3/16 Friday: Ishinomaki; and Minami Sanriku & Kesennuma

Some of the women at the Ladies Day Retreat 

Today had two schedules, and two deep impacts: Sylvia led a special Ladies Day Retreat full of restoration, while Ralph and I drove with Andy and Jonathan up to Minami Sanriku and Kesennuma, and experienced devastation.

For Sylvia, this was a day in her sweet-spot, providing "oasis care" for 10 of the ministry women who have been giving care and comfort in Ishinomaki for the last year.  She said these ladies have been selflessly pouring themselves out for so long that they are virtually numb with fatigue.  The moment Sylvia started the gathering at a local cafe, one of the women simply started weeping.  They spent over two hours together sharing their burdens, personal cares, and heart-needs. Sylvia guided them in some times of reflection on God's strength and comfort, expressing their hearts in prayer, and listening for, and receiving God's care and comfort for their own hearts.  It was a powerful time, and they hope to repeat this kind of thing each quarter from now on.

At the SP camp with Andy, Jonathan, Brock, and Ralph

Meanwhile, we guys were driving through some of the worst hit cities in Tohoku.  But before we got there, our first stop was  in Tome, 30 minutes north of Ishinomaki, at the Samaritan's Purse camp.  SP has been here for the past year, with hundreds of volunteer carpenters and workers helping to "mud out" and restore some 300 houses in Ishinomaki and other cities.  We met Brock, the leader of the SP work here, and he showed us around the SP offices, kitchen/dining areas, bunk rooms, shower/bath facilities, and gave us a sense of the immense task they have been doing.  It's rather amazing how they've been able to do such a huge task with a constantly changing group of volunteers.

From there we drove another 30 minutes out to the coast and stopped at Minami Sanriku, previously a resort town of approx. 20,000 people.  But 95% of the town was destroyed by the earthquake and 50' tsunami waves.  Reports say that over half the town's population is missing; If so, the death toll in this town alone would form a large percentage of the total death toll from the tsunami.  See "MS" photos below.

From there, we drove an hour north to Kesennuma, a city of 70,000 known for it's tuna fishing industry.  The devastation here was compounded by fires which burned for 4 days.  They likely death toll here is close to 2000.  The city is spread around a large bay with hundreds of inlets, and an island in the middle of the bay.  Each of these waterfront locations, full of homes and businesses, was wiped out by the tsunami. See "K" photos below.

As we returned, driving past all the little villages and towns in between these two cities, we couldn't help but grieve and wonder at the immensity of the loss, the tragedy of it all, and couldn't even imagine it would ever recover.  We trust it will, but the the extend of the damage really knocks you back.

MS: attempting to clean up and begin restoration

MS: few buildings remain; note the boat on the porch roof of the left building.

MS: this is some 2 kilometers from the water; the train tracks used to be on the right,  but totally gone.

MS: water rose above this building, leaving the car on the roof.

K: part of a devastated community 

K: the toppled sea wall 

K: this house was owned by a family named Sato; not the debris piles in the background.

MS: looking toward the water

Remains of another coastal town.

An obliterated train line, and a solitary building where once was a thriving fishing village.