My first trip to Sendai

On Tuesday 19 April I took a night bus to Sendai and arrived next morning at 7:10 clock  their. Than I went to the center of the Organisation „Food for the Hungry“, to start with other helpers for our first destination: Ishinomaki. On the way we stopped by a large material storage and packed our bus brimming with boxes of materials like water, some food: such as vegetables, instant cup noodles, rice, soups, then we chose several pieces of clothe of all kinds for men, women, kids, baby, children's books and everyday things like toilet paper, tissues, etc. .. then the ride was over bumpy roads badly damaged by the quake on to Ishinomaki to share the things with lovely Japanese, who are despirately in need, because of the damage of the earthqake. 

This time we are not planing to go first to some of the camps, because people are there at the moment supplied regularly with food and the necessary daily needs, but there are many other people right now who have survived in their homes, but have no chance to go out to buy something. Because the daily stores were destroyed in their city. On the way to the first destination their I saw a picture of horror. I have no words, it is just like a big disaster. All about garbage, mud, the tsunami has washed out everything. A picture of horror, as after the war. 

What a devastation? Unthinkable? Arriving at the first destination, we went to the houses near by and rang the bell to announce to the owners that we have brought for them some good food and goodies. First the people were a little shy but as soon as the first people come to our vans to discover what we brought for them, other joined us too. Everyone took with lot of thanks in their hearts things we brought for them. Their faces where sad and frightened faces. But when we distribute some balloons and sweets to children, there came a big smile on their faces. When I carried the goods to their homes, I saw how dilapidated and poor their homes were. Although they were spared by the tsunami, but many things from the strong earthquake and some aftershocks had been destroyed and broken things were spread around the yard. 

  Child's smile, "Everyone who makes others happy will recieve a lot of joy!" 

I was at the end of this first day very happy to watch how these needy people went home with full bags. It was a big present for me to make others happy. Then we went to two other places, and experienced similar situations: first, some kind of hesitation and uncertainty, but then a special joy over the recieved things. I am reminded on the Biblevers: "To give is more blessed than to receive!"