OC4 Japan E-Quake Contest (Fundraiser)

[Kal-EL]

Contest/Fundraiser is over guys, it was a stellar showing by all of the community. If you'd still like to do something from your corner of the world to help out the Japan community (who are still in much need of help) with a monetary donation, feel free to donate directly to the CRASH foundation or a relief group of your choice.

I hope those guys are wearing radiation monitors, those reators are still out of control.

Such turbulent times in the world this last decade, I hope 2012 turns out to be a flop and we catch a run of peace and tranquility.

[miahallen]

I wanted to personally thanks everyone who participated one more time. And provide another update for our church. We are independent, but have been working closely with the CRASH organization, and much of the funding for projects we're involved with comes from them. So you have had a direct impact on what I have been involved with, thank you!

***I am not a representative of CRASH, and I am simply bringing you my personal perspective of the situation, my thoughts and comments are my own***

Every week since the disaster, members of our church have driven to and spent 3-4 days a week supporting relief efforts in the disaster struck region. Much of the work for the first month or two was making required connections to prepare for the "long haul" of support. The Japanese government and the self defense force has done a tremendous job (IMO) getting the immediate physical needs of the people met. However, the real battle will be caring for the victims over the next few year as the government is now about finished with its mission, and is pulling out of the area. That is where the independent organizations come in, and the ground work laid over the first few months was essential to our long term mission.

A good friend of mine named Micah has just finished Bible school at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, he is the son of the pastor of my church, and was born and raised here in Japan. He is completely fluent in Japanese and English. He just came back from the states and will be staying in Otsuchi for the next few months to act as a local liaison for our ongoing efforts with the local communities.

I've been to the disaster area with my family twice now, and I wanted to share some pictures from my trips. The first was on April 14th, we drove a car full of supplies to one of the shelters in Miyako, and spent the rest of the day helping out at a volunteer shelter that had been temporarily set up in the bottom floor of a hotel that took heavy damage from the tsunami. Here is my album from the day.

Yesterday (June 4th), we drove a bunch of American meat from the Misawa AFB up north, down the coast to Otsuchi to BBQ lunch for a bunch of victims living in shelters in the area. Here are is my album from that trip.

[topdog]

Thanks for sharing, those scenes of the disaster never seizes to shock me, I believe there are still 8000 persons missing from that terrible day