Saturday morning I awoke bright and early again and quickly began packing.  Something was said the night before about leaving around 9 AM, and the two still sawing logs in the room seemed intent on keeping to that schedule.  I was content to let them stay in bed as I loudly packed, stripped the sheets, and carried my belongings heavily down the stairs.  I had no real desire to stay until 9 and had everything buttoned up, packed, and loaded while my traveling companions abandoned any hope of sleeping longer.  We were on the road well before 9.

It was a bitter-sweet drive as we were anxious to be back home to our families, yet at the same time we knew what we were leaving behind.  There is no church in Sumita and the churches in Rikuzen Takata and Ofunato are in uncertain shape.  The food we provided people would last a week or two.  Sumita proper was looking at the folks from Takata as a different group of people to be wary of, and thus began isolating the temporary housing unit folks.  What was the next step?  What else could be done?  For now we head back to Nayoro.

We had an early ferry to catch Sunday Morning, so we were heading for Misawa to stay in the prophet’s chambers at Faith Baptist Church.  It would only be an hour and a half drive from Misawa to the port as opposed to 5 hours from Sumita.

On Friday I had called our contact in Misawa and asked if there might be a restaurant on base that we could take Meguro san to, to give him a taste of America.  They agreed to take us around for a couple of hours and picked us up at a convenience store where we had parked the truck.  I had some vague memories of my boyhood days on the base and Air Force brat life in general as we drove through the main gate.  Everything went from Japanese to American in an instant.

We went to a grill by the golf course and ordered a half pound burger complete with all of the fixins, onion rings, and sweet tea.  It had been three years since I had anything like this and certainly a first for Meguro san.

Compared to our life here in Japan, and certainly a typical Japanese lifestyle, we were served a huge amount of food.  The stark dichotomy of today versus our previous days hit me like a ton of bricks.  We left folks with barely anything to a land of plenty just a few hours away.  It became more apparent as the family wanted to send some American style gifts back to our family from the Commissary on base.  I walked in with our host and experienced a bit of reverse culture shock (OK . . . a lot actually).  Everything was so huge compared to what I was used to, and so many varieties of everything.  The shopping cart seemed humongous and the rows dedicated to one item just floored me.  It was too much, and I wasn’t expecting it.

Our host asked what he could send back to our family that would be a treat and all I could think of was cereal.  He asked what kind and I told him that any kind would do.   So after a few boxes were purchased along with a pack of Ding Dongs (all American Hostess . . .) for our family and the Smiths (and some American beef jerky and potato chips for Meguro san), we met back up with the other fellows.  I was reminded once again how America was truly a land of plenty and truly blessed by God.  I was also reminded of the goodness and sacrificial giving of the many churches and individuals who had made this whole trip possible.

We thanked our host and said another round of goodbyes, before going back to the truck.  We found our way to Faith Baptist in Misawa and met up with Pastor Popwell.  We had a good time of fellowship with the Popwells and thanked the folks there for their hospitality and the donations that they gave.  Pastor Popwell had originally planned to go with us for a few days, but had to cancel at the last minute.   He did express a desire to start a Japanese work there in Misawa, if there was a missionary willing to come and work with the people.  The whole region is in need of missionaries and pastors and new is such a crucial time.  Lord send more laborers!!

We packed it in for the night for a few hours of sleep and were headed for Aomori by 5 AM Sunday morning.  We loaded onto the ferry waving farewell to Honshu and welcomed seeing our beloved Hokkaido eight hours later.  By 8 :30 pm we would be back home again.

We were all physically and emotionally drained (and felt exhausted for several days), but are praying and wondering about the next step.  Thank you for your prayers and your part!!  To God be all the Glory.

By His grace alone,
Duane for the Wilhites

Friday June 17.  I woke up early this morning and started sorting the clothing from the folks in Misawa.  Some people had already marked sizes on the bags, which was somewhat helpful.  American sizes and Japanese sizes are different so I spent a good deal of time trying to do the conversion without the help of the master converter – my wife.  Randy met me out at the truck and we decided to rearrange everything to put the vegetables and specifically requested items from folks in Sumita in the back and out of sight.  We had other stops to make first today in order to unload the whole truck, and I knew our vegetables were prized cargo.  We  got everything situated, had a time of prayer, and set off for the Owada’s.

We of course had no plan about where we were going today, but had isolated all that needed to be done to empty the truck.  We needed to be back in Sumita around 4 to deliver the vegetables.  Before that we needed to unload the rest of the truck somewhere.  We needed to unload the water and tea, unload the clothing and toys from Misawa, and unload the rest of the boxes from Nayoro.   We also needed to pick up some bedding sets and some pans for folks back in Sumita.

After talking with the Owadas, we first determined to go to a smaller housing unit in Sumita (13 or 16 houses).  Randy and Joni knocked on the doors of the homes and invited the wary folks out for some supplies while Meguro san and I began unloading boxes.

Once again we marveled at the specific requests from folks that we could fulfill.  Who could know but God what they would need, and then place that item on the truck.  We told them to take enough for their neighbors who were not home as well.  And pretty soon a number of boxes were filled for themselves as well as their neighbors.

After unloading a good bit of our remaining supplies, Randy told the people that these gifts came from the One True God and that He loves them and has not forgotten them.  While He sent these supplies and gifts to meet their physical needs, He wants to meet their spiritual needs with another Gift.  Once again everyone stayed and listened.  Once again everyone took the tracks and Bible portions that we gave.  Once again we sat in awe.

I asked if I could take a picture and also if I could record anything they might want to say to the folks that gave these supplies;  to which they consented.  Many smiled, bowed, and were very grateful.  A few began to cry and our hearts ached for them.  We said our goodbyes and headed out to Rikuzen Takata.

Even though the ground water is contaminated with salt and thus unusable along 300 miles of Japan coastline, Ofunato and Sumita had sufficient water supplies and no one there was interested in our 100 + cases of tea and water.  So we headed toward Takata to see if they could use it there.  We pulled into the volunteer center on the outskirts of the city and were asked not to deliver the water to any of the temporary housing units.  The water situation in Takata is so bad that the people at the center were concerned for our safety should a riot break out if we began to just pull up and began to unload water.  We made several phone calls and kept hitting walls.  After talking to the Lord about it, we called the city hall in Ofunato again.  After some checking, they found a shelter in need of the water and tea and told us where we could deliver the clothing.  We asked for a guide to take us to these places, and one was to meet us at the city hall.

We left the volunteer center and headed up the coast road toward Ofunato.  I took a moment to call Shellee while I had a cell signal and after talking for a bit, lost my concentration on our conversation as my jaw hit the floor.  We had entered the tsunami zone.  We had been so busy throughout the week that we had not seen much of the damage from tsunami, and it suddenly hit like a ton of bricks.  From lush, green rolling mountains to a destroyed wasteland.  Rikuzen Takata was effectively gone.  We pulled over to the side of the road and just stared.  This town of 24,000 saw 80% of its buildings and 10% of its people washed away by the waters.

We ran into a couple of investment bankers from Kobe who were surveying the scene t determine the cost of rebuilding the town.  We talk to them and told them we were there to rebuild lives, and all the expense was already paid!

We got back into the truck and continued up the coast to Ofunato.  As the terrain rose, the view became green again.  As soon as the land began to plunge, there was more destruction.

Back in Ofunato,  we did a very American thing and stopped back by the warehouse where we dropped off the futon sets on Wednesday and told them we needed some back.  There were folks in Sumita who needed them.  We were told we needed to go to the city hall and fill out some forms.  Randy went back and forth with them and they finally agreed to let us take some of the sets that we had brought down.  While Randy was having all of the fun with the futon people, I noticed a 100 yen store (Japanese version of a dollar store) across the street and headed over to it.  They had just restocked their shelves and I decided to help them un-stock them.  I spent about $120 in about 10 minutes there.  It was a blast!!  Kitchen utensils, cutting boards, dish pans, knives, storage containers, etc.  went into the basket by the row full.  I had all I could carry and went back to the truck just as a sweaty and grumpy  Randy was putting in the last of the futons.  He asked me where I had gone and why I did not help him carry futons.  So I recruited him and let him have some fun too.  We spent another 20 minutes in the 100 yen store and bought another $220 dollars worth of household goods, all with the folks in Sumita in mind.

We made our way to the city hall and found our guide.  Randy rode along with him, and Meguro san and I followed along in the truck.  We wound our way through the streets of Ofunato which kept getting smaller as we drove.  Meguro san became increasingly nervous until the little white car in front of us made a hard right turn between two stone walls and we came to a dead stop.  After quite a bit of maneuvering, Meguro san backed the truck back down the winding road until we got to a different road that took us to the Middle School shelter we were looking for.  It was there that they gratefully accepted our water and tea.

We left the middle school and headed out of town to a clothing distribution center.  All of the boxes are donated clothing.  At best, I counted six people working here.  Most of these clothes are winter clothing, and they were eager to get the summer clothes we had brought.

Randy snapped a picture of Meguro san, me, and the director of this center.  With everything unloaded except for the stuff dedicated for Sumita we made our way back up the mountain.  We were a little frustrated that we could not do anything for people in Rikuzen Takata, but thanked the Lord that He guided our steps like we asked.

Once we got to Sumita, there were people already waiting for us.  The Owadas came over and helped keep the distribution system

After evenly distributing the bulk items there were a few things that we had just a few of.  So Chikara had everyone form groups according to the number of items available and then play a game of “paper, rock, scissors” – the universal problem solver here in Japan.  It was a blessing to see these folks smiling and laughing as they met their neighbors, played a silly game, and were delighted to win something – even if it was a head of lettuce.

After the truck was emptied, Randy and I played some music on our instruments, and we sang some.  As night fell, people brought out their new flashlights to help us see the music and the strings.  We again told them about the Gift that God wants to give them, and that all that we had brought on the truck would only meet their needs for a short amount of time.  God’s Gift would last for eternity.  Once again everyone took our tracts.  Once again everyone listened.  Once again we rejoiced and thanked the Lord for His goodness and for allowing us to be a part of His working in Japan.  We packed up the truck, said our good-byes, and headed over to the Owadas for dinner.  Our tired crew ate a quick bite, said another round of goodbyes to the Owadas and headed for the lodge.

Somewhere during the course of the events in Sumita, Randy asked one of the ladies where she had come from.  The answer: “Most of us are from Rikuzen Takata.”

By His grace alone,
Duane for the Wilhites

I kept busy with getting tract packets ready for tomorrow distribution. I tuned the dulcimer and then passed out some packets to the few houses in the area and to some surprised women who were gathering mountain vegetables.

I enjoyed a mile and a half hike down the mountain hoping to get a cell signal- but never did. I realized it was not nearly as much fun having to hike back up. Our cell reception in this whole area is shoddy at best. I hope to be able to get these updates out tomorrow.

Randy and Meguro san got back around 8 with a truck load of vegetables, donated supplies and stories of the Lord’s guidance all along the way. There have been some great discussions with Meguro san. Please continue to pray for his soul.

By His grace alone,
Duane for the Wilhites

Our day began at 5 with breakfast, devotions, and some time together in the Scriptures and beseeching the Lord’s guidance for the day.

We then took off for Sumita and met up with Joni Owada (and daughter Sayuri.) Joni has been instrumental in relating the needs of the people here – as they are constantly changing. Her husband Chikara helped in securing some travel permits for us so that we would not have to pay any tolls. The Owadas also secured our lodging for us. They have been a great piece of the Lord’s working here.

Our first stop was to drop of the futon (Japanese beds) that we had. When we contacted the Ofunato city hall originally, they requested these for people waiting to get out of shelters and into temporary housing. When we arrived at the drop off point, this is what we found: boxes of unmatched bedding odds and ends.

We were able to bring 60-70 completes sets of bedding – wrapped and ready to be distributed.

With what appeared to be about four people on staff to manage the bedding, they were excited to see a whole set ready to go out to needy families.

We then went to the city hall to discuss where would be the best place to deliver our supplies. We went to a nearby shelter that had temporary housing as well and began to distribute them to the people there. It was amazing to see and hear of the needs people had and to be able to find and then give them those things from off of the truck.

When we closed up the truck, Randy quieted the crowd and gave God all of the glory for the provisions they received. While he was talking I handed out tract and Gospel sets. Unlike every other time we have been out passing out tracts, not a single person rejected the offer.

When we finished, we secured our travel permits and headed back to Sumita to plan our next drop off. When we arrived, the Lord opened up a different door than we had planned. There are 100 temporary homes that families have just moved into. We walked from the Owada’s to one set of houses and just began introducing ourselves. When we asked different people what the needs were, the answer was the same: “We have nothing.” Once people are put into temporary housing, they must provide everything themselves. Many have no jobs, no vehicles, and the nearest true grocery store is an hour away.

So we did what we could and unloaded a good bit of the truck until many said that they what they wanted or needed. We again told people that this wad all a gift from the Lord. We found out what some specific needs were and plan to go Thursday to purchase those things from Hachinohe and pick up some donations in Misawa.

We have yet to see much of the actual damage done by the tsunami, but we have seen the faces of those that ran for their lives from it. Please pray for God’s continued guidance.

Here is a status on japan red cross donations:

Appx $3,000,000 donated.
Appx $1,000,000 distributed to local governments.
Appx $450,000 actually distributed to those in need.

That’s only 15% distributed.

Out of that 15%, families that lost everything receive about $4,000. Families with homes still standing get $2,000.

All (and I a mean all) red cross/crescent donations from outside if Japan are used to buy six appliances for people in temporary housing: a refrigerator, a rice cooker, a washing machine, a microwave, a hot water pot, and a TV.

What a shame and a waste.

By His grace alone,
Duane for the Wilhites

8 hours later, we got into Aomori and drove another 5 hours down to Sumita. Mr. Owada met us close to where we needed to be and then guided us to the cabin we would be staying in. After unpacking, we were greeted by our first tremor – 5.2 on the richter scale – shortly before midnight.

Off to bed…

By His grace alone,
Duane for the Wilhites

We began loading the truck at 8 am with the help of 25 truck drivers. Needless to say it did not take long. We were about 75% full. We said goodbye to our families, had a time of prayer and took off down the road.

Meguro san is our driver for the week. The trucking company is paying him to deliver supplies and Gospel portions and tracts to the disaster area. Pray for his soul. We have had some good conversations already.

We picked more supplies from Suzuran Baptist Church in Kita Hiroshima before filling the rest of the truck with purchased supplies from Costco.

We then made our way down to the port city of Tomakomai and stayed with the Ikeda family for the night. We enjoyed some good fellowship and a few hours sleep before heading to the ferry.

By His grace alone,
Duane for the Wilhites