Gloves, Boots & Hope

July62011

Leaving ):

So we’re leaving Japan today. We spent a couple days at our grandparents’ house seeing friends and speaking at church and such, but now we’re about to be on our way back to Atlanta! I had such an unforgettable experience here in Japan, and I really really really hope I can come back next year because I know that Tohoku (the northeast region of Japan that got hit hardest) will still need our help, especially since people will already be forgetting. So on that note, GOODBYE JAPAN! Thanks for everything (:

July22011

12PM

Covered in lime! Ahh!

8AM

This is the outside of the hotel The owner was so thankful for our help; I know it’s rare for people to receive help rebuilding thier businesses since that’s not first priority. I found 1,600 yen while cleaning, and I tried to give it back to him but he made me go buy juice for everyone with the money. It amazed me that even after having his entire hotel wiped out and 3,000,000 yen (37,185 US dollars according to Google) stolen from the safe afterwards, he was still incredibly generous.

4AM

This used to be four separate rooms, but there are no more walls to separate them.

July12011

Last day here! ): I wish I could stay for so much longer, there’s SO much left to be done here! Today we went to a hotel that got hit to help the owner clean up. The wave came up to the ceiling of the second floor, so the walls and windows on the first and second floor were all completely wiped out while the third and fourth floor remained untouched. The first two floors were also caked with dried mud and sand from the tsunami. We carried all of the trash and rubble out and sorted it into trash that can burn and trash that can’t burn (that’s how they sort trash in Japan). Then we cleared out the floors a bit, and then covered the entire first and second floor with lime powder. I wish I had taken a before and after picture, but I didn’t take any pictures of the place until after we had already cleared out the gigantic piles of debris.

2PM

My friend Anna and I are making chocolate mousse for everyone for dessert tomorrow night! It’s going to be my last dinner here ):

9AM

4AM

After we came back, we went for a bike ride with a few friends to the part of Kamaishi that we don’t ever drive through

June302011

I’d like to tell you that we worked really hard today and got lots done, but today we went to the tents to play with kids again and since it was a weekday, only one kid showed up the entire day ): So we entertained ourselves with my camera. We also played Monopoly, chess, basketball, soccer, and I read a little bit (in Japanese! Ohemgee!).