Trip North

Here are some snapshots from my first short trip to Ishinomaki, one of the cities hit hard by 3-11, and the focal area for our relief/restoration ministry. Above, the neighborhood where we stayed (I slept in one of the big yellow tents with about 15 other volunteers).

Set up the portable pipe organ for the concert in Ishinomaki

started off with audience-participation
hula dancing
lead by a short-term team from CA!

There is quite the story behind what remains of
the building on the left.

It now has a memorial at the base. Smell of incense, song of birds who have taken up residence in the beams, bright colors of 1000s of paper cranes contrasted by the dingy greys of lost "hello-kitty" dolls...

The coast-line of Rikuzentakata, a few hours
farther north. It used to be known for its beautiful
pine trees, now broken stumps-

except for this one. One tall miracle tree somehow
 survived, a symbol of hope and strength.









~Sunday we went to a church that started last year after the tsunami. 2 people came for the first time, because of the work Samaritan's Purse (and other groups) had done for their homes. 

~Conversations about music after a concert- how it was the first time someone had heard a live cello... how years ago someone from their neighborhood got into one of the top music schools... why Juilliard musicians would come all this way just to play for them... 

~perspective. dreams. nostalgia. strength. perserverance. looking back, and looking forward.

Hope. Praying for these cities.