Theme from Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

May 4, 2011 Greetings in Christ,
As the news reported the earthquake and tsunami damage that hit Japan on March 11, 2011, we observed the devastation and destruction in the towns and ports along the northeastern coast. It was the most powerful known earthquake to have hit Japan, and one of the five most powerful earthquakes in the world overall since modern record-keeping began in 1900. The earthquake triggered extremely destructive tsunami waves of up to 38 metres (125 ft) that struck Japan, in some cases traveling up to 10 km (6 mi) inland.

The earthquake moved Honshu 2.4 m (8 ft) east and shifted the Earth on its axis by 10 cm (4 in).

As we prayed about how we could be a part to help the Japanese people, God opened the door for StoneGate Bible Fellowship to connect with Japan Christian volunteers and the Shiogama Bible Baptist Church in the tsunami area.
A three-member team was sent on April 29^th to help in the earthquake relief efforts and plan for future team. We served by delivering food, cooking for a small fishing village, cleaninng photos at the Shichigahama evacuation center, and cleaning mud from inside homes. We returned home on May 14^th. StoneGate Bible Fellowship sent two additional teams to Northern Japan. The additional teams were also hosted by the Shiogama Bible Baptist Church.

On 27 October 2012, I was able to return to see the towns of Sendai, Ishinomaki, and Shiogama. In the town of Ishinomaki, I was able to visit the Kashima Miko overlook site and Ishinomaki Okawa Elementary School area. There was still no power or water to the Ishinomaki neighborhoods we visited back in April 2011. The debris is all in large piles but there is no visible sign of rebuilding. No Japan Railroad (JR) lines yet either. The tracks and train station were damaged by the tsunami.
In Shiogama, the Pastor Otomo, staff, and volunteers continue to support the tsunami affected people and local temporary housing centers. The Shiogama Bible Bapstist church, Hope Miyagi staff and volunteers continue to faithfully serve the local community.