24 Year Old English Teacher Taylor Anderson Missing in Japan Following Earthquake and Tsunami (Update: Body of Taylor Anderson Found)

Finding the missing in the middle of a disaster …

“It bears repeating that this is a crisis – there is no question about it. And it is a crisis in Japan. It is not a crisis in the United States.”The above comment was said by Obama’s press secretary as a defense of Obama’s traveling to Rio. I wonder if the American families with missing individuals share our compassionate Presidents same thoughts?

24 year old Virginia native Taylor Anderson is missing in Japan following the massive 8.9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami. Taylor Anderson was teaching English in the city of Ishinomaki on the ocean and the epicenter of the earthquake. According to reports, Taylor Anderson left the elementary school where she teaches on her bike after the earthquake had struck, but before the tsunami came ashore.  She has not been heard from since the disaster took place. As reported by CBS News, the family of missing Taylor Anderson was initially told that their daughter had been found safe only to learn that the news was erroneous. 

Like so many families of missing persons, Andy and Jean Anderson … ’We just want to find her’.

The Andersons have used the Internet to step up their search for Taylor, have contacted the U.S. Embassy in Japan and local officials, and have been in touch with her friends and colleagues to learn details about her routines, and the routes she would take home since she rotated between eight schools.

 24 Year Old English Teacher Taylor Anderson Missing in Japan

Two days ago, just before they appeared on “The Early Show,” the Andersons got what appeared to be wonderful news from Taylor’s teaching program: Taylor had been found. She was safe in a shelter.

But 12 hours later, they learned it had been a mistake — a false rumor from a region where communication is sporadic.

Frustrated by the lost time, but refusing to lose hope, her family got back to work, directing the search from 7,000 miles away.

As Japan continues to deal with the aftermath of the 8.9 magnitude earthquake, tsunami and the nuclear crisis that is ongoing as well as the chaos in Lybya, Barack Obama jetted off to Rio and South America for a 5 day trip, first family in tow. Obama has been criticized for not cancelling the trip; however, White House press secretary made the following comment that the crisis in Japan was a Japanese one, not an America one. Really? One might want to ask the family of Taylor Anderson that same question. I think they and the other American family with people missing might beg to differ.

White House press secretary Jay Carney for several days has fielded reporters’ questions about whether the trip may be called off, given developments in Japan and Libya. He stressed it would go ahead.

“We are leaving on schedule on Friday,” he told a briefing Wednesday.

“It bears repeating that this is a crisis – there is no question about it. And it is a crisis in Japan. It is not a crisis in the United States,” Carney said.

St. Catherine’s School holds prayer vigil for alumna missing in Japan

The prayer service for Anderson included a reading from Romans Chapter 8 — “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” Then students and faculty from the middle and upper schools joined hands for the Lord’s Prayer.

UPDATE I: There is sad news to report in the case of missing school teacher Taylor Anderson. The body of a 24 year old English teacher from Virginia has been discovered. May she rest in peace. Our prayers go out the the family and friends of Taylor Anderson.

 
Virginia family says body of missing daughter found in Japan.

Taylor Anderson’s family said in a statement that the U.S. Embassy in Japan informed them Monday by telephone of the discovery of their 24-year-old daughter’s body.

“We would like to thank all those whose prayers and support have carried us through this crisis,” Andy and Jean Anderson, of Chesterfield County, said in a statement. “Please continue to pray for all who remain missing and for the people of Japan. We ask that that you respect our privacy during this hard time.”