T -1 Day

Dear Friends and Family,
Today is our last day at the Masu house. I am both glad to be heading home and sad to be saying good-bye to Japan. I will try to write one more time tomorrow morning to let everyone know how far (if we completed) we get on the Masu house before we head back to Tokyo.
Yesterday was another intense day. We were so blessed to have help for one more day from the Brazilian Team. They chased us all day...as we ripped up the floors and pulled the nails, they were right behind us brushing everything clean, picking up the mess, and mudding out the foundation. As Josh said, we have pretty well removed all of the flooring and still need to mud out what was the hallways and the bathroom area. We also need to remove the paneling from around the toilet area (we kept that for the very end because it is the only working bathroom for both of our teams). We accomplished a tremendous amount yesterday!
Today, Dean (our supervisor) is moving the remainder of the Avocado Team to the Masu house. They are kind of disappointed because their house was further along at the beginning and could have been finished if they had been given a couple of extra hands for a day or two and now they won't see their house complete. The reason for Dean's decision is the Masu house is next on the carpenters' schedule and needs to be completed before the other house. The carpenters began to move to the house immediately next door to the Masu's yesterday and it takes 1-2 weeks to complete a house and then they will restore the Masu house. We still may not finish the Masu house, but we should get it very close so Dean can complete it next week with another Team (and then they can quickly complete the Avocado Team house).
Samaritan's Purse (the organization that we are working with) is working one more month and then leaving Japan. They have been here since 3/11 and have literally restored hundreds of houses. Dean is with Lutheran Services and is a long-term missionary, so he won't leave and will continue to team up with other organizations to help more people. Converge (our group...aka BGC) also has long-term missionaries in Japan and will continue to look for volunteer short-term missionaries, but it will be more expensive because Samaritan's Purse was providing housing, food, and many of the supplies needed. Pray that those still needing help won't be forgotten but will see the overwhelming love and grace of God through His people.
God bless. Thank you for your continued prayers and for taking the time to read these blogs.
Love you all!
Pastor Gary