Kia Kaha - Forever Strong

Today was National Earthquake Memorial Day in New Zealand. God gave them a warm, end-of-summer sunny day. There were two very strong messages given at the memorial service held in Christchurch (CHCH):

"Kia Kaha Christchurch"... be strong Christchurch!

"Rise up CHCH!"

There were thousands in attendance in Hagley Park in Christchurch. Even Prince William was there on behalf of the House of Windsor.

The city was dealt a blow earlier this week when it was announced that the seven games to be played there in Sept/Oct for the Rugby World Cup, would be moved to other cities. It makes sense in light of the destruction and human needs - as those resources should go into providing homes and infrastructure. But, economically and in terms of city pride - it's a big loss.

However, those who have remained in Christchurch are amazingly strong. So awesome. If TVNZ publishes the memorial video they showed during the service, I will upload it. The love and care between neighbour, family, students and nations is stunning and inspiring.

Please continue to pray for Christchurch, for New Zealand and for all who lost loved ones from around the world in this tragedy. 20 countries lost loved ones. And nearly half of the people who were killed in the February earthquake were international students, a large portion from Japan, and China.

PLEASE BE PRAYING FOR JAPAN!

By now there is no one not aware of the tragedy that happened one week ago in Japan. The world has been stunned, shocked, and numbed at the images coming ever since the moment the 9.0 hit off the coast near Sendai.

I spent many hours and days communicating with as many of our returnees as I could reach. I praise God that the very first correspondence I had was from KEI in Sendai! Kei was my very first Japanese 'daughter' at the Cardiff Chateau. She and her family are fine. But the struggle is with power and water and food. God has kept them together and strengthened them and their church. I have received several updates from her, the latest of which had me praising God for His protection in her life. She said:
Good evening! Today,I could buy meat and vegetable! Many people went to supermarket. It was long line!! You know, 1month ago, I moved to new apartment. It's more close to my work. This earthquake has broken many houses and my old apartment,too. As you know, it is OLD. Wall crumble. Owner's home, too. All windows broke and they lived shelter for 4days. It was so terrible. If still I lived there, I am scare to think about that! I am thankful to God for safe me.

I also heard from Nobu in Yokohama (Tokyo area). He was on the subway when I reached him. Thank God for SKYPE and Facebook and email. I reached Kei through her mobile phone email, so she still had battery left. Nobu was on FB and SKYPE.

Since then I've had a lot of correspondence from Mai in Tokyo. A couple of days ago, they were experiencing rolling blackouts and no food or toilet paper on shelves, and waiting over an hour to get their ration of fuel. There are so many stories I could tell you - but the most moving one came from Mai:

"On the night of earthquake people couldn't go home so many people were lying on the concrete floor. Many homeless people came up and shared their boxes for people to use. That made me think... everyday we just ignore people on the street.. but now WE are on the street..."

With the fears of a nuclear disaster, many have left the Tokyo area. But those who remain are hopeful things will settle down. The media has made the news of the radiation a big drama, and while certainly there are serious issues... the radiation levels in water in Tokyo are above normal, so pray there will be ample supply of bottled water. The trains are getting running more consistantly, and supplies are slowly making it in.

These are the scenes in Tokyo and Yokohama from earlier this week.

To the north, it's an entirely different story. It's snowing, it's freezing, there are still survivors that haven't been found, and they are frightened.

"Oh Lord, may You calm the nuclear issues so that rescue and recovery and restoration can move more effectively and efficiently. Lord, we ask that you would divinely direct those looking for survivors to the EXACT locations where they are trapped. We pray that you will keep warm and fed those in shelters, and all those who are without power. Father, we ask you to give ALL of those who survived a sign of your grace and presence, that You will reveal Yourself to them and bring warmth and hope. Lord, bring comfort to those who have lost so much and are so very afraid. Raise up your church in Japan, O Lord to answer this call to be Your voice calling, Your hands healing, Your feet walking, Your hope and Joy, Your love to the hurting and helpless. And may your children around the world be generous to help provide for those needs, and be praying, and Lord, should you raise up a new generation of servant hearts to go and love on and care for the people of Japan, make it so! Amen"

Returning to a Shaken but Strong New Zealand

Where were you when...?
This phrase has once again become so real in my life. First of all, I want to thank all my dear friends in the USA who heard about the devastating earthquake in New Zealand and called my dad's home and left messages for me regarding the tragedy. Your love and concern blesses my heart, and makes me thankful that you are 'connected' to this little nation that God has chosen to make my home.

I am also grateful to have heard the news from my Trinity women's Bible study small group sisters. It was something we could share that made a far away land seem somewhat nearer. To be able to pray and touch base through the internet. Thank you girls!

So, I thought I'd bring ya'll into the world I returned to. Please pray with me for the entire nation of New Zealand. This rattled the lives of all 4.3 million in NZ, and the 1 million Kiwis out there around the world. And it impacted lives in many nations. Pray especially for Bob Parker (mayor of Chch), that he will have friends who come alongside and care for him. He has been the calm voice, the comforting mayor, the crisis manager, the face of Christchurch.

Liquefaction!

What a word. I learned it well on September 4th, 2010 - when a 7.1 earthquake literally turned the ground to jelly and made a big mess of Christchurch New Zealand. Yet, miraculously - no one was injured (except maybe tripping over all the fallen furniture or stepping on the glass from broken dishes and bottles). Some buildings were a mess, streets were torn up, and LIQUEFACTION.

The wikipedia definition says: Soil liquefaction describes a phenomenon whereby a soil substantially loses strength and stiffness in response to an applied stress, usually earthquake shaking or other rapid loading (force), causing it to behave like a liquid.

As you see in the above aerial view, THIS is what it does. While the central business district (CBD) of Christchurch (Chch) surfed on top of waves of earth, the earth created its own waves causing far reaching damage that still has not been fully comprehended.

Really Really Saddened...

As I write this, they expect the final death toll to reach up to 240 or so. It's a miracle that the number is so low, but a tragedy that the number is so high. The youngest so far was only 5 months old. The last person rescued was one day after the initial quake. But, the world has sent their best to help search and bring with them a fresh hope of rescue.

For me, I am especially saddened by the loss of so many international students who were attending day #2 of their language school in the CTV building... 17 (maybe more) from China; 26 (maybe more) from Japan; 2 from Korea; 10 from the Philippines; 6 from Thailand; one from Taiwan and one from Siberia...

Please pray for these families, who have flown in from many nations to await news. And there were many tourists from many nations as well. As the names are released, we will go through the grieving process on a fresh scale of mourning.

As I look at this picture of the Japanese search & rescue team outside the CTV building where so many young Japanese lives were lost, it breaks my heart to imagine what they must of thought when they saw the building completely pancaked.
Yet people risked their lives. Passers by, firefighters, police, teachers, other students, anyone who was filled with that sense of selflessness in crisis that often mirrors insanity. Common sense says "run away", but the nature of God in man is still woven in our DNA somewhere, and not everyone can ignore it.

And, out of the rubble - there were some AWESOME stories of survival and bravery. The one that touched my heart the most was the rescue of seven Japanese students from the 3rd level of the CTV building. This is a photo of Norika in the hospital with her rescuers!

To read more of this beautiful story, go to:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-earthquake/4720131/Earthquake-survivor-only-wants-to-see-her-rescuers#share

It's Good to be Home!

The hardest part of this, for me, was being across the Pacific. It's not that I can do anything about what happened, and it doesn't matter to the grand scheme of New Zealand whether I am here or not -- but it matters to me. Just like on 9/11 when we didn't want to be alone. We needed one another for comfort and just being silent together was good enough.

So, I returned to NZ on Sunday morning, and got back to work! Pretty much right away. And by being home and back to work, I was blessed to be able to participate at Massey University Albany in Auckland in our National 2 minutes of silence at 12.51pm, one week after the Chch quake. Yang Yang (ISMNZ staff & Massey chaplain) helped lead those who gathered as we remember.

Massey Albany campus 2 minutes of silence gathering

Palmerston North @ All Saints on The Square

In Christchurch

In Wellington

People everywhere, in supermarkets, in banks, along the path... just stopped. It was like a sci-fi movie rally. But it was precious.

Some personal stories...

It's been slow getting information from our ISMNZ staff and families in Christchurch as a whole. There are many reasons for that - no electricity mainly. My boss's wife, Jenny shared with me that her cousin-in-law from Australia was in one of the buildings doing insurance adjusting from the last earthquake. He was crushed and lost his life, yet was able to talk to his wife in Aus (mobile phones are amazing) before it went from bad to worse. And the person with him when he died was able to call her and give her closure.

Our wonderful ISMNZ pastoral staff care leader, David and his wife Simone are swimming in liquefaction. The pictures below say it all:


The Gingrich's (Mitch, Beth & Sarah) our ISMNZ staff who moved to Christchurch from Ohio in May had just moved to a bigger home near the university campus. That area was not so badly impacted, and their home is fine. The home they relocated from less than 1/2 mile away had roof tile damage. But, praise God they are well and we know God has called them to a special ministry through all this. Pray for them, as they have already begun a Bible study and showing hospitality to students and neighbours through all this.

And finally, I want to share with you a graphic, humorous and raw update from some friends of ISMNZ who are from the USA. They have a real heart for international students, and most especially work with the Chinese. This is Deb's update from Day 7:

It's been one week. In some senses, as one is able to get out and travel around a bit, I am overwhelmed by the destruction. But, I am simultaneously struck by how much everyone wants to help.

As for our family - a generator has made a world of difference. Being out of communication has been the hardest part of having no power, phone, water, etc. Powering up the generator allows me to check my email and check FB.

We are gradually gaining control over life. It is amazing what life comes down to in some circumstances. A great deal of our day is spent hauling and boiling water. Fortunately we have a gas stove that we can light with a match to keep water boiling.

We have our hole dug in the back yard. Your adolescent boys will appreciate this piece of information. We have a big bucket with a garbage can lid that opens for a seat. I even clean it each day.

We go every three days to shower. We're switching people each time so we don't wear out our welcome. When we go, we also wash a load of clothes. A washing machine manufacturer has set up some portable laundromats in one of the spots that has a water supply, so we may switch to that soon.

We have had meals brought in and have been invited out. When we eat at home, it takes about an hour to do dishes. But, of course, I can't let those dishes pile up!

Tomorrow we plan on leaving town for the day to take some Chinese students to Hamner Springs which is a spot about 90 minutes away. It is a beautiful area and will be a great reminder of God's beautiful world.

Just on our little street, there are at least two families who have lost a family member. One - a little 9 month old grandson who had a tv fall on him while he played on the floor.

Enjoy the simple things in life - like running water! Thanks all - as Gary England says, we'll try to keep you informed.

The Lord said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake, came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.
I Kings 19:11-12

Praise the Lord, after the wind, the earthquake and the fire, came the Lord in a gentle whisper! Praise the Lord for His gentle whispers! Speak softly into the hearts of all who are grieving and experiencing loss (family, property, income, a way of life, security) and fill them with Your love and peace and presence. Most of all, draw them to Yourself that they may know that there is hope in the midst of tragedy, and light that can overcome darkness.