By Richard Bansemer Japan:
Relief efforts continue C
ars crushed like aluminum cans, metal poles twisted like licorice, fishing vessels sitting on dry land, houses with walls torn away. It looked as if a sea monster had taken swipes at everything in its path. And it was a monster, in the form of a tsunami that devastated Japan’s northern coast March 11. Months after a tsunami and earthquake wiped out communities, much of the landscape remains the same. Although roads have been cleared and utilities put back in order, cleaning up and disposing of the debris remains a challenge.
Immediately after the disaster, the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church led the country’s four Lutheran denomi- nations in forming Japan Lutheran Emergency Relief (JLER). Together they collected or purchased food and household supplies, hired trucks and began distributing these materials to communities. Funds from the ELCA and other overseas partners helped get this started. Japan’s Lutherans are now beginning long-term efforts. This includes identifying communities and partners with whom to work, establishing parameters for psychosocial care, and understanding the scope by which they will reach into neighborhoods.
One such possibility is with the Maehama district of
Kesennuma, where 38 of 126 homes were destroyed. The community is seeking to re-establish its agricultural, aqua- cultural (seaweed and shellfish) and fishery industries. “We want to also create new kinds of businesses that will help keep our young people here,” said Tohio Kikuchi, chair of Maehama’s community committee. Though there are no Christians in the township, Kiku- chi expressed hope that Lutherans will remain with them as they rebuild—realizing the burden on individuals will be high even after the government provides assistance. Homes will be rebuilt quickly. But other parts of peo-
ple’s lives will take longer. Fields flooded by tsunami waters will require up to three years to become cultivat- able again. Even as harbors are repaired, the waters below and immediately outward will need to be checked and cleared. JLER will be there over this whole period with certain key communities. “We are looking to utilize the Lutheran church’s strengths in mission, education and service to engage in social welfare projects, all in cooperation with communi- ties,” said Isamu Aota, a Lutheran pastor who directs the JLER effort. M
Y. Franklin Ishida Ishida is director for Asia and the Pacific, ELCA Global Mission.
Crossword
John 3:16
ACROSS 1. Second word of John 3:16 4. Rotating mechanism 7. On the __ (fleeing) 10. California valley 11. Mine entrance 13. Lincoln to friends 14. Presidential office shape 15. “Everyone who __ in him” 17. Montana capital 19. Print errors 20. Agile, lively (archaic) 22. Take sustenance 23. Major time period 26. Not a Dem 27. Frog-like creature 30. “For 1A so __” (3 words) 34. Fort __, gold locale 35. __ carte 36. Affirmative 37. 007’s creator 39. “You are the __ of the earth” 41. Big spoons 44. “... may not __ but may have” 48. Apes 50. __ upon a time 51. Fish feature 52. One step 53. Rail car 54. Work unit 55. Rose beginning 56. “For 1A so 30A that he 1D his only __”
DOWN 1. “For 1A so 30A that he __ his only 56A”
2. Cloudy gem 3. Former Chicago mayor 4. Nightclub with entertainment 5. Lemon finisher 6. Distance to walk for a Camel? 7. Wash up room 8. Aid a crook 9. Plateau 10. Japanese classical theater 12. Michelin, for one 16. The muse of lyric and love poetry
18. Ointment used to anoint Jesus (Mark 14:3)
21. Ancient Hebrew dry measures
23. Bigger than a deer 24. Reagan’s first name shortened
25. Fending off 28. London libation 29. Honorary degrees for clergy 31. “I will __ you, I will praise your name” (Isaiah 25:1)
32. Time passed by 33. A ridge in the surface of fabric
38. Type of tide 40. Rides horseback 41. “... but may have eternal __” 42. Muslim ruler (var.) 43. Puncture with a knife 45. Japanese waist pouch 46. Copy by machine 47. “Touch the __ of his garment”
49. European money September 2011 47
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