ayoda

[ayoda]

I think we're back

August 15

It's been a week since we've returned, I dove back into my day job and jet lag has hit me really hard. But through the mental fog I'm able to reflect a bit on our time in the Noto Peninsula, a trip which I'm still surprised actually happened.

It took awhile to arrange this year's visit, since this situation is still pretty raw. We posted previous pics to show there's still a lot of recovery ahead. So many homes in disrepair, particularly near the coast. Although the earthquake happened on January 1, we spent our time helping people move in, move out, or simply clean up. Also, we saw temporary housing still being built, a bit surprising.

The volunteers kept changing each day (we're front / left). I still am amazed at how volunteers kept coming in and out each day from all over Japan, let alone from other countries. The leaders each day had to create / recreate teams to be sent to the different service areas.

At 8:00 a.m. every morning the day started with a devotional, then we were informed of our work assignment. We'd then travel the next 2.5 hours from Ishikawa to the Noto Peninsula by car or van to where we were needed. We saw scenes such as this repeatedly.

I'm borrowing this pic from the Noto Help social media site. We'd mentioned there was a house which we were helping clear out as it was beyond repair. That's me helping bring down furniture from the second floor. There was a lot to be moved, the team we worked with was just amazing in how they tackled any task without a complaint. Did I mention we had two Pastors on this work team? They simply felt called to serve in Noto.

I can't say enough about Peter. Aside from rescuing me more than once with his Japanese fluency (it's easy for me to get in over my head with the language), he took on every task he was asked to do, from digging up weeds and sand, to crawling under houses, to loading furniture into trucks, all of this in temperatures in the nid-90s (and maybe higher) plus humidity also in the 90s, as in 90+ percent.

I also want to thank Morofuji-Sensei. We've worked with him since Kumamoto in 2017. He leads the Kyushu Christ Disaster Relief Center (九州キリスト災害支援センター), he brought his team from Kumamoto to Ishikawa (almost 600 miles) because of the acute need in the Noto Peninsula. Morofuji-Sensei also had his Dad and his son working with us. He was our connection with Noto Help.

Worth noting: On the day we left last week, Kyushu Island experienced a 7.1 magnitude earthquake, yet there was no significant damages.

On the last day we were in Ishikawa, I walked by an elementary school. The translation is "let's live strong and healthy! Let's carry on!" We hope we help them grow to a better future.

I underestimated the number of volunteers that Noto Help would help facilitate. I thought by the time we left, it would be around 2,900. When we left last week, over 3,100 volunteers participated with Noto Help. We were privileged to be two of them.

I think I still have a bit more to say, so stay tuned.

To those of you who have supported us with your prayers and your contributions, thank you!! We are more than $2000 short of our fundraising goal. If you would still like to contribute, I'm copying the information from our prayer letter, you can also contact me directly at ayoda77@gmail.com for more info. Again, thank you for your encourgement and kind words!

If you would like to offer financial support:

By Zelle (preferred): Use donations@glints.org or 6307150734. Write in the comments section “Japan Mission Team.”

By check: Make checks payable to GLINTS and send to GLINTS, PO Box 962, Wheaton IL 60187. On the memo section designate your donation to “Japan Mission Team.”

By credit card or PayPal: Go to www.glints.org/donatenow. Write in the comments section “Japan Mission Team.”

ありがとう (thank you) for your continued partnership!

[ayoda]

August 7

We literally get down and dirty with the day's assignment. There was a small tsunami which flooded homes a few yards from the coastline. One issue was sand washed under the house and covered the house's foundation. I believe the concern was this would eventually cause problems with mold. The flooring was removed so the frame could be exposed and cleaned as well as allowing us to remove a layer of sand which covered the foundation.

We had to crawl under the house to get to much of the sand. That's Peter working underneath the remaining floorboards. FYI we all took turns doing the crawl.

Once we removed the sand, the support beams for the flooring needed to be wiped down. We also wiped down flooring that was largely intact, but covered with a fine layer of dirt.

The last time Peter was with our team was 2017. He was quite helpful then, since most of our work was visiting the "kasetsu" (temporary housing) residents or doing community outreach, not physically taxing, a different kind of tired. On this trip, Peter engaged in all of the physical labor asked of him. He also would periodically caution me not to overdo it. I behaved myself...sometimes.

These two homes were right next to each other. One home was deemed safe, the other house was declared unsafe. To reiterate, earthquakes can cause unpredictable damage.

This house was only a few hundred yards from the house we were helping restore.

We've acclimated to our new home-away-from-home, it's a basic two story building which experienced only cosmetic damage. I didn't sleep particularly well, but I did OK with the day's activities, at least I think so. Tonight should be better.

We're getting ready to wrap up our trip. We've a bit more we'd like to share, so please stay tuned.

[ayoda]

August 6

Hey y'all, it's Peter. It's been a week since we touched down in Japan. To keep things (relatively) short, between a lost wallet, a surprise change in accommodations, and tomorrow being our last full day in Japan, I'd say we're seeing just how far we can be stretched.

The work we're doing has been the highlight so far. The days we took off weren't bad but I would rather sweat doing important work rather than sweat walking for hours trying to track down our lost money (we did find it, but boy, what a way to reach 20000 steps).

I won't deny that just me and Dad feels like a Japanese comedian duo or ボケ (gag) and ツッコミ (retort) with the positions changing occasionally, but we're looking forward to having a bigger team next time (hint, hint) so it's not just two clueless Odas playing "guess or google translate"

I'm turning it over to my dad now, but seriously, thank you for your support in all shapes and forms. またね、bye!

Thanks Peter! Those following on social media have seen this pic, I've a great colleague for this trip! The only drawback is Peter is clearly taller than me. A low bar to be sure, but nonetheless.

We have moved from the city of Suzu and landed on the seaside community of Wajima. The building in the pic has been seen elsewhere, still it's different to see it in person. This building collapsed and fell down like a tree. There would have been greater casualties had the earthquake hit during a regular workday.

Wajima appears to have suffered more damage than anywhere we've previously seen. That may be due to its proximity to the ocean.

Upon closer inspection part of the collapsed building fell on the auto. We saw several vehicles also trapped.

Today's work was cleanup. We picked up by hand tile roof shingles, rocks, weeds, and other miscellaneous items. That's Peter doing cleanup.

It took five of us and filling dozens of bags, but the job got done.

We were treated to a nice lunch (including air conditioning!), joining the other team at a small church.

Upon our return to the Noto Help base, we were again treated, this time with sno-cones! Perfect for this weather!

Hoping all of you are well and staying cool!

[ayoda]

August 5

We have Mondays off, so we've decided to give you a behind-the-scenes recap of our trip. This is the Uchinada Bible Church, which graciously hosts the Noto Help effort. Apparently there's no church big enough in the Noto Peninsula that can house this operation and its staff and volunteers. Although it takes 2.5 hours to travel to the disaster site by car, it nonetheless works.

When we arrived, the display indicated the number of volunteers who've served from around the world with the Noto Help effort. By the time we leave on Thursday, this number should be closer to 2,900.

Our accommodations are basic, but it works. I mentioned previously I had trouble sleeping on the floor, they provided an air mattress for me. We've limited access to the shower since that's on the other side of the building housing female volunteers, but between that and the local hot springs, we've managed. The men's room is down a flight of stairs. Most importantly, this room is air conditioned (!), which makes it comfortable at night.

One difference since our last trip in 2019 is more vendors will take Visa, before that wasn't always the case. Even some vending machines will take credit cards.

We went to a local ramen bar where we viewed the Olympics for a few minutes. The Japanese coverage is clearly different than what we see in the States, there's no athlete profiles offered and the sportscasters don't appear to be celebrities. There's a bit more focus on the Japanese athletes, but all of the competitors get camera time.

Speaking of ramen, we occasionally take a break from the convenience stores. It was a good meal that was very affordable.

We did take part of the day over the weekend to visit family in Fukui, which is the adjacent prefecture to Ishikawa. It's the first time seeing family in a dozen years. The city of Mihama, surrounded by lakes and the Sea of Japan, is my parents' home town. The views are spectacular!

Back to HQ and preparing for another visit to the Noto Peninsula. Thanks for reading, please stay tuned!

[ayoda]

August 3

The following is a series of random thoughts. If you're looking for something more serious and (possibly) meaningful, skip today and we'll be back to normal next time. But if you're still amused (bemused) at the possibilities, here we go:

The presence of Shohei Ohtani is everywhere, even on vending machines. This particular green tea is one of my favorites, I wonder if the "Shohei" effect means I'll be soon paying more.

We enjoyed dinner after a visit to the local hot springs, served by this robot. It also said "thanks for your patience." I wanted to take more pics, but Peter said "stop being a tourist."

On the way back from Suzu City (Noto Peninsula, where we've been serving), we stopped by the airport just to stretch our legs. These are life-size cutouts of these well known sumo wrestlers. I was thinking of taking a photo with these figures, yet I decided not to again incur the wrath of my offspring.

Is Marvel in need of a new superhero?

We're staying at a church which has been generous and accommodating. Nonetheless, having pulled a back muscle just a few weeks prior, I found it very hard to sleep more than a few hours with just my sleeping bag on the floor. When I asked for a pad to sleep upon, they instead shared with me an air mattress! I actually was able to sleep more than five hours! I also realized my days of Boy Scout camping is waaaay in the past.

Save for a visit with family in nearby Fukui (it was quality time, details later) who treated us to gourmet seafood, we've mostly been getting our meals at supermarkets and convenience stores. If you've heard stories about the "konbini," like the ubiquitous Family Mart and 7-Eleven, we can verify the tales are true! No complaints about our dining, it's been both decent quality and decent prices. Plus with the hot weather, I've consumed more ice cream than normal. I'm not complaining!

It's been a few years, but the residents of Fukui prefecture are still amused that one of their cities and a former president share the same name. I don't know of a Japanese city that even remotely sounds like "Trump" or "Biden."

Yes we're here to fulfill a serious purpose, but it doesn't mean there aren't amusing tales. Back to the normal blog next time. Have a great weekend!

[ayoda]

August 2

We returned to the Noto area, this time to a city called Suzu. We helped empty the home pictured (no inside photos to protect their privacy) as the house suffered major damage from the Jan 1 quake. I could tell in its heyday (don't ask me what "heyday" means) this hose was a showcase of traditional Japanese architecture and design. So much finished wood, fine details in places I didn't expect, especially the exterior. The original owner was the family patriarch, we cleaned out the house while preserving some family photos and certificates.

I'm certain we've worked in similar hot and humid conditions, but I probably erased the experience from my memory. Suffice to say we were pretty soaked with sweat, yet somehow we got the job done with minimal issues. The family thanked us, staying there was no possible way to complete this task without help.

(This train stop may have been abandoned during the pandemic.)

I could easily cite 1 Timothy 6:17, about avoiding putting one's hope in wealth, yet I also recalled the Asian philosophical belief about "impermanence." Forever is reserved for the spiritual realm. No matter how finely crafted a house or anything else, like all material things it has a finite lifespan.

We continue to encounter many houses that were destroyed or at least unsafe for habitation. We also drive to Noto through severely damaged roads. If you look closely at the above pic, you'll see a car that's apparently been abandoned there since the quake.

What I'm trying to avoid is seeing all this and taking it for granted, I hope I'm humble enough to remember to pray for the families who've lost so much. I'll have more thoughts later.

We're taking the day off on Saturday to visit my parents' home village, just two hours from here. More to come, thanks for reading and stay tuned.

[ayoda]

August 1

The Noto Peninsula is a hidden gem on Japan. Beautiful forests and fields, right on the ocean. Our job is to help restore the area as best as we can.

The original estimate was 299 dead, about 1,200 injured, over 60,000 homes damaged. Many eventually find themselves in a "kasetsu juutaku," temporary shelters pictured above. We're guessing each unit is about 200 square feet, which includes kitchen and bathroom facilities. Many will eventually find themselves there, albeit there's some reluctance to do so. Plus there are some alternatives.

Here's an example. We returned to the house we helped clean out yesterday. I now know our purpose was to help prepare their home to receive family friends. The latter's home is still liveable, but will need several months for extensive repair and slight remodeling. We were assigned to help move furniture, books, and other goods that will be in the way of the reconstruction. Neighbors helping neighbors, indeed.

I also learned something interesting. There were numerous homes where the heavy tile roofs collapsed onto the house. Apparently the reason is if a fire breaks out, the collapsed roof will snuff out any flames from spreading. There were fires after the Noto quake, but the roofs minimized the potential damage.

The sign, loosely translated, says "Noto, be strong and persevere." We saw similar signs in Ishinomaki after the 2011 tsunami, then similar signs in Kumamoto after the 2016 earthquake. We feel privileged to contribute in some small way. More tales ahead, stay tuned.

[ayoda]

August 1, Thursday.

As I mentioned previously, earthquakes are unpredictable. It's appearing we'll be working most days on the Noto Peninsula (the city of Suzu, to be specific), a 2.5 hour drive each day. It normally takes less time, but there are areas where the road collapsed, others where the road cracked, dropping the road a foot or more. I appreciate our drivers, they're navigating narrow detours and literal bumps on the road (it's a bit jarring).

Our job on Wednesday was to help a family clean out their house of quake-damaged items (damaged goods, water damage, etc). The house fortunately was minimally damaged, but there was a lot to both toss and reorganize.

Worth noting, the Noto Peninsula is a destination for tourists who want to explore less crowded traditional areas. Whereas Kyoto and Shizuoka (Mt Fuji area) are overwhelmed with foreign visitors, Ishikawa (which includes the Noto Peninsula) are hidden gems, even though they're continuing to recover.

The teams we work with consist of churches, charity groups, and other volunteer organizations. The Noto Help ministry has had over 2200 volunteers since the Jan 1 earthquake. It's a privilege for Peter and me to be a small part of a major effort.

And of course, another Shohei Ohtani sighting.

Stay tuned, keep sending your prayers and positive thoughts, ありがとう(thanks)!

[ayoda]

ooh cool the ask box is open this is emily btw

Hi Emily-San, how are you?

[ayoda]

Earthquakes cause unexplainable damage. A house that's fallen off from its foundation sits next to a house seemingly intact, the residents still able to live in their house. Most of the damaged houses are older, more traditional wooden structures with the heavy tile roofs, yet I also saw houses less than 20 years old rendered uninhabitable.

We jumped into a van and took a 2.5 hour ride to join a team of 13 to the Noto Peninsula. On the country side, they don't have a complete sewer system, so water from cooking and cleaning drain into concrete-lined ditches, which eventually flow into a nearby river. The earthquake and later heavy rains caused the ditches to become filled with mud and debris. Our job was to clear the ditches to allow waste water to flow again. (In case you're wondering, bathroom "sewage" does not drain into the river and are properly disposed elsewhere.)

We were given the option of starting a day later with the cleanup team, they assumed we needed time to recover from the flight. Peter and I decided to start almost immediately since Peter and I agreed we were there to work. It was quite hot and humid, but the team leaders were good about giving us lots of breaks and providing cold drinks. You can see the before-and after, it was challenging and tiring, but the team got it done.

We're about to start our day. Who knows what we'll be doing? Stay tuned!

[ayoda]

We have arrived in Tokyo and have already seen the first of several Shohei Otani ads. We await the Shinkansen (bullet train) to take us to Kanazawa, we'll recover there before heading to the Uchinada Church and get our first assignment.

I know we've already posted several pics, but this is what we look like after a 10.5 hour flight. We had no problems with Delta, it went smoothly except they ran out of the chicken dish and were switched to (salty) miso pork. But thanks to a prescription sleep aid, I actually got a few hours of snooze. Peter, on the other hand, learned online Monopoly is challenging. Stay tuned!

[ayoda]

We're onboard! Your prayers and positive thoughts are welcomed as we get ready to head to Ishikawa, Japan and the Noto Peninsula. We'll be joining the Kyushu Christ Disaster Relief Center who set up their team there after the New Year's earthquake. We last served with them in Kumamoto back in 2019. See you in Japan!

[ayoda]

Getting ready

So this is a test posting as much as it is a request for prayers and positive thoughts as we prepare to depart on Sunday to Japan. The journey's a bit complicated as the Noto Peninsula is in a rural area.

In the past we've done cleanup, children's programs, visits to temporary shelters, and served meals. We don't know what to expect this time other than we've been assured it's going to be hot and humid. They'll watch out for our safety, so we'll see what transpires.

We'll see how Tumblr works, we'll let you know if we choose another option. See you soon from the Noto Peninsula!

P.S. This is who we're working with. Thank you Levi & Diane for your partnership!

[ayoda]

Ten years later

I don’t remember exactly what I was doing, but I received an alert on my desktop that a major earthquake had hit Japan. I immediately logged into the website of NHK (the CNN / PBS of Japan). I watched a live feed from a helicopter just as the tsunami had crashed onshore.

(This is a picture of the wall that was supposed to protect the village below. I took this pic as well as the others posted in this entry.)

It was unreal to see a massive wave destroy everything in its path. The wave kept traveling further and further inland. The reporter remained professional but his shock was obvious. 

I’ve told some of this story before, please forgive me for being redundant. 

We started hearing numbers. 12,000 dead (later revised to 17,000+). 2,500 missing. 6,000+ injured. 150,000+ residents displaced. Tommy Dyo, then director of Cru’s Epic Movement ministry, asked me to help train student teams being sent to Japan. Glad to be of service. 

Then in April, Tommy was heading to Japan for a first-hand look. He said ���dude, you’re coming with me.” Say what? How? “Send out a support letter.” Could I raise the support in a month? I received over $4,000 more than I needed (applied to future visits). Then my wife ruptures her Achilles (this time, the other leg). I thought that ended my plans. But she said “I’m not going to deprive you of this opportunity.”

I admittedly went to Japan skeptical as to what I’d see and questioning God as to why this had happened. I wasn’t prepared for what was ahead. The photo above is Rikuzentakata. A complete neighborhood, gone. When I shared later about my visit, I was asked if there were any photos I couldn’t take. There was one in particular, some kids’ toys that had been scattered. Even now, it’s admittedly difficult to think what may have happened to those children.

Some cleanup had already taken place, though there was still a lot to do. There were lots full of recovered vehicles lined up so survivors could either see if they could salvage something from the vehicle, or to identify victims who were swept up in the wave.

The government primarily provided cleanup for the damaged buildings (mostly condemned), we helped clean out houses and churches while also packaging meals and goods for those in evacuation centers.

While in Kamaishii, we saw buildings where an “X” was spray painted. An “X” indicated bodies had been found, an “X” with a circle meant the bodies had been recovered.

Most people have heard of the Fukushima nuclear reactor that’s still not shut down. We went to the Palette Center, a convention center where 10,000 people were housed, evacuated from neighborhoods surrounding the reactor. Most of the evacuees lived on different level of the arena, primarily within cardboard partitions.

This ship washed ashore at least 2 km inland. After debating whether or not to preserve the ship as a memorial, the decision was made to remove the ship to help rebuild the city. It had to be taken apart piece-by-piece, there was no crane or anything else that could move the ship. That provides some perspective on the power of the tsunami.

Worth noting: The shaking was incredibly severe, but Japan is very conscious about structural integrity in earthquakes. But there’s really no defense to a tsunami that reached as high as 40 meters (about 133 feet). That was the source of the major destruction and loss.

I’d already mentioned I was trying to understand the age-old philosophical question as to why would God allow this kind of suffering. I was blessed to have many help me find answers.

A group shot of the 2011 team, outside of the CRASH Japan (Christian Relief, Assistance, Support and Hope) headquarters: 

Tommy, who I’ve already credited / blamed for getting me involved.

Shannon, a wonderfully talented friend who I’ll see on TV in the future (Tommy and I serve as her Stateside Uncles).

Pastor Jonathan, then President of CRASH Japan, our relief agency, now heading OpSAFE Int’l helping kids after disasters and trauma. I still work with him and his organization.

Urs, the son of missionaries, now happily married and living in Germany (?).

Some guy who once had more hair and darker hair.

Dr. Gary, formerly a Southern Baptist missionary based in Tokyo and our guide through the disaster areas, we damaged his van driving through areas where the roads were heavily damaged. Now back home in Chicago.

Pastor Levi and Diane Velasco, head of GLINTS (Global Intercultural Services), with whom we now serve as volunteers. They also head CRASH Midwest. They’ll be back in Japan sooner than later.

This photo features Jill, a nurse who joined us for much of our journey through the Sendai area, along with Tommy and Gary.

Ten years later, I’m still a small part of the volunteer effort. We’ve expanded to serving also in Kumamoto, which was hit with a major quake in 2016. I continue to work with OpSAFE Int’l and Pastor Jonathan, GLINTS with the Velascos, CRASH Japan under the direction of Nagai-Sensei, and we’ve been able to be part of the Kyushu Christ Disaster Relief Center based in Kumamoto. We try to go every summer, unfortunately the pandemic has interrupted our visits for the time being. I hope to post some more memories soon.

And what did I learn? Disasters don’t discriminate. We have to plan ahead. Maybe I can be helpful, even in a small way.

As for the “big question.” I still don’t have an answer for the question as to why this happened. Perhaps I was asking the wrong question. God will answer the question “why” in his time, but when asked He will answer “what’s next>” 

I worked with so many incredible people over the past decade, from all over the world, all ages, all denominations, as well as all faith backgrounds. Their work taught me the importance of how to respond to the question “what’s next.” I’m hoping I’m doing my best to answer that question.

We found this mural (that’s my boys and super volunteer Emily) outside of a building in Kobuchihama. Translated: “Volunteers, thank you! Look at how strong Kobuchihama has become.”

どいたしまして。You’re welcome.

[ayoda]

A Paradox or So

And now, my son Andrew offers his guest editorial:

It’s been a challenging trip. There’ve been years with more intense physical labor, years where the weather was worse, years where we didn’t have all the resources we needed. I was not well prepared for this year’s trip. My mindset just wasn’t up to the challenge, and I faltered. I had many anxious moments and all the nervous energy that followed intensified my introverted traits. Missions, to me, at one point was just an annual thing that just happened. I’ve spent some time thinking why I even participate in our disaster relief missions trips to begin with. Here’s what I came up with.

People have a tendency to forget. It’s just a human thing. I forget things, my family forgets things, my friends forget things. When I can check the news any time of day, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 12 months a year, we get information in real time, a constant stream of issues and incidents and things getting done or not done.

 Photo taken in Mashiki City, Kumamoto in 2016.

After a disaster, the whole world can see and hear and learn about the trials others go through. This can be great. In the first year following the earthquake, missionaries from all corners of the globe watched and came and helped. But as always, people lost the drive, they lost the passion, the determination. They forget. And they move on. Eventually, the severity of the disaster is thought of less and less until it becomes a few photos and a blurb in a history book or a retrospective news story. 

I feel called here because I don’t want to forget, and I don’t want my church to forget, and most importantly, I don’t want the people here to feel forgotten. I want the residents the know that we still care, that the church still supports them, and that we don’t have to remember them because we never forgot to begin with.  

There seems to be a need about leaving an impact in this world. I have this need (maybe a fixation or even an obsession), and I know when the obsession is in the wrong hands, it can become a dark yearning for infamy of attention.  Nonetheless, I think this trip helps address my obsession, the feeling of being able to do something worthwhile in this world and help others. Empathy is what makes us human, and showing love and care to a stranger in need can mean as much to you as it does to them. I hope that more brothers and sisters will direct their passion and use it to help someone else. I’d especially like it if more of my peers can come to Japan next year with us and bless more people in need.

“Me, being a goofball in 2017.”

This post is disorganized, a representation of my current state of mind, messy yet sometimes coherent. I’m not going to sugarcoat this: It’s not all perfect. The things we do are not all rainbows and sunshine and pure, unfiltered happiness. At the same time, It’s not miserable and terrible and depressing. I guess it is a paradox, straddling a line between unrealistic idealism and counterintuitive cynicism. But, between the extremes, I’m doing OK. I’d be happy to say that we still did what we came to do, and I hope that more can help us do it again. 

DFTBA,

Andrew 

Editor’s note: Andrew shared much of this at the Kiyama Christ Church this past Sunday, where we were asked to speak briefly about our work as a Japan Rebuild team. And the blessings continue.

[ayoda]

Community...and working together

(Again, if you’re reading this blog, please offer a quick “hello” in the comments section so we’ve an idea about our readership. Arigatou!)

I’m a bit behind with the blog. Rather than offer the usual day-to-day recap, I’m going to make a few comments and observations about what I’m learning on this trip. And lots of pics, I promise.

Jorge serving breakfast at a kasetsu (temporary housing) community gathering.

Jorge and I hand-making dango (sweet dumpling) balls.

Jessey helping neighbors with crafts during the weekly cafe gathering offered at the KCDRC (Kyushu Christ Disaster Relief Center) headquarters.

At a kasetsu summer festival, about to lead the Texas Two-Step for the residents. We were serving with several charity groups, including a group of young adults from a Korean church who shared some pretty awesome dance moves.

The summer festival was well attended. There was food, musical performances, Bingo, and other activities.

All summer festivals need to have fireworks with the kids.

I’ve mentioned numerous times what I learned from Dr. Gary Fujino, who led our Ishinomaki team back in 2011 -- “What you’re doing here is important, but what’s most important to the people we’re meeting is that you’re here.” I’m being reminded of this time and time again. We’ve been welcomed by the residents in a variety of venues, from big summer festivals to small cafe gatherings. Maybe more than just welcomed. At one venue, the residents asked to connect with us on Facebook, got all of our addresses, and a promise to do some facetime when we return to the States so the residents can practice their English.

Once again I’m working with an amazing team of volunteers who do more than challenging physical tasks, they also have been wonderful fellowshipping (is that a word?) with the people they’ve met throughout Kumamoto. From one-year-old toddlers to seniors in their 80s (and perhaps beyond), these gentlemen have been true gentlemen for each individual they’ve encountered.

 Arts and crafts during the KCDRC weekly cafe, Gio making paper flowers with the Korean ministry team.

Another round of the Texas Two-Step, including the Korean team, the KCDRC staff, and a couple of the cafe visitors.

Making yaki-soba (fried noodles), one of several dishes prepared fresh at the kasetsu summer festival.

Drew and me making sno-cones.

We have attended numerous events and am amazed at the number of ways ministries, non-profit organizations and their local (and international) volunteers have reached out to the residents of Kumamoto. The earthquake happened three (3) years ago, yet getting used to a “new normal” is never really normal.

This field is right next door to the KCDRC headquarters. I distinctly remember moving furniture out of the house that once stood here two (2) years ago. The tract remains empty. Many of the places we clear weeds -- where houses once stood -- are still vacant.

The kasetsu residents do things to make their small homes more “normal.”

This looks like a typical living room, yet it’s squeezed into a room that’s maybe 50 square feet in size.

I’ll likely have a bit more to say later, suffice to say there’s still a lot more ahead for the residents of Kumamoto. Of particular concern will be what happens after the kasetsu facilities are shut down, currently scheduled for April (and one year past the original schedule). What will happen to the residents, moreso what happens to the communities they formed while living in the kasetsu jyuutaku? Again more thoughts forthcoming.

All this being said, a bit of silliness to end the day. If you haven’t seen this yet, go to this website, https://www.instagram.com/p/B0FOBmkh4gR/?igshid=1ug6xhn90vmkc&fbclid=IwAR3st_gpz9YgyyUHsJcM29b5qUUKHzva4vwM4kixtBjjg2nB_7RL2JvzUvI (you may need to copy and paste) and watch something truly goofy. But fun. And the blessings continue.

[ayoda]

Rain is a good thing

(Quick note: If you're rading this blog, can you post something under the comment section, a simple "hello" will do. Just trying to gage our readership.)

Tuesday:

We started doing our share of odd jobs, many for the Kiyama Church and Pastor Oda (no relation). Jessey and the team helped gather garden debris which we disposed of at the local dump. I had the privilege of driving the small truck to the dump, it was my first real drive in Japan. Did I mention I finally got an International Driver’s License? I did OK, given the driving is on the left hand of the road, though I did switch on the windshield wiper more than a few times instead of the turn signal (yep, that’s also on the opposite side of the steering column).

Carrying one refrigerator down the stairs, hauling a new one up the stairs.

That’s Andrew with an old-fashioned broom, helping clear out the yard. We also moved / hauled away old furniture, a less-than-efficient washing machine, and the aforementioned refrigerator.

Now it was time for us to start our “official” duties with the Kyushu Christ Disaster Relief Center (KCDRC). We split the team up, Andrew and Tom went to share and practice English with kids at a middle high about 30 minutes away. Sorry, no pics (yet) but the kids were surprised (and pleased) that Andrew was fully bilingual, so they had a good time chatting with him. The other part of the team traveled a few miles down the road.

As I’d mentioned previously, the kasetsu jyuutaku (temporary housing) residents are not more than a few hundred square feet in size, housing entire families and sometimes multigenerational households. There are about four to five residential units per building. The kasetsu we visited today has 75 units, about half are still occupied.

At least once a week, the KCDRC coordinates a tea and social time with the residents at the different kasetsu locations they serve. It’s been going on for the past three (3) years, again they’re overdue in moving all of the residents out of the trailers and back to their neighborhoods, or whatever it is that remains. We did many activities besides serving tea, though Jorge is doing a fine job!

Our team consists of a couple of guys who are “healthy looking male specimens” (OK, I’m taking liberties with the translation, but you get the idea). The residents (mostly senior women) wanted Jorge, Gio and Jessey to show their strength. They set up Masako-Sensei to arm-wrestle Jorge (he claimed he was left-handed, so that made the match even). Masako-Sensei won this round.

Jessey demonstrated he’s a man of many tricks, specifically card tricks. He did a really nice job entertaining the residents, the mini-performance needed little translation.

As we prepared and coordinated our efforts with the KCDRC, they said they wanted us to provide activities that offered examples of American culture. So what could be more American than seniors playing Bingo? But we offered a bit of a twist. For the first game, we called out the numbers in Spanish, the second game in English, then the last game in Japanese. Of course, there were prizes. We also had Gio play a card, if he won everybody got a prize. That happened after the third game, the residents were quite pleased.

In addition to the emotional issues associated with loss, some of the residents become a bit apathetic about caring for their health, particularly when it comes to exercise. Consequently, it was another perfect “American” activity for Jessey to help teach the residents the Texas Two-Step. They also had a Spanish selection where we danced the same moves, but the music was twice as fast. After a certain point, the residents sat back and had a good time watching us try to keep up with the music. Jessey was great. I did try myself, at least I didn’t run into Jessey. Well, not too many times.

Jessey brought along a portable printer, so we were able to take pics of the residents with the various props and make photos available to the residents. This group shot was as popular as the individual shots. 

This young lady -- Jessey’s new buddy -- is the granddaughter of one of the residents -- remember I mentioned that there were multi-generational households here. She wrote ありがとう (thank you very much) along with drawings of faces and stars. You’re welcome, young lady -- and the residents of the kasetsu who blessed us as much as we tried to bless them.

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Wednesday:

When we were meeting back in L.A., I cautioned the team we would sometimes not know what we’d be doing on a given day until the morning of, and that could also change. I suppose for once I was prophetic.

Originally we were booked to move some residents out of the kasetsu to apartment units recently constructed. It’s still not exactly permanent housing, but it’s more accommodating than the cramped barrack-style kasetsu units. That changed. Then we were booked to go cut overgrown weeds starting in the morning. That was postponed to the afternoon. Finally there was a relocating resident who needed furniture and a refrigerator moved. That became a two-man job for Eiichi-Sensei and Andrew.

Which meant the rest of the team was given a new assignment -- visit a local preschool to interact and practice English with the kids there. We actually didn’t do much with the English dialogue, as the oldest child there was two years of age. But what we did do was help with lunchtime. Tom is clearly a trouper when it comes to kids. Gio claimed he had no idea what to do, but he got his little guy to eat -- quite a bit, actually -- four (4) bowls of rice. Sorry for the less-than-ideal angles, but we want to protect the identity of the kids.

They did get a little bit of English interaction with our team. Here’s Gio, Jessey and Tom leading the kids in a chorus of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” I think we have video, if interested.

As we saw in previous years, there’s a number of tracts where homes once stood and / or were used for local gardens and farming. These tracts become overgrown with weeds. This location probably is big enough for more than two (2) homes. We were asked to clear the property of these weeds, much of the growth taller than me. OK, I realize that’s a rather low standard, but nonetheless.

It rains a lot during the Kumamoto summer. We experienced a brief downpour before we arrived at the tract. Did I mention it rains a lot here in Kumamoto? Because of the precipitation, we couldn’t use our gas-powered weed whackers. Instead, we were instructed to yank the weeks out of the ground. Remember I mentioned it rains a lot here? Although it made a bit humid in the hot weather (all right, REALLY humid), it also softened the ground so weed pulling was made a lot easier.

Eichii-Sensei is the director of the KCDRC. He still puts in a lot of physical labor. A lot of us got mosquito bites, sorta inevitable. Eichii-Sensei mentioned he almost died two (2) years ago when he had an allergic reaction to a wasp sting.

We cleared about three-quarters of the property. The guys wanted to finish the rest of the job, but the local dump could only accept a certain amount of vegetation on a given day (only so much can be burned each day) so we ended the day’s work. Several times Eichii-Sensei and others remarked about how our team members work really hard and efficiently. These gentlemen are making me look good. More importantly, they’re really helping out the KCDRC in their efforts to reach out to the local community.

It was time to go home after a productive day. You’ll note there are a few individuals who aren’t part of our team in this pic. They’re with another volunteer organization. Eichii-Sensei has built partnerships with a number of resources, both faith-based and non-faith based, because it’s more productive to coordinate with others, offering both manpower (and womanpower!) as well as avoiding redundancy in relief efforts. I’ll offer more about the partnerships and their goals, particularly in helping residents maintain the communities they’ve built over the past three (3) years while residing in the kasetsu centers. Tonight will be laundry. I hope there’s not going to be anything living and / or creeping that’s stuck to the clothing. Thanks for reading this long posting, again give us a “hello” just to give us an idea about the blog’s audience. And the blessings continue.