Tsunami Damage

I leave it to this video to tell the story.

More to come, I'm sure.

Global Mission Center

One of the things that I was really impressed with on this trip was the organization of the staff up in Iwaki.  There was so much stuff going on, so many people doing so many things.  And, like I was discussing with a guy from Hawaii that I met there, it was pretty organized but not in the strict, rigid way-- rules, rules, rules!

Instead, after 3 months of doing stuff everyday (except Sundays), the staff who works amazing hard is joyful and can definitely multitask.  The meeting room has signs everywhere, and sheets of things so that they can simply understand what's going on.  The schedule for the day is written on the white board (ha, but only in Japanese-- there's an English version on the board on a piece of paper).  The first thing I did when I got there was sign in, was asked about insurance, and quickly found a room among a few...  At night, the house becomes a maze of places where people are sleeping.  Tim said there are usually 25-60 people there at a time.

At the meeting in the morning, what things are going on that day are discussed and leaders let the volunteers know about how many they will need.  Volunteers decide where they want to participate that day.

Here are some of the opportunities to serve:

-"Gareki" (rubble- new Japanese word for the week)-- there are different projects going on that day. Each day that I went, there were 2 or 3 opportunities.  Sometimes only carpenters are needed.  Sometimes they say that at a particular place there will be hard labor.  But basically, you go and do whatever is needed there.  While I was there, one team was putting up temporary walls at a house/rice factory.  Another was washing dishes and supplies at a traditional Japanese Inn.  The water brought in sand and mixed oil with it. In order to reopen, all the supplies had to be cleaned-- which was pretty hard work.  And then there are teams that clean out houses and divide the trash into burnable, glass, wood, etc. and throw it all away.

-Cafe-- Downstairs at the church, there is a center where those in need can get supplies-- anything from clothes, shoes, diapers, milk, blankets, etc.  But they have to let the people know what they need.  So, while the workers arrange stuff so that the people can come get what they need, there are other workers in the cafe.  Those waiting for supplies for their families sit there and can have some free coffee/tea/cake.  The workers sit down and have conversation with those waiting and listen to them.  This is a great opportunity to share the Gospel and to minister to them.  This is also an important part of disaster relief.  I think another girl who is a hair stylist came in, and gave free hair cuts to people, which is another opportunity to talk.

- Kitchen/Clean Up-- There are also those who stay at the church to make breakfast, lunch and dinner for staff and volunteers.  They also help clean up the bathrooms, living room, and other things.  This is a very daily job!!

-Foot washing-- A couple of times a week (?), people go up in the afternoon to the refugee centers and wash feet, give foot massages to those living there.  This is another opportunity to listen and minister.

-Takidashi-- ...which means giving out food.  So teams will go to some shelter at dinner time, give out food, clean up and sit down to converse with people.  Yup, more opportunities.

-There is more, I think but I can't seem to remember...

So, in case you're wondering-- here's what the day looks like

6am- Devotional (not required, but it's good!)

8am- Breakfast

9am- Morning Meeting (a bit of music, day's events and short prayer time)

10am- Teams head out

4:30pm- ish-- If there's foot washing, you go there...

6pm- Dinner

8pm- Evening Meeting

More blogs to come...

Tsunami damage

Impressions and Stories from Iwaki

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!!