The following can not be verified: 

This kind of information makes the rounds quickly. You might have already received it.

This AM we got a comprehensive report on the brothers and activities of the relief committees. I have summarized it below. Nothing new on the nuclear plant. All is stable at the moment though.

Report:

Updated figures.

3 confirmed dead (one more sister who was traveling from Kyoto was lost)

4 injured

17 missing

105 homes destroyed

140 + damaged

3 KHs destroyed

3 KHs damaged

Meetings have been resumed and aid is being delivered to all.

The earthquake hit the Tohoku area of Japan on the afternoon of Friday, Mar. 11th. The Branch immediately took action to send brothers to each of the hardest hit areas – 2 to each area to oversee the relief work and give spiritual encouragement to the brothers.

There are three committees one in each prefecture most affected – Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima. The first big problem after the tsunami was a lack of fuel – however brothers from nearby areas immediately took in supplies to be distributed from the surviving KHs – including food supplies and gasoline.

In one city where over 500 of the citizens are already confirmed dead, one sister is still missing.

In another city, they had a 23 meter tsunami and the KH was destroyed but all the brothers and sisters are safe.

In one city of over 60,000 population, 2 brothers are still missing.

In Ishinomaki City 160,000 population there are over 10,000 people unaccounted for as yet. There are 3 congregations in this city – 280 publishers. Of these 5 are still missing. The brother and sister who died in the tsunami are a couple in their 70’s from this city. The brother was bed-ridden and his wife stayed with him after the warning was sounded. They found their bodies after the water subsided. They were still side by side. The brothers from the Branch met their daughter when they visited and were able to pray together with her. They comforted her with the words, “Your mother and father were spiritually strongest.” The daughter is now one who encourages others in the disaster area.

One house the first floor was completely destroyed in the tsunami but the second floor was more or less intact and several brothers and sisters are now living there.

The brothers from the Branch were especially interested in encouraging the brothers spiritually. The brothers showed great appreciation for this and many cried when they met the visiting brothers. Many commented that they felt Jehovah really saved them.

Some were carried off in their cars as they tried to escape, but were able to survive. One brother climbed out of his car and stood on the roof as the waters carried his car away. He started to sing Kingdom Songs as loud as he could. Nearby self-defense forces members who were searching for survivors heard him and came to his rescue.

Since it was Friday afternoon when the earthquake and wave came some were in field service and many separated from their families. But at present most know where everyone in their family is. One elder who was initially missing but presumed safe turned up two days later. He had gone to each home to check on the brothers.

The brothers from the Branch noticed several differences between the aftermath of this disaster and others they have handled in the past.

1. The government response was very quick and effective. Helps us understand why Romans 13 says to give them honor.

2. The first priority of the government teams was to save lives, so they stopped all traffic and concentrated on that – that meant we were unable to get to many places right away. In the past, we just went in to where the brothers were. We had to get special permission, etc. this time as entry was very well controlled to carry out search and rescue. Since we had to apply to the government agency to get relief supplies in the brothers were surprised when they received the number 1-1. That means that they were the first ones in to the first area to give relief.

3. This made some of our work difficult, but the local CO’s and RBC were well-organized and got started right away with what they had. Now we can freely distribute the supplies that have been contributed.