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| John Elliot Leading a Summer Craft Project for Junior High School Students in Iwate Who Lost Their School Building (and so much more) in the Tsunami |
Some people have no job and don't want to leave the shelters as they will get no food. Distribution centers are being shut down, but the personnel are unsure what to do next, as some people are still in need. Obviously, we need to shift to temp housing to find needs.
I went to see the place Kasumi Shimotomai (first recipiant of a table set in Ofunato) got by lottery (preferred way to move peole out by stages). She was happy until she saw how small it was, then phoned me in a panic Thursday night - "There's no place for the kids to sleep!". I went early the next morrning, drew up plans, bought wood and by noon built a bunk bed that fit the space available. She herself is taking a computer course, hoiping to get a job (single mom).
We worked outside, as there is no room inside (2, 4 1/2 mat rooms- only one window, a french door at one side). All the neighbours, just moving in, watched me working and were ready themselves to place orders for shelves, etc. Obviously, if we know one person in a temp housing area, we can soon get to know a lot more! This is what I will do next.
We spent one day teaching 60 Jr High kids to make chairs for their summer craft project. The school coundn't afford a project. I got to give each of them a copy of the Jesus manga! I am to go back in Sept. to help assemble the chairs. This is Kessen HJr. High in Rikuzen Takada.
Micah is doing a mobile cafe, and lots of people want him to come regularly to their temp housing projects. Lots of opportunities.
As some peole recover, others fall behind. Some complaining about unfairness- why do those who lost their houses get free appliances, while those who lost their appliances but not their house (first floor flooded)don't? etc. "The temp houses are too small, they are already getting unlevel, they leak", etc. Long way to go.
