I love that God sends teachers into our lives packaged as people, our children, books, and in many other ways. Two weekends ago my teacher was packaged as a 22-year-old woman who sat at my table for the Great Banquet. One of her stories has really stuck with me. It was how her mother taught her what it means to have compassion on others. She said her mom explained it by saying, "God does not treat people who are spiritually sick differently from people who are physically sick." That made me think. How do I respond to someone who has cancer or cystic fibrosis? I hope my first response would be to love them; to meet their physical needs; to pray with them and for them. What would it be like if I chose to offer the same to everyone I meet regardless of their circumstances?

We are beginning our second month of the Radical Experiment. In the area of praying for the world, I want to encourage you to pray for Japan during the month of April. Following the March 11th earthquake and tsunami, the island nation is facing multiple crises, including the increased threat of radiation exposure from several nuclear power plants. Please join me in loving the people of Japan by praying for them and helping to meet their physical needs such as:

• ready-to-eat food;
• sanitation kits including napkins and soaps;
• potable water;
• blankets to help protect people from the cold;
• batteries to maintain radio contact and to enable people to receive vital news on nuclear and radiation related developments; and
• gas and fuel supplies.

The Praying for Japan fact sheet will give you ideas on ways to be praying. Listed below are two ways you can provide financial support to assist with the above mentioned needs.

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

P.O. Box 643700

Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700

To ensure your donation goes to Japan, please include DR000117 on your check.

Checks can be sent to the address above or turned into ZPC.

Give online: http://gamc.pcusa.org/give/DR000117/

or

Asian Access

PO Box 200

San Dimas, CA 91773 USA

Mark your check "Japan Tsunami Relief Fund"