Last night there was a 5.-somthing earthquake in Chiba. It really shook us, and then there were at least two after shocks. I suppose they're all after shocks from the first. All I know is, the shaking continues, but thanks be to God that life also continues!
Last week I headed north to Miyagi prefecture to do some volunteer clean-up work. Sendai is located in Miyagi prefecture. We had to drive through the now famous FUKUSHIMA to get to Miyagi. No my hair didn't stand on end, and hopefully I didn't fry too many brain cells. Actually, I thank and praise God for the lessons I learned on this trip. I will cherish them, as well as the people God brought into my life that week.
We got to work with Samaritan's Purse organization. That was a priviledge. They are a well established organization, with teams all over the world doing relief work. Needless to say I felt motivated to help, yet a bit insignificant in their presence. Everyone there was on a specific mission, and it seemed they knew exactly what to do to accomplish it. Well oiled machinery right there. I was amazed at the connections they'd already established. We showed up at their base camp (an closed down supermarket where they are housing relief supplies) and they had a job lined up for us and sent us out to do it.
Our team of 7 people from Singapore, 2 people from our Tokyo Sunshine church, and myself, were assigned to work on houses. Yup. That's basically what must be done up there. Clean up the houses so people can return to their lives. Sadly, thousands will not return to their former homes since the damage is too severe, or the home has been lost all together. But hope was building as we worked together as a team alongside the local people. Its amazing what two hands, a rag, and a bucket of water can accomplish. It truly is grunt work; its not too difficult, just takes time and effort. We washed walls and doors, and the men had to removed the wooden floor boards and dig out the contaminated mud that had washed in under the house. (Japanese houses don't have basements- there aren't tornados here)
I hope to go up north again, many times. I encourage anyone who is able to do the same. If you are in a country far away from Japan and fell compelled to come and help but can't, my personal advice is this: Consider the money you would spend on a plane ticket, on meals, on transportation. Then write a check for that amount, and donate it to Samaritan's purse, or maybe a local church in your area doing fundraising. There are LOTS of people helping from within Japan. Let's all use our resources wisely.
Some are goers, others are senders. Which are you?
Examining the ruins near a port, which obviously caused ships to come inland, some on top of houses!
At least 100 people at a rest stop, all on their way to volunteer somewhere! Awesome!
Our team from Singapore with the couple we helped in the front, middle.
Scrubbing the floors with bleach.
Samaritan's Purse headquarters in the supermartket-turned-warehouse. These people are on a mission!
