No, You haven't Been Forgotten - Tsunami Hit People in Temp. Houses

Next March 11 is the one year anniversary of The Great Eastern Japan Earthquake and Tsunami disaster. Since then, much attention has been paid to the crippled Fukushima Nuclear Plants and to those people who have been forced to evacuate from the radiation-ridden area. However, we have not forgotten those who lost their houses washed completely away by the monstrous tsunami waves and now are living in the temporal houses provided by the governments.

Besides central and local governments, numerous NPOs, NGOs, religeous groups including our Catolic churches all over Japan and individuals have been extending helping hands to assist these people to stand-up again. There are, though, still many rather isolated villages and towns where these aids are difficult to reach. I really believe in Holy Spirit and Angels as you find some good individuals touched by these divine Beings. And Mom J. is one of these fine people and you may call her a Good Samaritan.

Mom J. lives in a remote town of Iwate Pref. with her Japanese husband and four kids. They also went through the terrifying earthquake of 311 but their house stood alright, except with no electricity and gas for a few weeks but water service was working. Even during the inconvenient time, she drove and delivered water from her house to those in need managing somewhat a little gas even for their car. After serving US rescue team as an volunteer interpreter she has kept delivering whatever goods she could find to those Japanese folks living in the temporal houses nearby and to those staying in the partially wrecked houses by the earthquake and tsunami driving one and half hours along bumpy roads.

I heard her story last December and since then I have been collecting warm winter clothes, as here in Hokkaido, the northern region we have better equipped with warm stuff, donated from my friends both Japanese and non-Japanese and my family members together with delivery fee fund.

Photo shows the temporal house residents receiving some clothes from her youngest daughter age 4. I plan to visit the family and the town after my volunteer work at our church support center in Miyako, Iwate next month.