April 15th, on our way back to Shikoku, we stopped at the warehouse for relief supplies that Samaritans Purse and Food for the Hungry were sharing in Sendai.
March 11, northeastern Japan was hit by a devastating 9.0 earthquake, but it was the tsunami that killed the majority of the dead. The radiation from the Fukushima nuclear plant added to the destruction. In the face of all this, people rose up to help.
I would affirm that the victims do need prayer, food, clothing, housing and etc.. But I think they need people even more. Our team with Kuma-chan, Pastor Kumada, served Oginohama Elementary School a hot meal- yakitori. But it was even more than the yakitori. It was knowing that someone cared about you. It was knowing that someone came all the way from Shikoku. It was knowing that even a foreigner came.
Christ is truly our example of incarnational service. The heart of our gospel is the fact that ”God became man.” The God we love and serve is a personal God.
However, man's love does have it's limitations. There is only so much we can do for them. There is so much suffering. So Christ is not only our example, He is our Savior. Christ suffered and died in our place that we may know God who touches our lives. He can really make a difference. As the world celebrates today April 24, we are reminded that He rose again in history, declaring His power over even death. And we've seen much death in northeastern Japan.
People who have served the victims in Tohoku are a testimony to the kindness of the personal God- Jesus Christ- who visits people in their misery. Praise His name!
