Tohoku Trip 3 Post #5

Today we spent the whole day carrying out water damaged materials from the house of a lady who ran a flower shop.  Near  the end we were wondering just how so much had been fitted into so small a building.

As well as the stuff we piled up outside the building there were three truck runs taking stuff away which fortunately could be used again.

Having removed the tatami mats from the floor it became obvious that the floor needed to go, too.

This was pure joy for Ko  - actually getting to smash things up and not get into trouble for it.  Both David and Ko managed to fall through the boards without hurting themselves or drawing blood and stuff like that.

The owner and her brother we so happy at all the work we were able to accomplish in one day and were bursting to share their story with us.

They had kept a scrap book and newspaper articles.  The owner told how she had spent most of her time first looking for,  finding, and then looking after her father before searching for other relatives.  This was why her house and business had not yet been cleaned out.

After hearing her story we took time to pray for her, her brother and other family members and also for her business.

Somehow at the end of the day it became apparent that Ko had added another Grandma to his collection.  Young people are such a blessing on outreach trips like this.  They have a way of opening hearts just by being young and being there.

That night we met some new friends at the base – two university students who had volunteered for their Golden Week holiday.  It was amazing how being in the same place volunteering together opened up their heart so much more than if we had just met them on the streets of Tokyo.

They also made good friends with the other members of our team and as they study in Chiba University it is VERY possible that we will be seeing them again when we are back in Tokyo.