Three things you can do to help right now:
1. Pray. Pray that relief efforts will bless, not burden, the Japanese.
Pray for those whose world has been turned upside down. Pray for the families that were torn apart at 2:45 in the afternoon while mom or dad was at work and the kids were at school or home with grandma and grandpa.
Pray for wisdom and protection for those trying to help. Any time there is a massive exchange of goods, services and money, you can bet Satan will be there to try and stir things up. Please pray that those who want to help Japan are sensitive first and foremost to the needs and leadership of the Japanese themselves. And pray that the Japanese will be guarded from divisiveness and envy–that they will have wisdom and courage to do what God calls them to in this crisis.
2. Give. Generate funds and volunteer to serve.
Some have the perception that because Japan is a wealthy nation, it will be able to absorb the cost of this disaster. This is not true. In a meeting with a Red Cross representative recently, we were reminded that no nation can absorb a disaster of this magnitude. Japan needs your help.
We use the term ‘generate funds’ to encourage you to brainstorm ways you and your organization might generate additional funds for disaster relief in Japan in addition to making a personal donation today.
As the infrastructure in the most affected areas improves, teams will be needed to help clean up and rebuild, as well as to minister to the many families who have lost so much. Will you come with a towel in your hand and be the face, hands and feet of Jesus to someone?
For details on where to send funds or how you can volunteer, click here.
3. Remember, and help others remember, Japan in the months to come.
In addition to Japan’s reputation as a wealthy and self-sufficient nation, two other items are hindering support for this ministry. First, the break in the infrastructure (especially the gasoline supply) was so widespread that many relief organizations have been told to wait until the supply chain is connected between the ports of entry (docks and airports) and the most affected areas. This pause in action is making it difficult to raise the necessary awareness of the pressing needs in Japan.
Second, the ongoing crisis with the nuclear reactors in Fukushima is drawing the attention away from the needs of the folks in the emergency shelters in northeastern Japan. Some 300,000 to 450,000 people are currently trying to eek out an existence in some 2,500 makeshift shelters. In other areas, the bath of seawater has caused terrible rusting and damage to structures and sewage systems. As news agencies turn to other matters, so does the attention of so many who can still help Japan.
The word from the NPOs is that in the first month after the crisis, they need to raise enough money to sustain the duration of the relief work–in this case somewhere between 3 to 10 years or more! Please don’t forget Japan.
God bless you!
