Maybe the situation in Machida, Tokyo continues to improve. Traffic is better as workers arriving today said it took less than yesterday. There is gasoline but you have to wait in lines over one mile long. The city hall made an announcement that we could be without power for rolling outage. Later they announced it was canceled.
Some are reporting panic and runs on the stores. Maybe in some areas but we do not see any panic whatsoever. People are orderly, calm, but concerned. The line at our neighborhood Sanwa supermarket was much longer than the last several days. Several people just gave up when they saw how long. When we went in at 2:30 just to see its condition we were surprised there was so much food there. They were out of some things like rice and cup noodles. But we even found some fresh bread, meat, ham, fruit, vegetables and some milk still there.
Luke Cummings who grew up in Sendai, Miyagi prefecture with his missionary parents took a truck north with supplies. An interview of his ministry was reported on the BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12735874
In a sad bit of news we also heard today that a Canadian Catholic missionary was reported killed in the tsunami as he was assisting people to evacuate. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/asia-pacific/quebec-missionary-killed-in-japanese-tsunami/article1940259/
Today we prayer walked and scouted another neighborhood. We were encouraged that they were delivering kerosene. We also met up with some of our neighborhood elderly friends today as they were breaking up their meeting at the community center. They are all doing well but were encouraged that others were concerned for them. One was delighted that finally she has heard her oldest daughter and family are fine in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture.
Ask God to intervene in the continual problems with the Fukushima #1 nuclear plant and its four reactors. Explosions and fires have resulted in releases of radiation. As this could affect health and recovery efforts ask God to bless human efforts and work miracles to assure the safety of the area.
Continue to be in prayer for churches, pastors, and Christians that they may love their neighbors in the Name of Christ.
Iwate Ken’s 16 towns and cities from 25,000 to 290,000 population each have/had at least one church. Only 8 of the 43 towns under 25,000 population had even 1 church. Pray for the Christians in the 8 towns with churches who are still alive and healthy to shine as lights of love for Jesus and provide help and hope to others in their communities.