We started with nine of us from Singapore and worried that with one member who speaks Japanese at intermediate level and another at Elementary level, we will have problem communicating with the locals. We end up with a multinational team of two British missionaries, one American Chaplain, three native/Japanese American and one Hong Kong member all of whom speak fluent Japanese. God had it all planned for us allowing us to connect to as many Japanese as possible. This is not counting the five Japanese who joined us from a church in Yokohama in between our stay.

On the hot backbreaking day, I asked God, “This is tough, can I take this?” I was aching on my back and waist from scooping endless amount of sludge from the drain of this house. I prayed for strength to carry on and relief from the aches. The next day, I did not felt any pain and was full of energy. In fact, I sleep on mostly 5 to 6 hours nightly but yet never felt tired and always look forward to what God has in store for us. The Lord is truly our refuge and strength in present time Psalm 46:1.

When some of us were not feeling too well, God bless us by letting us work under shades while other groups are expose to the hot sun. We pray for a member who has just recovered and eager to start again, she ended up working indoor while others work under the sun elsewhere.

One member was worried for her knees that have been complaining before this trip. During her time there, there was never a complaint and she even took on some of the tough work including squatting to clean personal belongings and scooping up debris. God even “reserved” a small foldable stool in the volunteer centre that no one wanted to take and came in very handy for her relief work in the field which she took along and returned every day. What a thoughtful God we have.

To get the jobs, we have to keep an optimal team size of 6 to 10. At various periods during our stay, we have more than 10 and up to 24 of us to form two or three teams. Many times, we have to reorganize the teams due to new volunteers, leaving volunteers and staff absence due to official engagement. Each time, God never fails us. He bless us such that no matter how we arrange the teams, each team ends with jobs that matches the gifts and previous encounter and provide impactful fellowship with both victims and volunteers.

God gave us different jobs every day to experience the full spectrum of this disaster and its impact on different people. When given repeat visit, it is to finish the task He has given us.

Each member is given gift that allows them to connect with the victims and volunteers. We seldom encounter rejection when we ask others to join us in prayers although those who are hardened would not.

Personally, God gave me the right word to say at the right time and provided a good working partner who is able to identify the person we can minister to, she starts the conversation, I followed by speaking with her translation thereafter. His word went deep into the heart and we know, the impact has been made. Sometimes, eye contacts and body language are good enough for God love transients all understanding. At times, the volunteers who speak little English who asked his friend who speak better to communicate with me. This is their eagerness to want to know more about us.