My friend’s old college roomate sent us this email in the middle of the day today.  Here’s just one more reason to keep the precious people of Japan in the forefront of our hearts in prayer:

Date: 2011年3月12日1:46:45 JST
Subject: I’m safe

Hey,

Its 1:45 am here Sat morning. Just letting you know I’m alive and well. Things are pretty hectic here. The main train line I use is currently out of commission, so I am unable to go home from work. There’s no running water, so we are conserving what we have left here in building. The communication had been down, so I wasn’t able to contact my relatives for most of the day. I finally got in contact with them a few hours ago and they are all doing well.

The hardest hit area is about 200 miles north from here. It’s colder up there and I believe there’s some snow in the forecast.

I’ve been running around helping guests so I’ve only seen bits and pieces of the news footage. You probably have a better grasp of the magnitude of what’s takin place here. There were a few buildings going up in flames around us but it looks as though they’ve been able to contain most of the fire. The building is constantly moving from the aftershocks and it has become a norm for me.

Please pray for those who are mourning for the loss of family/friends. I’m sure you are wondering how you can pray for us. Pray for wisdom as the nation organizes the recovery effort. Pray for those affected by the tsunami. As you watch the news footages please ask the lord to direct you in your prayers. I trust the Holy Spirit will guide you with that. Hope all is well. miss u guys.

Mark
Psalm 90:12

So guess what?  God is inviting us to join with Him in bringing hope and restoration to the people of Japan.  Right now.  Prayer is the means by which the followers of Jesus transcend the boundaries of the material realm and engage in the unseen business of God.  The awe-inspiring thing about engaging in the unseen business of God through prayer is that it has a marvelous way, limitless ways actually, of manifesting itself back into the material realm.  Hope for the fearful.  Healing for the broken.  Salvation for the lost.  What are we waiting for?