On March 11^th, 2011 there was a huge earthquake (9.0) on the coast of Japan, triggering a tsunami that destroyed homes and killed thousands of people. This tsunami also set off a nuclear emergency that caused explosions and eventually radiation leaks as well. Such a huge event in our world cannot be avoided by the people of our country and our school.

Jane Yu, a graduating senior, lived in Japan for 4 years of her life as a Missionary kid. She left to attend Biola while the rest of her family stayed there. When asked about where her family was now she said her mother and sister are in Korea now, but her father is still there because of the many ministries he is in charge of. When asked about her initial reaction to Japan, she said, “It didn’t seem like a big deal because there are so many earthquake in Japan, and I’ve been a part of them. But when I began to see it on the news and media, and more people talked about it, I realized my family is in danger." Many of her friends and family members were forced to re-locate because of the dangers of the destruction around their homes. Yu couldn't believe what was happening. She was in shock because this was Japan. she said "It's really happening to Japan and not a country that is poor." 

Even through the overwhelming things going on in Japan, Yu says she has a bigger heart to pray for Japan. She said, "God is waking them up, and waking us up." This is reality and yu definitely feels the need for God in this situation.

Tim Ip, a sophomore, had a completely different reaction to Japan's earthquake than Yu did. For Ip, there was not a lot of personally reaction to it. It was tragic, and he felt sorry for them, but there was personal connection. Although he felt this way, he said, "I hope God would somehow work through this. One of the things that came across his mind was of a friend he knew that was going on a short-term missions trip in the summer to Japan. He wondered how that trip would be affected, and how it would play out.