We put in a full day on Tuesday. It was a little cooler, but still very muggy and everyone sweats heavily. Wearing a hat, face mask, and goggles all day while sweating profusely is a bit of a challenge. But we did make great progress on Mr and Mrs Masu's house today. We gutted their kitchen after finishing our work in the big room (family room?) and started on the bathroom and hallway areas.
The most remarkable part of the day was when Mrs Masu shared her tsunami experience! Mrs Masu was at home and her husband was at the dentist when the earthquake hit. Mr Masu immediately went home and picked up Mrs Masu and they went to their son's house a couple of blocks away because they were worried about their grandchildren. Their high school aged grandson was sent home, but his younger brother was held at school because they needed to know an adult was with him so the Masus sent the older grandson to pick up the younger. The school released the brother, but they were unable to get home because by then, people were beginning to flee the tsunami. The Masus and their other grandchildren were able to get on the roof just as the wave hit and fortunately, their house didn't collapse (many did). The two brothers managed to get to the top of a pedestrian bridge as the wave reached them and managed to stay high enough to be safe but they were stranded for many hours on this bridge as they watched and listened as many other people were swept away and killed. To add to the horror of the day, the tsunami was immediately followed by a winter blizzard, so the people wet and trapped outside also had to deal with snow and cold, many getting frostbite. A car mechanic near the pedestrian bridge was able to get a ladder from his second story to the bridge and get the trapped people into his building. It was several days before the two boys and the Masu family were reunited.
Another shocking experience of today was when one of the neighborhood women that brings treats every day (Samaritan Purse workers did her home earlier) shared a photo album that her husband made journaling the whole experience first hand. There were pictures of buses on top of two story buildings and cars piled onto three story buildings. It is all hard to imagine! It is also amazing how much has been accomplished in the 16 months since the tsunami.
I'm ready for bed so that will be all tonight.
God bless and keep us in your prayers.
Pastor Gary
