Where We Are and How We Are Helping

Bless our parents.  They have been fielding numerous phone calls and emails from loved ones concerned about our well being given the earthquakes, tsunami, and now trouble with some of the nuclear power plants.  Please know that we are quite safe right now.  Here's a nice little map so you can see where we are in relation to stuff that's happened.

We are a good 250 miles from the nuclear reactor

Were anything to happen, Yokosuka Naval Base (where been teaches math at the high school), has an excellent evacuation plan in place.  We have all of our things in order to comply with anything that might come along. We are on alert for rolling blackouts and are doing all we can to conserve energy.  Gas is being rationed, and we have a decent little food storage to sustain us for a bit should the military have trouble getting their regular food shipments in. But we are thinking very little of ourselves right now.
Given recent events, our thoughts have turned to how we can serve our brothers and sisters here in Japan who have been so devastated up north.  We received an email from Ben's school letting us know what they are especially in need of and where it could be mailed (which I've posted below).  However, probably a more cost effective way would be to donate items to and reputable local charities, particularly through the Church as they have very well established connections and means for transporting items.  Or, even easier is to go here and make a monetary donation.

We may not think of Japan as needing help because they are a well developed country.  But truly those hit by the earthquakes and tsunami are without everything. And they need as much help as can be offered.

We went through our boxes of baby clothes yesterday (because heaven knows we have more than Ellie really ever wears) and our extra blankets (does a family of three really need a dozen + quilts?).  It always feels so good and right to help those in need.
Thank you again for your love and prayers!

They really need :

1.Foods (instant foods, dietary supplements, baby foods)

2.Warm blankets (That north part of Japan is still really cold now)

3.Cothings

4.Baby clothings, and DIAPERS!!!!

Attn: Earthquake relief supplies 

Miyagi Prefectural Office

3-8-1, Honcho

Aoba-ku, Sendai city, Miyagi 

980-8570, JAPAN

Attn: Earthquake relief supplies 

Iwate Prefectural Office

10-1 Uchimaru Morioka city, Iwate

020-8570,JAPAN

Attn:Earthquake relief supplies 

Aomori Prefectural Office

1-1-1 Nagashima, Aomori city,

Aomori, 030-8570, JAPAN

Attn:earthquake relief supplies 

Fukushima Prefectural Office

2-16 Sugitsuma-cho, Fukushima City 

960-8670, JAPAN