Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Google's New Photos of Disaster-Hit Region

Japan: Before and After the Earthquake and Tsunami
Pre- and post-disaster imagery in Google Street View

A new collection of 360-degree, panoramic street view photos of the disaster-hit region in Japan is now available in both English and Japanese at the following Google site:
Street View

For information on how to use Google Street View, click on the option at the bottom of the screen: About Google Street View. The next screen has menu options along the top banner. When you mouse-over the Learn menu, you will see the option Using Street View. On that page, you can find the how-to-use instructions.

According to The Official Google Blog announcement (12/12/2011), the photographic project was undertaken in July and was accomplished by driving some 44,000 kilometers in the "affected regions."The 360-degree panoramic imagery is available through two Google sites: The Street View feature in Google Maps and the Build the Memory web site. These two sites allow you to toggle between them to compare the before and after images.

Monday, December 5, 2011

YWAM Tokyo Team Outreach to Shichigahama & Kesenuma, November 7-13, 2011

In cooperation with Samaritan's Purse, the team worked on getting rid of all dirt and mud from the March 11th tsunami at a family's home. They prayed with the family and enjoyed eating together.

Mucking out the foundation.
The team assisted a church that dedicated itself to building relationship with the residents along the coast. There a full-time volunteer connected the team with families. For one family, the team set up two army-like tents for their fishing business. That family generously blessed the team by welcoming them into their home and serving both lunch and dinner! At another home, the team broke up parts of a concrete foundation with sledgehammers. That family also invited the team into their home to talk and eat together.

Foundation demolition.
At a different location one day, one team member who was born and raised in Japan met and prayed for two older ladies. After prayer, one lady was healed of shoulder pain and another lady was healed of problems in her knee. After prayer, she could kneel! HOORAY God!

The true champions in Tohoku are the local pastors and full-time volunteers who have been faithfully and tirelessly working, helping people to get their lives back in order, and providing ways for outside teams to stay and work alongside them. As the team worked with the local families, they sensed an openness of their hearts. As they prayed with them, it felt easy and seemed that they were very used to praying with Christians.