Nothing goes to plan

One of the keywords in working here in the tsunami-devastated areas is flexiiblity.  Plans can be made but they don't necessarily turn out the way you expect.  There are sudden changes and various twists and turns along the way each day.  It is a battle too - and that means things can go wrong or get in the way or just be made more difficult than they are anyway.  Today once again we set off for a temporary housing place.  But just as we got there it started to rain.  There seemed to be no one about.  But then one lady appeared and she was the only one for quite some time.  Then one more and eventually one more appeared.  We heard that just today a special shuttle bus had been arranged to take people from that temporary housing area to a shopping centre, so many people were gone.  But maybe part of the plan for today was for the ladies in our team to have time with these three ladies.  The conversation was good and the ladies enjoyed singing with us at the end.  We packed up and headed off to hear how one of the team had got on helping an American carpenter do some work at another temporary housing place.  But that had not gone smoothly either for all sorts of reasons.  Meanwhile the rest of the team got ready to go to yet another temporary housing area right next to a primary school.  We had a great time with the children there, having fun outdoors, doing some games inside, sharing snacks together.  Two of these children have already signed up to come along to to a special week-long Kids Gospel Outreach at the end of this month.  One game involved the three Ferguson men being wrapped in toilet paper by their teams to become mummies, ending with the three mummies having a race across the school playground.  A crowd had gathered by this time to watch this bizarre event.  David ended up surrounded by a group of 6th grade boys and had some good chats.  Wonder what the teachers thought if they were looking out from the windows!  But it was great to give these kids fun and build up some relations there.  Back to the cafe we went and were just about to head off when David and another team member were beckoned over to a table where a few customers were sitting.  Why are you here?  What led you to start this work here in Yamada?  What makes you do this for these people?  That led on to an unexpected but fascinating conversation.  One older man who is frequenting the cafe regulalrly summed up very well what we are doing here - caring for people's hearts, for their inner needs, listening to them, providing a place where people can gather and relax.  What a blessing to be a small part of this ongoing work in Yamada.  Tomorrow we head off to another town where a member of the OMF team (a Japanese pastor) has recently moved and started a new work.

Another day, another place

We set off again this morning as usual at 9am.  After a quick stop at the cafe in Yamada, we were on our way to another temporary housing area.  Same set up.  Same ideas as yesterday.  Same team.  Yet, today was different.  Where were the people?  No one seemed to be in.  One lady appeared and told us that today an announcement had come over the town loudspeakers that this would be one of the days when the conditions are right for going to gather sea urchins.  It seems many had gone there!  We wandered around to see if anyone was there.  We prayed for people to come.  It seemed deserted.  But it turned out to be a time of great blessing.  Gradually some people gathered and had time to chat and make the craft.  An older man came in with his wife but didn't care for the craft so was about to leave when we called him over to the barbecue.  An 81 year old man who loved sports - good conversation starter.  Then as we casually chat, he says he lost his eldest son in the tsunami.  And his home, his shop, his taxis (his former job now taken over by his third son who lives in another temporary housing area).  There is no hope, he says.  We continue listening and chatting.  He tells of his love of singing, and how he had bought himself a karaoke machine to use inside his temporary house (and this after being in hospital for a major operation last year).  It made our day just to chat with and listen to this man.  Meanwhile inside, the craft has finished and we join the ladies (and this man) in singing a couple of songs together, including one about the Lord being our shepherd and guide.  We ended as we did yesterday by singing God Bless You, which brought tears to a number of eyes.  After that we invited the elderly man to sing us a song - he started but then forgot the words!  But then all joined in with a moving rendition of a traditional Japanese song.  As this was going on, a 14 year old boy who had decided to have a day off school appeared.  It was good to engage with him for a while - the thought lingered though that this is a boy who is struggling in many ways, maybe even bullied at school.  People were so appreciative - yet we had done so little.  One lady came up at the end with small gifts for some of the team.  And she also explained how some had felt apprehensive about coming, wondering if we were just the same as the Jehovah's Witnesses who seem to be very active in the area.  Challenges from all directions!  We packed up and headed back to the cafe in Yamada.  We heard that a lady had come there today for the first time and she happens to live in the temporary housing area we will be visiting tomorrow morning!  There were more adventures in the afternoon, including a visit inside a temporary house (first time for David) to meet with a couple.  They had told the story before of how they had scrambled up the hillside and watched the awesome waves come in and sweep away their house below.  Tomorrow the plan is that one member of our team join with an American carpenter to build something at the temporary housing area where they are living.  Back to the cafe where some of the team dug a trench (unearthing all sorts of objects as well as rocks and concrete - there was a shoe, a child's toy, an item of clothing).  These had all belonged to local people - what were their stories?  Are they even still alive?  Why a trench - to plant some sunflowers round the car park area at the Ippo Ippo cafe.  The place looks really good.  There is a sense that this town is working hard to get back on its feet.  There is a positive spirit among the people we meet.  May Ippo Ippo be used more and more to reach many people in this community.  And may each of the team here be used over the remaining days here to share something of the fragrance of Jesus among those we meet.

Back to Iwate

Almost a year to the day since last being here, David is back in Iwate with a team of 6 people, including once again Daniel and Matthew.  The journey was much the same - overnight ferry crossing, a three hour drive down the coast, arriving yesterday afternoon and settling into the team room at the OMF building in Miyako.  Things have changed and moved on in the intervening twelve months.  OMF has had a couple working here full-time since last September along with a Japanese couple and more recently others added to the relief work team, including a volunteer helping with different carpentry projects.  A big change since a few months ago is that OMF's work is now concentrated on a place called Yamada where a temporary building has been put in place offering local people a place to come and gather and enjoy some goodies in a bright and welcoming environment.  It was great to be able to see that place today but more than that, to see so many coming and going at different points in the day.  This morning we set off for a temporary housing area, having arranged in advance to hold an event in the small room set aside for such gatherings.  A number of mainly older ladies gathered and it was a great time of chatting, eating some snacks and making a craft together.  At the end our team sang a song with which the local ladies joined in and as they ate lunch (barbecued frankfurter sausages in tortilla!) we serenaded them with a song which has become popular here called God Bless You.  During the craft time some members of the team were preparing the barbecue and it was good to spend time with some of the men (all of them fishermen) who came to enjoy some food and chat.  After we had packed up, we headed back to the cafe in Yamada which was in full flow.  Round about the OMF place, a number of temporary shops had sprung up, and even a temporary hot spring bath which is offered free to local people.  We went to visit another area of town where an 86 year old man introduced us to a local community centre where every other month the old folk from round about gather for karaoke, but their equipment was now old and out-dated.  When, where, how, in what ways can and should OMF be involved in reaching out to meet the needs people in different areas of these communities?  As almost the only foreigners in the town, the OMF team stick out.  News passes round the community by word of mouth.  There are huge opportunities in Yamada but many challenges too.  From what we saw today, God is beginning to do a work there in that town of some 17,000 people where many properties have been destroyed, many have been displaced into temporary housing and the heart of the community was ripped apart by the tsunami of last March.  Yet, there is hope and people are moving on.  The OMF motto is 'one step at a time'.  It is encouraging to see these small steps forward and we look forward to being part of the work here during this week.