3/12 Monday: Shichigahama

Wow - didn't realize yesterday's post was so long.  But it was quite a momentous day.  Will try to be more brief from now on.

Today was Gilbert's weekly attempt at a day off.  If anyone needs such a weekly sabbatical it's people like them who work in the midst of relief and recovery chaos and all the people care they provide.  So I told them not to even think about stuff here at the house and take off for a drive, a coffee shop, a mall, whatever will help restore their souls.  And they did.

I was going to spend the day helping another EFree missionary install a replacement stove and washer/dryer combo here at the Guest House, but he couldn't make it here after all.  Hopefully we can tackle those later this week?  Instead, I was able to get some personal "catch up" done, as well as do some grocery shopping, including the ingredients to make supper.  "Ah-ha!  Mark-san is now becoming chef-san?  Mo, taihen deshoo…"  Actually supper turned out pretty well thanks to some pre-cooked chicken for a main dish with brown rice in a handy rice cooker that's here.  Some of these Japanese kitchen appliances are pretty cool.

Cool appliance; the rice cooker & hot water pot are tops

A few sites have active restoration

The lady's house and business used to be here...

Also gave myself a bit of a drive around here to see the progress of clean up and restoration.  Went to one community where the April team visited with a lady who showed us her still-standing home even though the first floor and back yard area were ruined.  Sadly, that home is torn down now, along with most of the rest of the fishing neighborhood there.  The last of the debris-filled fields near here were cleaned up last month according to Lorna.  

But I haven't seen any rebuilding happening, except for 1 or 2 house foundations that are either new or washed clean ready for reconstruction.  In Tagajo, the next-door city from here on the way to Sendai,  life seems to returning to a new normal, and you have to look close to see much of the consequences of the disaster.  It's a good sign when Mr. Donut is open!

Note the mound of debris in the background

Yummy!