Hiroshima Team Sendai Reflections

This is an excerpt from the Murray family's latest monthly e-newsletter, sent just a couple of days after Scott returned from his time in Sendai and the surrounding areas.  I thought this would be the best way for me to share with you what happened during the trip and Scott reflections.  Thank you so much for your constant prayers while he, Richard, and Pastor Kitano were up helping with the disaster relief efforts.  We really appreciate it! :)

For some reason, I can't get the first section to display correctly so I've copied and pasted the text here.  Please click on the pictures to see larger versions.  (The dates below say "May" but he obviously meant "March".)

On Sunday evening, May 27^th, Pastor Kenji Kitano, Richard Howerton, and I set out for Sendai City, Japan.  The truck was filled with supplies donated by members of the church and Japan International Food for the Hungry (JIFH). We drove 21 hours straight and then unloaded the supplies.  Half were delivered to Sendai Evangelical Free Church and half went to a distribution warehouse shared by Christian relief agencies.


May 29 - We drove two hours to Ishinomaki, a town struck by the tsunami. This church/home was filled with 5 feet of water for two days and then sat for two weeks.  A large team of volunteers removed everything inside--most of it going into a large trash pile.  All inside items were saturated with water. 


May 29^th Mid-afternoon - A group of us traveled to Onagawa.  A town right on the coast.  Because of the topography of the town, the tsunami that struck was 20-30 meters high (65-100 feet).  Most buildings were gone, but those that remained were gutted.  Houses and buildings were ripped off their foundations and tossed around.


May 30^th  - We traveled back to Ishinomaki.  The team finished removing contents of the church and home.  After it was cleared, the building was cleaned.  Only God could orchestrate the timing.  That morning electricity was restored, so in the afternoon were we were able to use a pressure washer to clean some of the church equipment, doors, etc.  The following day 4 pallets of food would arrive and the church would function as a food distribution point for the community.


May 31^st - About 10 volunteers loaded a truck and van with food and supplies and traveled to Kesennuma, about a three hour drive.  Off the coast of Kesennuma, a small island is the home of about 3000 people.  When the tsunami hit this area, all of the ferries were destroyed.  The people could only receive food dropped from helicopters for the first week.  They still lacked supplies.  We unloaded the truck and van onto a ferry; the captain, new to the area, volunteered his boat and would not accept any money to transport the supplies.  The town was partially destroyed by the 6 meter (18 foot) tsunami that left a path of destruction.


April 1^st -After fixing a flat tire (just kidding-April fool's joke) we left for Hiroshima at 6 am for the 21 hour trip home.

Disaster Relief in Sendai Earthquake and Tsunami Relief On Sunday evening, May 27th, Pastor Kenji Kitano, Richard Howerton, and I set out for Sendai City, Japan.  The truck was filled with supplies donated by members of the church and Japan International Food for the Hungry (JIFH). We drove 21 hours straight and then unloaded the supplies.  Half were delivered to Sendai Evangelical Free Church and half went to a distribution warehouse shared by Christian relief agencies. Trip to Sendail Unloading Supplies at SendaiChurch Unloading Supplies at Destribution Center     May 29 - We drove two hours to Ishinomaki, a town struck by the tsunami. This church/home was filled with 5 feet of water for two days and then sat for two weeks.  A large team of volunteers removed everything inside--most of it going into a large trash pile.  All inside items were saturated with water.    Ishinomaki Christ's Church Saturated items inside the church/house May 29th Mid-afternoon - A group of us traveled to Onagawa.  A town right on the coast.  Because of the topography of the town, the tsunami that struck was 20-30 meters high (65-100 feet).  Most buildings were gone, but those that remained were gutted.  Houses and buildings were ripped off their foundations and tossed around. Destruction at Onagawa Video View of Onagawa    May 30th  - We traveled back to Ishinomaki.  The team finished removing contents of the church and home.  After it was cleared, the building was cleaned.  Only God could orchestrate the timing.  That morning electricity was restored, so in the afternoon were we were able to use a pressure washer to clean some of the church equipment, doors, etc.  The following day 4 pallets of food would arrive and the church would function as a food distribution point for the community. Pressure Washing Church Equipment Cleaning the Church May 31st - About 10 volunteers loaded a truck and van with food and supplies and traveled to Kesennuma, about a three hour drive.  Off the coast of Kesennuma, a small island is the home of about 3000 people.  When the tsunami hit this area, all of the ferries were destroyed.  The people could only receive food dropped from helicopters for the first week.  They still lacked supplies.  We unloaded the truck and van onto a ferry; the captain, new to the area, volunteered his boat and would not accept any money to transport the supplies.  The town was partially destroyed by the 6 meter (18 foot) tsunami that left a path of destruction. A Boat thrown on the parking lot Cars tossed around Destruction in Kesennuma    Transferring Supplies to the Ferry April 1st -After fixing a flat tire (just kidding-April fool's joke) we left for Hiroshima at 6 am for the 21 hour trip home.

Reflections from Sendai    Gas Lines    by Scott       On arrival in Sendai we immediately began serving.  As we drove into Sendai City, not much was evident as far as house damage.  Yet, all of the roads were buckled--especally at bridges.  There was no LP Gas, and Petroleum gas was extremely limited.  One evening Richard and I passed a line of cars that was five blocks long, waiting for a gas station that opened the next morning. It took us two hours to drive to the church in Ishinomaki.  This town is reeling from 2/3 of one school's elemenatary students dying from the tsunami.  We began to clean the church that had been under 5 feet of water.  The soggy materials were heavy and smell was bad.  Yet, the mission was to turn nasty building into a food distribution center.  It happened in three days.  It's been amazing to watch these churches in Japan seek to reach out and help the community.  The pastors are maxxed--having suffered through the tragedy themselves, feeling the burden of their flock and those impacted, and trying to meet the physical and spiritual needs of the community. The Christian relief agencies are working together to Pastor Ito (left side of picture) meet needs.  But in Sendai, the supplies are being destributed by the churches.  What an amazing opportunity for the people in Sendai to see the churches demonstrating the love of Christ.  At lunch on my first day in Ishinoamki, I sat next to the former pastor's daughter who lived at the church with her children.  I had been around her all morning--haven been given the job of trying to find photo albums and things that might be salvaged.  I saw the pain in her eyes of memories destroyed--all their material possessions and all the memoirs of the past.  Yet, at lunch she shared her lunch with me.  I was deeply touched at her spirit to give in the midst of her suffering.  Christ's love shone brightly in her life. I read that at least 181 square miles were impacted by the tsunami alone.  "Impacted" doesn't even begin to describe the horrible destruction.  As we walked along the street in Kesennuma, a man began climbing on the rubble.  I asked, "Can we help you?"  He said that this was his house and he wanted to see if he could find anything to keep.  My heart broke. Japan is considered one of the most unreached people groups.  Less than 1/2 of 1% are evangelical Christians.  Please pray for the pastors and their people who are working to show the love of Christ with their neighbors--helping to meet deep needs.  It will take years to rebuild entire cities that were completely destroyed.  The physcial, emotional, and spiritual needs of the communities impacted are great.  Our hearts hurt, yet, we have this assurance that God is in control.  His glory shines and we pray that people come to know Him and find comfort that only He can provide.