Weeks 1-2 in Ishinomaki

So, we've just wrapped up the first 2 week chunk of the 6 week summer in Tohoku.  The team members arrived safely and ready to go on June 1st.  We stayed in Narita for a few days to go over some training materials and got to explore Tokyo on Friday.

We took the bullet train up from Narita to Sendai on Saturday, and after some bus and car rides, we got to the karate dojo where we are staying.  The dojo has been a "base-camp" for volunteers coming through the Be One (a house church network based in Osaka) and A2 networks.  It's been really cool interacting and working with the different volunteers coming up.  Communal living has brought some challenges, but overall, it's been a really cool community to be a part of.

On Sunday (the 5th), our main focus was a BBQ in the "Be One neighborhood."  Be One is renting and renovating a house in a neighborhood that was hit pretty hard by the tsunami in Ishinomaki.  We have been holding BBQs in different neighborhoods in Ishinomaki, but it was really nice to have an event in this neighborhood where we are trying to plant ourselves.  It was great to spend time with the neighbors as they came out to enjoy the hot dogs, BBQ chicken, and vegetables we grilled up.

We did another BBQ and drop (food and dry good distribution) on Monday in the neighborhood we had been to the previous weekend.  Once again, it was great to see the families come out and see some kids running around with a soccer ball during the BBQ.

Over the next few days, we did some manual labor, trying to clean out a park and some yards, but our main goal was to prepare for a bigger kids event we were planning for on Saturday (the 11th).  We wanted to focus less on the food, and more on just getting out and being able to provide the kids with stuff to do and play with.

The event that Saturday was awesome!!!!  We held it in the park near the Be One house (and next to an apartment complex).  We handed out new clothes, made onigiri (rice ball) lunches for the kids, had a crafts "table," and bought a bunch of toys (balls, rackets, paddles, frisbees, bubbles, etc...) for them to play with.  It was so much fun and so great to see everyone having fun together!!!

Sunday got off to a special start as we had the first worship "service" at the Be One house in Ishinomaki.  It was an awesome time of worship, sharing, and fellowship with the volunteer teams working hard up here.

More to come soon.............

June Newsletter

Relief Work in Tohoku for the Weekend

I'm heading up to Tohoku (more specifically, Ishinomaki) for the weekend to help with some relief work.  In addition to trying to clean up and clean out some houses, we'll be handing out goods and having BBQs in the community.  For this trip, we had a full-size van fully-loaded with goods go up on Wednesday, and we're bringing up a completely packed mini-van tomorrow.  And when I say "fully-loaded" and "completely packed," I really it...you can totally do the "Italian Job" tire measuring thing to see which one's riding low (although you could prob just look in the window to tell as well, as all you'll see is "stuff").

I'm really not sure what to expect.  I've heard plenty of stories and sharing, but really just have no idea how I'm going to react to it all.  It's encouraging to hear that things are "better," but what is "better" when it's relative to complete and total destruction?  Anyways, I'm concentrating on what He's doing up there and how we can be a part of that.  I'm don't what all He has in mind for this weekend, but in addition to being there to help, I'm hoping to get some sort of feel that will help in preparing for the summer teams coming in and the 6 weeks we will be spending up there.

Please pray that God opens my eyes to what I need to see, that He continues to do amazing God-sized things, that He strengthens and energizes us to get through the difficulties there, and that I can process all that I'm exposed to there.

Kyoto Adventure

Some pics from hanging out in Kyoto for a day.....

Museum garden thing we walked by

 Hawk!!!

Garden in Ginkaku-ji (Temple of the Silver Pavilion)

 @ Ginkaku-ji

Someone's backyard....we think...

Torture chamber........

(For those interested and curious in trying out butt-washing toilets....don't!!!  They're awkward, uncomfortable, really weird, quite violating, and def don't make you feel clean...)

Kyoto Tower at night

Cultural Plunge #1

Another day this week I was given a grocery list and walking directions, with the opportunity to go out in the community and accomplish some tasks.  I was successful in bringing back some groceries for dinner that night, and I was able to order some lunch to feed myself...woohoo!!!  I was able to use enough Japanese to ask and get what I needed...eventually, but also used it improperly enough to get some blanks stares, some "are you kidding me?!?!" looks, and some "why are you not understanding what I'm telling you?!?!?" looks.

Accomplishing the goals set out for me.......success!!!!
Spreading cheer to those around me............success!!!!

 Walking to the grocery store

 

The grocery store

  

Lunch!!!!

Paperwork & Logistics

It's been just about a week since I arrived here in Japan, and things are going really well so far.  It's definitely been a solid chunk of "stuff" to do, but things are getting done, and things are definitely getting wet as I start jumping in...

The first day I was able to take care of logistical stuff...Alien Registration, National Health Insurance, Post Office/Bank Account.  In the evening I even got to experience the relaxing and soothing goodness, that is the onsen.  I'll leave it at that...you can look it up if you wanna ;)

Completed paperwork and a gift from the post office!!!

No picture of onsen cuz it's an onsen!!!

Safe Arrival in Sanda!!!!

Hey Everyone,

Just wanted to drop a quick line saying that I've arrived safely in the city of Sanda in the Hyogo Prefecture.  The flights were fine and "comfortable" enough, I made the connections with the perfect amount of time to spare, they let me in the country, my bags made it in one piece and not as a pile of stuff in a plastic bag, and I survived the nearly 20 hr hop across the bigger pond.

Thanks everyone for your prayers and everything!!!!

PS...for those who tend to freak out just a "little" in airports while traveling, those who like to take their time, who move at a slower pace, and who usually bring up the rear...I would not recommend 1.5 layovers for international flights (you'll make the connection, just not as comfortably as you'd like).  Also, if rolling luggage carts are available for moving about the airport....use them!!!  You are not as strong as you think you are after an 11 hr flight ;)