Into the Tsunami ZoneJon Petersen - 11 May 2011
A month or so ago 24-7 Prayer commissioned Jon Petersen who was born and grew up in Japan to return and help his people. This is an update written this week as he prepares to go back on a 2nd trip.
I'm going back in! This time we're headed to Tohoku, the devastation zone from the recent Tsunami.
Now begins the heart work: the media is silent now, peoples attention has moved on to other tragedies, those involved are weary and it is time to hunker in for the long haul. I'm feeling alerted in my spirit that this may not be an easy trip. I'm so grateful for the blessings till now, but have a sense it is time to put the plough deeper in the dirt and pull harder and straighter.... To pray for people in need during these difficult days is the easy part - to help God's people to engage in a lifestyle of marathon prayer is somewhat different.
We'll be praying in five tents, at five locations in Tohoku where CRASH (Christian Relief, Assistance, Support and Hope) are helping to coordinate the relief effort. My hope is that out of the activity of faithful prayer, "sacred spaces" will emerge over time, established by those locals who have a heart to persevere in prayer and establish His presence. We'll bring a team of "gaijin" (foreigners) and Japanese to pray for relief team workers, pastors and congregations and most of all those who don't know Jesus and whose lives have been devastated and whose paths we will cross as we prayer walk in the quake zone.
We're trusting the Lord for $6000 to be able to give directly to individual needs that we encounter. We have been promised a matching gift from Crash Japan for each dollar donated up to $6000. I'll also be doing a series of short videos on prayer while I'm there that you can track on www.crashjapan.com (CRASH=Christian Relief, Assistance, Support and Hope) There is a lot of great information on the website related to the relief effort, grief counselling, prayer and stories of God's goodness in the midst of chaos.
Please pray:
- For a series of short prayer videos I hope to shoot while there. Media is well received in Japan and get's wide circulation.For a translator to assist in getting some key books on prayer into Japanese.
- For all the details needed for the team to get setup in Yokohama: housing, food, finances, transportation etc.
- For divine appointments on the whole trip - believers, missionaries and locals. Without the Lord hooking people together through his sovereign doing we are sunk - it isn't enough to have "networking" skills.
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Past articles and blog posts about 24-7 in Japan: