Sunday AM updates from OPC Disaster Response Coordinator, Dave Nakhla and Japan Missionaries Cal Cummings and Woody Lauer

Update from David Nakhla, OPC Disaster Response Coordinator;

Three weeks have now passed since the news of the earthquake and tsunami hitting right off the coast of Japan, near Sendai. As this story slides from the top story in the news, it still remains imminently front and center in the eyes, minds, and hearts of our missionaries in Japan and those with whom they labor.

The Lord has answered many of our prayers over these weeks and we are encouraged to keep praying.

Isaiah 55 comes to my mind as I consider what is happening in Japan:

55:1-2 “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.”

55:6-11 “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

What is happening in Japan? What is God doing there? Why has He chosen to allow this devastation to occur? Why has He surrounded our missionaries with such devastation, but spared them? “God’s ways are higher than our ways.” We do not know the answers to these questions. But we do know that we have been laboring in Japan for over 50 years sowing seed on some very hard ground. And then suddenly, in 15 minutes’ time, our missionaries are having opportunities to minister and speak of things of the Lord and matters of eternal consequence in a fashion that they have never seen before!

Neighbors are coming out of their homes. People are coming to the churches with great physical and spiritual needs. And in God’s good providence, our missionaries are right there, in the middle of it all, with the language skills and cultural understandings to be able to respond with physical and spiritual aid. Those who have nothing, no house, no car, no money; “come, buy, and eat”.

Soon after the establishment of the OPC’s Japan Disaster Response Fund, your gifts have begun to pour in. To date, more than $100,000 has been received. For this, we give thanks! Your gifts are being used to buy supplies that are gifts for those who have potentially lost everything. As these gifts are given out from churches and from the homes of pastors and other church members, the recipient is being told of a much greater Gift, the Gift of God’s Son and forgiveness of sins through Him. They are being told the words of Isaiah: “Seek the LORD, while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.” We cling to God’s promises that his Word “shall not return to [him] empty”.

To date, we have spent well over $50,000. The exchange rate to send money to Japan is very expensive such that $1.00 buys only $0.80 worth of goods in Japan. But God will provide and is providing as needs arise. Our missionaries strive to work closely with the indigenous church to make sure that the needs of the saints are met. There are assessments being made on the buildings and properties of the churches and their members. Our missionaries are making plans for how to continue to minister and bring that “food” that does satisfy.

We soon hope to have a delegation from the US to visit Japan to encourage our brothers there and better ascertain how we can best come alongside them in ministering with them at this tenuous time. Please pray for wisdom as to the timing and details of that trip.

Thank you for the continued flow of prayers to our Sovereign God who rules and overrules in all things great and small. Please continue to pray for wisdom, safety and care for all those involved in relief response efforts. And pray, most of all, that God would make fertile soil on which the seeds of God’s truth may fall, that new life will be seen in Japan.

Update from OPC Disaster Response FB page from Cal Cummings

Greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world. God never fails.,

After 12 hours of going to and being in meetings yesterday, today seemed like a ‘let-down’! It was good to share ideas with the men of the presbytery, and although there was no concrete plan actually drawn up we were able to agree to continue working together to meet the physical and spiritual needs. We expressed our readiness to help rebuild and rejuvenate churches in this time of great physical and spiritual need. As they assess, we have urged them to pinpoint specific projects and needs which we can report back to our churches for prayer and potential support with manpower and monies.

We also met with the Committee for Cooperating Missions, and the Disaster Response Committee. Pray for wisdom as they present the needs before the church. Pray too that the opportunities for the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom will be seized upon with vigor. Feeding the hungry, caring for the homeless, nurturing the sick, listening to the broken hearted all take time, energy, and ready hearts.

Pray for some of the pastors who are appearing to be fatigued. Both Pastor Yoshida and Yoshioka are separated form their families as they have sent them to safer areas away from the nuclear fall out. Pastor Yoshioka’s eight month old son has been hospitalized with pneumonia. So on top of all the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear accident there are family crisis’ as well.

Pray for the increased contact I have with neighbors and students through these circumstances. I visited an older couple today where 2/3 of their house has become unlivable due to the earthquake. They are managing but waiting for the insurance to assess the damages. Another couple lost their entire house to the tsunami and have been living in a shelter for three weeks now. We are weeping with them and are privileged to share the hope in Christ.

I checked with the Tohoku Gakuin High School, where I preach once or twice a month, to find out how the student body had been affected. 20 students lost their entire homes, 40 lost half of their homes, two lost their father, one lost his mother, 3 are yet living in shelters. I have heard that 7 students at Miyagi Gakuin College have been orphaned as a result of the disaster. The newspaper this morning was appealing for the need to build facilities to care for the orphaned. Pray that the church can respond to these needs.

Please keep praying for a suitable place for our son Daniel to use his doctor skills during the time he is here. I have leads in Watari/Yamamoto and Natori. The national government has given freedom to practice, but the local chapter of doctors is giving opportunities only to those who come in under a recognized organization. Keep praying that he might be able to serve.

I will be preaching at Megumi and Fukushima on Sunday. Pray that our hearts will be built up with the understanding that we have an eternal King and everlasting High Priest who loves us and works for us without fail. Greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world. God never fails.

I am expecting David Lauer and his wife and a friend of Murray’s from Seattle here shortly. Dan and Luke are to come in tomorrow. A neighbor said he was bringing over some cloths to be taken to a shelter tomorrow. So the place is filling up again. Pray that the Lord will be glorified and hearts will be blessed with new life as we move among the broken and oppressed.

Keep praying that we will be truly partnered with our Japanese brothers and sisters as we spread the Good News and seek to bring wholeness into people’s lives.

In Christ, Cal

Update from Woody Lauer: The latest trip north

This morning (Friday, 10 am, JT), David and Noriko left from Numazu with a partial truckload of supplies. Mr. Iida, a member here, had gathered much clothing (1.5 ton truckload) for Tohoku from employees at an insurance company. In addition to that, we have sent food and necessities from our church and using offerings from the OPC.

Today, David and Noriko are also headed to buy still more supplies at Costco as well as to receive contributions from his boss at Westinghouse and the RCJ church pastor, Rev. Ma, in Utsunomiya, Tochigi prefecture. Afterward, they will press on to Cal Cummings’ house in Sendai. On Saturday, they will divide the goods with the Uomotos’ help among Megumi Church and 2 other churches in Sendai. They plan after Sendai deliveries to make a very important visit to Rev. Shiratsu in Ishinomaki with supplies. As a mission, we are eager to aide the church there in ministering the gospel along with offering the important necessities to this community devastated by the tsunami. They hope to worship with the Shiratsus Sunday and to discuss ways to reach out to this devastated peninsular town in the future.

Please pray

1) that the Lord would pour out his Spirit on the people throughout Japan, that they would turn to God and believe!

2) that God would raise up faithful ministers and missionaries to spread God’s Word throughout this pagan land!

3) for strength and safety for this trip and for continuing wisdom for ministry.

4) that the Lord will pave the way for effective evangelistic efforts, specifically in Ishinomaki.

Kneeling before the only God who by his mercy and love answers prayer,

Woody and Laurie Lauer