Japan Reflections

There is no way to sum up how much my trip to the Tohoku Area impacted me. Four months after the devastating tsunami it still leaves you speechless. My experiences and emotions shifted as much as the ground. Aftershocks were a continuous reminder that life is not business as usual. People cautioning us to take our “kasa” (umbrella) in case of nuclear filled rain, relief trucks passing you on the road… There is much to be hopeful about in the Tohoku region, but it is mixed with an immeasurable sense of sorrow and loss.

We didn’t spend a lot of time in the devastated areas because the relief efforts are very controlled and monitored. You can't just walk in and start helping. God was gracious and through Kei, my Kiwi friend Greg Mackay and I were blessed to see things first hand, and get involved through the Reformed Church of Japan. Even so, the two days that we did experience were enough to overwhelm a heart for years and give me the desire to encourage others to get involved.

Day 1: E-sensei (Kei's pastor from Sendai Eiko church) drove a few of us out to one of the hardest hit towns called Minamisanriku. Oki-sensei commented that it looked ‘a lot better than before’. Perhaps that is because since the March 11th tsunami, they worked tirelessly to separate and clear tons of debris.

On the flatland, there is nothing else but debris. A few shells of buildings, ruined vehicles, and from time to time in piles you’ll see personal items like a kimono slipper or a CD or a broken china tea pot. The silence is deafening to the soul.

Yet, as you look up into the hills above the valley, you see beauty and life going on. Homes overlooking the devastation are still lived in, and because it is summer – it is lush and green. Such a contrast, and still there is much to be thankful for. In a township of 18000, 1200 lives were lost that day. As you view the links I put in this blog, you’ll recognise just how much of a miracle that figure is!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JVpy0L5z7s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj6KppckfMs

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110808a3.html

this was a hospital - all floors were impacted by more than one wave.

I’m no expert in Japanese culture (only Japanese food LOL). But as I met people throughout the area I was touched by their openness to foreigners, as well as the way they have become a family of people once again. Japan can be a very isolating experience, even in the midst of the crowd. But this tragedy has created a new sense of connection between people that humbled me to witness.

Notice the homes overlooking the devastation. Families still live there.

We also travelled that day to an area in coastal Sendai. That had an entirely different impact on me, especially my nose. The concrete foundations were split and lifted and dotted the landscape with concrete slabs. Water that could not recede, mixed with months of rain have kept the area a swampy stinking mess… like sauerkraut, rotten banana’s, pig pen, stinking.

The site of a church... you could sense the heart of God's mercy in the midst of tragedy.

nothing but decay and destruction...

There was an elementary school amongst the buildings left standing. Below are the before & after photos of the school – which just by its location and height saved a lot of lives.

Above - the school building stood defiant against the waves.
Disbelief as residents take refuge on the school's roof.

Day 2: After a short train journey to Higashi Sendai station, we arrived at the Higashi Sendai Reformed church for our day of volunteer work. Talk about organised. If you want to read more on their work go here: http://hopechurch-nj.org/646018.ihtml

The government is working very closely with relief groups, and the team at Higashi Sendai Church are partnered with Samaritans Purse and other reformed church groups throughout Japan and the world.

We drove an hour to Tona, a sea village that brings hope in the midst of chaos. There are dozens of homes still standing, although because of the tsunami stood for a long time with their first floors submerged in sea water. Some homes were hit by debris and fishing boats and motorboats. Some have cars swept into their yards, making it look like a junk yard. But miraculously, one-by-one many are being cleaned out with hopes by their owners to move back in.

In the photo above is the 'barber shop'. The owner was very grateful that the team came in and helped him clean his shop so he could begin to restore the building. He gave the team from Higashi Sendai Church his permission to use his building as their base for as long as they are doing relief in the area. It was quite nice to have a chemical toilet to use during the day... and they can lock things up inside if need be.

Akiko was one of our team leaders and very patient with us newcomers who dropped into the team that day! THANK YOU AKIKO!

M-san is one such ‘obaasan’ that hopes to move back into her home one day. She was trapped upstairs as she watched the tsunami pour into her area. She now lives in an evacuation centre. But the volunteers through Higashi Sendai Church have removed the debris from her yard, opened up her flooring and removed the water, sludge and rotting wood and insulation, replaced the floor (with about a 2x2 foot square vent hole in each room, salvaged the items that could be kept, and now the ladies have begun the big job of cleaning inside and out the entire first floor.

if you look closely, you can see the line of how high up the water
was as it flowed through the first floor of this home.

Some of the ladies helping on M-san's home were in their late 60's!
Amazing servants of Christ! They took good care of me too making sure I had better gloves, a good head covering, and lots of water.

I never knew how much sea floor you could remove using a toothbrush and paintbrush, but they are quite handy tools to have. Because there is no electricity, the limited numbers of generators are being used on the hard labour of taking up floors and pumping water. So, we get the buckets, the handmade brooms, the putty knives and wire brushes, and begin to clean away. M-san is brought to the home each day to oversee the work being done, and she is not a spectator. She’s in there cleaning with the rest of us. And while she didn’t confirm it, we believe she is about 75 years old, and a widow.

The owner of this home did not survive. Family members aren't
sure whether to try and restore the home or give up.

When they introduced me to her, and she found out Greg & I came from New Zealand and just wanted to help any way we could, she grabbed my hands and tearfully kept thanking me. She didn’t know a lot of foreigners before this happened, and she didn’t know many Christians either. But she is so happy now to allow Christians to help her and comes to greet every new person and foreigner who is helping restore her home. Just seeing her joy and hearing her laughter filled my heart, and for the first time I had a sense of what Jesus must of felt when he ministered amongst the poor and broken lives of His day.

The team is on a very strict and wise schedule. Begin work at 10am,
must drink lots of water, must have a substantial lunch, and must finish
work at 3pm and team leaders must check in with relief coordinators by 4pm.

The reality of the consequences of the devastation were not far off. As we were restoring three homes that day, another was being demolished. And fear is always a factor. They told us if we felt an aftershock to get to higher ground… which was either an over-bridge near the water, or upstairs. We did feel aftershocks, and were grateful for safety.

I will never forget M-san, and look forward to returning one day to Tona to see life restored in her neighbourhood. There is much more to do, many more homes to restore, many more neighbours to help.