Russ Stutler's Account of the March 11, 2011 Earthquake in Japan |
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March 11, 2011 evening: We are OK, but the quake is very scary! Still shaking.
I would say more, but we are sitting here with jackets and shoes on ready to get out if a big one comes. What a mess. March 12, 2011 morning: Please pray for us. My family and I are alive, but very shook up and the aftershocks keep coming several an hour -- not from one epicenter, but several in Japan as if it were God's judgement. Very little sleep. My son spent the night at school but we hope to see him today when the trains resume. Thank you! March 12, 2011 evening: My son is home, we are all together, the shaking is still continual, but so far no more big ones in Tokyo. Concerned about the nuclear powerplant. I hope 260 kilometers away is adequate. Please keep praying for us and for Japan. I can't answer all the individual messages and mails right now. Thanks everyone! March 13, 2011 morning: The aftershocks keep coming. Had a fairly strong one a few minutes ago, and my heart is pounding most of the time. This may continue for a few weeks. We sleep fully clothed and ready to evacuate. Today I finally put my computer back on the desk (it had been on the floor just in case). For years, I have prayed every morning and evening that if an earthquake should come that the Lord would protect us, our building, and even our possessions if it was in His will. God answered all three prayers. Only a few trivial things were broken which I could have thrown away anyway. Our neighbors in this condominium did not experience such protection (except for protection of the building). They said televisions, dishes, etc were broken. We live on the 11th floor, where all shaking and swaying is magnified; even small quakes on the ground floor become terrifying on the 11th floor! The day after the big quake, we went to the park across the street just to get away from the constant shaking (I couldn't even think!). As I prayed, my son pointed to the sky. There was a complete rainbow circling the sun. I had never seen such a thing. It remained for several hours. My heart goes out to all those who are mourning in Japan, who have lost everything including loved ones. Please pray for them. The aftershocks continue and everyone is on edge. March 16, 2011 morning: It's the 5th morning after the big quake. The tremors continue. Last night a few powerful quakes woke us up and shook the place again. One was a new quake with different epicenter in Shizuoka to the south of us (the other ones have been from the north). I appreciate your prayers, and we also pray for those who are suffering and in great need in Japan. March 17, 2011 morning: It's the 6th morning after the big quake. The tremors still continue, but last night only one woke us up. I think we are just too tired, and I have a terrible cold that keeps me that way. The stores are all sold out of basics such as bread, rice and toilet paper (and batteries, of course). We have some emergency supplies of food, etc, but they won't last very long. I'll go out today and see if any neighborhood stores have new stocks. Please keep praying for Japan and for us. Pray that the nuclear crisis will be averted. Thanks. March 18, 2011 afternoon: It is exactly one week since the big quake. We still have tremors, and one woke us up again last night. My body keeps playing tricks on me, making me think there is a new tremor when there's not. I went on a prayer walk yesterday and ended up at a shop that had just restocked toilet paper. They also had batteries. We also managed to find rice, and gave a 5 kg bag to the old man who lives below us who was grateful. We are still concerned about the nuclear plant situation. Please continue to pray. Thanks. March, 21, 2011, morning: We have had three nights of sleep without big tremors to wake us up, although there have been a few during the day. So the aftershocks are steadily decreasing. We are able to find supplies easier (still limited to one per customer). The Nuclear power plant situation to the north seems to be stable, but unpredictable. So it looks like we are moving to the phase where we try to resume life. The world media attention has shifted to the military crisis in Libya, so this earthquake will become a bad memory. Please try to pray for Japan whenever it comes to mind. Thanks! March 23, 2011 morning: Over the last 24 hours there has been a dramatic increase in aftershocks, some of them quite scary! A few quakes this morning were major tremors in the stricken part of Japan. The terror those people must have experienced! Even the killer quakes start out small, so every time the place starts to shake, we have to prepare for the worst. Very unnerving. Sometimes in the seconds before an earthquake hits, our mobile phones will buzz and emit a loud siren, and a message will appear telling us to get ready for a big quake. Then the overhead lamps will start to shake, and then the walls will start to sway, sometimes violently. This happened a few minutes ago, yet again. Plus, we all keep imagining the place is shaking even when it's not, so the days and evenings are filled with tension. But so far we are safe here in Tokyo, just very shaken. Recently during the earthquakes, I've been quietly reciting a few words from Psalm 18: The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer.There are more great lines in that Psalm, but this is all I can manage to blurt out when the place is shaking, and I say it over and over between my prayers for protection. It's very effective in restoring my calm and giving me perspective. Thank you for your prayers. March 26, 2011 evening: The quakes continue in Japan at about the same pace, with about a half dozen significant ones in a 24 hour period, but in the last 24 hours we have only experienced one real tremor in Tokyo. There is still lots of concern over the nuclear plant. Shall we stay or leave Tokyo? Nobody knows. It's Saturday and once again I am greatly looking forward to going to church tomorrow. March 28, 2011 morning: Japan continues to experience major aftershocks over three weeks since the big quake. They are usually felt in Tokyo although not nearly as strong as at the epicenter. It happened again this morning. The nuclear crisis still looms. Many people can't just leave their homes because of their work (especially those who have livestock) and others have no place to go. Everyone is bit worn out from the continued tension. Being in church yesterday was a major source of comfort and strength, as is daily Bible reading and prayer at home. Thanks for your continued prayers. April 8, 2011 morning: Today marks exactly four weeks since the big quake, and the aftershocks were gradually diminishing in frequency and intensity so I had nothing new to report -- until now. Last night after we had all gone to bed, we had the strongest after shock since the big quake. It was quite scary and went on for a few minutes, similar to the big one (earthquakes are usually over in half a minute). In Tokyo it was a level 3 on the Japanese scale (that big one was an upper 5 in Tokyo) which is more violent on the eleventh floor than on the ground level. Those poor people at the epicenter! They had to relive the horror and dread that it might intensify to match the original quake! You can both see and hear these big ones as the building rattles loudly. At such times all one can do is sit and pray and wait for it to end. Please keep Japan in your prayers. April 27, 2011:It has been six and a half weeks since the earthquake. Last Sunday was Easter and my two teenage children were baptized. The quake was the major factor in their decision because it demonstrated the fragility of life. So that dark and terrifying day actually led to the happiest day of my life. It made a way for my prayers to be answered. The area around the quake (Tohoku) is still devastated and the people are still in temporary shelters, many having lost everything including their means of earning an income. The nuclear disaster still threatens, and the aftershocks although less frequent now continue to make our hearts pound. It will probably continue like this for a long time to come, and we will be constantly reminded that life is fragile and our only security is in God. Please remember Japan in your prayers. |
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