{"id":2772,"date":"2016-05-02T18:00:37","date_gmt":"2016-05-03T00:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/disasterresponse\/?p=2772"},"modified":"2016-05-02T15:31:07","modified_gmt":"2016-05-02T21:31:07","slug":"japaneq1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/disasterresponse\/japaneq1\/","title":{"rendered":"The Kumamoto Earthquake"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cStarting to work again, but for others\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h1>\n

By: Takeshi Komino<\/em><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

April 26th<\/sup> 2016<\/h5>\n

One missing body has been found in Aso-Mountain yesterday, and the death toll from direct consequence of earthquake is now 49.\u00a0 In addition to this number, at least 13 people have lost their lives due to hardship during evacuation process. For many, the start of the week was a mixed one; some started to clean the rubble in their houses, some started to work, and some are still not ready to go outside of evacuation center.\u00a0 There are many scenarios, but even for those who started to go to work, their primary motive seems to be \u2018assisting others\u2019.<\/p>\n

\"Japan1_Komino\"<\/a>Ms. Rika, a pregnant mother with her son Mondo (rare name in Japanese, but they named him after Italian\/French word of \u2018the world\u2019), stayed in a car after the earthquake for 10 days.<\/p>\n

Staying and sleeping in the car was not an easy thing, and even after major part of their house was cleaned up, Mondo refused to go back home, and he named their car \u2018a house at the time of earthquake\u2019.\u00a0 After a while Mondo accepted and their family went back home, but he doesn\u2019t want to sleep alone in a bedroom while his mother is in the living room.\u00a0 Being close to his loved ones seem to be keeping him up from traumatic experience nearly 2 weeks ago.<\/p>\n

Being able to go to kindergarten seems like a great relief for many children. \u00a0This is a place where children can feel safe, with teachers they are so much used to.\u00a0 Parents are also relieved as this gives them time to work or to do necessary clean-ups and administrative processes towards their recovery.<\/p>\n

While I was seeing and hearing about how this helps the children and parents, I wondered where these teachers and caretakers come from.\u00a0 Are they not affected?\u00a0 When I asked this question, all of them replied \u2018we are also from this community, and we come here from our cars or evacuation centers\u2019.\u00a0 Despite the fact that they have the same needs as other affected community members, they come here and work.\u00a0 One of them said \u201cbecause they need this\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"Japan3_Komino\"<\/a>Ms. Uemura (above photo: right) was reporting to the mother how her daughter was during the day, and what she could do well.\u00a0 The mother then asked her \u2018how should we deal when the child refuse to do everything?\u2019.\u00a0 These are questions all parents ask at some point in time, and presence of people like Ms. Uemura is very encouraging for young parents.\u00a0 After this family went home, I asked Ms. Uemura about her own situation.\u00a0 She said \u201cmy children are now living with my sister so that I could work here\u201d.\u00a0 Initially, she thought she would be away from her children for a week until the school for her children re-opens, but it is over 10 days now, and she doesn\u2019t know how much longer it would take for her to reunite with her own children.<\/p>\n

Every day counts when one has a young child, because they grow up every day.\u00a0 It is not easy to be away, but she made a conscious decision of come here and work.\u00a0 When I asked why, she said \u201cI think it is natural when you work for YMCA\u201d.\u00a0 It seems to link with what other teachers said \u201cbecause they need this\u201d.<\/p>\n

All interviews and\u00a0photos\u00a0are by Takeshi Komino, Japan Country Representative, Church World Service. <\/em><\/p>\n

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Be a part of the response:<\/h2>\n

Pray<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Continue to pray for the people affected by the earthquakes. May God\u2019s healing presence comfort them in their time of need.<\/p>\n

Give<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gifts to Lutheran Disaster Response, International<\/a><\/strong> will be used to assist those directly impacted by the earthquake until the response is complete. (Select Lutheran Disaster Response, International from the Designation drop-down list.)<\/em><\/p>\n

Connect<\/strong><\/p>\n

To learn more about the situation and the ELCA\u2019s response:<\/p>\n