Cross Brings Hope to Victims in Sendai

(Sankei News 2011.4.22 14:35)

In Sendai’s Miyagino Ward, where destruction by the earthquake and tsunami was devastatingly total, the cross of the “Seaside Bible Chapel”, dug out from the ruins and rebuilt, is giving new hope to the people in the area.

The church building, located roughly 700 meters from the shoreline, was washed away by the tsunami and the wide area surrounding it reduced to piles of debris. But three days after the quake, members of the church and other volunteers dug the foundations of the cross out from under the rubble and reconstructed the cross on top of it.

With nothing but mud and rubble for as far as the eye could see in any direction, the first worship service after the quake was held around the cross by approximately 50 church members and volunteers from various parts of Japan, and prayers were offered for the Japanese people.  “We just wish to provide any hope we can to help the victims”, explains Pastor Tomohiro Naito, who himself lost his home to the tsunami. 

(Original Japanese Text)

東日本大震災の津波で壊滅的な被害を受けた仙台市宮城野区の「シーサイド・バイブル・チャペル」で、がれきの中から掘り出され、再建された十字架が被災者に希望を与えている。

海岸から約７００メートルの場所にあった教会は、津波で流され周囲はがれきの山と化した。だが、震災から３日後に信徒やボランティアががれきの中から十字架の土台部分を掘り起こし、失われた十字架本体を作り直したという。

見渡す限りのがれきの中で行われた礼拝には、全国からボランティアを含めておよそ５０人が参加し、震災で亡くなった人々に祈りをささげた。自身も被災して家を失った同教会の内藤智裕牧師は「少しでも被災した方々の希望になれば」と話している。

http://sankei.jp.msn.com/life/news/110422/art11042214370007-n1.htm

Part Time Worker's Mind Put at Ease about Pay

I was so grateful to my part-time employer.  I had been getting sent home earlier than usual because there was no business, and I was getting very worried about the amount I would be receiving on pay day.  Today, I realized my employer had included a special payment they called “Earthquake Provision” in my pay!  Now I don’t have to worry about paying for my lessons!

(Original Japanese Text)

http://twitter.com/#!/princess_kaon/status/59242099643658240

自分のバイト先に本当に感動！ 地震で早帰りが多かったから、お給料本当にヤバイって思ってたら、地震休業手当が頂けた！これでレッスン費も安心です( ´ ▽ ` )ノ

4-year-old Girl Donates Savings

My friend took her 4 year old sister to McDonalds.  When the little child saw the disaster relief donations box beside the counter, she took out a 100-yen ($1) coin from her little purse and put it in.  It was a 100-yen that she was carefully saving for herself later.  (The Japanese McDonalds has a list of food that sells for exactly 100-yen.  Editor’s assumption is that the little child had been saving her 100-yen for an icecream or other food, but decided to donate it at the last minute.)

(Original Japanese Text)

http://twitter.com/#!/katura_umeda/status/59236923767668736

4歳の妹とマックへいったらしんだけど、レジの隣においてあった地震の募金箱をみて自分の財布から100円取り出して募金したらしい。　大事にしてた100円だったから感動した