Deployment to Nepal: Earthquake Aid

Dear Friends, Family and Prospective Supporters,

"Yesterday,  I saw big fear in the eyes of the people... people are missing and we are going to rescue them.... We are all outside the home since yesterday afternoon. The government told everyone to stay outside. Do you have any supply for needy people? Water, food are very much need."  G.  Kathmandu, Nepal

"My mom is staying at a friend's house. My dad is staying in a tent outside... the building is slowly collapsing. Please pray there is no rain."  S.  Tokyo, Japan
 
Above are two quotes from friends affected by the Saturday, April 25th quake near the capitol city of Nepal; the country's largest and most devastating quake in 80 years. They provide a microcosmic snapshot into the needs and scale of the situation on the ground right now.

I am deploying as a volunteer crisis and disaster responder to the 7.8 earthquake in Nepal. I work with CRI (Crisis Response International, a faith based humanitarian aid and disaster relief organization.) A certified CRI responder since August 2011, I've been involved with international aid and disaster relief work since Japan's March 11, 2011 triple disaster. I'm also the Founder &  Director of The Altar IHOP, Tokyo .

Originally from Alaska, USA and in Tokyo, Japan since 1999, I have extensive experience living and traveling around Asia— my humanitarian aid work is focused on the region. With CRI, I was in-country liason for the Japan relief efforts for both the 2011 quake and Typhoon Roke. I responded in 2013 to Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda in the Philippines by providing administrative assistance and crisis & trauma counseling during medical missions along with procurement and distribution of food supplies. In 2014, I responded to the ISIS cris in Iraq by helping run and operate medical & first aid clinics and distribute food aid and supplies to displaced Iraqi and Syrian refugees. The work in Nepal will be no different.  



I need to raise a substantial sum in order to fund the cost of this urgent relief mission to Nepal. Putting my boots on the ground is an opportunity to bring aid and relief to the Nepalese people. 

Here are 6 practical ways you can join relief efforts:
1. Give financially. No contribution is too small. Every dollar (or yen) counts and is absolutely necessary.

2. Tell your friends, family and associates that you just contributed towards relief efforts in Nepal by helping send an experienced aid worker to the country.

3. Encourage your friends, family and associates to do the same. 

4. Learn about Nepal; the country and the people. Choose to make this disaster personal.  Follow the news and stay informed. Learn about what crisis & disaster responders and humanitarian aid workers do on deployment.

5. Reject apathy and disassociation. Don't tell yourself, "I'm not there, I can't do anything about it." Those who stay behind with the supplies are just as valuable as the ones who go out in the field. You ARE doing something by sending people like me.

6.  Stay in the loop by checking my blog  and following me on social media (links available on my blog.)