Scattering and Gathering

As our time in Ofunato came to a close it may have been that my mind was already changing gears and focusing on the Pentecost sermon I’m working on for this coming Sunday. We got an early start, leaving Ofunato at 6:30AM and so we only had a few minutes to gather as a team, . . . → Read More: Scattering and Gathering

Hope for the Future

Today we split the team in two again and visited a total of four temporary housing clusters in Ofunato. We once again spent time with residents of these temporary housing clusters talking, singing, doing crafts, enjoying tea and snacks and simply enjoying one another’s company.

Tim’s Music

Tim’s music

Tim’s music

. . . → Read More: Hope for the Future

Surreal Mourning

My day began with a short walk thru the neighborhood around Grace House. In particular I wanted to see the local Sakari train station. I had heard on the news that it was reopened recently. At present there are busses that run along the recently paved railbed, taking the place of the disrupted train service . . . → Read More: Surreal Mourning

Back in Tohoku

It’s been ten months since my last trip to Tohoku. Every time I return to the 3.11 disaster zone my heart grieves again, and yet each time there is so much that has changed since the last visit. Today was a travel day with stops in Kesennuma and Rikuzen-Takata before arriving in Ofunato where we . . . → Read More: Back in Tohoku

Ryori Village Coming Back!

I’m back in Japan after spending six months in the U.S. visiting supporting churches. Other than being separated from the rest of the family for a couple months, it feels good to be back in Japan. After spending six months in the U.S. talking about the 3.11 disaster and having so many folks admit that . . . → Read More: Ryori Village Coming Back!

Conspicuous Blanks

Today was the culmination of a very long process for our family; at least for Miles, Kendra and me. We went to the Tachikawa branch of the immigration bureau and received our new status as “permanent residents” here in Japan. It is roughly the equivalent of getting a green card in the U.S. With this . . . → Read More: Conspicuous Blanks

So Many Things To Do

Thursday was our last full day in Tohoku. We split up into four teams. One group went back to carpentry work at the temporary housing area. Another group spent the morning visiting with elderly women at another temporary housing area and then to yet another area for afternoon activities with the residents. Another group spent . . . → Read More: So Many Things To Do

Opportunities in Ofunato

Today our team split up into three groups. Six of us went to a temporary housing area and did carpentry work. The government supplied temporary housing units are pretty simple but need people’s basic needs. When they first moved in many of the residents had almost nothing besides the clothes on their back and whatever . . . → Read More: Opportunities in Ofunato

Learning to Serve

Today we woke up in Morioka and made our departure for the coast by 10AM. Just before noon we pulled into Ofunato and when to the temporary housing area in the small fishing port of Nochinoiri, on the north side of Ofunato bay. We set up our BBQ gear again and spent the afternoon serving . . . → Read More: Learning to Serve

Feeling Connected

You know that sensation of meeting someone for the first time but still feeling like you know them from somewhere? After a bit you work up the courage to start asking questions. “Where did you go to school? Have you ever lived in …? Are you related to …? Where were you during the summer . . . → Read More: Feeling Connected