UCCJ Tohoku Disaster Relief Center

Working together with a group of foreign volunteers
Voice of a Japanese volunteer
By Narakazu Nishihama, 04/09/2012

A group of eight volunteers including five high school students, 15 to 17 year old, came from Texas. The students were from different high schools, but belong to the youth group of the same church, Cedar Park First United Methodist Church.

The first day, the Texas group painted a house. They appeared to have enjoyed the painting with the rest of the staff and volunteers. I picked up small pieces of debris from around the house. I thought it was an easy job at first, but debris from tsunami consisted of broken glasses were scattered all over the place. We even had some snow. The work did not progress for 5 meters.

On the way to work the next morning, a staff said that we need to stop by a house. I was puzzled, but it was the house I worked more than three months ago on the last visit. On that day I wrapped dishes with newspaper to prevent breakage. They were intended by the host to give to me. The host remembered me. Volunteers come and go, but even the staff remembered that job I did. I had come here as a volunteer several times.

We went to Oshika Peninsula, which is situated at east end of Ishinomaki, which took more than one hour driving from our center. Oshika has many beaches and we went to Ayukawa Beach in the morning. It was the first time I worked together with other volunteer groups and also the first time to Oshika. I am a Christian and always came to the Northeast volunteer work via Emmaus Support Centers operated by United Christian Church of Japan, but had interest in learning the projects of other volunteer groups. This occasion gave me a chance to learn about others.

We joined the project organized by Pikari. It usually coordinated a project involving several groups. The project was to clear up a field to be made into a parking lot. There were more than fifty volunteers made up of YMCA and several other groups. We removed large rocks and spread gravels on low areas. In the end we lined up side by side having arms over shoulders of each other and stumped to firm up the ground.
In the afternoon, we went to Ohara Beach to clear up more debris and wastes.

I was moved by the seriousness and hard work of the Texas group. I came from Osaka in western Japan, and every time I came the survivors of the
disaster thank me for coming from so far away, However, compared to Texas, the place I came was very close. I was inspired by their seriousness and firmly pledged a new to work together with the survivors of the disaster to revive the area.

We have not yet eliminated wars from the world. We are one with the Lord and seek real peace and justice through out the world. We pray and work together toward our goal. I would not forget for the rest of my life that we lived, worked, and joked together with the people from Texas.
Thanks; really thanks!!

• 
• 
• ツイート

Conference on First Anniversary of Great Earthquake of East Japan, my perception
Emmaus Ishinomaki Staff, Bob Fujimura

The conference was led by the director of Emmaus Support Center of Northeast United Christian Church (Kyodan) of Japan, Rev. Keiji Takada. It was held on March 20th at the sanctuary of the Kyodan church next door, Sendai Aobasou Church.

Junshiro Kawabata, age 78, the same age as I, gave the talk that was most relevant to the present day Japan. He was critical of the economic policy Japan took after the Pacific war. Japanese had become too materialistic and self-centered without regards to fellow men. He felt the presence of Jesus standing over the debris and ruins after the tsunami. Jesus taught love as the center of human interactions. The Japanese have awoken to the need of fellow countrymen and felt that the whole Japan has to participate in her recovery as they did after the Pacific war. He is thankful for the dedicated enthusiastic support of the Japanese volunteers, mostly young, from all over the country and many foreigners.

However, he reminded the listeners that this was possible only because the country is living under peaceful conditions. This was not possible after the Pacific War, when the entire country was ruined from the American bombings, and people were exhausted and hungry. The saving grace of that period was that many of the people were only a generation or two away from the farming relatives and were able to go to them to get some rice and vegetables. Now, the Japanese of the disaster region have enthusiastic and cheerful volunteers not just from Japan but from all over the world.

He said that higher consumer tax and globalization of marketing of farming and fishing products by joining TPP would make the recovery very difficult.

It is also about time that Japan becomes independent of the USA, and would make policies that would indicate concerns for her citizens.

Perhaps because I am of the same generation and had similar experience, I agreed with him completely.

Others I remember were briefly stated below:
Mio Maekita said interactions among the Christian volunteers were valuable experience for them and her. After repeating volunteer work for the fourth time, she became a staff at Sendai Emmaus Support Center to be committed to serve people of this area. I would like to add that most of the young volunteers were not Christians. Interactions among the volunteers under a Christian organization irrespective of their belief with the common goal to help the survivors of the disaster have have been the great experience especially for college and high school students. These experiences would have lasting impact on their future path.

Etsuya Kataoka , Touhoku Kyouku, Evangelical Section, is from Aizuwakamatsu Church near Fukushimas. He was critical of the nuclear power plants and advocated closing all nuclear power plants in Japan. I heard on the news today, March 26, that only one nuclear power plant would be operating starting today. Japanese officials are trying to use natural gas power plants in place of nuclear power plants. Japanese people are worried that they would not have sufficient electricity during the hot summer month. Mid- and small manufacturing companies are especially worried that they would not be able to compete in the global market.

Rev. Keiji Takada, Director of the Emmaus Sendai Center, said that more need to be done to give hope to the people in temporary housing. I think this is true also in Ishinomaki.

• 
• 
• ツイート

On March 11, the opening ceremony of the new center, Emmaus-Sasayashiki, was performed. It was built as a new center in Hichigo district in Wakabayashi ku. More than 200 people participated in the ceremony. These included people who have participated from the beginning of the volunteer work, those that did the volunteer work many times, those that came to do the volunteer work for the first time, those that supported the volunteer activities in various ways, and the survivors of the disaster that have decided to stay in Hichigo. We are thankful that people from so many different backgrounds came for the occasion.
Participants included many volunteers who came from as far away as Shikoku and Kyushu, because March 11 is the first anniversary of the earthquake, and this period was the spring vacation of schools.
High school students from Cedar Park First United Methodist Church in Texas came for the ceremony and worked as volunteers in Sendai and Ishinomaki until March 14. They came because they were moved by the news of the 3.11 disaster and wanted to participate in some projects. At first they just wanted to donate some money, but decided to come and experience and observe first hand the hurt and sadness experienced by local survivors and to share in the hope for the future. There were 16 people including adults, who came as guardians, to work at projects both at Sendai and Ishinomaki. They worked hard, as hard as the Japanese students. I attended the last meeting with the group, reminiscing about their experiences with tears in their eyes. It was a very moving experience.
By observing their desire to help the survivors without regards for differences in nationality, race, and age, and their participation in the activities here sweating and sharing in the hope for the full recovery together with the survivors enhanced my feeling that the volunteer work is a rewarding experience.
When I was undecided as to participate in the volunteer activities at the disaster area, the words by Mother Teresa decided me to participate. I would like to end the report by quoting her words (translated back from the Japanese version).

Have you ever participated in a volunteer work at your own country?
If you have not done so, you should not miss a chance during your life.
An experience like that would give you a real happiness and satisfaction.
You would experience a valuable experience of the presence of Jesus that you would not experience anywhere else.

Submitted by Emmaus Sendai staff,
Kei Matsuyama

• 
• 
• ツイート

Introduction

We have continued our activities as the Support Center for the Survivors of the Great East Japan Earthquake, under North East district of United Christian Church of Japan (Kyodan).

This would not have been possible without understanding, cooperation, and strong support by the Kyodan.

During the first year, more than 1700 volunteers have participated in the program as workers.
Among them were those that were sent by Kyodan districts, churches, and Christian Schools. However, a large number of them were non-Christians. When workers were not sufficient, such as winter, the support by Christian organizations was valuable.
There were people sent to us as long range staff members from Kyodan and churches.

We received numerous supports for finance, materials, and facilities. Similarly, we received support for cars and bicycles; without these, we could not have gone to work.
Activities involved volunteers at Emmaus Centers in Sendai and Ishinomaki, church members as cooks at these centers, sleeping accommodations provided by churches, and countless thoughts and cares by the church members..

Behind these people are Spirits of Christianity. We would like to value these spirits.

We would not like to use earthquake disaster for evangelism. However, in the areas involved in the volunteer work, especially Sasayashiki, they accepted us even though they were aware that we are from a Christian organization. Through the long interaction during the recovery projects, we should show clearly our basic belief. Therefore, we got the permission to have the opening ceremony for the Sasayashiki opening ceremony in the Christian format.
　
The opening ceremony for 3.11 at Emmaus Sasayashiki:

The ceremony started at 2:30PM. The support staff was there by 10AM. Others who came early, helped the staff prepare for the ceremony. They were very helpful.

The official name of the Sasayashiki is `Ikoino Sato Sasayashiki` (Home to relax your mind and soul, Sasayashiki`. We hope that this would become a community center for the local people.

The center was completed on March 6, just in time for the 3.11 ceremony.


Support Center Staff

Tooru Horita


Note added: Rev. Keiji Takada conducted the ceremony started with a prayer. He read the thought of the staff and volunteers summarized and appear in the file: Thoughts from Emmaus Support.
At 2:46PM, the time the earthquake occurred one year ago, we gave the silent prayer as did many people all over the world.

By Bob Fujimura

• 
• 
• ツイート

Work at Ishinomaki: 3/08/12
This week, the volunteer work project has been in collaboration with Samaritan Purse. The Samaritan Purse provided us with tools and lunch. Emmaus Ishinomaki provided the volunteer workers made up mainly of the recent graduates of high schools and some college students. Three older adults did harder to reach places. They split up into two groups and did similar work at two houses.

They got rid of dirt from below the floor and removed sheet rocks from the walls up to the ceilings. The tsunami water came close to the ceilings, and all the sheet rock had to be removed from the walls. We needed claw bars and hammers to remove them. Even an electric saw was used. When finished, we cleaned the floors of sheet rock fragments and dust.

When we crawled underneath the floor, the place was full of mud brought in by tsunami. Wood pieces were stuck to pillars and above; rocks were scattered all over the ground underneath. It was difficult to move around because of these rocks.

The conditions were about the same as the houses we worked about half a year ago. We felt we have a long way to go.

Volunteers worked under these conditions every day and we came this far on the long road. We still need to walk a long road together into the future to finish the work.

Emmaus Ishinomaki Staff,

Miho Saito2012-03-08 18:15:29

• 
• 
• ツイート

From Emmaus Support Communication: 3/11/2012
Thoughts from the staff of North East Japan United Christian Church (Kyodan) on the occasion commemorating anniversary of the East Japan Great Earthquake at Emmaus Sasayashiki, the work center just completed in time for the occasion, and would be community center for the local people.

The thoughts were by the staff, which was integrated and written by Rev. Keiji Takada, Director of the staff and translated by Bob Fujimura.

The thoughts commenced from 3/11/2011

Is there something I could do?
With that thought, each of us got enough courage to head for the disaster area.
None of us had the confidence, but wished somehow to be of support to the survivors of the earthquake and tsunami of the year ago.

We saw the people whose lives and area were wrecked. When we saw the heaps of debris and mud, each of us felt powerless to do anything, but each of us thought only about little bit of work each may be able to do.

When a local person said he/she is getting well, each of us became better and energized.

North East was a faraway place in our thought, but it became a place within our heart. We wish that you in the area will be in our mind and heart for 10, 20, 30 years, for as long as we live.
Thank You

• 
• 
• ツイート

I joined the staff of Ishinomaki Emmaus Center on 02/15/12 from University Temple UMC, Seattle, WA. Kei Matsuyama, Izumi Arita, and Shouta Takahashi, the members of the staff, have been very helpful to me to settle down, to get the things I need at the apartment, and to give me ride between the apartment and the center, when needed. I walked between the two places whenever possible; this took me about 30min.

From the week of 02/20, I joined the volunteers to work either painting at Kameyama houses or refinishing shoji at Takahasi house. The detail of these projects were interpreted from the reports of the staff and volunteers in the file: Emmaus blog.

I was impressed by the clean removal of debris from the lots that had condemned houses. However, there are still many condemned houses that had to be removed. Many of those houses that were judged to be saved need extensive repair; these were still untouched due to the shortage of carpenters. Perhaps those carpenters and construction workers of the houses in the US could come here to work.

The tea party/concert performed on 03/01 was a huge success. The performer, Jun Yuzuki, was an excellent singer and performer. She is a mezzo soprano, and has excellent voice. She truly cares for the survivors of the 3:11 disaster. She was so expressive that all the audience including myself were in tears. She started with Ava Maria and included Amazing grace. Most of the songs were Japanese folk songs that were familiar to all or almost all. Seventeen people came and filled up the rooms that were decorated by the volunteers. Most of them came from the neighbors; all of them left happy, enjoyed, and satisfied that they came. They had varieties of goodies to eat that were gifts from many places in Japan, and each had hand full that they took home.

Some photos from the concert:




interpretor, Bob Fujimura

• 
• 
• ツイート

3:11, the anniversary of the Great Northeast Earthquake and Tsunami is approaching. ^
We are preparing for the event.

At the Sendai Emmaus center, we are opening a work center near the site of the project. The building needs some repair work such as putting insulators behind walls and ceiling.
We hope this place would become a gathering place for neighbors.
The photo show the workers placing insulation:



We have been going to the work site, which is near the sea, on bicycles from the Emmaus center, which is near the city center of Sendai. On 3:11, the tsunami went up the same road to the opposite direction. The surrounding area was extensively damaged. We are planning to place some flowering plants in boxes to improve the scenery.
　


The photo shows workers going to work on bicycles. The road side is full of debris, broken pine branches, dried mud, broken pieces of the pillars of wrecked houses and vinyl sheets used on farms. By 3:11, we are planning to surround the new work center with boxes of flowering plants. Subsequently, making boxes of flowering plants would become one of the projects for the volunteers.　

We wish that by 3.11 people in the area would have clean street and road side. We need a `waste collecting project` to keep up the area. We need many volunteers for this project. More frequently the debris and junks are collected from the area, the cleaner it would become. We believe that the workers would gain a deeper insight on life from repetitious work.

We are continuing with `Bento work`, which means to bring lunch to the residence`s home, where we would work, and have the meal together with the host and enjoy conversation. We learn of his/her own experience during and after tsunami and establish the long lasting connections.

We have the monthly prayer `11246`, which means 11th of each month at 2:46PM. On that time, we dedicate our prayer to the victim and sufferers of the earth quake/tsunami. We had eleven of these, and next month we will have `311246` prayer, or the first anniversary prayer. It will be the special event. Let all of us, both the participants and non-participants take part in the prayer.

We hope to meet you in Sendai. As usual, we will arrange for accommodations as much as possible. Please consult us for the transportation.

Sendai Emmaus Center,
Tooru Horita

• 
• 
• ツイート

Project 1: Repair inside a house.

It rained from the morning all day; it did not rain for a while and appreciated it.

We went to the house we have not been for a while and repaired shoji, which are sliding partitions made of Japanese paper and light wood, and also straighten the storage place. The shoji and their pillars were covered with mud, which with time firmly adhere to the wood frames. These muds were scraped off and waxed. When the mud was removed from the wood frames, beautiful wood grains were revealed. After cleaning the wood frames, they were vanished. The work was done carefully and consciously as instructed by the host. We were thankful that the work was done together with the host.
The photos below show volunteers working on shoji:




Group 2: Painting outside of houses

We painted two rows of houses made of metal sheets on outside. The roofs were painted brown; most of the sidings were painted bright blue. I felt that the workers painting with blue color were more serious than those painting with brown. I was impressed by the effect of colors. I am thinking that the roof top should be blue like the sky color, and my thoughts wander off to other ideas. When I became conscious of my work, I found out that my painting has been progressing to wider area of the roof. The freshly painted surface refreshed me. I hope that the owner of the painted houses and its neighbors would feel the same.

Emmaus Ishinomaki Staff
Niwa

A photo of the volunteers painting the siding:


The expression of `arigato`, thank you, by the neighbors stuck strongly in our mind.
We frequently went to a convenient store to use its rest room. On its wall, a large sign was displayed `thanks volunteers`. Store attendants said `thank you for the tiring volunteer work`. These raised our morale even higher. We heard frequent expression of thanks from the host of each house we pained. We felt we should be thankful under any circumstances as these people had expressed for a little work we did.

From now on we would appreciate any words of appreciation and should value encounters with the people in our volunteer work.

Ishinomaki Volunteers
Yuki Kadono, Yukiko Sekiyama


Group 3: Preparation for the concert and tea party

Third group of the volunteers were busy preparing for the concert and tea party which is scheduled for March 1st at the Emmaus Center. They were artistic and skillful in designing art work and decorating the room with these.

For the luncheon, they went to the community center nearby and interacted with the local people. This community center would cease to exist as of the end of March. The people have genuine interest in the work at Emmaus Center, showed interest in coming to our tea and concert. We would miss the community center. We hope the Emmaus center will take over some of their activities.



The photo shows three of the workers doing origami to decorate the party room.

I hope that each person that came over would relax and enjoy Jun Yuzuki`s singing voice. I hope that all present would have relaxing restful time. All of us at the center are happy preparing for the event.

Emmaus Ishinomaki Staff,
Izumi Arita

• 
• 
• ツイート

The tsunami brought with it salty mud causing the trees to turn brown or die out.
Looking around, everything looked the same brown color.

Everything was covered with mud and there were piles of debris everywhere.


A scene form our bike commute in April



A few months passed.

Probably what has changed the most is the color of the areas.
Grass, or weeds, have started to grow on the mud covered ground.
Now, there is green spread before our eyes. But this is not the green of the usual rice fields, but grassland that has gone to seed. What has not changed are the piles of debris.



A scene from the bike commute in July



Now we must first pick weeds before we begin our work of mud removal.

I hear that that television no longer cover areas damaged by the tsunami. Some people may be thinking that things are back to normal.
For sure, compared to the time right after the disaster, some things have changed, and some things have improved.

But, our volunteer activities to remove mud still continues.

There are still houses and land that are covered with mud. Lots of debris has been left untouched.

We still need the strength of volunteers. This has not changed.

• 
• 
• ツイート