Hope for the Future

Tim’s Music

Tim’s music

Tim’s music

Tim’s music

Silk Flowers

Friendship Bracelets

Friendship Bracelets

Friendship Bracelets

Friendship Bracelets

Friendship Bracelets

Temp Housing Flower Garden

Temp Housing in the Hills

Friendship Bracelets

Friendship Bracelets

Friendship Bracelets

Tim’s Music

I can only report on the two that our group visited but what I heard in both places was an increased sense of hope for the future. Over the past two years there have been many occasions when local residents have sounded as though all hope had been lost. After all, just think about it. They have lost all they own; everything except what they had on their back and in their hands on March 11 when they fled the incoming tsunamis. Their homes, their possessions, in many cases their source of income, and in some cases their loved ones; these are the priceless things they have lost.

After months of survival in evacuation centers these people now find themselves in government supplied temporary housing. Initially they were told they had to leave in two years. But that same government is often deadlocked in trying to determine whether to let people rebuild in the same locations. In so many of the towns and villages in Iwate there simply isn’t enough flat land to build anywhere else, and yet the government now knows that the land where these people lives is susceptible to tsunamis. So there they sit, unable to rebuild, unable to map out a future, unable to do much of anything. When you can’t even begin to imagine a future it’s hard to maintain hope.

And yet today I had conversations with several residents of the temporary housing, and what struck me was the sense of hope I heard. One elderly lady lives with her son and daughter in law in temporary housing. She was eager to tell me about their plans. The house they used to live in was near the water and it was destroyed. But the city has recently set some other land aside for new homes. Its significantly higher and safe from future tsunamis, as well as being cleared and leveled for housing construction. The house is currently under construction and will soon be completed. The excitement in her voice and eyes was palpable!

At another housing area I heard the same story. An elderly woman who had prepared pickled spinach and wild parsley and was sharing it with everyone told me about her son’s plans. The new house was under construction and they hoped to be moved in by late summer! Once again, it is further up from the water than their previous home and expected to be safe. This is in a town where approximately one third of the homes were completely washed away, one third was partially damaged and needing either demolition or serious repairs; and one third of the homes were spared.

Not being able to imagine that which is not visible tends to lead to hopelessness. But when you have something you can look forward to; something you can stake your future on; something that makes the future worth working toward; then you have the makings of real hope. Whether these victims of 3.11 are watching construction of their new homes, looking at blue prints, or even just talking about their new homes; it is exceedingly joyful and full of hope.

Our heart’s desire is that these precious survivors will come to know what it means to stake your past, present and future on the most incredible good news of all time.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1