Message from the Chancellor
As we begin the school year of 2012-13, I look back with deep gratitude and forward with great hopes. This past year has been one of tragedy and sorrow for our area of Japan. Most of the debris from the earthquake and tsunami has been cleared and people are back to a fairly "regular" way of life in the Hitachi city area. However, to our north, there are still communities that have yet to get the debris out of the way, say nothing about rebuild. Our hearts go out to people in that area. We pray for a positive and timely resolution of the many problems.
I look back on this year of suffering thankful for God's blessings. Of our students, faculty and staff families not one life was lost because of the triple tragedies. There was much damage, but the outpouring of love and assistance from around Japan and around the globe has helped us cope. We distributed funds received through the "Living Together" fund for students' families who had lost so much, and the "Being a Neighbor" fund was entrusted to CRASH Japan, a Christian relief organization with whom we have worked closely in helping victims. We thank all those who helped us in these projects. We, as a campus, have in turn sought to help those in worse straits by volunteering facilities and people to help in the cleanup and rebuilding, and to the emotional care of victims.
I look forward with great hopes. This year we are off to a good start as far as overall enrollment goes, and we have various projects on the drawing boards that will, I believe, make our future bright. One example is the rebuilding of the Hitachi kindergarten building. It will be ready for service before the school year is over. We are also strengthening our ties with sister schools in Asia, Oceania and throughout North America and Europe. We hope to once again have our students actively participating in studies abroad, as well as welcoming international students back to our campus. May all our plans and actions be guided by loving service to God and man.
May,2012
Jim D.Batten