by Elder Eddie Chandra (Team Leader) (True Way Presbyterian Church)

Introduction

The team came from various churches and through the two training sessions we got to know each other better. Team bonding and assigning responsibilities were initiated during the training. We were also the first team to be sent by the EP for 2012. The team felt there was a sense of going into the” unknown” as this mission was not the same in 2012; it had a different focus; which was ministering to the victims of the earthquake and tsunami. Our base camp was in Ichinoseki, which is about 380 km from Tokyo, up north from Sendai.

Team Leader : Elder Eddie Chandra (True Way PC)

Team Members : Florence Lim (True Way PC), Eliezer Tay (Hope PC), Josiah Teoh (Hope PC), Timothy Teoh (Hope PC), Trevor Teo (Hope PC), Laura Chan (Shalom BPC), Michelle Chan (Shalom BPC), Observers : Ps Paul Teoh (Hope PC),  Michelle Teoh (Hope PC)

Travel

We left Singapore in the early morning hours on Thursday 15^th March. We were in Japan for 13 days from 15 March until 27 March. For some of us, this was the first time in Japan, and even after learning about Japan, its culture and language etc., we were not sure what to expect from this experience. We took three train rides from Tokyo to the base and the second ride was on the “shinkansen” (bullet train).

The journey back home was similar and it was definitely different from an MRT ride. We reached home about 2am on the 18^th March.

Many may have asked what were we doing there, we can’t speak Japanese, moreover the weather was below 10 degrees; there might even be snow and the environment may not be conducive for “sunny” Singaporeans going to “freezing” Japan. These thoughts were also in some of our minds and for the first timers, what a way to spend their first trip to Japan. However, we were on a mission for God, and this we believed helped overcame whatever “barriers” or misgivings that stood in our way, God has a plan and we are part of the plan in this mission trip to Japan.

Theme

This passage from Matthew 25 may help summarize our purpose and visit, to Ichinoseki Japan, to the survivors of the earthquake and tsunami.

…Matthew 25:37-40 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'

In any case, the people in Japan are also God’s creation. For some of us, our families or people we know have suffered, under the Japanese in WWII both physically or emotionally. However, looking to Jesus on the cross and even Steven who was martyred, they said, “forgive them for they do not know what they have done” When this is understood, only then can we see Japan’s need of the Gospel and for them to experience God’s forgiveness and love. Many of us may not know this also, that Japan is one of the least evangelized countries in the world; and Christians were persecuted and crucified (other than the Roman Empire) for nearly 250 years in their history. Today, the survivors of this great disaster lost everything-parents lost their children and children their parents; the survivors lost their spouse, siblings and relatives, they lost their homes, livelihood and the meaning of life. In the aftermath, these survivors need an aftercare to bring back to them the will to live again, and with hope through the message of the cross.

Tasks

We visited places where the survivors lived and ministered to them. Most of the time, we split into 2 teams. We served in the mobile cafe by serving coffee or tea to the survivors at various temporary housing called “katsetsu”. These places were about an hour’s drive from the base. In the café, we shared with them “the flavors of Singapore”. We did “kopi tarik”, made “kaya toast”, did balloon sculpting, sang songs and thru' interpreters did our best to interact with them. In these mobile cafes, the Japanese Christians or speakers would provide emotional care to the survivors.

Some of us help a Church in Kesunama, which was affected by the earthquake and made a new fence, did gardening, planted winter crop, cleared the area around the garden patch for the car park, made a new patch of garden and sawed wood to get rid of unwanted debris. The Pastor of the Church was very extremely thankful with the effort the team put in.

Some us learned handicraft (basket weaving) to teach the survivors how to make baskets on a one to one basis. Michelle and Laura were at the “Hula class” to help teach this dance.

The youths sang, “God will make a way” both in Japanese and English at some “katsetsu”. Tim and Trevor sang in English this song also to a class, incorporating this to teach English through Bible verses.

The song “God will make a way” became a theme song from us to the survivors.

The survivors were much encouraged when we there. We were introduced as Singaporeans, and they appreciated our presence for coming all the way to visit and minister to them. They invited us to sit with them and fellowship in a mixture of broken English and Japanese.

Thoughts

In the feedback with CRASH, they said the Singaporeans played an effective role of releasing the Japanese speakers to counsel the survivors in the mobile café. Our presence actually complimented the emotional care given to the survivors

Furthermore, the presence of the Singapore Team (credit to the youths of Hope PC and Shalom BPC) added energy and awareness to the survivors that Christians from other countries do care for them.

For us, things were a little bit disoriented with the change of leadership and sometimes there was a lack of SOP (standard operating procedures). This was given as feedback to CRASH.

Amazingly, God is still sovereign and through these activities and with His help, we hope we have been able to minister them in some small ways to overcome their depression, anxiety and suicidal tendencies and give them HOPE in Christ as we continue partnership with CRASH.

Thanks

God is a wonderful God and we experienced his presence while we were there. There many “first” God showed to us. We saw for the first time the devastation the tsunami left behind in the coastal town. It was heartbreaking to be at the scene of the disaster. A cargo ship was left stranded in the middle of the area, a stark reminder of this devastation where many lives have been lost. We can only imagine the horror they went through, and this God want us to see and show compassion to the survivors.

We witness two baptisms in the Church we helped and another came the Lord in the base itself. We saw from our own viewpoint that God was slowly adding people to His Kingdom in Japan. On our first day of outing, Ps Paul prayed for snow and low and behold it snowed while we were in Morioka. It was truly a miracle to see snow for the first time for us “suaku” Singaporeans. Michele and Laura were invited by a lady in the “hula” class to her home and brought them sight-seeing, an unexpected show of hospitality to strangers, all praise to God. In the mobile café, we saw the survivors laughed and enjoyed themselves, even when some balloon burst during the balloon sculpting which they participated in. It lifted our spirits to see them expressing happiness and joy after what they have gone through with much sorrow and pain.

We also made new friends in the base who came from different countries and shared the same bond that we were here to help and serve in CRASH for Jesus.

This was the privilege we have experienced in that the little given in Jesus name can be multiplied beyond our imagination (as we have heard how Jesus was able to multiply the 5 loves and 2 fishes). We hope our presence have touched their lives with the love of Christ and open doors for subsequent teams to bring them the Gospel.

May you be encouraged and know there is much to be done in the mission field.

Thank you.