Slowly but surely... 2 years into tracing the Holy Imagination

It is once again March 11.

2 years have passed since the triple disaster hit Fukushima, Miyagi and Iwate. For some people elsewhere it was a short time, but for evacuees from Fukushima, this was a long unforgettable time of agony, anger and frustration as the promised recovery of nuclear decontamination. The thread of hope of returning home seems to be getting thiner and thiner each day. 

I only made a few visits to Fukushima and still get overwhelmed whenever I think of Fukushima (click to read the year in review in March 2012). I wonder what might go through the mind of someone of my age in Fukushima who has lost everything she might have accomplished in all her life and lost loved ones to that disaster, having to reestablish everything all over again. Only God knows the depth of that grief.... 

I browsed a few reliable news websites to check some updates about Fukushima and found one common thing no matter what the source is: The recovery has been slower than expected and certainly more disappointing to those were given hopes to return home by now. I am also hearing updates from my friends in Fukushima, the local churches I visited and listened to the precious stories. God is surely with them in those slow moments, but more importantly he is at work of restoration and I hear those encouraging stories from these faithful friends, not from news websites. They warmed my heart. One particular story is this one from Usuiso village. 

I wrote a story about late Mr. Suzuki when he went back to that village again with us back in November 2011 (click here - scroll to the bottom to see the photos and story). Mr. Suzuki had suffered with heart problems even before the disaster and  PTSD quickly weakened his body and died a few months after I met him in Fukushima. GMC, the local church that started visiting Usuiso, gradually gained more respect from evacuees and they made a commitment to serve to rebuild Usuiso. They received a profound vision from God to not only restore the village but to build further an attractive thriving community that will mobilize young people from all over Japan and revitalize economy and create a new future. The work began by creating a little space of gathering for returning evacuees and to listen to their grief but to offer friendship of hope and commitment in return. Many of the members of GLC themselves were victims --lost loved ones to the tsunami or lost friends or work, but they are willing to take up their cross daily and serve these returning evacuees in Usuiso.

Here are some photos to give a quick summary of the last one year.

March 2012 - The piles of radioactive debris were the only landmarks in Usuiso.

Someone wants to remember their loved ones who had once lived here.

International delegates to Fukushima Forum praying over Pastor Ikarashi
as he and his friends are the church committed to be with people of Usuiso.

The vision of new, thriving town of future Usuiso - a holy imagination given to GMC and Usuiso residents.

The physical reality today isn't still there yet. Much work to do.

Listening Post - a temporary gathering place for returning evacuees.

A former Usuiso resident (man wearing the baseball cap in the far left) visiting, in conversation with
GMC members and FVI members about the vision (a model map is in the box, the right bottom corner ).

Slowly but surely....
Things are moving forward and hope is rising out of ashes.

Blessings to you all, my friends in Fukushima!