Social media outlets are featuring so many reflective posts about the fifth anniversary of 3.11 that I hesitate to join the fray. And yet how can I be silent? What happened on March 11th, 2011 will never fade from my …
earthquake
It’s That Time Again
Japanese income taxes are due in a few days so everyone is fearfully crunching their numbers, grudgingly filling out the paper work, or procrastinating until the last day and dreading the lines at city hall. Although I find Japanese tax …
Lingering Images
Ofunato is a coastal city in Iwate Prefecture; right in the heart of the 3.11 disaster zone. I’ve been here for the last several days with a team from Newsong Church (Irvine, CA) and a few other volunteers from various …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
