It is early Friday morning and we are preparing for the final work day of our first week. I do most of my work on-line in the early morning hours (I have been waking up at 4:30 AM) because the internet gets crowded in the evenings and becomes very unreliable. Before I write about yesterday, I want to invite everyone that reads this blog to pray for our concert tomorrow (Saturday) at 1:00 PM. We will put on a Christian Concert in a parking lot in the neighborhood. We expect 3-400 people. Pray that the weather cooperates and that we build loving relationships and that people are open to the gospel of Christ. Many people in Ishinomaki are so appreciative that they greet us with hugs which never would have happened before the tsunami, so you can see a lot of love growing through our work.
Yesterday I FINALLY finished in the room I have been working on for nearly three days. I removed a beautiful built in closet/shelving and drawers unit that was ruined by the tsunami. The Masus have decided to make the room a "western" room, so they are putting a big window where the closet has been. But that meant I had to rip everything out to the ceiling and then spend many hours pulling nails and screws out of all of the scraps. My shoulders and back are pretty sore from working above my head most of the day yesterday.
We should finish the few small areas that still need drywall ripped out today. Yesterday, Tobin, a 21 year old construction worker from California (he is part of the avocado half of the "Avocado and Cheese" Group) began cutting floors. We should get the floors pulled up today. Dean (the project coordinator) says we will have 10 extra workers to help us today, so we should make some good progress. The weather has really cooled off, so that is helping us work more enthusiastically too. Dean hopes that our group will complete both houses (clean up, not rebuilds) before we are done next week.
Two really cool things happened yesterday. The first thing was a Japanese clean-up team arrived to remove the debris from the neighbor's front yard. It has been there for 4 months. The clean-up team lifted all of the bags into flat-bed dump trucks and emptied the bags and sorted the waste (they are very concerned with recycling and organization). They worked all day, but when they were finished, it made such a difference for the neighbor. Everyone that walked by cheered and she was smiling from ear to ear (I don't know her name, but she is one of the ladies that insists on giving our teams treats every day because Samaritan's Purse did her house back in March). I took pictures before the debris was removed, and I will be sure to get one of her cleared yard. You would not believe how nice the yard was cleaned! It was an encouragement for everyone.
The second event I did not witness, but Molly did and maybe I can get her to post about it this weekend. An hour away from where we are working, a home-owner had a house dedication because their home is complete and they can return to living in it, so they throw a big party and have speeches and celebrate. Josh and I decided to stay and work, but we should get to attend a dedication in our neighborhood next week. Those who attended were very moved by the experience.
I love you all. Keep praying for us to have strength and joy as we serve these traumatizes families. Please pray for tomorrow's concert.
God bless.
Pastor Gary
