Dean Bengtson and his wife, Linda, are missionaries in Sendai, Japan. They were among the first to volunteer with Samaritan’s Purse when we responded to the earthquake and tsunami that hit the northeastern coast on March 11. They are still hard at work more than three months later.

In the beginning, Dean helped by distributing our emergency relief supplies. Linda also helped with the distributions, as well as building hygiene kits at the warehouse.

Now Dean is leading teams of volunteers performing “mud-outs.” He drives one of the small pickup trucks we purchased and loaded with a generator, power washer, and clean-up tools. He drives to Ishinomaki four or five days a week, and works with volunteers mudding out houses, cleaning gutters, taking down walls, and removing debris from yards.

The work is helping Dean and Linda carry out their ministry of displaying God’s love and opening doors to talk about Jesus to the Japanese.

“We’re so thankful for Samaritan's Purse!” he said. “Without SP we couldn't be doing what we are doing! Praise God!”

Dean (pictured below presenting a bicycle to a man who lost everything,) provided the following photos.

Samaritan's Purse , Japan , Equipped to Help

Previous Update: Finding Rest in Jesus

Next Update: The Presence of God