- International YWAMer

by Miranda Heathcote

When something happens of gigantic proportions, like the tsunami that hit Japan back in March, the sheer magnitude of the event overwhelms us. What can we do to help, when so many lives have been impacted, so many homes lost, so much destroyed? Will the little that we can do really make any difference?

YWAMers living in Tokyo, John and Rhonda Somers-Harris, put all such thoughts aside and made the decision to simply do what they could do. Even as they prepared to make the trip to north-east Japan, they were amazed at the outpouring of generosity from others who wanted to be part of helping those affected. From medication to clothing, a roof rack to baby food, donations poured in from all sides. “Since we committed to be a part of the answer to the huge needs,” John commented, “we have been awed by the blessing that has poured on us.”

John and Rhonda and their team, including their daughter Sarah, joined with CRASH Japan, whose efforts have been welcomed by the Japanese government. Christian Relief, Assistance, Support and Hope (CRASH) is a network of Christians doing relief work in Japan and around the world.  Since the tsunami, CRASH has been coordinating Christian volunteers to work alongside local agencies in assisting the affected communities.

Under the direction of CRASH, the YWAM team got involved in helping to dig mud out of people’s homes and to clear buildings of debris. Sarah wrote that, “It felt like we were driving through a disaster movie’s set; it felt unreal. Telephone poles smashed through buildings, piles of debris where houses and buildings once stood, and the never ending dust swirling around it all.”

After a gruelling day of digging, clearing and hauling ruined and musty smelling possessions to the local dump, the team gathered up their tools, drinking bottles and hard hats. Turning to leave, they found the way barred by an old man, tears spilling down his cheeks. He bowed low to each of these gaijin (foreigners), shaking each one by the hand and saying, “Arigatougozaimasu” or thank you.

This dignified old man was not the only one to be brought close to tears by having people come to help at a time of need. John and Rhonda had visited a warehouse of donated items operated by Samaritan’s Purse. They collected supplies so that they could help with distribution and in their bundle were children’s and women’s underwear, which are in short supply since the tsunami swept through stores and homes, destroying or carrying off people’s clothing along with everything else.

Later, as they walked around Ichinomaki, one of the worst hit areas, to pray and visit with people, Rhonda caught sight of a mother with three daughters. Hesitantly, Rhonda offered them fresh underwear: “The mother was ecstatic!” Rhonda exclaims. What a joy to be able to provide people with something so simple, that makes a real difference to their feeling of being able to cope.

With backpacks stuffed with supplies, the team split up to cover both sides of a semi-destroyed street. “It was devastated,” Rhonda recounts.  “Cars on top of cars, broken windows, and dried sediment from the tsunami everywhere.  People were working in their homes cleaning and most likely returning to evacuation centres at night.” Team members called out to those they encountered and were amazed at how gifts of small things created bridges to enable them to comfort and meet the needs of the people.

Knowing that somewhere in her backpack she had stashed a packet of batteries, Rhonda rooted them out to give to a family that needed them, just emerged from the second floor of their damaged building. With the help of a Japanese co-worker, Rhonda discovered that this man had lost his wife, and his adult daughter had lost not only her mother but also her two children and her grandmother.

What can we do at moments like this, but share our common humanity? Rhonda continues, “The Lord spoke to me to ask the daughter if I could hug her, as her mother was not there to comfort her in the loss of her children.  She allowed me and we cried together. We left and the daughter, with a big smile on her face, said loudly, God is!"

God is. He is, in the trauma of lost homes, lost loved ones. He is, when we try to reach out with the little we can offer. He is, as we all put our little together to create something that is bigger than each of us, something that honours Him.

Earthquakes and tsunamis will be. That the resulting devastation wrecks havoc on our lives cannot be denied. And in it all, God is the one who calls us to give what we can so that others might be touched by His compassion.

YWAM continues to work in tsunami-hit areas of Japan, together with CRASH, Samaritan’s Purse and others. Visit http://www.ywamtokyo.org/ for information on how you can help.