One Disaster At a Time.

I just returned from Japan after spending a week working with precious people volunteering for the needy areas affected by the disaster. I would like to share my photo album, which only describes a fraction of the work that is being done by many volunteers, or a fraction of the needs that are identified. If you click the photo above, you will arrive at my album that shows some of the activities. Even though the photos do not do justice, seeing is believing.
The recovery would be a long one. The people are patient and tough in Tohoku area. It is difficult to determine whether the Japanese government has been able to do all that they could possibly do. Well ,they rejected several offers of foreign help for reasons, I have a difficult time understanding. They agreed to have the Israeli team come but the Israeli capacity and their ability was rather limited to only a certain area. The Israeli facility is by far superior to any Japanese facilities that are in the area at this point. The medical teams were able to use the Israelis services for lab and X rays but if we tried to utilize them more, the Foreign ministry (not the health ministry) stepped in to intervene. Some were sent two hours away when a Israeli specialist was right there in Minamisanriku. As a Japanese health professional who is almost half American, this was an incredible stress to watch and saw what went on. I spoke to one Israeli Nurse who admitted that the morale is very much down. She said that Japanese government is an unusual entity. (that is an understatement? ) However, she also said that she and the team is there to offer help in a way Japanese wanted to receive and they were not in Japan to Judge the government. True. They were truly gracious and kind. Many toys were delivered to the clinic to give to the children and many kindness was received by our Japanese team. I hope whatever reason the Japanese government had to limit their activity is truly justifiable in God's eyes.

One of the Israeli team members mentioned to me that they had offered the entire facility for the local use (especially because Shizugawa Hospital was completely destroyed) . They said that the local doctors are excited and very eager to receive this gift, however, they said the response from the government is very slow. I pray and hope the gift from the Israeli team can be utilized for the people in Minamisanriku.

The group such as TMAT that I worked with do a lot completely independent of the government leadership. The team was divided into various locations such as Kisennuma, or Minamisanriku where the disaster hit hard and the health care structure either disappeared or not able to function fully on its own. Some of us stay and provide around the clock clinic type consultation at evacuation centers such as elementary schools or sports facilities. Some of us have gone to set up temporary clinic at other locations around the area where people are unable to drive to come out to see us. No gas is available for most of the people around there. Gas station is all gone by the tsunami. The self defense force and the medical team can receive gas for our vehicles.

We did a lot of health education to the people as well. GI virus is emerging to be a problem in many centers.... no running water so we can't wash our hands under the running water.... this is so tough. We had to isolate some residents at the elementary school facility where I was for one 24 hour shift. I spent one night attending to a lady who was very sick with the virus. My time was mostly spent at the two different facilities where public building such as schools or a sports complex were used as evacuation centers and temporary clinics are set up. There were many many patients coming to the clinic to refill medication they lost in the tsunami. There were many patients who experienced various allergy like symptoms. perhaps all the mess,,, the remnant of the town full of debri is causing much pollution in the air...
I had a precious moment with a group of children while I was stationed at on elementary school where hundreds of families stayed. The room we stayed was close to the area with a piano. Several children were playing the piano and I heard a familiar Beethoven sonata. I approached and visited with them and ended up having the three children give us a mini concert. They asked me to play something so I played something from memory. One girl was in the paper recently after winning a competition. She played the piece she performed at the competition for me. She said, her home and the piano are all gone in the Tsunami. She was not sure when she can resume her lesson. Another boy said he was a trombone player in the junior high band and he also played the piano quite well. He voiced how he was anxious to play in the band again.

So much to do there and so much to think about. The people had beautiful smiles and the children were energetic. Even when it was snowing and cold, people did not complain.
The human strength appears to be amazing in these events that expose the vulnerability of the life on earth. May God strengthen those who are suffering and may He be near them to bring them through, One disaster at a time.

P.S. Just posted another report titled, "one surprise at a time". Scroll down and click the title to read about how God gave me encouraging surprises to show me I did not go into that area alone.