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| A Hundred Orders and Counting: Paul Van Den Dool, Jacob Witt, and Micah Ghent Delivering (Mass) Home-made Furniture to a Shelter in a Junior High School |
What started as a modest vision to donate home-made desk sets for school children living in shelters has exploded into a major project. Having started out with two helpers, John Elliot (Luke's father) is now equipping groups of people living in shelters to build a variety of furniture he has designed for use in shelters and temporary housing units. In doing so his hope is to give them a little comfort- a chair to ease aching knees, a table to do homework on, and a chance to get together and build something useful.
Shifts by John Elliot
May 19-25, 2011
By April 15th, I had spent 24 of the 35 days since the earthquake and tsunami in Iwate. “Compassion fatigue” had become more than an academic issue. There was a serious need to spend time with my family and my church. It was more than 3 weeks before I got back to Ofunato. I was uncertain how much had changed. Was there still a need I could address
While others had visited shelters in those first weeks, most of my time was spent cleaning up trash and fixing a church building. I had never been into a shelter. Still, it wasn’t hard to imagine the frustrations of people stuck there for an indefinite period. I was especially concerned for children, trying to go to school and do their homework in that setting. One day I headed to my workshop and conjured up a child-sized chair and table combo made of 1x2s. Cheap and easy to build, the set was still attractive, and got good reviews from church members and friends in Ajigasawa. With a short term worker, and a friend from America, I set out on May 10th for a 5 day trip to the disaster area.
My first impression upon arriving back in Ofunato was that they had made a lot of progress cleaning up the mounds of trash that had lined the roads when I left. Not being sure where to start, I enrolled my 2 companions [Paul and Jacob] for a day of volunteer work sponsored by the city, and set off to see the situation in the few centres I did know about.
The initial reaction was underwhelming. Most children had been moved to the homes of friends and relatives. My offer was politely declined in several places; no children, no room, no need. Finally, one mother in a school gym near the church asked for 3 sets. I happily set out to make them, and a couple of extras, with the guys' help. I delivered them during the day, along with 3 sets ordered by 2 other shelters south of town. Then we set out to check shelters over the mountain in Rikuzen Takada, the neighbouring city.
Takata was a different story. Savaged far worse than Ofunato, it was a sorry sight. Officials were much more receptive. We had to go home, but promised to come back and check in again.
Our second trip was planned for May 19-25. We delivered 3 sets ordered the week before, then decided the guys would do a day’s work for the Takada volunteer group while I checked out the shelters. By noon, I had the feeling I had better slow down. The 2 shelters I had contacted the week before were posting a sign-up list, and a third was very positive. Numbers in these shelters were in 3 figures, not 2 like Ofunato. In anticipation, I set the guys to work making 4 more sets, while I showed my nephew, Micah Ghent, around the place. He had just arrived to take part in the work for the summer.
First we went to the biggest shelter, in #1 Junior High School. The officials were excited to see us, and showed us the sign-up list: 62 names! There was room for 30 more, so we asked them to call a halt at that point, and left in a daze. Apparently, the empty spaces filled up afterwards, and the current total is 90.
The second shelter is in a home for the elderly. Here the reaction was even more enthusiastic. We had a sample set with us. The 2 officials were very impressed. As we talked, ideas started coming. We had made one table full height for a resident who requested it especially. When they heard we could build different heights, or even different furniture, and that we would let residents help us assemble them there, they got even more animated. One ran off, and came back with an elderly man they introduced as a carpenter. He had a gaggle of residents in tow. There is not much to occupy one’s time in a shelter; the prospect of being able to make something useful seemed as important to them as the table itself.
“What I couldn’t do if I had some tools!” the carpenter exclaimed.
While others had visited shelters in those first weeks, most of my time was spent cleaning up trash and fixing a church building. I had never been into a shelter. Still, it wasn’t hard to imagine the frustrations of people stuck there for an indefinite period. I was especially concerned for children, trying to go to school and do their homework in that setting. One day I headed to my workshop and conjured up a child-sized chair and table combo made of 1x2s. Cheap and easy to build, the set was still attractive, and got good reviews from church members and friends in Ajigasawa. With a short term worker, and a friend from America, I set out on May 10th for a 5 day trip to the disaster area.
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| Where "Temp Town" Meets the Undamaged Neighbourhoods Located on High Ground |
My first impression upon arriving back in Ofunato was that they had made a lot of progress cleaning up the mounds of trash that had lined the roads when I left. Not being sure where to start, I enrolled my 2 companions [Paul and Jacob] for a day of volunteer work sponsored by the city, and set off to see the situation in the few centres I did know about.
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| Interim Shelter--Space Program Style |
The initial reaction was underwhelming. Most children had been moved to the homes of friends and relatives. My offer was politely declined in several places; no children, no room, no need. Finally, one mother in a school gym near the church asked for 3 sets. I happily set out to make them, and a couple of extras, with the guys' help. I delivered them during the day, along with 3 sets ordered by 2 other shelters south of town. Then we set out to check shelters over the mountain in Rikuzen Takada, the neighbouring city.
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| Post Tsunami Grocery Store in Rikuzen Takata |
Takata was a different story. Savaged far worse than Ofunato, it was a sorry sight. Officials were much more receptive. We had to go home, but promised to come back and check in again.
 |
| Jacob and Paul at Work |
Our second trip was planned for May 19-25. We delivered 3 sets ordered the week before, then decided the guys would do a day’s work for the Takada volunteer group while I checked out the shelters. By noon, I had the feeling I had better slow down. The 2 shelters I had contacted the week before were posting a sign-up list, and a third was very positive. Numbers in these shelters were in 3 figures, not 2 like Ofunato. In anticipation, I set the guys to work making 4 more sets, while I showed my nephew, Micah Ghent, around the place. He had just arrived to take part in the work for the summer.
First we went to the biggest shelter, in #1 Junior High School. The officials were excited to see us, and showed us the sign-up list: 62 names! There was room for 30 more, so we asked them to call a halt at that point, and left in a daze. Apparently, the empty spaces filled up afterwards, and the current total is 90.
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| Plywood Tent in Rikuzen Takata |
The second shelter is in a home for the elderly. Here the reaction was even more enthusiastic. We had a sample set with us. The 2 officials were very impressed. As we talked, ideas started coming. We had made one table full height for a resident who requested it especially. When they heard we could build different heights, or even different furniture, and that we would let residents help us assemble them there, they got even more animated. One ran off, and came back with an elderly man they introduced as a carpenter. He had a gaggle of residents in tow. There is not much to occupy one’s time in a shelter; the prospect of being able to make something useful seemed as important to them as the table itself.
“What I couldn’t do if I had some tools!” the carpenter exclaimed.
“We were just discussing what we would do for furniture when we moved into the temporary housing!” exclaimed another.
Obviously, we had hit a really hot button. My fears of not having any contribution to make vaporised before new fears that we wouldn’t have either time or money to fulfil our promises- not to mention problems getting that much lumber in a city with only one very busy home centre left.
Just before we left, the man in charge asked me if it was alright for government employees to request tables. This confirmed a suspicion I had. He is living in the shelter like the others; he, too, has lost everything. But, civil servants in Japan have to be very circumspect about receiving anything from anyone, lest they be accused of corruption. I fear many may be doing without in the fear that they will be seen as taking advantage of their situation to get the best for themselves. While many residents are in danger of emotional problems brought on by enforced idleness and a feeling of helplessness, many civil servants in the same shelters are working long hours every day to keep up with the incredible needs of their cities.
I assured him that the tables were for all, civil servant or not.
On the way home, Micah and I thrashed out a plan of sorts. A little over $100 would get enough tools for the carpenter to produce tables. Set him up with tools and materials, and let him teach the residents to make their own stuff. Perhaps they can make extras for other shelters.
Obviously, we had hit a really hot button. My fears of not having any contribution to make vaporised before new fears that we wouldn’t have either time or money to fulfil our promises- not to mention problems getting that much lumber in a city with only one very busy home centre left.
Just before we left, the man in charge asked me if it was alright for government employees to request tables. This confirmed a suspicion I had. He is living in the shelter like the others; he, too, has lost everything. But, civil servants in Japan have to be very circumspect about receiving anything from anyone, lest they be accused of corruption. I fear many may be doing without in the fear that they will be seen as taking advantage of their situation to get the best for themselves. While many residents are in danger of emotional problems brought on by enforced idleness and a feeling of helplessness, many civil servants in the same shelters are working long hours every day to keep up with the incredible needs of their cities.
I assured him that the tables were for all, civil servant or not.
On the way home, Micah and I thrashed out a plan of sorts. A little over $100 would get enough tools for the carpenter to produce tables. Set him up with tools and materials, and let him teach the residents to make their own stuff. Perhaps they can make extras for other shelters.
As for the Jr. High shelter, we are just going to have to dig in and produce. They were warned it might take awhile. We all went and delivered the first 4 sets this evening, and were asked to come again on Monday to be introduced to the residents (all 300!?). It is a little embarrassing.
Obviously, this will take time, and give us many opportunities to relate to the residents, and make friendships which can hopefully be carried on after they leave the relatively accessible shelters for the more private temporary housing. This is the time, and it seems to be the need. Pray for us as we tackle this unexpectedly enthusiastic response.
The past 2 trips produced a number of experiences and insights.
I might have returned to Iwate earlier, but the third week away was Japan’s “Golden Week”, a series of national holidays which gives people one of the only sets of consecutive days off in the year. It was an opportunity taken by many to visit the disaster area and help. It seemed best to wait until after, when the numbers of volunteers would drop again.
Despite the end of the vacation week, there still seemed to be a lot of volunteer activity. In their 2 days in Ofunato, the guys delivered supplies to city owned apartments that had been taken out of mothballs to meet the severe housing need. They helped tear up the floor of a flooded building and dig mud off the sub floor. They cleaned roadside drains. They felt they had done good work, but there was a bit of a feeling that officials had a hard time making the jobs go around the number of volunteers.
We checked out the volunteer centre in Takata the next week, wondering if their need was greater. The leader there gave us an interesting insight. Locals are shy of outsiders, and not that keen to welcome them into their devastated houses to dig through their personal things. His plan was to start outside; in rice fields and gardens, to get the locals used to the idea, and the volunteers, in hopes that they will request much needed help with their houses. There is a mountain of work everywhere you look; some is boring, but very necessary. Some is hard to get at because of the reluctance of the locals to ask. But, it all needs to be done.
Their day of work for Takata was to be on a team of 8 (all the rest were Japanese). The task was cleaning up some sheds for a man whose house was near the edge of the high water mark: it cut across the centre of their upright piano’s sound board. He is old enough to remember the Chile earthquake and tsunami in the 60’s. The long, steady trembler put him on alert; he knew it meant a serious tsunami. Still, he reasoned that there would be at least 30 minutes until it arrived, so he drove down to the shore to check on a relative. So far, his predictions held. He was not prepared, shortly after his return home, to see the wave reach far, far beyond the 1960’s level, to flood his first floor and float a house to within feet if his buildings, before receding with the water to a new perch in a rice field. He and his wife were safe, but a lot of stuff had to be moved, including the contents of his work shed, which likewise found itself a new location in a nearby field.
This man provided a clue as to why a lot of people got caught in the wave. Those near the shore, like his relatives, knew they were in danger, and got out quickly. Those above the Chile tsunami level didn’t expect the water to reach so high. It was a cold day; some chose to wait it out at home. This tsunami has been described as a “once in a thousand years” event, so perhaps they are not so much to be blamed for their miscalculation. Still, given the extent of the devastation, it is amazing that so few were lost.
That work was completed by noon, so the team trooped back to the volunteer centre to be reassigned. This time they joined a crew struggling with masses of flotsam tangled in destroyed greenhouses. Hot, dusty, unrewarding work it was. For whatever reason, it seems volunteers knock off at around 3:00, but the guys had no regrets this time.
Volunteering for work with the city office is a grab bag. The work is necessary, but it may not be what the eager volunteer had in mind.
Takata has a kind of “wild west” feel to it. All that was spared by the tsunami was housing, and a few schools and public buildings. These latter have been commandeered as temporary quarters for government agencies. School gyms and sports facilities are shelters. Their parking lots and playing fields sprout rows of temporary housing. There is even a temporary gas station- the only one in town, as near as I can tell. Of course, it is on the new “main street”- a winding rural road above the high water mark, that links pockets of surviving buildings in the hills and valleys above the devastation that was down town. Two large tanks sit above ground; pipes snake along the edges of the hastily gravelled lot to two small, lonely pumps nears a single prefab unit that serves as an office. The employees scramble out to meet customers with big smiles and casual greetings, dressed in t shirts and jeans gleaned from donated clothing bins in the shelters where they live. It’s a far cry from the spiffy uniforms and canned monologue of employees of the big name stations. But- it’s so refreshing, so energetic and hopeful. I am buying gas there from now on.
In the first dark days after the disaster, volunteers were warned to come with everything needed for their own use- food, fuel, even accommodation. Goods were brought in by trucks, vans, even passenger cars; all were gladly received. Those days are over. Vast quantities of goods are needed, but the supply lines are working pretty well. If you want to contribute on a small scale, bring some cash, ask at the shelters or distribution centres what they are short of that day, and buy it in a local store. Support the emerging local economy; stimulate jobs for those who have lost them.
There are lots of start-ups in Takada. Seeing a Lawsons housed in a prefab was not too big a shock. After all, it wasn’t much smaller than a permanent one. Just down the road is a restaurant in a truck trailer, with a veranda of unpainted wood tacked on. Super drug store Yakudo is in a prefab , even Maiya, usually a big department store, has been scaled back to woodshed size. All of these are in previously empty lots in what were low-key fringe residential areas. There are pedestrians, once rare in a small city where everyone drove everywhere. Big shifts are taking place everywhere.
I might have returned to Iwate earlier, but the third week away was Japan’s “Golden Week”, a series of national holidays which gives people one of the only sets of consecutive days off in the year. It was an opportunity taken by many to visit the disaster area and help. It seemed best to wait until after, when the numbers of volunteers would drop again.
Despite the end of the vacation week, there still seemed to be a lot of volunteer activity. In their 2 days in Ofunato, the guys delivered supplies to city owned apartments that had been taken out of mothballs to meet the severe housing need. They helped tear up the floor of a flooded building and dig mud off the sub floor. They cleaned roadside drains. They felt they had done good work, but there was a bit of a feeling that officials had a hard time making the jobs go around the number of volunteers.
We checked out the volunteer centre in Takata the next week, wondering if their need was greater. The leader there gave us an interesting insight. Locals are shy of outsiders, and not that keen to welcome them into their devastated houses to dig through their personal things. His plan was to start outside; in rice fields and gardens, to get the locals used to the idea, and the volunteers, in hopes that they will request much needed help with their houses. There is a mountain of work everywhere you look; some is boring, but very necessary. Some is hard to get at because of the reluctance of the locals to ask. But, it all needs to be done.
Their day of work for Takata was to be on a team of 8 (all the rest were Japanese). The task was cleaning up some sheds for a man whose house was near the edge of the high water mark: it cut across the centre of their upright piano’s sound board. He is old enough to remember the Chile earthquake and tsunami in the 60’s. The long, steady trembler put him on alert; he knew it meant a serious tsunami. Still, he reasoned that there would be at least 30 minutes until it arrived, so he drove down to the shore to check on a relative. So far, his predictions held. He was not prepared, shortly after his return home, to see the wave reach far, far beyond the 1960’s level, to flood his first floor and float a house to within feet if his buildings, before receding with the water to a new perch in a rice field. He and his wife were safe, but a lot of stuff had to be moved, including the contents of his work shed, which likewise found itself a new location in a nearby field.
This man provided a clue as to why a lot of people got caught in the wave. Those near the shore, like his relatives, knew they were in danger, and got out quickly. Those above the Chile tsunami level didn’t expect the water to reach so high. It was a cold day; some chose to wait it out at home. This tsunami has been described as a “once in a thousand years” event, so perhaps they are not so much to be blamed for their miscalculation. Still, given the extent of the devastation, it is amazing that so few were lost.
That work was completed by noon, so the team trooped back to the volunteer centre to be reassigned. This time they joined a crew struggling with masses of flotsam tangled in destroyed greenhouses. Hot, dusty, unrewarding work it was. For whatever reason, it seems volunteers knock off at around 3:00, but the guys had no regrets this time.
Volunteering for work with the city office is a grab bag. The work is necessary, but it may not be what the eager volunteer had in mind.
 |
| Temporary Gas Station in Rikuzen Takata |
In the first dark days after the disaster, volunteers were warned to come with everything needed for their own use- food, fuel, even accommodation. Goods were brought in by trucks, vans, even passenger cars; all were gladly received. Those days are over. Vast quantities of goods are needed, but the supply lines are working pretty well. If you want to contribute on a small scale, bring some cash, ask at the shelters or distribution centres what they are short of that day, and buy it in a local store. Support the emerging local economy; stimulate jobs for those who have lost them.
 |
| Lawson's Convenience Store in a Prefab Building |
There are lots of start-ups in Takada. Seeing a Lawsons housed in a prefab was not too big a shock. After all, it wasn’t much smaller than a permanent one. Just down the road is a restaurant in a truck trailer, with a veranda of unpainted wood tacked on. Super drug store Yakudo is in a prefab , even Maiya, usually a big department store, has been scaled back to woodshed size. All of these are in previously empty lots in what were low-key fringe residential areas. There are pedestrians, once rare in a small city where everyone drove everywhere. Big shifts are taking place everywhere.
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| Post Tsunami Shopping Centre |
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What is the need among people living in Japan’s disaster shelters? They have food, but not much fresh food. They have health care, but are crowded and overstressed. Many are depressed and fearful. Many press on gamely, doing what they can to fill their days productively, but it is an uphill battle. In most centres, there seems to be a good spirit of community. What can we do for them?
My hope is to give them a little comfort- a chair to ease aching knees, a table to do homework on, a chance to get together and build something useful. I asked the few remaining in one gym near the church what they wanted for dinner. There are piles of supplies, but little variety, and certainly no tofu. That is what they wanted; tofu. And sashimi (raw fish- something that obviously can’t make it through the distribution system). “Just enough for the children to have a taste.”
There were 7 left in that shelter, soon to be relocated to 2 different, larger shelters after 2 months of being together and sharing the hardships. I was going shopping anyway, so I came back with the tofu, enough sashimi for all of them to have a taste, and a milk dessert (I heard someone mutter “ice cream” earlier, but I knew that wouldn’t survive until dinner time, so I opted for the more resilient Furuche dessert). The cost of this extravagance? Less than $20.
I think what the people in Japan’s shelters need from us right now is a little imagination. Put yourself in their place. Do you want blankets and winter clothes at the end of May? What would you like an occasional taste of after 2 months with no refrigerator? Is doing everything sitting on the floor okay, or would you like some simple furniture? There are still needs to be addressed.
Take some time. Listen. Talk. Think. Pray.
You’ll come up with something.
3/11- it’s not over yet.
John Elliot, May 22, 2011
My hope is to give them a little comfort- a chair to ease aching knees, a table to do homework on, a chance to get together and build something useful. I asked the few remaining in one gym near the church what they wanted for dinner. There are piles of supplies, but little variety, and certainly no tofu. That is what they wanted; tofu. And sashimi (raw fish- something that obviously can’t make it through the distribution system). “Just enough for the children to have a taste.”
There were 7 left in that shelter, soon to be relocated to 2 different, larger shelters after 2 months of being together and sharing the hardships. I was going shopping anyway, so I came back with the tofu, enough sashimi for all of them to have a taste, and a milk dessert (I heard someone mutter “ice cream” earlier, but I knew that wouldn’t survive until dinner time, so I opted for the more resilient Furuche dessert). The cost of this extravagance? Less than $20.
I think what the people in Japan’s shelters need from us right now is a little imagination. Put yourself in their place. Do you want blankets and winter clothes at the end of May? What would you like an occasional taste of after 2 months with no refrigerator? Is doing everything sitting on the floor okay, or would you like some simple furniture? There are still needs to be addressed.
Take some time. Listen. Talk. Think. Pray.
You’ll come up with something.
3/11- it’s not over yet.
John Elliot, May 22, 2011
