Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Yamagata Travels, Treehouse Shenanigans, Daycare Games, Restaurant Performances

We woke up early Tuesday morning in the Oecho church and quickly ate breakfast and cleaned up for we had a long day ahead us.  We first drove to Yamagata city of the Yamagata prefecture while the Sakuragoaka mission team stayed in Oue to pass out and post flyers for the Oecho church.  There we arrived at a church where we met Ken-san, one of the members of a nearby branch church, who was our guide for the day.




After an even longer drive we arrived in Miyage Sendai, one of the areas that was at the forefront of the earthquake and tsunami.  A short tour with Ken-san showed us that the disaster site was rather barren for most of the rubble had obviously been cleared away over the past couple years though there were a number of newer buildings that had been constructed (perhaps reconstructed) as well as a variety of very damaged and worn structures and other objects that had been more or less abandoned.



In addition to the worn out old buildings and the new ones, there were also many buildings consisting of modular pieces that served as temporary offices and homes for those whom were still not quite able to fully recover or relocate.  While visiting some temporary structures in front of an abandoned school, we were able to talk to a number of locals and hand out vegetables to them.  Having completed a Ken-san's quick tour, we then split up into two groups.  Bradley, Brandon, Hitomi, Yuuki and Nobu-sensei went to play with some of the local children and Joanne, Sato, Ando-san, Ochi-sensei and Ken-san went out to visit the homes of many of the older survivors and continue to hand out vegetables.



"A play place built from trees washed up by the tsunami, since there was nowhere for kids to play." - Joanne
Bradley, Brandon, Hitomi, Yuuki, and Nobu-sensei had a lot of fun playing at the totally awesome treehouse above with three young girls.  Ken-san told us more were planning to come but they couldn't get rides to the treehouse which was built entirely by the some of the survivors as a safe place for the children to play.  He also told us only to play with them while speaking English for the children's education likely but they were rather reluctant so everyone pretty much gave up and spoke in Japanese.

That afternoon we visited the daycare next door to the Oecho church with the Sakuragoaka team.  There we sang several of our songs for the children; played Heads, Shoulders, Knees & Toes and Simon Says in English with them; and Nobu-sensei gave a short message.  Afterwards we shared a snack with the children and played outside.  They were very energetic.

"Whppi!"


We were invited to perform at a pasta restaurant by the owner's wife who was uncertain of Christianity so we had dinner there that night with the Sakuragoaka team and several members of Oecho church after which we performed some of our songs and shared about Christianity.  We don't know where she stands on her faith now but we continue to pray for her.

Doggies

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