AsiaStories

Susie Rain takes a look at Yoko Dorsey’s uncanny ability to feel and understand each tsunami survivor’s individual grief, yet bring laughter. This trait endears her to Japanese tsunami survivors. As part of the Tokyo Baptist Church ministry, Dorsey even moved from the city to this disaster stricken neighborhood to radiate hope.

Southern Baptists reach out to survivors of Japan’s tsunami. See previously resistant area slowly open to the Gospel during past year.

As the Japan tsunami anniversary approaches, Shukuko Sasaki searches for comfort and peace. She folds origami cranes in the hopes of easing her survivor’s guilt.

Takahashi is one of the 4,000 homeless living in Tokyo and no stranger to distribution lines. He spends part of each day waiting for food donations or other supplies. He isn’t on this side of the line very often — giving, instead of receiving. So when the chance comes to leave his sidewalk “bed” outside of Shinjuku train station to volunteer more than 240 miles away, in one of the hardest hit tsunami areas with Tokyo Baptist Church, Takahashi takes it.

The Japanese woman tightly clutches the gift and softly thanks the Southern Baptist volunteer who gave it to her. This simple child’s therapy toy expresses how she and others in the fishing village of Kamaishi have felt since the earthquake and tsunami hit Japan on March 11 — a mixture of emotions that won’t come out.

Tokyo Baptist Church continues to meet the needs of those still hurting in Ishinomaki, Japan, following March’s triple disaster.

A Japanese rescue worker struggles with the reality that many people missing after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami will never be found — a trauma from which their families will never recover.

Two last-minute baptisms give an IMB missionary family something to celebrate in the midst of Japan’s disaster and order to relocate.

While Japan’s disaster has sent many people flocking to Shinto shrines and temples, one Christian woman is demonstrating her confidence in God’s provision by taking in displaced people.

Heartbroken for people stuck in the disaster zone, a young Japanese Christian says, “I have no money, but I had no choice but to help. I just prayed, ‘Show me the way, Lord.’”

A veteran IMB missionary in Japan says people who want to help Japan in this crisis can help best by continuing to pray. She says: “You can’t imagine what a comfort that is!”