I think we're back

August 15

(click on any pic to enlarge)

It's been a week since we've returned, I dove back into my day job and jet lag has hit me really hard. But through the mental fog I'm able to reflect a bit on our time in the Noto Peninsula, a trip which I'm still surprised actually happened.


It took awhile to arrange this year's visit, since this situation is still pretty raw. We posted previous pics to show there's still a lot of recovery ahead. So many homes in disrepair, particularly near the coast. Although the earthquake happened on January 1, we spent our time helping people move in, move out, or simply clean up. Also, we saw temporary housing still being built, a bit surprising.


The volunteers kept changing each day (we're front / left). I still am amazed at how volunteers kept coming in and out each day from all over Japan, let alone from other countries. The leaders each day had to create / recreate teams to be sent to the different service areas.



At 8:00 a.m. every morning the day started with a devotional, then we were informed of our work assignment. We'd then travel the next 2.5 hours from Ishikawa to the Noto Peninsula by car or van to where we were needed. We saw scenes such as this repeatedly.

I'm borrowing this pic from the Noto Help social media site. We'd mentioned there was a house which we were helping clear out as it was beyond repair. That's me helping bring down furniture from the second floor. There was a lot to be moved, the team we worked with was just amazing in how they tackled any task without a complaint. Did I mention we had two Pastors on this work team? They simply felt called to serve in Noto.

I can't say enough about Peter. Aside from rescuing me more than once with his Japanese fluency (it's easy for me to get in over my head with the language), he took on every task he was asked to do, from digging up weeds and sand, to crawling under houses, to loading furniture into trucks, all of this in temperatures in the nid-90s (and maybe higher) plus humidity also in the 90s, as in 90+ percent. 


I also want to thank Morofuji-Sensei. We've worked with him since Kumamoto in 2017. He leads the Kyushu Christ Disaster Relief Center (九州キリスト災害支援センター), he brought his team from Kumamoto to Ishikawa (almost 600 miles) because of the acute need in the Noto Peninsula. Morofuji-Sensei also had his Dad and his son working with us. He was our connection with Noto Help.

Worth noting: On the day we left last week, Kyushu Island experienced a 7.1 magnitude earthquake, yet there was no significant damages. 

On the last day we were in Ishikawa, I walked by an elementary school. The translation is "let's live strong and healthy! Let's carry on!" We hope we help them grow to a better future.

I underestimated the number of volunteers that Noto Help would help facilitate. I thought by the time we left, it would be around 2,900. When we left last week, over 3,100 volunteers participated with Noto Help. We were privileged to be two of them.

I think I still have a bit more to say, so stay tuned. 

To those of you who have supported us with your prayers and your contributions, thank you!! We are more than $2000 short of our fundraising goal. If you would still like to contribute, I'm copying the information from our prayer letter, you can also contact me directly at ayoda77@gmail.com for more info. Again, thank you for your encourgement and kind words!

If you would like to offer financial support:

By Zelle (preferred): Use donations@glints.org or 6307150734. Write in the comments section “Japan Mission Team.”

By check: Make checks payable to GLINTS and send to GLINTS, PO Box 962, Wheaton IL 60187. On the memo section designate your donation to “Japan Mission Team.”

By credit card or PayPal: Go to www.glints.org/donatenow. Write in the comments section “Japan Mission Team.”

ありがとう (thank you) for your continued partnership!

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