In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we're talking about is Christ's body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn't amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ's body, let's just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't.
-Romans 12.4 (taken from The Message)
Well, after waking up at 4am and driving approximately 9 hours to Fukushima prefecture in northern Japan, we arrived at the Global Mission Center, located in Iwaki City approximately 30 km from the power plant, and about a 20 minute drive from the coast. Iwaki has been serving as the nearest relief location for victims of the disaster, and the Mission Center has been fulfilling most of those needs, from serving food and delivering items to people in the shelters, to sending teams to do debris removal and cleanup.
Our first day Ray and I joined a team down near the beach to clean up a lot that the city had planned to begin rebuilding.
We separated recyclables- wood, plastics, glass, burnables- to make it easier for the heavy equipment to sort and remove...
Ray sat down with a woman and her family who were working on their home next door. He just began helping her, which encouraged the rest of us to work alongside this family to clean up their front yard. It was a powerful and humbling experience to see these people so determined to regain their lives in some way. It was touching to find photo albums and family memories buried in the thick sand. I felt like the greatest thing we could be doing was to physically help them with such demanding tasks, without words, just serving tangible needs. We were able to remove all of the debris in front of their house, and leave it with them relatively "clean". This was very rewarding.
The homes that weren't completely destroyed have been taped and patched to make them temporarily livable.
The result of many hours of work- so visibly small, but at least a small dent...
Red spray paint marks buildings that have been searched...
This photo shows just how far inland the massive devastation traveled. This is approximately a half mile from the concrete breakers that separate the beach from the first houses.
3:37pm, March 11, 2011. This date and time will not be easily forgotten by the people of Japan...
The houses closest to the beach are entirely removed from their foundations...
Iris and strawberry leaves pop up amidst the rubble, representing life, new growth and new beginnings...
Even over 2 months after the disaster, residents walk around the area seemingly still in shock and disbelief, perhaps gathering memories or just trying to grasp reality...
After our jobs at this site were done for the day, we returned back to the Global Mission Center to find a group singing and praying. A family who works for the center has a 4 month old baby girl with cleft palate and they were taking her to get surgery in Tokyo. We all gathered to pray and send them off...
Later that night one of the staff members set up an opportunity for Ray to spend nearly 3 hours with the Iwaki Daiichi High School Varsity girls basketball team. He taught them new drills and did a fabulous job teaching and coaching through a translator.
Afterwards there was a question and answer time. The girls were so fun and attentive. They asked everything from shoe size and favorite food, to what brought Ray to Fukushima. He was able to compare the concept of basketball, with that of serving on this "team" here doing disaster relief work- all the parts of the team are equally important and serve a common goal. If you work together effectively, there's always great success in the end.
Our first day was long and incredibly positive. I can't express how blessed we feel to be a part of this "family" at the Mission Center, and to be working alongside others from all over the world who share the same hope and love for the people of Japan.
