I have not updated our blog since the tragic and devastating tsunami... mostly because I didn't feel I could adequately express how sad I felt for the country of Japan.
Anything I could write, just didn't convey my feelings adequately.
And anything we continued to go through as a family seemed trivial.....and
either complaints, worries or any other events seemed inappropriate considering the circumstances.
We left Japan on March 21st and spent the next three months in Utah. I won't try to catch up on all the things that have happened since then. I'll consider it a mourning period, it felt and still feels that way. I still don't have adequate words for this.
When we returned in June, our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints began organizing bus trips to the north for anyone interested in helping with the clean up efforts. (Members of our church or not..everyone was welcome to free transportation and overnight accommodations) As the work was difficult, dirty and sometime dangerous, Mark felt he would participate for our family on an organized District Day of Service (when all members of our district specifically were invited to attend).
He was absolutely stunned at the overwhelming devastation in this area. He didn't take as many pictures as he later wished he had. This group was tasked with simply clearing a field of any remaining debris, so that
the local people could use it to plant summer vegetables. Mark said that there was at least an 8 foot depth of every possible random thing mixed with mud (and sewage) in that field. Although hundreds of people worked a 12 hour day on what at best was an acre of field.... it still wasn't quite ready for planting.
Mark was almost speechless. The cleanup effort in that area can seem hopelessly overwhelming. But everyday volunteers work along side the Japanese...clearing and cleaning a few square feet at a time. With small and simple steps, progress is being made.
No comments:
Post a Comment