TBC Responds

It is a tremendous blessing to be part of a church that is willing

Master Planner

to stand up and take its place and respond with all they have to the need presented by the recent disaster.  One of the major players in this is Debi Yoshimura – pictured right.  Debi arranged this work day to put together some “Goodie Bags” to give to children who have been evacuated from their area because of the tsunami.

Sarah Abigail

We joined as a family and spent several hours helping with the process of putting a little bit of joy into every bag.  Bob & Maria from

Maria & Bob

our team also came to offer their help and before we knew it, the job was almost over and we were heading home.

Mary Elizabeth

It was a good feeling to know that we would be making an impact on the lives of these displaced children.  On Sunday many church members donated food and supplies which were loaded into a donated truck and the following day TBC’s first team headed out.

House Hunting

Typical Japanese Room

We have been looking since December for a house for the upcoming DTS which starts in April.  Today we received a phone call from the Real Estate agent saying yet again that the owner did not want to rent to a group rather than a family.

We need to be able to house up to 15 or so more students in addition to the 13 staff on the team.  The present house and apartment easily accommodated last year’s  7 staff and 5 students. Our numbers have grown, though, and we will need more room.

The room on the left is one of many, many we have looked at since December.  Its owner also said no to a group rental.  The Rental Agents, including our present one, have been very kind and done their best to represent us well to the owners, but there is an understandable risk involved in having a group of young people rent one’s home.

Would you please pray with us that we can find a house

Rhonda and Maria househunting

for our female staff and students to rent?  We would like to find a house in which they can all live as that is part of the DTS experience of community living.  This is something that we have faced since moving into Tokyo and will face again.  In the long run, we would like to have a building which is always available for staff, students, and incoming outreach teams.  Please pray towards that long  term goal as well!

Raising funds for CRASH

I am sure all of you have heard of the earthquakes that have recently occurred here in Japan.  This blog reports on a few highly motivated High School boys who took to the streets in Shibuya to raise funds for the CRASH network.  This was initiated by Noah Bastable – the tallest boy in the group – son of Bob who works with us here in the Tokyo Team.

These young warriors collected money all afternoon and eventually raised 34,000 yen. They were sooooooooooo encouraged that they plan to go again on Thursday and would welcome as many of you out there in cyberspace who are free and able to, to stand with them.    Please contact Noah Bastable on Facebook.  If you are unable to go then just post on his wall to encourage his efforts.

Here you can see someone actually caught in the act of offering a donation.  This gentleman was working for a Spanish TV company and talked with the boys on film.  So if you’re used to watching Spanish TV then you will get to see them soon!!!

BTW we have a contact person for YWAM Japan for all of you who are interested in praying for, supporting financially or even volunteering here in the nation.  Please email Derick Domae at this address:  derick@ywamtokyo.org