Praying for Japan

I'm praying for the people of Japan.

Our town saw a terrible event on April 19, 1995.
The Oklahoma City bombing was a bomb attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City. The tragedy in Japan reminds me of April 19th only multiplied by about a million.

I remember going to see the destruction and walking downtown. I couldn't stop crying. I remember saying, "Father in heaven, look what they did to our town." I was crying while trying to take photos. I nearly fainted several times. When I put some flowers beside the YMCA where children had been, I almost passed out. Even months later I would be driving in my car and if I came anywhere near the downtown area where the 168 people were murdered, I would feel WAVES of sadness coming FROM the Murrah Building. I would be fine but the closer I got to the Murrah Building the worse the WAVES of sadness got. It was the strangest experience. I've only spoken to one other person that had the same experience of WAVES of sadness coming FROM the downtown area where all the destruction took place.

Oklahoma Murrah bombing killed 168 people, including 19 children under the age of 6, and injured more than 680 people. The blast destroyed or damaged 324 buildings within a sixteen-block radius, destroyed or burned 86 cars, and shattered glass in 258 nearby buildings. Even now when I visit the memorial downtown I am fine until I turn around and look at the Journal Record building. The moment I see this one wall of the building I instantly begin to cry. I can be there looking at all the new things and I'm fine but when I see the north side of the Journal Record building it's instant tears. I've been told that is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

I just imagine the people of Japan are experiencing what I experienced. Just magnified by about one million. The people of Oklahoma wish this had never happened to Japan. I feel sure there are people with the Baptist Convention who are preparing to leave and take food, clothes, and love to those hurting people. I just looked at their Web site but only found their training sessions that are taking place this month and April.

Events in March 2011

Bryan Association Disaster Relief Training & Orientation
Sat, Mar 5, 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
First Baptist Church
Arbuckle Associational Disaster Relief Training & Orientation
Sat, Mar 12, 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
First Baptist Church
Beckham Mills Association Disaster Relief Training & Orientation
Sat, Mar 26, 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
First Baptist Church
Panhandle Association Disaster Relief Training & Orientation
Sat, Apr 2, 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Gibson Baptist Camp Mullins Association Disaster Relief Training & Orientation
Sat, Mar 5, 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Western Heights Baptist Church
Washington-Osage Associational Disaster Relief Training & Orientation
Sat, Mar 12, 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
First Baptist Church
LeFlore Association Disaster Relief Training & Orientation
Sat, Mar 26, 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Le Flore Association Office
State Disaster Relief Training & Orientation
Sat, Apr 2, 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Central Baptist Church Tulsa Metro Association West Disaster Relief Training & Orientation
Sat, Mar 5, 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Broken Arrow Evergreen Baptist Church
Union Association Disaster Relief Training & Orientation
Sat, Mar 19, 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
First Baptist Church
Muskogee Association Disaster Relief Training & Orientation
Sat, Mar 26, 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
First Baptist Church

Events in April 2011
Panhandle Association Disaster Relief Training & Orientation
Sat, Apr 2, 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Gibson Baptist Camp
Sans Bois Association Disaster Relief Training & Orientation
Sat, Apr 9, 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
First Baptist Church State Disaster Relief Training & Orientation
Sat, Apr 2, 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Central Baptist Church
East Central Associational Disaster Relief Training & Orientation
Sat, Apr 16, 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
First Baptist Church Capital Association Disaster Relief Training & Orientation
Sat, Apr 9, 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Chisholm Heights Baptist Church
Please note that dates, times and locations are subject to change without notice - log on to http://www.bgco.org/calendar to get the most current events.

So I can't say for sure the Baptist Convention will be going to Japan. It will surprise me if no one goes.

Oklahoma is praying for Japan.