On January 1, 2024, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck the Ishikawa prefecture of Japan, while many gathered to celebrate the New Year. The timing was traumatic for a nation which has yet to recover from a previous year’s earthquake. We have been helping with the recovery ever since.
Early on, we spent time waiting on God for guidance. When some Osaka university students approached us, wanting to help, we were excited to see this fruit born from our weekly prayer walks and outreach on the campus. This is the team, we sensed God say, and this is the time to go.
We spent three days serving food at shelters and helping people dig in the rubble of their homes. Some students were deeply affected, having never been to a disaster area before. The city was burnt-out and broken.
A pastor from Okinawa took us to a greenhouse that had been converted into an emergency shelter, where the displaced slept on piles of fertilizer. Then, she took us to a spring of water nearby. “This spring, “ pastor Naomi explained, “actually broke open during the earthquake! Now, it is their common water supply. In this time of fear and suffering, it has created a sense of community.”
We also experienced community as a team. Worship and prayer times were powerful, as was the experience of joining with a diverse group of other teams—Christians and non-Christians—all working together. At one point we were cleaning up a Buddhist temple. The couple there were the twenty-second generation of monks running that temple, and “very sorry that our wall has fallen onto the road and is causing such inconvenience”. We shared a warm comradery as we moved debris together.
Not all welcomed us as warmly; people here are normally very suspicious of outsiders. Pastor Naomi used an unexpected strategy to win their trust: she began to dance.
Through music, dance, smiles and hugs, the Holy Spirit did the impossible: hearts broke open. “You are just the same age as our grandchildren!” one citizen said, smiling at the students. “You bring such love and encouragement!” said another and then, turning to her neighbor, added, “I should really believe in their God.” And as we left, a third neighbor called out, “Thank you for coming! Be sure to grow up into honorable men!”
Pray for God to continue breaking open hearts in Ishikawa.
