Sunday the 3rd

On the way over here on the plane I read about emotional care for people in disaster situations.  The section on self-care for relief workers talked about allowing oneself to get away and de-stress.   Staying out here at Takayama has been very good for that.  I can look out the front windows and see the ocean which, while being extremely destructive three weeks ago, has been a calming sight.  The destruction on the way in to Tak is disturbing in its completeness.  There are few houses left and those that are recognizable as houses are damaged beyond repair.  It’s a strange juxtaposition of destruction and peacefulness.
Today was an exercise in patience that finally paid off.   After a quick trip to lead the work group to where we left off yesterday Mark, Matsumoto sensei, Mr. Takahashi and myself went to the Shiogama City Hall.  We were referred to the welfare office in response to our questions about how we could be of help to the deaf population in Shiogama.  There we waited about 45min while the lady helping us got in touch with the head of the deaf peoples assoc. in Shiogama.  We were able to get see her at 1 pm and again had to wait about an hour  or so while she got in contact with the one deaf person in town who’s home was in the tsunami zone. 
We were able to visit with her and her family, four generations of whom were living in one room at the community center.  They had just been moved there the day before from the elementary school.  It was much more comfortable and warmer because they now had tatami mats instead of a cold, hard floor.  What they wanted the most was a bath.   Mostly they were glad to be alive. 
Right after the earthquake, before any tsunami warnings Mrs. Harada’s daughter grabbed a few things and packed  her family, mom, daughter and granddaughter into the car and fled for higher ground at the elementary school.  After the warnings sounded people had difficulty driving out with the roads getting clogged up with fleeing people.   She told of a couple she knew who had survived overnight in their car with water up to their necks.  They were rescued the next morning.  She told of another friend who had been in Sendai when the tsunami struck and had walked back to Shiogama past scores of dead bodies.  It had taken her three days before she could be reunited with her daughter who had been safe at school during and after the tsunami.
We were then able to go over to their house and remove two very heavy barber chairs from the barber shop at the front of her house.  Mr. Harada had been a barber until he died a few years ago.  They asked us to also remove the few items they had at the back of the house.  That took longer than expected because a bunch of debris was deposited in the back yard from the tsunami.  We were grateful to be able to help after a long day of waiting. 
On Saturday Mark and I will head back down to Tokyo since he needs to get back and I need to find a small generator for the church to use to help clean up houses in the affected areas.  Mark and Mary Esther have loaned me their van through the 15th. 

More than 24hrs later and I still haven’t had a chance to send this.  Back in Tokyo again after an uneventful trip.   Funny how nice a bath can feel when you’ve been living without running water.  Was able to talk to a lady who lives at Takayama year round and get some idea of what is needed around the Shichigahama area.  Hopefully I will be able to pick up some of these items to bring back up as well.  Tomorrow is church with Mark and ME then home to do laundry.  Still no internet connection at Mark and ME’s place much to their dismay.