This is an update from Pastor Yoshiya Kondo in Iwate prefecture, Japan, who has been serving and ministering in the disaster area since the tsunami.
Like last Saturday, we formed a ‘Play-with-the-Kids-in-Shelter’ troop and visited Miyako city again. (‘Clean-Out-Houses-Hit-by-Tsunami’ troop has also been formed.) Many of us were students because it was a weekday, and I also joined the ‘Kids’ troop this time, not the ‘Mud’ troop.
I heard them talking as we played. “Downstairs were hit” “My house was swept away” “I thought I wouldn’t see my parents again, but they came looking for me the next day.” … These are some of the things they were saying. It isn’t easy to find the words to say to them.
It had been four days since the last time we were there. Four days ago is such a ‘long time ago’ in a disaster area where they are forced to live an abnormal life. A little girl expressed her joy with her whole body when she saw my wife who went visit again, as she jumped up to her with a big smile on her face. Such an indescribable anxiety and loneliness is hidden behind the smile, which she shouldn’t have to have. When I come home, take a little rest and close my eyes, I see the children waving to us until they couldn’t see us anymore. (by Pastor Yoshiya Kondo in Morioka city, Iwate)
