Visit to Tohoku-- participating in the JLER/JELCW
tour to the disaster-hit areas

On the second day, we went to themeetinghouse in Oppagawa temporary housing.
The residents welcomed us with homemade,delicious refreshments. They told us what
happened at the time of the disaster and how
they came to be healed by making
hanging-dolls. I bought a pair of woven
sandals made by a group of female survivors asa souvenir.
Later, we went to see Okawa Primary School.
Looking at the horrible debris of theonce-modern school building, I could not help
but feel the cruelty of tsunami.
Severalsurvivors who lost family members told us
stories that mass media does not tell. It waspainful to listen. The children had sat on theground for nearly an hour in snowy weather
before the tsunami attacked. The tragedy
wrung my heart.
Then, we went to a different temporary
housing that was larger, to help post flyers for aJLER tea party. As it was freezing to walk inthe shade along the northern side of the building,
I felt sorry for the residents who have to livewith such conditions in the severe winter ofTohoku.
We saw some land being developed for a new
housing development, but learned that it would
take several years more to start building houses.
We were reminded that rehabilitation has yet tobe seen.
I want to keep the disaster-hit areas in mymind and give whatever support I can in thedays and years ahead.

By Yosie HagaOn Nov. 8th and 9th, I joined the tour
organized by JLER and JELCW and visited
some of the disaster-hit areas in Tohoku. Rev.
Noguchi kindly led the tour group that includedtwo churchwomen from Kyushu and four fromTokai District.
The first spot we visited was Maehama
Marine Center in Kesen’numa, where we
listened to the JLER staff explain how thecenter came to be rebuilt. Though the tsunami
had completely destroyed the marine center,voices kept coming from the local residents tore-establish the community mainstay. JLER
became the main supporter of the project while
there were various donations from others,
including the principal post sent from Yamagata.
As the building is made of wood, mainly
produced locally, the space looks warm andsmells nice. We learned that its loft doubles as
an accommodation.

The stage in the Marine Center

I was troubled when I saw the Disaster
Prevention (Emergency Relief ?) Center at
Minami-sanriku township at dusk. Later inthe temporary shopping center, I found aphotographic collection that captured scenes of
the town for half a year since 2011.3.11. Thosephotos showed me how horrifying the disaster
was and what trouble the survivors had gone
through.

Looking up at the ceiling of the Center

10

JELCW financial report FY 2013 General Account Settlement & FY 2014 Budget
2014/1/28

11Obituary+Rev. Russel C. Sanoden
November 27, 2013 (at 89)
Sent to Japan by the Evangelical Lutheran
Church and ministered mainly in Tokai andKyushu Districts from1952 to 1988.

+ Rev. Masao Shimodate
September 19, 2013 (at 75)
Served as a pastor at Roppongi and otherchurches of NRK, and as professor of New
Testament Studies at Japan Lutheran TheologicalSeminary+ Mrs. Ryuko Kumabe
January 13, 2014 (at 78)
Wife of late Rev. Shizuyo Kumabe+ Rev. Masaji Maki
November 8, 2013 (at 87)
Ministry at Noogata Church (1956~) andHita Church (1958~1996)+ Ms. Tatsue OkaFebruary 1, 2014
Member of Den’en-Chofu Church, President ofJELCW 1972-’75, devoted herself to establish“100 Million Yen Fund” for Japan LutheranCollegePlease accept our sincere condolences.

╍╍╍╍╍╍╍╍╍╍╍╍╍╍╍╍╍╍ ╍╍╍╍╍╍╍╍╍╍╍╍╍╍╍╍

JLER Support
JELCW takes orders of the goods made by the residents in the temporary housing. Contact Setsuko
Ishida by email: ishida.setsuko@blue.plala.or.jp or fax: 043 275 8402. Make sure to write your address,phone number, item(s), quantity, preferred delivery date. Group order by the church is welcome.
Postage is to be paid by the purchaser and payment via postal transfer.

Woven Sandals
Size M (23-24cm) 1500 yen Size L (25-26cm) 1700 yen
Hanging Dolls (Color choice is not available)
Set of 1 Row 2000 yen
Set of 3 Rows 3500 yen
Materials for Woven Sandals are still needed: please
contribute T-shirts (Adult size L or bigger, preferablywith elastic fabric and without embroidery)Thank you for your cooperation in advance.

Announcement from JELCW
Please help us find Newsletter supporters. The biannual
newsletter and the communication “Hibiki” can be a gift tosomeone you know by paying 900 yen annually. He/she will
be a Newsletter supporter. That would help them know what
JELCW is doing and grow the network of women. Pleasecontact JELCW office for detail.

Postscript
Thank you for your loyal readership. The incumbent board has two more issues to publish till the endof the term. We look forward to hearing your ideas and comments. (F)12