A quick Koriyama update...

Today we left the apartment around 9:30am, arrived at Koriyama church (usually an hour and a half drive) at 1:30pm, and spent the afternoon cleaning up. Part of the long transportation time was because we opted to take the bus all the way to Koriyama station (an hour's walk away from the church). The walk gave us some perspective regarding the damage in Koriyama, and it also was a good opportunity for several photos (to be linked on Cindy's facebook page soon...). Even though Koriyama is south of Fukushima, it seemed like there was a little more damage--a lot of broken glass, etc. The sidewalks were also a little creative, in their dips and hills...

Thursday is our weekly "Koriyama" day of classes and Bible study, and this was the first time we'd been to the church since the earthquake. After seeing the rest of the city, we weren't so sure what to expect, but were pleasantly surprised to find that a church member had already done some stacking of fallen books, etc. Here was our task for the day: the kitchen.

Thankfully, the water in Koriyama was running, and in a few hours it looked like this...

None of the mothers or kids came for classes today. With the world-wide news on the power plants and radiation, we're not sure who is going to be coming out or not. However, we did hear that all of our Koriyama families are safe! :)

It feels good to organize and clean--to do something practical in the midst of the damage. I can't believe that tomorrow is a week from the quake! (On a side note, we've been told that water will be coming on tomorrow--yay!) As the time ticks on, it becomes clearer and clearer that we can't just "pick up and go back to normal." Though the Koriyama kitchen is clean, it is missing several dishes, etc. Other people throughout the country, even as they get in touch with water, food, and electricity, are still missing homes...friends...family members. These hurts run deep.

God heals. I believe that. And I know that God cleans, because the Bible is full of the story of forgiveness and love...

That's what we need here.

But even in the face of so many huge needs...I am thankful for a clean Koriyama kitchen...and more opportunities to use it in the future!