Today our EP Japan Tsunami Relief Team was split into two. Half of our team members went to Ishinomaki to help a fisherman to clean up his house, and the remaining team members helped out at the base. At the base, we sorted out the clothes that people had donated to the tsunami victims and helped to clean the campsite.

In the evening, the team members who went to Ishinomaki shared about their experience helping out at the fisherman’s house. On their way to the fisherman’s house, they were trying to search for a toilet. But after searching and driving along the roads for 10 minutes, they realized their search was futile as all the houses, convenience stores and petrol stations were completely destroyed by the tsunami. Witnessing the devastation that the tsunami had caused with their own eyes made it more surreal and shocking.

The fisherman also shared with our team members about the dilemma that many of the tsunami victims were caught in. For those that want to return to their homes, they have to pay a rebuilding fee. If they want to stay elsewhere, they have to pay a demolition fee of their existing house and pay another loan for a new house in another area. Either way, they would still have to fork out money and many of them could not afford it. Many of them have lost their jobs and are still living in the evacuation shelters. Even in these evacuation shelters, basic necessities, like electricity and water are scarce. Government relief efforts are also slow and limited. This really opened my eyes to the desperation of the Japanese tsunami victims. They really need our prayers!