MOUNTAIN MOVING STARTS WITH ONE STONE‏

Dear Friends and Family,

Neil Verwey had me do a write up about my experiences in Tohoku in May, and he shared it in one of his Newsletters. I found out that not all of you receive these newsletters so I am posting it on my blog so that you have a chance to read it as well. If you would like to receive his emails please let me know!

Dear Prayer Partner

Two members of Japan Mission, Marilyn Zorinpuii and Melanie Peter, volunteered their week of vacation time to help with relief efforts in Tohoku. Melanie wrote as follows:

On Friday morning April 29^th, the first day of ‘Golden Week’ in Japan, I drove with a team from Osaka to minister to those affected by the triple disaster (earthquake, tsunami and Fukushima nuclear breakdown) of March 11, 2010.

After a 16 hour trip, keeping a careful watch for the earthquake damage on the highway, we arrived at 11pm at a Karate Dojo hall, which served as home base to as many as 60 to 70 relief workers at a time.

In Ishinomaki we saw cars piled up everywhere in all kinds of positions, precariously hanging from high perches, houses smashed and houses that had been transported to unusual places.

I joined the Be One group, and it was an orderly and carefully managed affair. There were rules to follow: the dirty work clothes and boots had to be left outside and the clean clothes and shoes had to be sprayed with alcohol before entering the Dojo. A dividing blue tarp separated the men and women as they slept but nothing could keep the horrendous snoring down but thankfully, I had ear-plugs!

Most of the first three days I helped cleaning a children’s park; I learned to put on and off three pair of gloves: surgical, woolen and the hefty gardening variety. We would take them all off to eat and put on a new pair of surgical gloves plus the others before going back to work. I also wore thick black boots, goggles and a serious face mask.

If a delivery of fresh produce came, it took precedence and everything had to be dropped in order to sort the goods, and then decide who needed these goods. Assembly lines would quickly form and we joined in unison to work as a team.

The debris in the children’s park was spread out in total chaos before us: garbage, wood, metals, plastic, trees, huge wooden pallets, furniture, tatami mats and sofas; there were concrete blocks and rain gutters strewn everywhere along with thick mud. We piled the incredible mess as high as the proverbial mountain – in some places it was higher than my head.

Sometimes God diverted us to do some nauseating work! There was a stench of sea water and rotting fish; octopus, crabs and even store-packaged fish found in many of the lower levels of the buildings. The work was cheerless and depressing. A lady was shedding tears while sweeping in front of her door. I wanted to know why she cried. She said:

“If only someone would get rid of the rotting fish from my driveway!” Immediately, we joined together to help her and she was very grateful.

We wanted an occasion for the neighborhood to meet and enjoy a time of fellowship as well as celebrate the reclaimed playground, so we planned an enormous BBQ. There was BBQ chicken, hot-dogs with all the fixings, chips, juice boxes, snacks, a gigantic pasta salad, cucumbers, tomatoes and apples – plenty for all.

I took some time to hang out with the people afterwards and play with the kids. They were so happy and appreciative, even in the middle of all that trash!

There are other great stories, like how we prayed for a woman who needed to find a job, but wasn't yet a Christian, which moved her to tears.

I will never forget how easy it was to make friends with young and old!

I met a dear 'Obachan' (grandmother) who came up to me but didn't say a word. This elderly lady just stood beside and let me hug her. I whispered to her ‘Gomennasai’ (I am so sorry!) several times.

I made a little 8 year old friend Yu-chan and she came to the park every day and helped by holding open the trash bags while I would pour in the dirt. Many other children joined her and helped to clean the park, so that they would have a place to play.

God used Melanie and Marilyn, functioning in different places in the disaster area, during their vacation. They came back tired, but overflowing with joy at what God accomplished through them and their team members in Tohoku.

Please continue to pray for the various projects Japan Mission, Be One, and many other missionaries, who are revealing the love of Christ among those who know Him not.

Small steps of obedience lead to giant steps of blessings!

Neil Verwey