This is the third update from the directors of Teen Challenge Japan on the aftermath of the earthquake which hit Japan on March 11th 2011:

In Hachioji, all the food is gone from the supermarkets and petrol stations are closed. Scheduled power cuts started yesterday, and the radiation level in the air today was 20-40 times the normal. That is in Tokyo which was NOT hit by tsunami; we can't imagine how bad the situation is where the tsunami struck.

We had a meeting today to decide what exactly we are going to do to help those in desperate needs and agreed on the following.

1. Bring food and kerosene to Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture.

   Iwaki has a coastline of 80km which was hit by tsunami. 500 people died and 2,000 more are missing. Over 10,000 people have lost homes.

   However, the biggest problem is the radiation leak as it is only 40km away from the nuclear power station. People within 20km of it are already evacuated and those within 50km are told to stay inside.

   We have a friend in a church there where 15 people including children are staying at present. He called tonight to ask for help as they are running out of food and kerosene among other things. They can hold on only for another several days, but the shops and petrol stations are closed so they cannot go anywhere to get anything.

   We sense that the Lord is guiding us to bring food and kerosene to Iwaki. We will help those in the church first so that they can organize themselves to help those in the city. Please pray that there will be no more explosion at the nuclear power station.

2. Make a long-term commitment to help rebuild a church and a community in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture.

   Sendai is the largest city in the north-east and thus has the greatest number of casualties; 1,900 dead and 10,000 gone missing so far and the number is expected to increase.

   We'd like to help a church which is desiring not only to rebuild its building but also their community. We don't just want to help them re-start but actually want to see through till they complete. That means we need to make a long-term commitment, but we believe that is important and that is what the Lord wants us to do

   We know a church in part of Sendai which was COMPLETELY wiped out by tsunami. We knew the pastor's son because he used to attend our church when he was a student in Tokyo a few years ago. I managed to get in touch with him tonight. He and his family are saved but have lost absolutely everything. They are now staying in a school with 800 other people. I am asking him and his father how they are thinking about re-starting in Sendai.

So we are thinking and planning in terms of both the immediate relief and long-term reconstruction. In both cases, cash will be most helpful as we do not have a large vehicle to carry loads of stuff. I will open an internet bank account soon as it is much quicker and cheaper than bank-to-bank transfer.