World Vision Wednesday

I received an e-mail the other day from a World Vision representative who is in Japan. Here is the e-mail:

I arrived in Japan just 40 hours after the giant quake and tsunami that became one of the most heartrending disasters in the country's history. One thing I'll never forget is that people in Japan don't seem hopeless; they are resilient and are determined to move forward. The World Vision Japan staff members, specifically, have tremendous faith, and it's encouraging to see them respond with such passion.

World Vision's response in Japan started with an assessment team deployed to Sendai — the hardest-hit area. The team brought an initial supply of relief items, and talked with local leaders and families to find out what their greatest needs are. That gave the team a much clearer picture of how to move forward.

In the last couple of days, World Vision has delivered blankets, bottled water, and sanitary and hygiene supplies for more than 6,000 people in urgent need in Minami Sanriku and Tome, two devastated towns where thousands were evacuated to shelters.

In the coming weeks and months, World Vision plans to continue providing essential items — including hot food rations — to survivors in Miyagi Prefecture, and begin establishing Child-Friendly Spaces to help respond to the emotional needs of children who have survived so much.

Please keep the people of Japan in your prayers. I was speaking with one of our World Vision Japan staff members, and she expressed her gratitude for all the donations that have poured in from around the world. "But more important to us," she said, "is knowing that people are praying for us."