Mr. Mark Vance, director of operations for WELS Christian Aid and Relief, is traveling to Japan this week to help coordinate WELS relief efforts in Kesennuma, a city of approximately 75,000 that was devastated by an earthquake and tsunami in March. WELS funded a relief delivery to the city last week.

Using dollars from Christian Aid and Relief, Rev. Brad Wordell, WELS missionary, and members of the Lutheran Evangelical Christian Church (LECC), WELS' sister synod in Japan, are planning to deliver more supplies to Kesennuma in coming weeks. Vance will assist them with the process by helping gather supplies and by coordinating logistics. The supplies will once again be delivered to the home of Mrs. Setsuko Sato, a member of the LECC. Sato volunteered her home as relief headquarters and is helping distribute the supplies to members of the community.

Rev. Bob Hein, Christian Aid and Relief chairman, says he's thankful for all of the donations from WELS members. He says this disaster is also providing an opportunity for LECC members to get involved. "Our plan is to personalize our relief efforts and to distribute aid and relief through our missionaries and members," he says. "When we can channel the relief through our own people, they can get involved and they can show they care. We pray for opportunities to build bridges to share the gospel. That's our goal."

When Vance returns, he'll provide recommendations about how to enhance WELS' ongoing relief efforts in Japan. To learn more about relief efforts and to donate online, visit www.wels.net/relief.