慰め

な

ぐ

さ

Comfort My People

A huge fishing boat, 200 ft. long, was pushed 1/2 mile into the heart of the city by the powerful tsunami.

Photo dated Feb. 26, 2012Shishiori-karakuwa Station, Kesennuma City

®

March 11. 2012

Anniversary Issue2011 Tohoku Earthquake & Tsunami

No. 156

UnceasingSERVICE

UnchangingLOVE

Snow covers the temporary housing complex provided for the victims who lost their homes. Feb. 26, 2012 Shizugawa, Minami-Sanriku

Snow covers the temporary housing complex provided for the victims who lost their homes. Feb. 26, 2012 Shizugawa, Minami-Sanriku

3 .11 Tsunami Anniversary

It was heartbreaking to watch the tragedy of earthquake and tsunami unfold in Japan. For the first time, the devastating effects of a tsunami were broadcast live around the world and millions watched the unstoppable force of destruction. Immediately, the World Concern disaster response team contacted partner agencies and put together a plan to help the thousands suffering in Japan.

One of those organizations we were able to partner with was MeySen Academy.

World Concern is the humanitarian arm of CRISTA Ministries. CRISTA Camps have hosted students from MeySen Academy on exchange visits for more than 30 years. Camp staff shared the stories they received from MeySen, and World Concern and our donors were able to partner with MeySen Academy to meet needs in Sendai and surrounding areas.

World Concern is a Christian humanitarian aid organization serving families in need in 22 countries. We seek to alleviate the physical and spiritual suffering of the poor through relief and development programs, providing hope and opportunity to be in right relationship with God, one another and creation.

As a disaster expert, I was amazed at the response to this disaster in Japan. Countless lives were no doubt spared by the efficiency of mobilized volunteers, military, and emergency response teams. Rapid assessments, organized distribution lines for rations and water, and shelter provisions reduced uncertainty and anxiety. Heavy equipment was mobilized, clearing roads and restoring communications and transportation.

The Japanese have been a model of disaster response, and we have lessons to learn about how we can improve our own system in North America to match theirs. Unfortunately, even the best response mechanisms have gaps and there will always be people that need additional assistance. It was wonderful to hear of MeySen Academy, and the efforts of staff, volunteers, alumni and friends around the world to fill these gaps. World Concern is grateful to be able to partner with MeySen in meeting the needs of victims of this disaster. www.worldconcern.org

Kids Without Borders is an all-volunteer international non-governmental organization founded in 2001. Our mission is to engage and inspire youth to serve in their community as well as around the world. Although we are U.S. based and 70 percent of our work is done locally in countless community settings across the United States, we do maintain a strong presence, working among children in over 30 countries.

The devastation and loss of human lives caused by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, this time, were unprecedented for our current generation. We as a team, immediately rallied around our youth volunteers and started looking for opportunities to make a difference in communities across the Pacific that were struck by this disaster. This is when we met with MeySen Academy. We feel honored to have since been able to work alongside of MeySen Schools.

Over this past year, we have come to admire the Japanese people as we watch how they react and cope with this tragedy, and how they rally together to pull themselves out of the rubble. We have, also, witnessed an enormous display of generosity from people, not only in the U.S, but from around the world, as they too, responded to this tragedy. Volunteers of all ages, here in the U.S, organized fundraising events. Countless individuals stepped forward to make a difference. We in turn were able to become a contact point for funds needing to be sent to Japan. I am privileged to say that through the tireless work of MeySen Academy’s volunteer teams, everyone’s funds not only arrived in Japan in full, but in many cases, were multiplied by the time they reached the front-lines. This has truly been a display of compassion in action.

As Japan continues on its long road to recovery, we at Kids Without Borders want to continue to be available. We want to do anything we can to help the people rebuild their lives, towns and communities. May God bless each and every one of us as we continue to work together. www.kidswithnoborders.org

Ms. Katrina Dohn, Coordinator for the MeySen 7th Grade US Home-stay Program, came to Japan from Seattle and saw first-hand the devastation caused by the East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. She contacted Kids Without Borders for assistance in providing help to the victims, and immediately a donation fund for aid to Japan was established. Beginning with only a few families affiliated with Kids Without Borders, the appeal for help grew into an international ef-fort within a very short time, raising financial aid from around the world for those in need.

Kids Who CareSon Michael PhamFounder & Director, Kids Without Borders

Together... for Good Chris SheachDeputy Director, World Concern

©2012 Sendai, Japan www.meysen.ac.jp Produced at www.grapecity.com

Based in Seattle, Washington, USA, World Concern is a dynamic Christian organization that helps those living in poverty and provides aid to victims of natural disasters. World Concern is a not-for-profit affiliate of CRISTA Ministries, a multi-faceted organization that has welcomed MeySen 7th grade students into their summer camps for the past 38 years.

WORLD CONCERNLife Opportunity Hope

Ｒ

Unwavering Hope

3 .11 Tsunami Anniversary

Clearing the land to build a future. Feb. 16, 2012 Ishinomaki Port

02 03

One Year LaterTadaharu Yoshimura Vice-Principal, MeySen Academy Schools

Whenever I deliver relief supplies and donate clothes to the disaster areas, I look forward to speaking directly with the victims of the catastrophe. On the surface, those who survived appear as though nothing has happened and nothing has changed, but the stories which they tell show a very different reality. I met an elderly lady who spent the entire night on a roof after the earthquake and tsunami. She told me, “Right in front of my eyes, a gasoline station exploded, and the area turned into a sea of flames that kept burning all night. I never again want to experience anything so frightening.” How can such a scene not change a person? Every single survivor has astonishing stories of what they experienced during those fateful hours, and I have heard many of them.

Two thoughts have often come to my mind as I listen to these stories. First, our life on earth will sooner or later, come to an end; we will all face that solemn moment over which we have no control. Thinking about how thousands upon thousands of people lost their lives on account of the disaster, I feel driven to deliver the following message to as many people as possible: Our existence does not end with this earthly life… for the Bible holds out the hope of eternal life. Second, a single disaster does not mean the end of this world. It is true that many people lost their lives in the tragic events of that day last March, but a no-less-important truth is that many more people who experienced that event still live and face the many decisions that a secure future will require of them, including eternal choices. It is my heartfelt wish that as many of those people as possible will live out their lives encouraged by the hope of eternal life, and that they will choose to live with strength and conviction, so that, when the time comes, they will ascend to a life of eternity with our Father in heaven.

As we continue to deliver necessary supplies to the disaster-affected areas, we should remain mindful that material things, though necessary for life here, are gone for good once they are used, and that the far more important mission is to convey the hope of eternal life that is never-ending.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. --- John 3: 16 NIV

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away. --- Matthew 24:35 NIV

05

善意

Compassion

Together as One

3 .11 Tsunami Anniversary

A total of 130 school children who had been left with only the clothes on their backs were given 2 shirts each for their school uniforms. May 27, 2011 Kesennuma Junior High

Vice-Principal Yoshimura Tadaharu delivering relief supplies donated by MeySen parents. June 24, 2011 Kesennuma Vice-Principal Yoshimura Tadaharu delivering relief supplies donated by MeySen parents. June 24, 2011 Kesennuma

“Anpanman” clock presented to Osanago Kindergarten.Sept. 27, 2011 Otsuchi

Principal Jinichi Ohta and pupils from Keimei Elementary School helping clear mud and debris from homes. Feb. 16, 2012 IshinomakiPrincipal Jinichi Ohta and pupils from Keimei Elementary School helping clear mud and debris from homes. Feb. 16, 2012 Ishinomaki

Samuel Broman singing “Ode to Miso Soup” for people in shelters.

Samuel Broman singing “Ode to Miso Soup” for people in shelters.

Hawaiian-born former sumo wrestler Konishiki and his wife Chie invited the children of the Higashi-Matsushima Naruse Nursery School to a day of fun at a Hawaiian-themed spa resort in Fukushima Prefecture. MeySen provided buses to transport the children. Nov. 19, 2011

Hawaiian-born former sumo wrestler Konishiki and his wife Chie invited the children of the Higashi-Matsushima Naruse Nursery School to a day of fun at a Hawaiian-themed spa resort in Fukushima Prefecture. MeySen provided buses to transport the children. Nov. 19, 2011 GrapeCity donated GrapeSEED English curriculum

and materials to schools that lost everything.GrapeCity donated GrapeSEED English curriculum and materials to schools that lost everything.

Students bow low in gratitude.Sept. 27, 2011 KesennumaStudents bow low in gratitude.Sept. 27, 2011 Kesennuma

Presenting a 6-seat baby buggy to the Nakazuma Children’s Home Nursery School. Sept. 27, 2011 Kamaishi

Presenting a 6-seat baby buggy to the Nakazuma Children’s Home Nursery School. Sept. 27, 2011 Kamaishi

Marre Ishii (center) & Heavenese.August 15, 2011 Rikuzen-TakataMarre Ishii (center) & Heavenese.August 15, 2011 Rikuzen-Takata

MeySen stepped in to transport students to school events in the absence of public transportation. July 2011 KesennumaMeySen stepped in to transport students to school events in the absence of public transportation. July 2011 Kesennuma

BBQ for more than 500 people living in shelters. August 15, 2011 Rikuzen-TakataBBQ for more than 500 people living in shelters. August 15, 2011 Rikuzen-Takata

04

“Delicious” EncouragementThe City of Rikuzen-Takata, in Iwate Prefecture, was totally destroyed by

massive tsunami waves that would swell to a height of 67 ft. (21 m) as they washed over the city. The number of people dead or missing in Rikuzen-Takata was second only to Ishinomaki City. When an opportunity came for MeySen to bring fun and good memories to the people of this bereaved community, they welcomed the chance to give back to an area that has provided the same for MeySen students for many years as the destination for 4th grade summer camp.

On August 15, 2011, Marre Ishii and Heavenese, a Japanese drumming group from Tokyo, held a concert at Hirota Elementary School in support of the victims of the disaster. About 30 teachers and staff members from MeySen Academy and GrapeCity Inc. served food and refreshments at this concert, including fried noodles, hot dogs, cheesecake, tiramisu, and cookies for over 500 people. MeySen’s Samuel Broman later entertained everyone with his rendition of music by Masao Sen, a well-known Enka singer from Rikuzen-Takata. The food and the singing created a happy atmosphere filled with much-needed laughter and smiles.

www.tengokumin.com

Remembering the Little OnesAs MeySen and GrapeCity teams distributed goods to meet the material needs of

so many people in the disaster areas, team members were constantly looking for opportunities to assist kindergartens and nursery schools with whatever they might need to restore the hearts of the affected children.

Osanago Kindergarten, in the coastal town of Otsuchi of Iwate Prefecture, had been hit by the waves of the tsunami. Fortunately, all of the children had safely taken refuge on an elevated area, so there were no injuries. MeySen teacher John Harrigan, along with relief volunteers from Washington State, Chris Donald and Ryan and Sarah Taylor, visited the kindergarten and presented the school with a large clock featuring Anpanman, a well-known cartoon character, and spent time interacting with the children in English. The songs that the Osanago children sang to bid farewell, left a lasting impression on the team.

Through MeySen’s Jeremy Jenkins, and his church, MeySen also provided assistance to the Nakazuma Children’s Home Nursery School. They presented this nursery school located in tsunami-ravaged Kamaishi City of Iwate Prefecture, with tables and a six-child buggy for taking small children on outings. This particular gift was greatly appreciated by the school’s principal and teachers. Although time at the school was limited, here too, the team was able to have fun with the children, enjoying their laughter.

MeySen and GrapeCity will continue to seek ways to support these children, and look forward to staying connected with them.

Continuing Efforts... More to Do!Once the emergency relief and support activities that started immediately after the Tohoku

(East Japan) Earthquake & Tsunami settled down, MeySen Academy launched a number of assistance programs, such as distributing heating equipment to temporary housing, and helping with the disposal of household goods from homes that had been destroyed. While these continued physical activities where needed, MeySen and affiliated software-development company GrapeCity Inc. adopted a broader institutional policy focusing on the needs of children. As the first step, kindergartens and nursery schools located in the disaster area were visited to find out what their most pressing needs were.

Based on this information, tables for the children, wall clocks, air purifiers, electric kerosene heaters, microwave ovens, and many other requested goods were delivered. MeySen’s English teachers organized English classes in these areas to interact with and entertain the children. All were deeply rewarded by seeing the smiles that came back to the faces of the children and the teachers. During the summer, invitations were issued to the students of Minami-Kesennuma Elementary School to join the children of MeySen Academy for a sleep-over. This time together helped foster new friendships. In the winter, MeySen hosted the students of Shishiori Elementary in Kesennuma for a Christmas party.

These relief and support activities were made possible by the generous donations received by MeySen and GrapeCity from so many people, locally and throughout the world. MeySen and GrapeCity would like to take this opportunity to express heartfelt gratitude to all who supported these efforts.

The work is far from over. There certainly is a continued need for material assistance, but encouragement is also greatly needed. On the surface, the children in the disaster zones may appear to be happy and well, but it is heartbreaking to learn from the principals of these schools that each child continues to struggle with his or her own sorrows and difficulties. The staff and management of MeySen and GrapeCity are convinced that the most important need is to convey the Bible’s message of hope in eternal life and the unending love of the Savior who has redeemed them.

06 07

真心Kindness

3 .11 Tsunami Anniversary

A Summer Success Brings a “Spark of Hope” ChristmasFollowing the success of the “Spark of Hope” summer camp event that brought a time of much-needed nor-malcy to some of the children affected by the tsunami, MeySen students and staff wanted to continue providing similar opportunities for more children in the Kesen-numa area. With backing and support from the principal and parents of the Shishiori Elementary School, ninety 5th and 6th graders from Shishiori were able to attend the “Spark of Hope” Christmas party held at MeySen on December 17, 2011. All the children enjoyed a day of fun and activities that included riding in a horse-drawn wagon, playing a variety of games together, and taking part in a Christmas pres-ent exchange with Meysen students and other invited guests. It came to an emotional climax at the end when the guests from Shishiori sang the song “We Won’t be Defeated by the Tsunami”. Everyone in attendance was genuinely encouraged.

“Spark of Hope”

Bonding over baseball -- all cheer for the home team.

The Hope of Christmas.

Fast track to friendship: Wiener roast to

slumber party. August 26, 2011 MeySen

From a Nightmare to a Beautiful DreamMitsuo Nakai Principal, Minami-Kesennuma Elementary School

Shortly after the earthquake struck on the afternoon of March 11, the tsunami warning sirens blared and we began to move our 350 students up to the 2nd floor, along with 80 kindergarten children, and about 200 local residents who had rushed to the school. The moment I arrived upstairs to confirm that everyone who had been evacuated from the grounds and lower floor were there, the first tsunami wave struck the building. The ensuing waves engulfed the 1st floor and swirled around in the playground. Realizing that the depth of the water was consuming the entire 1st floor, I ordered everyone to immediately move up to the 3rd floor classrooms or to the flat roof of the concrete structure. They did so without hesitation.

Snow began falling, so with no blankets to shield them, and having only what they were wearing to protect them, the students were struggling to stay warm. I directed the students to lay down in rows, facing the same direction, so they could cuddle together to get a little warmth from each other. Several of our staff pulled down classroom curtains to use as blankets to help keep the children as warm as possible.

Through the night, the tsunami waves continued to come in and go out, many carrying large floating-oil fires back and forth up the river. We kept the children down low so they would not get up and see the fearful sight that surrounded us. Even for the adults, it was difficult to believe it was real.

The terrible nightmare of darkness and night finally came to an end as daylight dawned, but what light revealed was a new and shocking reality. The once beautiful playground had now become a heap of rubbish and was under water like a swamp. But we had all survived. Though none of the children had a drop of water to drink or any food all night, and were trembling in fear under such circumstances, amazingly, none of them panicked or got out of hand. I was truly thankful that everyone, old and young, had made it through the night with no health problems, though there was no doubt that this day would be a source of nightmares for months to come, especially for the children.

The leaders of MeySen Academy know children well and know that little ones respond to hope. They knew that so many of our resources that would help with the emotional healing of our children had been washed away with the waves. One day, unexpectedly, we received an invitation from MeySen inviting our students to participate in a special summer camp in Sendai planned just for our students. More than 70 of our students, along with a few of their parents, signed up to attend the “Spark of Hope” summer camp.

When our students first met the MeySen students at the Maruyama Campus of MeySen, there was some awkwardness with each other, as would be expected among children. However, by the time they had finished the water-fight and had eaten a delicious barbeque dinner together, there were no barriers left – they were having a wonderful time! That night at Miyagi Baseball Stadium, we cheered together for our home team as Tanaka struck-out his opponents time and again. The evening vanished somewhere into the night as our students, with their new-found friends, were enraptured by the game and new friendships.

The next morning, we moved over to the Takamori Campus which was just as beautiful. The children ran and played together on the outdoor play equipment or rode on the ponies, choosing whatever they desired. For our Minami-Kesennuma kids who huddled together through the night on that ominous day of the tsunami, and now must attend school in temporary classrooms and see mountains of debris piled everywhere, these two days at MeySen were a refreshing respite during which we could ALL forget everything bad for just a little while.

What I noticed more than anything, during the two days at camp, was the spirit of kindness with which the MeySen people treated us. There was such an impartation of kindness and energy, we felt empowered to go back and face our bleak tomorrow. It was as if we were living a sweet dream from which we would awake with the strength to overpower and forget the terrible nightmare that came before.

When the reconstruction of Kesennuma is further along, we sincerely want to invite the students and teachers from MeySen Academy to come and visit us, so together we can mutually rekindle that wonderful spark of life in each other once again. Thank you to everyone who planned and worked so hard to make this wonderful experience at “Spark of Hope” summer camp come true. We sincerely thank you!

Canadian Academy is an international school established in 1913 in Kobe, Japan. Its students come from more than 30 countries throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. In 1995, at the time of the Hanshin Awaji Earthquake, they cared for 3,500 refugees on their campus. Following the Tohoku Earthquake, their immediate desire was to help children who were victims of the tsunami, so they established a relationship with MeySen through Mr. Kuehnert. The funds for the wonderfully successful “Spark of Hope” camp held at the MeySen campuses were donated by Friends of Canadian Academy.

It was so good to hear that “Spark of Hope” summer camp was a great success and enjoyed by all. It is obvious from the events that a lot of MeySen staff put forth much effort to make good things happen. On behalf of all of us at Canadian Academy, please accept our sincere gratitude for bringing some moments of joy to those who have suffered so much.

I would also like to thank Marty Kuehnert (a friend and former Kobe resident) of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles for bringing us together and arranging baseball tickets and souvenirs for the children.

The students and families of MeySen Academy should be very proud of not only the beautiful campuses, but the professional and caring leadership provided by them and their faculty. www.canacad.ac.jp

With Deep AppreciationBenson R. Shaman, Chairman, Board of Trustees; Canadian Academy, Kobe

Misako Oikawa, MeySen (Parent)

To all the new friends whom I have come to know through this difficult time after the gigantic Tohoku Earthquake – “Thank you!” The time we shared getting to know each other through the water-fight fun, the wonderful barbeque

dinner, and the farm animal games and activities, was all amazing. The children from both the tsunami disaster area and from MeySen all experienced such a wonderful and happy time together. The exciting baseball game, courtesy of the Rakuten Eagles, where we watched Tanaka strike out 18 players added something special to our memories.

The friendships established during this camp will no doubt continue to grow as we write each other as penpals, until we someday meet again. And for the children, wouldn’t it be wonderful if they have made new friends for a lifetime?

Chrissie Ran Kato, MeySen (Gr. 5)

Initially, I was hesitant about wanting to go to this camp, as I read the invitation letter for it. But when I heard over the radio of the suffering of children in the tsunami disaster areas who were my age, I decided to attend,

thinking that I may be able to help them in some way.

The camp actually was a lot more fun than I had anticipated. The Rakuten Team won the game that day, and the children from Kesennuma were all happy and smiling. This made me even happier. In fact, it was such a fun camp, I hope we can do more of these.

Jeffrey Koichi Itoh, Takamori MeySen (Gr. 4)

It was really cool to be able to play with my new friends from Minami-Kesennuma Elementary. The time at camp was so short, with only one night together. Later, when I saw in the news that their school would be closed down, it made

me very disappointed and sad. I myself want to grow up full of energy and life, and hope my friends there can all do the same. May everyone’s smile come back to them!

Junko Tanaka, Takamori MeySen (Parent)

Thank you for the opportunity to be part of the “Spark of Hope” summer camp. I personally had a fearful experience on the day of the earthquake, but was shocked even more when I later saw footage of the coastline tsunami disaster. I

immediately wondered what I could do to help. The “Spark of Hope” camp was the answer!

With the opportunity to spend time with many new friends from Kesennuma, I am happy for the new friendships that were made, and am committed to visiting them again. Maybe we were able to be of some encouragement to them. I so hope that my child grows up to be a person who is supportive and concerned about others. Perhaps this experience will help all of us understand the importance of a caring community.

Brent Yuta Konno, Takamori MeySen (Gr. 4)At first, my heart was thumping… but when I finally got

the courage to say, “Let’s be friends!” he said, “Sure!” and we smiled at each other. I heard from him that when the tsunami came, they ran up to the school’s roof, and then

that everyone had to sleep on the roof that night. I thought, “The tsunami was really terrible.” But the kids from Minami-Kesennuma Elementary, who came to camp, laughed and played. That made me happy too. I want to say to them, “You are very brave. Next time you get a chance, come and play with me at my home. If there is anything I can do to help you, just let me know!”

Experiencing “Spark of Hope” Camp

09

悲しみの大地からか な だ い ち

3 .11 Tsunami Anniversary

Searching for a loved-one.April 24, 2011 Minami-SanrikuSearching for a loved-one.April 24, 2011 Minami-Sanriku

March 29, 2011 OfunatoMarch 29, 2011 Ofunato

April 20, 2011 KesennumaApril 20, 2011 KesennumaMarch 28, 2011 IshinomakiMarch 28, 2011 IshinomakiMarch 24, 2011 Minami-SanrikuMarch 24, 2011 Minami-Sanriku

Tsunami waves of 67 ft. (21 m) swept away more than 1,789 lives in Rikuzen-Takata. Photo: April 24, 2011 Tsunami waves of 67 ft. (21 m) swept away more than 1,789 lives in Rikuzen-Takata. Photo: April 24, 2011

Total dead & missing: 19,009Epicenter: 20 miles offshore of Sanriku Magnitude: 9.0

Date: Friday, March 11th, 2011 Time: 14:46

Highest swell of the Tsunami: 142 ft. (43.3 m)

08

10 11

人の命

To Live

生き残るTo Survive

3 .11 Tsunami Anniversary

Naruya (2 years old)

Noritaka (right)Noritaka (right)

The team helps clear away debris and erect a shelter. March 25, 2011 KurauchiThe team helps clear away debris and erect a shelter. March 25, 2011 Kurauchi

to help others. Thinking back, my heart bursts with inexpressible emotion and thanks. Now I am convinced and say to all, “I must not die. I must not give up. I will continue to live, and in part, for those who extended their hands to us!”

01. Isada shrimp: A small shrimp about 2 cm long which lives along the Sanriku coast of Tohoku, often used in traditional Japanese rice-crackers.

02. My husband, Tokuo drove his car to Kesennuma, almost reaching his boat when the tsunami struck. With his cell phone in hand he fled. Knowing that water moves fast down the wide roads, he sprinted up the narrow streets, but could not outrun the waves. At the last moment, he frantically climbed a nearby fence, the waters reaching his waist, as he clung to the very top. The waves continued to come and go, but he somehow held on -- the barbed wire topping the fence shredding his clothes and leaving him bloody. The family fishing boat was washed away. Later, the boat caught fire from the fires that broke out in the bay – an eyewitness saw it sinking engulfed in flames. My husband has not attempted to locate the sunken boat, nor does he have any desire to do so.

03. My son, Noritaka had almost reached the conference hall when the earthquake struck. Just as his father did, he turned around and headed out to the boat to try to save it, but because the traffic was stalled, he did not make it. Sitting in the car, he saw ahead the tsunami wall of water approaching! Impulsively turning the car around and driving up the sidewalks, he headed toward the hill where the court house stood. He barely made it. Later, confirmed by video footage, it was discovered that not one of the cars following him made it, but were all swept away. Father and son continued to try to contact each other by phone, but telephone service was down. Finally, around 8:00 PM, they did make contact. “Dad, where are you?” Noritaka asked. “Near Kanyo Hotel.” my husband responded. “Don’t move. I’m coming to get you!” Noritaka found his dad and the two of them spent the night in the car.

04. My daughter-in-law, Shoko was at work when her workplace was also hit by the tsunami. Some workers on the 2nd floor lost their lives, but she managed to escape to the company president’s residence on the 3rd floor and was saved. She stayed there all night. Around 12:00 PM, she was able to contact her husband. Just knowing that each one had survived, they wept with joy.

A Gift of Strength and HopeRyuko Miura, Tsunami Survivor, Motoyoshi, Kesennuma City

of our yard, someone’s fishing boat lay overturned... far from any water. Half of someone’s living room also lay nearby. No matter where I looked, I could not see our house. I decided to go up to the vegetable garden from where I saw my car being swept away the day before. I had never seen such devastation: rubble for miles and miles. And there, a long distance away, I saw our house. The house had moved over the crest and down the slope where it parked on and blocked the road that goes down towards the ocean. A deep gash had been cut through the garden, obviously made by the house as it was dragged over the field and down the other side of the slope. Our house originally stood 50 ft. above sea level. “So how high did the wave have to come to raise it over the fields and down the other side?” I thought. “How much power did the water have to push it like this?” Everything was beyond imagination.

I cannot remember what I did after that. Around 3:00 PM, I decided to return to the shelter. As I walked from where our house used to stand, up towards Highway 45 again, I heard the honking of a car behind me. Not at all expecting that someone was honking at me, I looked back and there was my son’s car! And to my great joy, I see my husband 02, my son 03, my daughter-in-law 04, and our 6th and 2nd grade granddaughters all in the car! I could not move! Amazingly, only 24 hours after the largest natural disaster in recorded history, we were all reunited, looking one another in the face and rejoicing in our survival.

Though our boat, cars, home, and family belongings – everything we owned -- had been washed away by the tsunami, I thought to myself then, “There really is a God. And he is watching and protecting each one of us.” However, during the weeks that followed, many thoughts and questions came to mind again and again. “What is human life?” “What is human suffering?” “Why does it happen?” “Gods and Buddhas must all not really exist.” At other times, as I looked at the mountains of debris which surrounded us, I would feel like screaming, “It is nice to be alive, but what am I supposed to do with life?”

Just two weeks after the earthquake, when we all were sitting in the pit of despair, facing the questions and not knowing what we could or should do, some friends from MeySen and GrapeCity appeared from nowhere… just like some angels. I really believe that God sent Nathan and Tomio’s team to us. They gave us strength and hope. They worked together with us. They helped clear away the debris. They brought us food and supplies. The days were wonderful as we worked

The first day of fishing season for Isada shrimp 01 was just a few days away, so my husband was very busy preparing for it. Early that morning, he had gone into town to finish final preparations and had taken the boat on a short run just to make sure that everything was ready to go. The family fishing boat was a 19 ton, six-man vessel, manufactured in 1989, that had become our livelihood. My husband and son had continued to invest in it yearly and had only recently said, “At last we have our ideal fisher!” After mooring the boat in Kesennuma Harbor, my husband returned home before noon, thinking only of opening day. That would change soon.

At 2:46 PM the mighty earthquake struck! My husband and I, with our two-year-old grandson, Naruya, were standing in the front yard of our home. Suddenly, we were down on our hands and knees being shaken violently by the quake. After that, I don’t remember everything that happened – my memory only comes back in fragments. But I do remember worrying about our two granddaughters who were in school, our daughter-in-law at the pharmaceutical wholesaler in town where she worked, and our son who was driving to a fishermen sales meeting to be held in Oya, Kesennuma. I felt so helpless knowing that all we could do for them was hope that they would be safe.

Immediately after the first shocks subsided, my husband set back out for Kesennuma Harbor, a 30-minute drive, to get the boat out into deeper water. The radio had just issued a tsunami warning, saying that there could be a tsunami of more than 6 meters high! I turned on the engine of my small car, turned on my cell phone and set it on the dashboard, getting ready to leave. I intended to get some basic items ready and packed in the car for evacuation, but the aftershocks kept coming so hard that I could not focus. Then I started to get concerned about what could possibly already be happening, and it was good that I did.

With little Naruya on my back, I walked around the house and climbed up to the vegetable garden above our home, hurrying to see how things looked down at the Kurauchi Harbor only a few hundred feet away. And then the nightmare began. The vegetable garden was as high as our roof, so I could see, to my dismay, that the harbor below had already disappeared under the wave. Then, I saw the roof of our neighbor’s house below ours, to the

left, begin floating up and moving towards me!

I frantically crawled as fast as I could, with little Naruya on my back, towards higher ground. Glancing back towards the house, I saw the water sweeping into our yard. “Grandma, the car! Grandma, the house!” Even Naruya knew something frightening was happening. Before our eyes, the water swept away the car with its engine still running,… there it floated, swirling around… and around… I counted 6 times. And then it was the garage… and next the storehouse… Everything was taken away by the fangs of the tsunami that surged up the knoll and over the path towards Highway 45.

I said to myself, “I have to be strong for my little Naruya,” but my body wouldn’t move as I wanted it to. As I stood dazed, looking below, I suddenly heard some voices from far away: people were calling. My mind came back to realize that the people who worked in the factory on the hill across from the highway were shouting to me from the parking lot up there.

“Hurry and come over here! If you stay there, you won’t make it! Hurry, you’ll be washed away!“ Spurred on by their urgent cries, I climbed as fast as I could go along the edge of the field and then up the road. Looking down, I saw a whole house that had been carried by the wave now blocking the center of the highway, with rubble strewn all around it and everywhere else.

Finally, I made it to the parking lot of the factory. Maybe because of my relief from making it to where everyone was, I trembled violently, my knees knocking together so hard I thought they would break. I thought, “If my legs buckle now and I fall, my little Naruya will cry in confusion and fear, and I can’t let that happen.” So I stood as upright as I could, using all my strength.

It began to snow and sleet. As I shook with cold, I thought, “I am still alive!” Then so many other thoughts starting racing through my mind. I was quite sure our two granddaughters would be safe at school, but where was my husband? On the road to Kesennuma Harbor, there are many places where the road goes right along the shoreline. I felt numb when I imagined the worst. I had no idea how my son was. What about downtown Kesennuma where our daughter-in-law works? My cell phone was in the car that was washed away so I had no way to contact anyone. But then, I would come back to my own reality: I had little Naruya with me and I couldn’t

let him get hurt or sick, because there would be no way to get to any medical help. An acquaintance handed me a cape and said, “I don’t need this, use it.” I wrapped little Naruya in it, trying to keep him warm.

There are three homes standing next to the factory. One of the ladies said, “Come on over to my house,” and she took us in. She lit a kerosene stove, and also started up a charcoal fire. She also found a small cotton padded jacket and a warm scarf to keep Naruya warm, saying, “You can’t let him catch a cold.” Naruya usually hates to wear anything on his head, but on that day, for some reason, he accepted anything he was given to wear. Next, she made a big rice ball for him to eat. Without saying a word, he slowly downed half of it.

Over the next several hours, more people came to the woman’s house – maybe 7 or 8. I overheard them saying, “So-and-so’s house was washed away”, and “So-and-so’s house also washed away.” I didn’t want to believe what I was hearing, because I thought, “If even those neighbors lost their homes that were on higher ground than ours, for sure ours must be gone.” But I couldn’t see our place from where we were. Maybe everyone was being considerate of me by not mentioning our house… and I didn’t have the courage to ask either. “Maybe nothing in our little hamlet is left,” I thought as I hugged little Naruya closely, listening to everyone talk.

As the aftershocks continued throughout the afternoon, the light began to fade and soon it was dark. We all agreed that we should move up to the Community House, a small building that was for community meetings. Highway 45 was so full of debris that we had to go around on the narrow dirt road through the hills to get there. The son of the family whose home we were just at came driving after us in the car and offered us a ride. They were so kind in every way. Their good hearts brought tears to my eyes, and warmth to my heart.

It was around 6:00 PM when we arrived at the Community House. It had become an emergency shelter, but there were so many people there already, how could it take in any more? Yet, none of us had anywhere else to go. Everyone who had come there was frightened. The building was never meant to be a place to stay in overnight, and had no heating. “How is everyone going to sleep here tonight?” I thought. In a while, some people who hadn’t lost their homes came with rice balls they

had just made. There was one for each person there. I had no appetite, yet I think I have never before eaten a rice ball so carefully.

A little after 8:00 PM, a good friend of ours came looking for us. Just at that moment, his cell-phone rang. “Oh, Grandma and baby are here, safe!” he exclaimed excitedly into the phone, then handed it to me. The voice on the other end was my husband’s! “I was afraid that you had died… Oh, good… Oh, good!” I cried, responding to his declarations that he was safe. Tears welled up in my eyes. “Are you all OK?” I asked, when I realized that my son and husband had miraculously escaped and were now together. I assumed that they had somehow gotten to the boat and saved it, and were now calling from out on the ocean. I said, “Our home is gone.” “What? Really?” my husband replied, and then the phone went dead. I knew now they were alive – both of them. I knew no more than that, but was satisfied to know they were OK. Life is really all that counts anyway… hadn’t I just crawled out from between the brink of life and death? I could feel just a little bit of courage and hope inside me.

Later, a teacher from the elementary school where our granddaughters go arrived and let us know that they were both safe. More good news! “Just hang in there!” I thought to myself, feeling just a little stronger.

The 50 floor-cushions used for meetings were distributed to the children and elderly. We got one. That was a very important piece of bedding to us, but there were no quilts or blankets. Someone noticed we had nothing and lent us a blanket. It was a cold snowy night outside, and the aftershocks kept coming. The thundering sound of the ground shaking was terrifying. I could not sleep all night, but my grandson slept well, which was a great help. I couldn’t help but wonder how the events of the day affected his little mind. It seemed that he was somehow vaguely aware of the severity of the situation and cooperated in his little way. I kept telling myself, “You must be strong for his sake.” It was a day throughout which I felt so many times, “I am really so helpless.” During the night, just watching his peaceful face as he slept, I found myself being filled with a renewed courage and desire to live. The warm-hearted neighbors also were a great encouragement.

Morning came – a new day. Time does not stop, but I thought that is a good thing, because hope is about what is to come from what is. Yet there was one thing that still weighed heavily on my mind… I still didn’t know whether my daughter-in-law had survived or not. Around 9:30 in the morning, I finally mustered up the courage to make a trip back to where our home was. I carried little Naruya on my back, down the same mountain road we had scrambled up yesterday to survive. This new day was beautiful. The snow that had fallen the night before had not melted in shady places.

Arriving where our home used to stand, nothing was where it should have been. The house had been rooted out and carried away! It had washed away to someplace else, and where it had stood, someone else’s house had floated over and lay there, split in two! Off to the side

Miraculously saved from the gigantic tsunami. The Miura family: from left, daughter-in-law Shoko, granddaughter Maya, Ryuko, grandson Naruya, husband Tokuo, granddaughter Rina. (Son, Noritaka was out fishing and unavailable for the picture on the day of the interview.)

Undefeated

こんじょう

12 13

馬場・中山地区

ばば・なかやまちく

ど根性Undefeated 3 .11 Tsunami Anniversary

Visiting residents of temporary housing.

Villagers looking to the future.

Touring the road construction site.Touring the road construction site.

Saw Hla Min, former Myanmar ambassador to Japan, toured the disaster zone with his

wife and their friends. Feb. 2012

Saw Hla Min, former Myanmar ambassador to Japan, toured the disaster zone with his

wife and their friends. Feb. 2012

Inaugural procession of vehicles bearing flags wishing good luck for Miraidou.

Inaugural procession of vehicles bearing flags wishing good luck for Miraidou.

The Miraidou (Road to the Future) evacuation road;completed with the backing of The Destroyer.

August 2011, Minami-Sanriku

The Miraidou (Road to the Future) evacuation road;completed with the backing of The Destroyer.

August 2011, Minami-Sanriku

E l e m e n t a r y s c h o o l playground repurposed as a collection center for sorted debris.

E l e m e n t a r y s c h o o l playground repurposed as a collection center for sorted debris.

Pro wrestler Dick "The Destroyer" Beyer and sports journalist Marty Kuehnert visit the disaster areas encouraging residents

to stand strong together. August 25, 2011

Pro wrestler Dick "The Destroyer" Beyer and sports journalist Marty Kuehnert visit the disaster areas encouraging residents

to stand strong together. August 25, 2011

A beacon of progress: a new boat heads out to fish decked out with flags celebrating the first launch.A beacon of progress: a new boat heads out to fish decked out with flags celebrating the first launch.

I have made many trips to Japan since my first trip in 1963 when I wrestled Rikidozan, and none of those trips will be remembered like this one which I made along with my oldest son, Kurt and my wife, Wilma. I have lived in Japan. My three children grew up in Japan. But I must say that no single trip has had such a profound influence on me, or should I say, has been so life changing as this last trip I made in August. I can't believe the devastation that we saw nor can I even start to imagine what the people of Japan went through with the earthquake and tsunami.

My heart goes out to each and every one who has lost loved ones in the earthquake and tsunami. I want to encourage those who have lost their homes, their possessions, their jobs, amongst other things, to be strong. Stand tall. And, do not give up. I ask the ones who were blessed in that they did not lose everything through the disaster, this time, and those who have since been able to start rebuilding their lives again, ahead of others, not to forget their fellow citizens who are still struggling. Please stand by them and build them up, too, like so many people from around the world have done for them. My family and I promise to continue doing our utmost to help and to encourage those that are still in need, until everyone is up and going again.

I am glad I was able to meet up with Marty Kuehnert of the Sendai Baseball Team who introduced us to John Broman who in turn introduced us to the people that lived through the disaster and the students at MeySen Academy. It was a great experience.

On my trip to the Sanriku area, this time, I was able to meet with young children, teachers (some of who’s heroic decisions saved many lives), senior citizens in remote villages, young people who moved back from the cities to help rebuild their home towns, and many others along the way. I especially remember the lady and her son who I met as my wife and I stood looking in disbelief at the ship washed half a mile inland in Shishiori. We happened upon each other there. She was born in Kesennuma, but had married and moved to Tokyo. She was visiting family that had survived. 14 members of her family were washed away. It was at that time that I felt like I lost a part of myself that I am never going to be able to retrieve.

I am very happy that my friends, family and I are able to work together with MeySen Academy. I am thankful to have had this chance to go out to the front-lines and see how our funds were actually being multiplied as they were being put to use. I continue to see the need being so great, yet I feel so completely helpless. All I can do is promise to keep doing my best.

As I get up in age, it is getting harder and harder for me to travel. As much as I want to keep traveling to Japan, long plane rides are becoming more and more impossible. I cannot express how important this last trip was for me. I realize that without it my relationship with Japan would not have been complete.

Before I close let me say hello to the Broman family for all they have done during the past 50 years in the Sendai Area and to my good friend Marty Kuehnert.

I love Japan. Everyone, GANBARE (keep it up!) AKIRAMERUNA (never give up!) You are ICHIBAN (the best!!!!)

Sincerely,

We, the residents of the Baba-Nakayama District of Minami-Sanriku, would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for the extensive support and assistance given to us by MeySen Academy and GrapeCity, beginning immediately after the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami.

Thinking back to those dark days of March 2011, we gratefully recall that the first relief supplies to reach our devastated area were those that were brought to us by Thomas Broman and his team. This was only a week or so after the disaster when government assistance could not reach us because the roads remained impassable. For us, protection of our health was becoming a race against time. Although we had managed to gather enough food to survive, we faced a serious shortage of blankets, toothbrushes, and other daily necessities. It seemed that Mr. Broman and his team from MeySen Academy had read our minds and knew exactly what we needed, and they carried all these necessities to us in large quantities. For the residents of the Baba-Nakayama District, this was the first glimmer of hope after the disaster. We also remember with great admiration the skill with which the team from MeySen Academy and GrapeCity worked together to erect a large tent as an addition to our shelter that had already become overcrowded.

Also, we have been greatly inspired by the participation of so many people in our Miraidou Project: a community effort that includes the designing and building of new roads to serve as evacuation routes for our district in the future. We were particularly encouraged by the support given us by former pro wrestler The Destroyer, made possible through the efforts of Vice-Principal John Broman. The large donation from The Destroyer paid the cost of transporting heavy equipment to be used in recycling the rubble that covered our area into new-construction material. But perhaps the greatest support that we received came in the form of kindly encouragement that raised the spirits of the elderly members of our community during these visits.

We feel eternally indebted to MeySen and GrapeCity, and have nothing but the utmost respect for its activities that so effectively linked us to the goodwill and support of people all around the globe, including the former ambassador of Myanmar to Japan and to various major charitable organizations in the United States. We find great strength and comfort in knowing that they are continuing to inform the people of the world of the present conditions in the Sanriku Area.

The road to reconstruction and recovery is now approaching the most critical stage. With the encouragement of people throughout the world, we are determined to overcome the challenges left behind by the massive earthquake and to regain our former lives of smiles and happiness. We look forward to enjoying everyone’s abiding support in this undertaking. www.babanakayama.jp

New Road, New FutureBaba-Nakayama District Minami-Sanriku Town

Takahiro Chiba, Representative, Miraidou Project

The Destroyer, as a celebrated pro-wrestler, excited audiences in the USA and Japan for years: In 1963, on his first tour of Japan, he delighted all wrestling fans by taking on the legendary Japanese wrestler Riki-dozan. Captivating Japanese spectators with his famous “figure-four leg lock,” The Destroyer garnered a 64% television audience rating during the WWA World Championship Tour broadcast in May of that same year. The Destroyer became the fan-favorite rival of Giant Baba, Japan’s premier wrestler following the death of Riki-dozan. This rivalry established The Destroyer as Japan’s most popular “Foreign Wrestler.” He also was loved by his many fans for his charismatic character and as a talented TV personality.

The Destroyer grew to love Japan deeply, so even after moving back to the US arena, he visited Japan at least once yearly. After the East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami disaster, Mr. Marty Kuehnert arranged for The Destroyer to visit the disaster areas with a MeySen relief team. Throughout his visit to the stricken ar-eas, The Destroyer brought hope and encouragement to those who were having a difficult time.

The Destroyer,

Dick Beyer

To My Dear Friends in JapanThe Destroyer, Dick Beyer, Pro Wrestler WWA, AWA, AJPW

Celebrating the first catch in 8 monthsCelebrating the first catch in 8 months

HachinoheAomori

Kuji

Miyako

Morioka

Hanamaki

Mizusawa

Ichinoseki

Hiraizumi Rikuzen-Takata

Kesennuma

Ishinomaki

Yamoto(Higashi-Matsushima)

Shizugawa(Minami-Sanriku)

Kurosawajiri (Kitakami) Kamaishi

Sendai

Marumori

14 15

朽ちない生命

く

い

の

ち

The Soul

3 .11 Tsunami Anniversary

①

②

③

④

⑤

Rice-planting. 1957

With Mom (Age Five)

John Broman Family with Mr. Fukuda.Sept. 2009John Broman Family with Mr. Fukuda.Sept. 2009

① With church members. (Age 6) 1957 Morioka, Japan② Being bathed by Mom at a "nagaya". (Age 3)③ Competing in field day races as a 1st grader. (Age 7)

1957 Jonan Elementary, Morioka, Japan

④ Daddy's little helper -- putting up a Gospel sign. (Age 5) 1956 Hanamaki, Japan

⑤ David and Vernus Broman with Thomas, John (Age 11), Timothy and David Jr. 1962 Yamoto (Higashi-Matsushima)

50 km

50 miles

With the captain of the shipcrossing the Pacific. (Age Two)

With the captain of the shipcrossing the Pacific. (Age Two)

Reuniting. April 20, 2011 Hirota, Rikuzen-TakataReuniting. April 20, 2011 Hirota, Rikuzen-Takata

I was at home in Los Angeles when I heard the news of the Tohoku Earthquake. I don’t know why, but I woke up before five that morning. For no special reason, I picked up my BlackBerry and started checking my e-mail, as I rolled over in bed. There was a long list of new messages from around the world asking if MeySen was OK. From that point forward, everything seemed surreal, to say the least. It lasted for about a week. I was interacting with the understandably-worried family members of the American staff of MeySen and GrapeCity. At the same time, I was receiving calls and e-mail from some of the major media networks (ABC, NBC), which continued for days. Everyone was looking for answers, but even I was having a very difficult time getting in touch with MeySen. I had to do my best to field the various inquiries with just the sketchy information I had.

As I learned more about where the most severe damage was and that Sendai and the MeySen schools were safe, I became very concerned about the safety of two of my former students who lived in dangerous areas. To respect their privacy, I’ll just call them Ms. A and Ms. B. One lived in Kesennuma and the other lived in Rikuzen-Takata. It so happened that both my wife and I had taught the two, while they were at MeySen, so they would come up in our conversation from time to time. However, my thoughts this day were not those of casual topics, but of life itself. Were they alive? Were their homes OK? Were there any injuries? How did their families fare? After about a week, I found out that Ms. A and her family were safe and sound. But, I was not able to connect with Ms. B who lived in Rikuzen-Takata. No matter how many times I called, I couldn’t get through. Each time I tried, all I would get on the other end of the line was dead silence. No static. No recordings. No anything! It was a very eerie feeling. I kept trying for several days, but to no avail. During the same time, I became occupied with helping organize relief efforts. Many people from across the United States started reaching out, asking me how they might help the Japanese people in this time of distress… and I was eager to help them do so.

In January 1954, the ship that my mother and I boarded in San Francisco passed under the Golden Gate Bridge and headed across the Pacific. Two weeks later we arrived at the Port of Yokohama, in Japan. Two days after that, we pulled into Mizusawa, Iwate Prefecture, aboard a steam locomotive express. My father and uncle were already in Japan. They had come to tell the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ to the people of Japan, beginning in Tohoku. Over the years, my parents and their friends worked together in Kuji, Miyako, Kamaishi, Rikuzen-Takata, Ichinoseki, Hanamaki, Morioka, and all the other cities across the region. Living at the edge of the villages, in tents or “nagaya” traditional Japanese tenement houses, they would travel from town to town, pouring their lives into sharing the Gospel of God’s Word with all the people. My daily life as a youth was one of mixing with the locals while growing up on the streets with the neighborhood kids and speaking the local dialects.

I entered Morioka Jonan Elementary School as a 1st grader. I was able to get most of what I needed for my school uniform, but, having such a big head, compared to other students, Mom was not able to find a hat for me. We finally settled for a junior-high uniform hat. I remember it was cold and rainy on the day of the entrance ceremony. I attended the ceremony, sitting on my knees on a straw mat with the rest of the children, in a cold, gloomy auditorium. My foot wear for the day was “geta” (Japanese wooden clogs), overdone a tad bit by a loving mom who was trying so hard to dress her son up as a true Japanese. Now, though, it is one of my fond memories that draws smiles every time I retell the story. I still stay in touch with my 1st grade teacher, Mr. Manabu Fukuda.

About the time I was nine years old, we lived on the second floor of a public bathhouse in Miyako. Whenever we wanted to eat fresh fish, Mom would send me to the port with a big paper rice-bag full of fresh vegetables. I would find where the crew of

a fishing vessel was busily unloading its catch and would work my way up to the boat to throw the bag of vegetables onto the deck. Then I would back off to the side and quietly watch the fishermen at work. Pretty soon, one of the men would start taking some of the really nice, big, delicious-looking fish off of the belt and pushing them over to the side. Once he thought he had set a sufficient amount aside, he would signal me with a nod to come over. I would take out a second bag that I had stuffed in my pocket and would fill it up with the fish. It was true bartering between friends who never needed to exchange words.

Fifty years ago, Kamaishi was a vibrant city with a lot of buzz in the air and a population that was more than double its number today. The streets seemed to always be filled with people and the steel mill operated three full shifts a day. I can still hear the blaring sirens signaling the change of shifts. I remember my time there well.

As soon as I would get home from school, I would bolt out the door with my marbles and “menko” in hand. The menko is a kind of card that is thrown against the ground in an effort to flip your opponent’s card... and there was no shortage of opponents. Every alley and open lot seemed to be teaming with kids. I recall everyday being like a street festival.

In Rikuzen-Takata, our landlord ran a tofu shop. I enjoyed visiting him in his living room that was in the back of his store. We would sit at the “kotatsu” (a small table covered with a quilt and set over a hole in the floor from which charcoal embers warmed the space) and converse about many things, while drinking green tea. I always felt very grown up. Among the customers who frequented his store was a young teenaged boy named Kentaro who would come to buy tofu for his mother. No one could have guessed that the boy would later become the world-famous Japanese Enka singer Masao Sen.

So as you see, the Sanriku area of Tohoku, Japan is a place that is dear to me, and I have so many wonderful memories of the places and people -- from Hachinohe City to the Town of Yamoto -- that it was with trepidation that I returned to Japan on April 15, 2011, to work with the MeySen and GrapeCity relief teams. What would I see? What would I feel? But I am glad I came back, for so many reasons.

After delivering goods in Motoyoshi of Kesennuma, I asked one of the team members to join me in my search for Ms. B. Address in hand, we headed for

did we recognize how generous they were being. The village turned out to be very hilly, with streets that were mostly narrow alleys that were all slippery from the rain. It was also pitch dark because there was still no electricity, so finding our own way would have been nearly impossible. But with help from kind strangers, we arrived at the home safely. In the headlights of our van, we could see no visible damage from the tsunami. Ms. B, her two sons, and her mother-in-law, came rushing out of the house wondering who had come. They could not believe their eyes. It was a happy and joyous moment for us all, and an unexpected surprise to them, to say the least. They graciously welcomed us into their home. Our reunion that night was beyond what any words could describe. As we sat in the candle light of their living room, after 13 years apart, warming ourselves around the kotatsu and talking of days gone by, we were able to be thankful for the moment. Needless to say, we had a lot to talk about personally… but beyond that blessing, we were also able to find out about some of the immediate needs of the people of the village.

There were about 10 senior citizens living alone in the village. Candles were their only source of light. Just one overturned candle could mean a fire. People were understandably concerned. We decided to do something about it. We returned to Sendai late that night. The next morning we prepared 10 Coleman lanterns that used batteries. (Thanks to Samaritan’s Purse for willingly sharing 10 of their last 30 lanterns

Rikuzen-Takata. It was getting close to evening when we arrived at what used to be the downtown district. It now looked like a war zone. It was raining off and on, as dusk set in. Though I had been traveling all day, through one devastated town after another, I could no longer hold my composure as I stood in the middle of this city that I had known so well. The city was wiped from existence, as if it had never been real. I was in shock. I cannot explain how I felt as this new reality set in. A part of my homeland had now become an expanse of unbearable sorrow… for so many… and for me.

We did find out, to our relief, that Ms. B’s home was not located in town. Her address pointed us to a small fishing village on a peninsula, southeast of the downtown area. Being a peninsula meant that the area would be hilly. For the first time I thought, “Maybe she’s all right after all.” Our hopes started to rise. We headed for the shelter at Hirota Elementary on the peninsula. It was one of several that had been established. We asked the people there about Ms. B’s family, but came up blank. Someone mentioned dropping by the local Buddhist temple and checking there, so we did. The priest brought out the family register for the area and found the family’s name. It was then, 40 days after the disaster hit, that we found out Ms. B and her family were all safe and doing well. A middle-aged couple who had been listening in on our conversation, kindly offered to take us to Ms. B’s home. We thanked them and accepted, but only later

My Home is TohokuJohn E. BromanVice-Principal, MeySen Academy Schools

in stock, making it possible for us to respond to that immediate need.) One of our shopping teams got up bright and early and went shopping for some of the other items that were needed -- toilet paper, blankets, rubber boots, instant noodles, canned food, rice and a generator. By 11 A.M. we were ready to head back to the village. We arrived at the village just as the sun was setting. It was the first time we were seeing the scene in daylight. The view across Hirota Bay was breathtaking… but as we looked closer, we saw that the village port was completely gone and that the village itself had been reduced to rubble. Our hearts sank… but only for a while. For as we distributed the supplies we had brought, the beautiful smiling faces of the seniors, reflecting the golden glow of the lanterns that were being turned on as we handed them out, lifted our hearts. That moment of unity in the diverse group of people! That feeling of standing together in adversity... All of this brought tears to my eyes. It made me feel happy to have grown up in Tohoku. I was proud to be a Tohokujin. But most of all, I was humbled, yet not without feeling honored, to have been able to make a difference in these precious lives. It was a small thing, given the scope of such a horrendous disaster… but it is by many small things being accomplished by many caring people that disaster is overcome.

I strongly feel, before God, that we should continue doing all that we can to help, no matter how insignificant it may seem. My prayer in all of this is for the people of Tohoku, that they will receive true comfort, hope, salvation, and healing through Jesus Christ. And by doing so be able to humbly accept from God his eternal joy and a life of abundance that never ends!

God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble. Therefore we will not be afraid, though the earth trembles and the mountains topple into the depths of the seas, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with its turmoil. --- Psalm 46: 1-3 HCSB

The earth and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants, belong to the Lord; for He laid its foundation on the seas and established it on the rivers. Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not set his mind on what is false, and who has not sworn deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

--- Psalm 24: 1-5 HCSB

3 .11 Tsunami Anniversary

Keimei Elementary students helping remove mud from homes. Oct. 20, 2011 Wakabayashi Sendai Keimei Elementary students helping remove mud from homes. Oct. 20, 2011 Wakabayashi Sendai

Winter clothing, vegetables and fruit donated by the families of MeySen Academy were gratefully received.Winter clothing, vegetables and fruit donated by the families of MeySen Academy were gratefully received.

Clinging to life: an icon of resilience stands as the lone survivor where more than 60,000 pines used

to guard the coast.

Clinging to life: an icon of resilience stands as the lone survivor where more than 60,000 pines used

to guard the coast.

Rob Provost, missionary to Albania, and pastors Les Lofquiest of Michigan and Shuji Kondo of Kobe joined Nathan Broman and team in distributing relief goods to a temporary housing community.

Nov. 15, 2011 Yamamoto

Rob Provost, missionary to Albania, and pastors Les Lofquiest of Michigan and Shuji Kondo of Kobe joined Nathan Broman and team in distributing relief goods to a temporary housing community.

Nov. 15, 2011 YamamotoBringing warmth to those left out in the cold.Oct. 11, 2011 UtatsuBringing warmth to those left out in the cold.Oct. 11, 2011 Utatsu

Impromptu class reunion: Relief work unites students with former teacher.

Impromptu class reunion: Relief work unites students with former teacher.

Lending a hand to neighbors in distress.Oct. 11, 2011 UtatsuLending a hand to neighbors in distress.Oct. 11, 2011 Utatsu

Clearing Debris. Oct. 11, 2011 UtatsuClearing Debris. Oct. 11, 2011 Utatsu

Answering a widow's call for help.Answering a widow's call for help.

16 17

Report from the Front-linesTomio Broman, Former English Teacher at MeySen Academy Schools

strange feeling to see that there were only four 7th graders left in the school. There had been 19, but 15 of them had been washed away in the tsunami. Okawa Elementary School lost 80 % of their students on that terrible day in March.

When we arrived at Okawa to deliver the supplies, we found out that one of the teachers there was a graduate of MeySen, and that my brother, Joshua, who was with me that day, had been his teacher! It was an emotional meeting after so many years. For the needed supplies to be provided by the Okawa teacher’s kindergarten “alma mater” and delivered by its staff and one of his own former teachers caused a sensation among the other Okawa teachers.

At Oshio Elementary in Higashi-Matsushima, just the opposite occurred, but with no less of an emotional reaction. I encountered Mr. Otsuki, who was my homeroom teacher 16 years ago when I was a 7th grader. He is now principal of Oshio Elementary. Since our visit was unannounced, it took him completely by surprise… but he remembered my name, and that meant a lot to me. Oshio Elementary was not damaged by the tsunami so they had opened up their gymnasium and classrooms during the first weeks after the tragedy, as a local relief center. We gave them six humidifiers for the classrooms. Since it was already towards the end of the day, we spent an hour in Mr. Otsuki’s office recounting the “good old days.”

As our team performed its work this time, there was an added-experience and focus that we did not have when we first rushed to help six months ago immediately after the disaster. Though there were many supplies given out during this visit, the actual distribution only took us five days to complete. The experience we gained right after the earthquake made it possible for us to function with maximum efficiency now. From determining the needs and placing orders to delivering the goods, the process had become streamlined and everything went smoothly.

When distributing supplies in relief work, timing is everything. That is why we repeatedly heard the comment, “You came when we needed you most.” The electric kerosene heaters, the kotatsu, and the electric blankets were especially a big hit.

Once again, because of the support from MeySen Academy and GrapeCity, plus generous people all over the world, we were able to be the representatives of that love and concern for so many people in need, and in a timely way. I thank God for the opportunity and privilege to be a part of it… not only for the physical comfort we

We visited some of the people whom we had been able to help immediately after the earthquake, and we were welcomed with warm, heart-felt thanks for the assistance we gave that time. “You helped us when we were desperate, and we are so grateful,” they would tell us. Their words made all the effort well worth it.

Assistance from the government and various relief agencies continues today, but it seems that the initial help given by MeySen/GrapeCity and Samaritan’s Purse during those critical first six weeks, when supplies were just not available, had made the most impact on those who were stricken.

Starting in Minami-Sanriku, we spent the next three days working our way through Kesennuma, Rikuzen-Takata and Hirota Peninsula, compiling a “needs list”. Though it usually doesn’t even frost in October, out on the coast with the cold winds blowing in from the ocean, there was already a need for heating. We found that people living in temporary housing needed electric kerosene heaters, kotatsu (a type of table with heater), and electric blankets. The public schools all needed humidifiers for the classrooms. We returned to Sendai, concentrating on how we could, once again, effectively respond to their specific needs and make a speedy delivery. Some items could be ordered online, but more than any other source, it was Samaritan’s Purse that made it possible to fulfill the orders. Within only a few days, most everything on our list had been delivered to the warehouse and was ready for distribution – all paid for by donations from friends around the world.

We organized a delivery team of 15 people and six vehicles – a large truck, campers a kitchen-shower trailer unit and delivery vans -- and left Sendai for the coast. We followed our “needs list” as we delivered supplies to the temporary housing units and to schools. Whenever we came across people who needed help to clean out the thick mud from inside their homes, or to move debris, or even to weed a school playground, we helped.… and each experience was a rewarding one.

At Okawa Jr. High, where the first floor classrooms and offices had been obliterated and the school was now borrowing classrooms at a nearby school, we had been asked for only five humidifiers and one micro-wave oven for their 35 students. It was a

Immediately following the gigantic earthquake disaster that struck Tohoku on March 11, 2011, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work for six weeks with the volunteer disaster relief teams from MeySen Academy and GrapeCity, plus other international relief agencies from around the world. Working together, the teams focused our resources to find individuals and families along the stricken coasts of Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima who needed help.

Six months later, starting October 3rd 2011, in response to a request from the MeySen Academy Board of Regents, I spent two more weeks along the coast, finding and helping those who were still in need of assistance. The living conditions for people who had lost their homes were, of course, better than when we had first brought relief supplies to the area back in March. However they were still far from ideal. The needs of the people had also changed. This was evident because we were going to the same areas, and we could compare. We started in Minami-Sanriku where we had established a base camp six months earlier.

The tsunami stricken area had really changed since we were last there. Most of the debris and rubble had been removed and many of the homes that had been partially damaged were being repaired. Another noticeable difference was the great number of 7-11 style convenience stores housed in prefab structures that had sprouted up since then. In Minami-Sanriku alone, 4 or 5 of these convenience stores had become

community hubs, having a sense of vibrancy about them as local students and adults would share news with each other. Though there

still is a long way to go before the towns regain their former vitality, one can definitely sense a noticeable increase in activity.

Highway 45, which had been cut off in many locations, was almost fully repaired. Even

the Kesen Bridge in Rikuzen-Takata that had been totally washed out, now was repaired and operational for some time.

bring, but for the spiritual comfort we offer, since there are so many other agencies working to provide their needs. I believe that what our teams bring is the love and the spiritual support that means so much to these people. They know that we have always cared and that it is not just because of the disaster that we are here. The same teams have been telling the Gospel in these towns for 60 years. We have been here long before there was just a physical need. I believe it is this deeper personal connection with people who care about them that sustains them on their road to recovery.

Schools and facilities to which supplies were delivered during those 5 days (Oct. 10~15):

Oya Kindergarten, Kesennuma Utatsu Jr. High, Minami-Sanriku Shizugawa Jr. High, Minami-Sanriku Minato Elementary, Ishinomaki Ogatsu Elementary, Ishinomaki Okawa Jr. High, Ishinomaki Hamaichi Elementary, Higashi-Matsushima Oshio Elementary, Higashi-Matsushima

Matsugahama Elementary, ShichigahamaShichigahama Board of EducationYuriage Elementary, NatoriYamashita Elementary, Yamamoto Yamamoto Board of Education

Hybrid humidifiers, air filtering humidifiers, electric kerosene heaters, socks, lawn mowers, wheelbarrows, ladders, sports equipment (playground levelers and tennis court sweepers), office supplies (tape, markers, laminators and paper shredders), wet wipes, portable stereos and microwave ovens.

Items delivered to schools and students:

Electric kerosene heaters, kotatsu, electric blankets, carpets, blankets, generators, tents, drinking water, food (rice, pre-packaged meals, canned goods), and kerosene stoves.

Items delivered to individuals and families:

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. --- Romans 8:38-39 NIV

May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance. --- 2 Thessalonians 3:5 NIV www.bdljapan.com

www.ifca.org / www.hamaderabible.jp

18 193 .11 Tsunami Anniversary

Samuel Broman teams up with victims in the disaster zone.March 28, 2011 Baba-Nakayama

First Samaritan's Purse temporary distribution center. April 2011 Sendai

Fulfilling a GPS-identified supply order.April 9, 2011 Natari

Fulfilling a GPS-identified supply order.April 9, 2011 Natari

Tome Base Camp -- A base of faith. More than 6,163 volunteers have worked 19,674 days/157,392 hours through Samaritan's Purse. Photo: July 2011

Tome Base Camp -- A base of faith. More than 6,163 volunteers have worked 19,674 days/157,392 hours through Samaritan's Purse. Photo: July 2011

Within days of the tsunami, waves of donated goods flooded the MeySen auditorium. March 14, 2011

Within days of the tsunami, waves of donated goods flooded the MeySen auditorium. March 14, 2011

MeySen/GrapeCity volunteer team. March 28, 2011 Utatsu

Temporary shelter.March 24, 2011 Baba-NakayamaTemporary shelter.March 24, 2011 Baba-Nakayama

The first 94 tons of relief supplies from Samaritan's Purse were delivered by the US Air Force within 10 days of the catastrophe. March 21, 2011 Sendai Airport

The first 94 tons of relief supplies from Samaritan's Purse were delivered by the US Air Force within 10 days of the catastrophe. March 21, 2011 Sendai Airport Matt and his wife, Susie.Matt and his wife, Susie.

Japanese fortitude and diligence in working toward recovery have inspired many.Japanese fortitude and diligence in working toward recovery have inspired many.

Victims gratefully welcome relief items. May 28, 2011 Motoyoshi

Victims gratefully welcome relief items. May 28, 2011 Motoyoshi

A retirement home sheltering children who lost everything. March 26, 2011 KabanosawaA retirement home sheltering children who lost everything. March 26, 2011 Kabanosawa

Tomio Broman, Tomohito Honda and Makoto Honda delivering supplies to those who lost their homes.

April 8, 2011 Tatehama

Tomio Broman, Tomohito Honda and Makoto Honda delivering supplies to those who lost their homes.

April 8, 2011 Tatehama

Professionals stepped up to bat torebuild homes.Professionals stepped up to bat torebuild homes.

It is our prayer that through our efforts many families will be encouraged and experience a new joy and hope in God’s love and provision.

I want to conclude with a special thanks to our friends at MeySen Academy and GrapeCity Inc. From the first day Samaritan’s Purse arrived in Japan, they have been a key partner in the relief and reconstruction effort that can only be successful with agencies working together with a shared vision and goal. It has been an honor to serve in Japan, and we continue to pray God’s blessing and hope for the people of Tohoku. www.samaritanspurse.org

祝し

ゅ

く

ふ

く福と祈い

の

りBlessings and Prayers

Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian humanitarian relief agency, responded immediately to the disaster through sending a disaster assistance response team (DART) and airlifting in 94 tons of emergency relief supplies. A strategic relationship was built with MeySen Academy and GrapeCity Inc. who helped with storage, distribution, volunteers, housing, and meals.

Since that time, Samaritan’s Purse has established three base camps in Ishinomaki, Kesennuma and Shichigahama areas. These bases support our staff and volunteers who continue to serve communities through mud-outs, house reconstruction, and relief-item distribution. To date, Samaritan’s Purse has hosted over 6,163 volunteers, completed 403 home rebuilds (with a goal of 525), and provided 18,952 households with 70,645 relief and winterization items through church and Christian ministry partners.

It has been a blessing to play a small role in the rebuilding of Tohoku and I am always impressed with the resilience that is prevalent in the restoration process.

Samaritan’s Purse is a Christian charity that was established in 1970 to meet emergency needs in crisis areas. Throughout its history, Samaritan’s Purse has brought life-saving sup-port to people around the world in more than 100 countries. Its yearly support of humanitarian efforts globally exceeds $300 million.

Honored and BlessedMatt SwensonSamaritan’s Purse, Japan Director