April 6 No. 2 - Atlanta

Arrive in in Atlanta, it took a long time to get my bags, clear immigration and customs.

I am now at the gate waiting to board the flight to RDU.

April 6 N. 1 - On way Home

Since we cross the date line we will have two April 6ths. We all met for breakfast one more time at the hotel at 7:40 AM. and it was hard to say goodbye. Afterwards I worked on some email in my room and then headed for Narita Airport. I did a little last minute shopping, had lunch (where else but the Royal), had my last Japanese Ice cream from Lawson's.

I am now at the gate waiting for the boarding rush.

God is Good All the Time!!

Look forward to seeing you all again soon.

This will be me soon!

Royal, a tradition

April 5 - Departing Tome Camp

I waited until this morning to pack. The snowing stopped last night and it was pleasant for northern Japan. I took a shower (without roof on the building), ate breakfast, packed, and visited for the last time.  After devotions they had a special prayer for us. It is hard to leave when so much is still to be done, as well as it is hard leaving freshly made friends.

Team at Train Station

Full Team I came over with and leaving with today

Peter was a blessing to work with, such a Testimony

Yoko leading the way out of Japan 

We took the taxi van to the train station. The taxi driver drove a little too aggressive for us, didn't want to have an accident on our way out of country. The train ride was uneventful, with the exception one of the guys left his laptop on the train. Hopefully he can retrieve it tonight or tomorrow when we go to the airport.Yoko met us at the Tokyo station and was a great help. SP has some great people and they are very organized, nothing is left to chance.

Checked into the hotel near the airport, took a longggg hottttt bath, and we are all meeting for dinner later.
I'm going to call it a short night, head to bed and sleep in tomorrow a little before I leave for the states.

As I leave Japan I will continue to pray for the ministry started here and hope that many more will come to Christ.

April 4 - The Day is Done

Snow, I though we were done with cold weather.  LOL

We spent the day visiting here at the Tome Camp. It was nice to have a day of rest, but, I wish I could have finished the house I was working on yesterday. I am due to leave camp for the train station tomorrow at 11:30 am. I should get to the hotel near Narita around dinner time tomorrow night. Some of us are planning on going in to Narita City for dinner and last minute shopping. 
As you can see from the picture we have snow again, we had weather for a few days in the 40s, and then the cold returned. Will be glad to get to the Tokyo area again and out of the cold and into warmer weather.
It has truly been a blessing to serve here, I will miss those I have met and worked with, but, look forward to getting home to Lorraine and my family.

April 4 - Work Cancelled due to weather :-(

Last night I mentioned that we had a storm come in and blew off the roof of our shower structure. The wind only got worse, and then the snow started.  Still no accumulation on the ground but wind is picking up. Right now it is 60 knots and only going to get higher as the day progresses.  They did not want the vans on the road with this kind of weather so SP cancelled work for the day.

I was hoping to finish another home today but the Lord knows what is best for us. Rumors are that flights are delayed or cancelled at Narita. I went online and found that they are still on-time. The problem will be getting to the train station tomorrow.

Will post more news later today.

April 3 - Last day on New Home in Ishinomaki

Ready to cleanup and leave

Today I finished the kitchen at this home. We started to clean up when I was moved to another home to start work on that home. We are only doing a few rooms in that home. 

What I found is how appreciative the people are, and how so very kind. It has been a year now, many have lost most of their possessions, some have lost loved ones, but they have a great attitude.

Well it hardly seems that I have been here a month, but tomorrow is my last day working. Thursday we leave camp at noon for our trip to the hotel near the airport.  We will spend the night and then head home on Friday. PTL, I am looking forward to getting home.

We have a storm going on right now with high winds.  We just lost the roof to the shower area.  So I guess I will be wet getting to the shower. They were going to have to take it down anyway. LOL

I just hope we get a good night sleep.

April 2 - Getting close to finishing another home

Today we continued to work on our current home. I will finish the kitchen in the morning. Rich is going to move two other teams to our home in the morning, with this help we can be out of that home by noon I hope.

It got cold again here. It snowed a little last night. I can't wait to be warm again.

April 1 – Worship and Fun for Last Day Off

Today started with cold weather returning to Tome.  After breakfast we had a worship service at the Camp with help from a Southern Baptist pastor that is here with Baptist Men. After the service Rich came up to me and asked me if I would drive a van with the Baptist Men and Women to drive them to a church service at a coffee house in Ishinomaki.

A 79 year old woman came to the service that is seeking, was given the opportunity to accept the Lord but stated that she was not ready yet.  I told her afterwards that I would continue to pray for her. She was  grateful for that and thank us for our prayers.

After the serviced I drove the group to the Mall to eat at the food court (Japanese Food). Most enjoyed the Japanese food with a few going to McDonalds. From the Mall we split up, and I drove the group to Matsushima Bay. This is south of our location but just before Sendai. There are over 200 islands, so when the tsunami hit this portion of the coast was spared from most of the damage with only slight flooding.  We took the sightseeing boat around the islands and then looked in to some of the shops. Most were closed so we had dinner at a small traditional Japanese restaurant. Dinner was great, did I mention that they Baptist Men covered my dinner and lunch since I was the van driver.  I had a great time and appreciated the gesture.

It was late so we headed back to camp.  

Matsushima Bay
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5101.html

Matsushima Sightseeing Boat
dhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_1j3p_KGSc

79 y/o woman at Coffee House Service

Roy preaching, and Rich leading singing

Roger and Baptist Men

On sightseeing boat

March 31 - Day Off - Mall at Ishinomaki

Today Peter, myself, and some others traveled to Ishinomaki to go to the Mall.  Peter and I dropped everyone off at the Mall and we went to several builders stores. Much of what they sell here is cool, and not available in the US.  We then met the others at the Mall, had lunch and came back to the Camp.  I took some pictures of hats in one of the stores, and a number of unusual USB devices.  

We ate at the food court, had a hamburger, Japanese style.  It was great!

It has been fun getting to know the other volunteers here, some are from Japan, some of the US and Canada, and a few from other locations such as Hong Kong, etc.

Last night someone tripped over my computer bag in the dark and my work glasses got knocked to the floor, when I found them this morning they were scratched.  I should be able to use them next week but will have to go to the VA to see if they will replace the lenses.

God is at work here in the lives of those we help as well as our lives as well. Not all the volunteers are happy campers, some are not use to living like this, and some are having problems with the food being offered.
Please pray that they can see past this to encourage them in the work ahead of us.

It has turned cold again today, just when I thought ware weather would stay. Rain started around 4 PM and it makes it feel even colder. The heaters do not work well, especially with people coming in and out. The building has little installation which does not help.

Only Three more work days, we head for Tokyo Thursday, and fly out on Friday. 

Lunch 

It looks just like the food (Plastic) in the window

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hats

Hat 1

Hat 2

Hat 3

 

Hat 4

Hat 5

Hat 6

Hat 7

 

USB and IPhone Stuff

IPhone Stand

IPhone Stand

USB Coffee Cup

USB Hair Curler

Toilet Seat Sanitizer

USB Razor

USB Pants/Tie Press

March 30- Day Five on New Home in Ishinomaki

Today is my 5^th day working on this home.  The homeowner Mrs. Takahashi continues to be a blessing with her kind smile and demeanor. Mrs. Takahashi continues to provide us with snacks twice a day. It gives her great joy to serve us.

When we first arrived today the cleanup crew from the government was hauling away the debris from home. All the stuff that was torn out of the home, as well as house hold effects that had to be trashed as well.  The men stated that today is their last day working, that the government is ending the program that paid them. They were not sure what they would do next. We asked them if we could pray for them and they appreciated it and showed true gratitude for the prayer.

My head hurts more today, seems that all of the doorways in the house are about two inches two short for me.  I kept hitting my head for days working in the house. It would seem that after a few times I would learn to duck when walking around the home.

We have had a number of US Navy SeeBee’s working with us this week.  They are stationed near Yokoahama and for several of them this is their second time helping. What a blessing, especially Mike, who worked circles around even the best of us. Today is their last day and they will be here; they have to leave in the morning to return to their base.

Snacks from Mrs. Takahashi

 

SeeBee's, Mike is second from left.

Peter from Canada is second from right.

Rich and the Japanese workers

Workers

March 28 - Day Three on New Home in Ishinomaki

The day started with me checking my email and found a bad email message.  I really can’t go into it here but I firmly believe that God is sovereign and in control, all things work for the best even if we do not understand it now, or even later.

Our homeowner continues to be a blessing. She continues to come down at break time with treats and tea. You can see the excitement in her face as we continue to show improvement on the repairs to her home.  Today her family came by while were working and they too are excited and grateful for all that SP is doing for them.

I continue to be amazed on how widespread the destruction is.  You can go down a residential street and find a fishing boat right in the middle of the neighborhood. I picked up a few picture books showing the destruction.

Today is laundry day.  Like the showers the laundry is outside, or better under a tarp.  I have to do laundry every three days to stay in clean clothes.  Keep in mind with three washers, two dryers for 100 people it can be challenging to get it done.

L-R Gary, Mrs. Takahashi, Rich (Team Leader)

Laundry