A day of hard work!

We had a great day working for the Lord, and it was awesome to see Him working through us! This morning, we woke up and did our personal devotions. We then had a quick breakfast and did a group devotion. After the devotion and team meeting, we jumped in the vans. Our teams were going to split up into three areas in Ishinomaki. Herb and Ben were going in one area, Ron to another area, and Tanya and Kelli to the last area. Herb and Ben went to an area that was right by the water to help a person that Pastor Chizou has been speaking with. It was great to have an opportunity to help someone, as the Japanese do not easily accept help. Herb and Ben were paired up with Maxx (the marine) and three members from the other teams. We were very blessed! Our task was to move tons (literally) of dirt and mud, which was leaning up against his house, and build a wall of sandbags around the huge pile of dirt. Herb joked that we were like Nehemiah building the wall. We even found a sword in the dirt while we were digging (Herb should have held the sword in one hand and the shovel in the other). We were working around a devastated area. There were boats bigger then several houses stranded on the land. Cars were stacked up against houses, and many people had lost everything. But the Lord was working! Herb and Ben took a walk through town while waiting to be picked up at the end of the day. Pray for the people they spoke with!!! Ron went to an evacuation center to minister and work. The task that was most necessary was not an easy one. A large, enclosed cement drainage ditch was completely filled with sand, which was preventing water from moving through it. Ron and the others working with him had to pull up the three-inch thick cement lids that enclosed the two-foot wide trench and dig out all the sand. It was backbreaking, dirty work, but it shined bright in that dark place. Ron made a connection with a seven year old boy who was very interested in what Ron had to say. Ron told him in Japanese that Jesus loved him, and the boy was in awe. Tanya and Kelli also went to the evacuation center at first, but then moved to their task. The Lord had called them to help "gut" some of the residential houses near by. They were working along side of the owners of the houses. The houses were dank with water damage, rot, and mold. Tanya, who is very allergic to mold, suffered no effect from her surroundings. Without doubt, this is a Miracle from Jesus Himself. We regrouped at the end of a long, hard day for supper where we shared our experiences. Supper was great as always. After supper, we drove the hour and a half back to Sendai bleary eyed and dirty, but full of the abundant joy that can only come from the Lord. Sleep was sweet for everyone on the team.

Please continue to pray for us. Tomorrow we have an enormous task at hand. Maxx, guided by the Lord, made a contact with the evacuation center. We were planning to do a barbecue for one evacuation center, but are now called to feed two places simultaneously. The team (totaling 20 people) is going to have to  barbecue for up to six hundred people! Pray that the outreach is a great witness to God, and that all goes well.

God bless you brothers and sisters in Christ,

Ron, Herb, Kelli, Tanya, and Ben