During yesterday’s bus ride from Tokyo to Sendai, we made several stops. We made bathroom stops along the way, where a few of us were asked where we were headed and why we were here. When they heard, they bowed and thanked those who told them (several folks among us speak Japanese). There were other groups going north to do volunteer work as well. We saw a prison crew in their caged vans, a bus load or two of Tokyo Police, and several delivery trucks with aid and produce on the road.

Once in Sendai, the local Sendai TV station hosted us, to share with us the progress and work they entire region has been doing to recover. We also visited a local temple to hear more about the volunteer efforts of others, their involvement, and their thanks. This had been arranged by a few in our group, through their local connections, and several within our group spoke. A local Portland couple (part of a larger band) who are along to provide healing through music (and helped us rehearse some songs on the bus ride north) shared an amazing rendition of Imagine.

So this morning, I head to Ishinomaki with a group of 14 others, as we all go off in little groups to work with four different NGOs doing work in the region, and offer our help. I didn’t sleep much last night. Go figure?! It’s hard to know how to prepare oneself for something like this. It makes me appreciate those whose life is spent supporting those in disasters and war torn areas, like those at Mercy Corps, Doctors without Borders, Habitat for Humanity, the Red Cross/Crescents of the world…

More later…