung about ending up Crockery had been flung about ending up on desolate railway trackson desolate railway tracks

Mr Inomata speaking heatedly about Mr Inomata speaking heatedly about everything he lost owing to the tsunamieverything he lost owing to the tsunami......

His bread-bakery was also His bread-bakery was also destroyed by the flood waters destroyed by the flood waters

Mr Inomata’s bakery partner, Mr Abe Mr Inomata’s bakery partner, Mr Abe (his home in the background was also hit hard)(his home in the background was also hit hard)

The first floor of Mr Abe’s home The first floor of Mr Abe’s home was completely flooded.was completely flooded.

Point of Call 4 – RCJ SendaiPoint of Call 4 – RCJ Sendai

Supper with our colleagues from around Tokyo Supper with our colleagues from around Tokyo (who also visited the disaster areas)(who also visited the disaster areas)

Earthquake damage at RCJ Sendai congregation. Earthquake damage at RCJ Sendai congregation. Rev. Yoshida (RCJ Moderator) is the pastor hereRev. Yoshida (RCJ Moderator) is the pastor here

Rev. Kataoka sorting basic provisions Rev. Kataoka sorting basic provisions at RCJ Sendai distribution pointat RCJ Sendai distribution point

Point of Call 5 – Takayama Point of Call 5 – Takayama (missionary holiday resort)(missionary holiday resort)

Fuel is still very scarce and most people Fuel is still very scarce and most people have to stand in long queues to get somehave to stand in long queues to get some

The distorted tsunami warning signboard of the The distorted tsunami warning signboard of the missionary holiday resort at Takayamamissionary holiday resort at Takayama

Somebody’s shoe was left behind Somebody’s shoe was left behind amongst the debris on Takayama beachamongst the debris on Takayama beach

The car of one of the missionaries (Rod Thomas) The car of one of the missionaries (Rod Thomas) was swept away at the entrance to the resortwas swept away at the entrance to the resort

Point of Call 6 – RCJ IshinomakiPoint of Call 6 – RCJ Ishinomaki

Rev. Shiratsu from RCJ Ishinomaki Rev. Shiratsu from RCJ Ishinomaki embraced by our group leader (Rev. Taka)embraced by our group leader (Rev. Taka)

The church building of RCJ Ishinomaki The church building of RCJ Ishinomaki was hard hit by the tsunamiwas hard hit by the tsunami

Rev. Shiratsu shows how the earthquake Rev. Shiratsu shows how the earthquake damaged the manse next doordamaged the manse next door

A group of RCJ volunteers had come to help A group of RCJ volunteers had come to help with cleaning up operations (at Ishinomaki)with cleaning up operations (at Ishinomaki)

Rev. Taka (and Tobie) with his children (Kana Rev. Taka (and Tobie) with his children (Kana and Tooru) who also helped as volunteersand Tooru) who also helped as volunteers

Most of the neighbouring Ishinomaki Most of the neighbouring Ishinomaki coastline turned into a heap of rubblecoastline turned into a heap of rubble

Policemen cleaning upPolicemen cleaning up

Point of Call 7 - OnagawaPoint of Call 7 - Onagawa

At Onagawa the tsunami wave was higher than At Onagawa the tsunami wave was higher than 20m, more than 2000 people dead or missing.20m, more than 2000 people dead or missing.

Like so many others looking for what is left of Like so many others looking for what is left of an ‘earlier' life amongst the rubble...an ‘earlier' life amongst the rubble...

A dejected worker contemplating the devastated A dejected worker contemplating the devastated Onagawa (more than 10 000 people had lived there)Onagawa (more than 10 000 people had lived there)

A specialist team of rescue workers from A specialist team of rescue workers from India, looking for bodily remainsIndia, looking for bodily remains

Mr Kimura points to his car on the 3rd floor Mr Kimura points to his car on the 3rd floor of a building – he had a very narrow escape of a building – he had a very narrow escape

ahead of the flood waters.ahead of the flood waters.

This entrance to the hospital in Onagawa This entrance to the hospital in Onagawa is more than 25 m above sea level!is more than 25 m above sea level!

A clock on the first floor of the hospital tells the story. It A clock on the first floor of the hospital tells the story. It stopped 50 minutes after the earthquake...stopped 50 minutes after the earthquake...

the point in time of the advent of the tsunami.the point in time of the advent of the tsunami.

A few of the more than 2300 A few of the more than 2300 people at a shelter in Onagawapeople at a shelter in Onagawa

A distribution point for emergency A distribution point for emergency relief via the Japanese governmentrelief via the Japanese government

People from all over the world People from all over the world extending a helping handextending a helping hand

The damage to Onagawa is The damage to Onagawa is immeasurably wide and deep and highimmeasurably wide and deep and high

Point of Call 8 – Driving Northwards from Onagawa Point of Call 8 – Driving Northwards from Onagawa along the coastline past several small villagesalong the coastline past several small villages

Homes that had been tossed about at Homes that had been tossed about at a village North of Onagawaa village North of Onagawa

This man and his family survived; he is looking for This man and his family survived; he is looking for possessions of friends who had lost everything.possessions of friends who had lost everything.

The infra-structure of another village lies destroyed – The infra-structure of another village lies destroyed – many years of repairs and recovery lie aheadmany years of repairs and recovery lie ahead

The future of local fishing enterprises lay The future of local fishing enterprises lay torn to pieces on dry landtorn to pieces on dry land

Points of Call 9-14: Other RCJ congregations, relief-Points of Call 9-14: Other RCJ congregations, relief-organizations and broader church groups in Sendaiorganizations and broader church groups in Sendai

Praying and talking together at RCJ SendaiPraying and talking together at RCJ SendaiEast, after a long day’s voluntary relief workEast, after a long day’s voluntary relief work

Provisions at RCJ Sendai East (and Rev. Tateishi Provisions at RCJ Sendai East (and Rev. Tateishi as pastor) to be distributed in communityas pastor) to be distributed in community

RCJ Sendai-Kaanan church building is RCJ Sendai-Kaanan church building is unaffected after the earthquakeunaffected after the earthquake

Local pastor (Rev. Yoshioka) with goods from the Local pastor (Rev. Yoshioka) with goods from the congregation that will be taken to children and the elderlycongregation that will be taken to children and the elderly

Conversing with fellow-missionaries at Conversing with fellow-missionaries at RCJ Sendai-Megumi congregationRCJ Sendai-Megumi congregation

Distribution point of a Distribution point of a USA relief organizationUSA relief organization

Rows of bicycle are standing ready to be Rows of bicycle are standing ready to be transported to needy disaster victims transported to needy disaster victims

International volunteers planning the International volunteers planning the destination of the next consignmentdestination of the next consignment

RCJ Sendai Kitanakayama RCJ Sendai Kitanakayama congregation in a residential areacongregation in a residential area

Rev. Sakamoto (local pastor) Rev. Sakamoto (local pastor) indicating damage after the quakeindicating damage after the quake

Interdenominational meeting - leaders of various Interdenominational meeting - leaders of various Protestant and Roman-Catholic churches in Sendai region Protestant and Roman-Catholic churches in Sendai region

– planning next steps of coordinated relief aid– planning next steps of coordinated relief aid

Rev. Yoshida (RCJ Moderator) as chairperson of Rev. Yoshida (RCJ Moderator) as chairperson of the interdenominational initiative (with histhe interdenominational initiative (with hiscolleague from a Roman Catholic Church)colleague from a Roman Catholic Church)

Various church groups - also an international Various church groups - also an international rescue team from a Baptist church - are involvedrescue team from a Baptist church - are involved

On the way back to Tokushima after 3 intensive On the way back to Tokushima after 3 intensive days, the last signs of winter to be seen...days, the last signs of winter to be seen...

...and the first signs of spring ...and the first signs of spring (near Watari mission station(near Watari mission station))

The distress call from Japan is The distress call from Japan is unmistakableunmistakable……

And in this disaster-stricken country there are at present

only about 1% Christians. They are your brothers en sisters

who, with the millions of people in Japan need your support.

Please pray that from this misery and heartrending pain there will be countless people who will know for the first time:

“Suffering produces perseverance, Perseverance, character; and character, hope.

And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our

hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.”

(Romans 5:3-5)

Thank you very much for the support we as missionaries

and church in Japan have already received from you!

This inspires us…

Mission Japan Disaster Fund

(051) 406 6729

For a comprehensive report on this visit to the disaster area, and on how to

become more involved go to:

www.missiejapan.co.zaEmail: stephan@missiejapan.co.za