Reconstruction and Construction.

My view from the roof of a shed we built.

Two days ago my plans to help at the new cafe fell through so I ended up coming back to the main house to help build a storage shed. From atop the roof I had a pretty nice view of the surrounding area. There are many decently sized plots of land overgrown with weeds and grass and although it doesn't look too bad, I have to remind myself that until March 11, 2011 there were houses filling the empty space that now lies there. I took a break from screwing down boards and sat up for a second to feel the breeze (the weather was amazing yesterday) and I heard the tapping of hammers and the buzzing of drills pingponging off distant houses and across the empty plots of land.

Then I remembered all the gardens I've been seeing around the city. I don't know if it's a Japanese thing or an Ishinomaki thing, but it seems like some of the empty plots left from the tsunami are now being used to grow flowers or eggplant or peppers or other plants. Now it may be a stretch, but in this moment I saw symbolism.

The acts of reconstruction and construction involve building things up to how they should be, how they were meant to be. When I look at construction I see a provision for physical needs while gardening seems to provide for a more emotional need to create beauty and foster hope in an area that needs it. I love that the Christian ministries in the area do their best to provide for both of those types of needs, not only helping to build/renovate houses and set up tents, but also planning various events to help the community to grow closer together and support each other.

A local lunch gathering hosted by a local church, complete with coffee/tea time, bingo, and free bento lunches.

Lately I've been seeing a lot of the emotional provision at work in this city, now that much of the immediate disaster relief work has been completed, and the fruit that's been growing from it is truly a beautiful thing. I've had the great pleasure of seeing the impact music can have on the lives of the people of Ishinomaki. Yesterday, I went with a few friends to visit some older folks in the neighborhood. After one house visit, my friend played a couple of songs on her violin for the older couple. She concluded her set with a traditional Japanese folk song, a really nice one at that, and when I turned around the wife had tears in her eyes and told us that she was so moved by the song. It's so amazing to see how God's been at work in the city and it's so cool that music can play a powerful role in reaching the hearts of people.

Next week is going to be a busy week of building up, both physically and emotionally, with the rest of the men from my home church coming over and a kids festival planned for the weekend. It's going to be tiring, but so worth it.

-Spencer