The Outsourced Teacher: Rebuilding in Japan a Year Later

Its hard to believe its nearly been a year just the catastrophic earthquake that shook Japan. It's devastation left so many people with so little. There was a great need for hope for these people. By the grace of God, a group called Samaritan's Purse answered this call. For the past year, they have been tirelessly rebuilding not only people's homes but their sense of hope across the coast areas of Japan. I've had the pleasure of meeting a few of them throughout the year as they've partnered with GrapeSeed. They truly are amazing people that seem to have a compassion for others that's only outweighed by their passion for God and to spread His message of hope.

Since coming back to Japan, I've been hoping for a chance to be able to help the Tsunami victims in any way that I can. I've had a few opportunities but something comes up. Its can be difficult to volunteer while working 6 days a week. But to be completely honest, I was waiting for an opportunity to fall in my lap rather than constantly seeking it out. A year later that opportunity came today. I got the chance to help essentially gut a house that was hit by the tsunami.

So this morning, I was up and at'em at 7AM (thats early for me) to head to Shiogama. As we drove there, I couldn't help notice all the children that were leaving for school. So many of these children a year ago, felt the brunt of mother nature yet here they are resilient. Looking at their faces really shows why groups like Samaritan's Purse exists.

The home we are rebuilding

The empty lot next door.

Driving down there, one could already see the drastic changes they town has made from a year ago. Shops are rebuilt roads are repaved. Yet there are areas of damage around every corner. Finally, we got to the home we were going to help rebuild. The home was about a mile from the ocean and had significant water damage. Many of the homes nearby were either completely gutted or non existent. It was crazy to see the difference from the home we worked on to the empty lot right next door where a home once stood. Looking at the damages its truly amazing to see some of the homes still standing.

You can see the lines where the water was up to the ceiling.

Going into the house, you could see the water damage all the way up to the ceiling of the first floor. the entire floor outside of the kitchen and bathrooms was completely gone minus the beams. Our job for the day was tear out the drywall. Basically, I got to swing a hammer at walls for several hours. What a great way to relieve that end of school year tension! By the end of the day, I was covered in dry wall cement with every pocket holding rocks...And I was EXHAUSTED.

It really makes me admire those that have been and continue to do this nearly everyday. Not only do these people do this everyday, they do it with a great passion. Constantly, doing the tedious work with a smile on their face the whole time. These people essentially dropped what they were doing a year ago and answered a call to help after the Tsunami. I don't know how many of us could say that given that call, we would pick up the phone. Samartan's Purse is a truly inspiring group.

I got a glimpse of why many do it in the end. The homeowner came to thank us just as we finished. This lady who may have never had any interest in the Bible a year ago was standing there praying with everyone. Now I don't know whether she reads the Bible everyday or if she's even completely sure what to believe. But I do know looking into her eyes she has something unmistakable...Hope.