SHORT-TERM MISSIONS &
DISASTER RESPONSE

In April 2016, two teams were sent to Japan to refurbish the exterior of the Nozomi Center, a disaster-response community-outreach center established by the OPC and its affiliates following the Tsunami of 2011. Raun Treible, Leader of Team Two, prepared an outstanding report on their very eventful trip!

Excerpts:

The scope of work to be completed included: painting the entire metal roof and repairing/priming areas of rust, repairing the three skylights, repairing/replacing the gutters and down spouts, and repainting the entire exterior walls and trim molding. Team 2’s mission was to pick up where Team 1 left off and take the project to completion . . .

We had a blessed and profitable time worshiping with our Japanese brothers and sisters in Christ with the help from our team interpreters . . .

The team gathered for an early breakfast followed by a daily devotional time led by Steven Lauer. I appreciated Steven’s willingness to serve in this manner. He took us through the entire book of Colossians . . .

The Lord had given us perfect weather for working and a team of highly skilled painters so I was pleased by how quickly the work was progressing . . .

Woody Lauer, an OPC missionary to Japan, was taking over the position of the new director of the Nozomi Center and had put in an offer to buy a house located just two houses from the Center. This house was damaged in the tsunami of 2011 and sat unoccupied for the next five years . . . . In God’s perfect timing, the day we completed the work on the Center, the word came that Woody’s offer was accepted and we had access to the house. The team returned to the tool shed and grabbed the necessary tools, walked two houses up the street and began the demolition work that needed to be done before renovations could start . . .

On Wednesday evening, I began to hear a faint rumbling noise in the distance that I was not able to identify. The noise began to increase in volume and seemed to be getting closer. When the shock wave finally hit the building, the doors and windows began to shake and rattle, the laundry hanging on the bunk beds began to sway, and the floor began to move. I realized we were in the middle of an earthquake . . .

I want to personally thank all the team members for their hard work and willingness to travel part way around the world to participate in our Lord’s Great Command by using our building skills that God has so graciously given us . . .

Full Report:

Find a link to the full report with many photos here.

Members of Team #2 (April 15-29, 2016):

• Raun Treible, Team Leader (Lake Sherwood OPC, Orlando, FL)
• Nick de Ru (Sovereign Grace OPC, Oak Harbor, WA)
• John Flynn (Lake Sherwood OPC, Orlando, FL)
• Steven Lauer (Lynnwood OPC, Lynnwood, WA)
• Josh Miller (Berlin Baptist Church, Marne, MI)

PHOTO: Team Two left to right: Raun Treible, John Flynn, Steven Lauer, Josh Miller, Nick de Ru

Visit www.opcstm.org for more short-term missions reports!