I came across this article today, and was broken by the thought of 74 Japanese children killed by the earthquake and tsunami last March. What was most painful was the possibility that these children might be alive today if they had been better prepared. Here is an excerpt from the article:
The deaths of 74 elementary school students and 10 teachers in a small Japanese coastal town were among the nation’s most poignant losses in last year’s March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
Since then, parents of the dead children at the Okawa primary school have found little closure; many have demanded to know why school officials did not do more to protect students, especially in a nation where strict school disaster drills are commonplace.
At a meeting attended by more than 80 parents, school officials acknowledged problems with the school’s evacuation measures and apologized for the lack of guidance given to their children during the chaotic moments as the disaster unfolded.
For months, school principal Kashiba Teruyuki has refused to speak publicly about the deaths. But at the meeting, in which board members presented results of a study into actions by teachers and other officials, Teruyuki took the blame for the deaths that had emotionally divided the provincial city, about 220 miles north of Tokyo.
“I should be blamed because I was inadequate as principal,” Teruyuki said at the emotional meeting in the tiny farming and fishing community. “I should have prepared an adequate disaster manual and raised awareness among teachers about the level of danger.”
Teruyuki, who was away from the school when the disaster struck, added “I know I am beyond forgiveness no matter how much I apologize. But I’m determined to continue apologizing.”
Thirty-four students who survived the disaster at the Okawa primary school continue to attend classes at another site. The parents of the dead and missing, meanwhile, continue to search for the bodies of their children, gathering each day at the school grounds not far from the sea. Read the whole article at: Japan: Principal takes blame for 74 tsunami deaths
Will we be guilty of the same? These 74 children could have been saved if they were properly prepared! I can’t help to think, are we guilty of the 127 million people in Japan? A country in which there is little gospel preaching! Only 1% of the population is Christian.
These children that died had a 1% chance of being a Christian! The principal of the school will forever live with the weight of the deaths of these 74 children. I praise the Lord, that He does offer forgiveness and one day will wipe all our tears, but we are responsible to tell all the world.
We are in debt to the world to preach the gospel as in Romans 1:14-15 “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.” The worse thing is that Jesus, who loves all the world, who died for us, told us to go and tell them.
Our King, our Savior has commanded us to go and teach all nations, and yet over 70% of the world is without Him! His blood paid for the sins of all of mankind! He paid the sin debt of these 74 children. He suffered so that they could have forgiveness of sins, and now it is too late! It is too late! They died in their sins. What a waste of Christ’s sacrifice. If only someone had gone and told them.
We are guilty. For 66 years, Japan has been completely open to the gospel, and no one made it to these children in time.
