tokyo.earthquake

first of all, i am safe.  this is a great awakening, an earthquake of 8.9 magnitude hit japan.  i was at the client's office when suddenly the whole world is in motion.  it took me awhile to realize that an earthquake has hit tokyo.  the motion starting from left to right and then top down last for more than three minute.  everyone was quiet in the first minute and then people start crying and screaming in fear when it didn't stop.   there wasn't fear in my face, i only started to pray in tongue and in spirit when the intensity increase on the first hit.  i looked at many faces of my colleagues turned panic and pale.  i sat there and asked God what can i do - the verse "i shall not die but live to testify the works of the Lord" came upon my mind.  i mobilize people to pray through the facebook and email where internet connection is the only mean that still functioning at that point.  all telephone network collapsed including land phone.

we were advised by the emergency announcement to go under the table/desk.  the rather intense aftershock came back more ten times at least between the first hit just before 3pm and 5pm, sometime in the circular motion, sometime in the left/right shake, sometime in trembling mode. the client has decided to evacuate their employees and we were given the option to go home if we want to.

many people ran out the office buildings and wait outside, the entire transportation network stopped shortly after the first earthquake.  going home is really not an option when no metro, train, bus is running especially when many of them commute from suburb, there is not even a taxi at sight.  with the occasions moving and trembling sensation staying in the office is no longer an option for me.  in particular if i have to walk home, i rather walk before it gets too dark. together with another expat colleague who also lives in the city center we walk down eight flights of stairs and finally walk home.  the streets were crowded, everyone is walking, rushing to somewhere.  it's a good 30 minute walk for me to get home. 

this is the diagram that i captured at work when the earthquake hit tokyo, when everyone at work is worried about their love ones at home and when all telecommunication network is cut off, i just sat down quietly and pray.  for me it is just an earthquake experience with no damage, but many people in the north eastern are severely in danger and the great tsunami hit the place and swept away many livestock's, buildings, properties and cars as you can see in the live broadcast in the television. 

i am truly thankful for God's protection, for some reasons i decided to wear my flat shoes today without heel, now i understand that is because i have to walk a long distance to get home.  i even at this moment of writing, the building is still shaking occasionally, the hanging lamp on the ceiling are shaking, and i could here some noise from one corner of the ceiling and there is no other program on TV besides the news on tsunami, earthquake and the forecast of the upcoming tsunami that will hit the entire pacific rim.

please pray for japan and the entire nations in the pacific rim.  deep in my heart i just hope that this great awakening will wake up many people and that many people will come to know Him as Lord and Savior.