Up to Iwaki

Well... I just arrived home less than 12 hours ago from a trip up to Iwaki City to help with relief efforts.  It was an amazing trip, in all aspects.  From watching how the staff works, to meetings that we have everyday, the focus and joy that everyone maintain, cleaning houses and meeting and serving the Japanese people whose houses we were cleaning up. 

My alarm was set for 3:50am on Wednesday, and I went by foot (ok, only 20 minutes), train, bus and car to get to Global Mission Center in Iwaki.  Unfortunately, by the time that we (I met up with another couple going up there) made it to the Center, the different teams going out were already leaving for the day.

Anyhow, I got my stuff situated in the building, finding a room to sleep in with about 5 girls, I believe.  (I was later moved to another room holding the same).  I kinda looked around and figured out that floor by myself.  It holds like a large living room with tables around, and a few bathrooms and places where people can sleep.  Downstairs is the church room, some storage place for food, another place for supplies for people in need to come and a little cafe area where ministry takes place all day long for those waiting for supplies.

Anyway, I spent a while trying to figure out what I could do to help since I wasn't able to go out with the teams.  I was a little disappointed.  However, at lunch I spotted the two Canadian boys who were with us at FUSE last week.  I sat around and chatted with them (since I didn't have that chance at FUSE).  They came for 2 weeks, and are doing carpentry work.  That day, they were building shoe storage units (since we take our shoes off before entering houses and I promise-- at that church, it can be hard to find yours in the sea of shoes at the entrance). 

After lunch, I was outside where they were working and asked if there was anything I could do.  I found out that someone wanted some mural thing on some cabinets that housed tools and other supplies of that sort.  So, I volunteered, got some paint and got busy.  It was cool to be able to use my skills in that way.

That night we all had dinner and the evening meeting at 8pm.  We began and finished the 45 minute meeting with music and prayer, and at the end a 2 minute encouraging note from the pastor.  New workers arriving that day were introduced, people talked about the day's work, what got done, impressions, stories about the family and testimonies.  At 9, I was getting ready for bed... I was tired!

More blogs to come!!