Back to Osaka

Today we had to say goodbye to family, leave Ishinomaki, and head back to Osaka.  It was hard to say goodbye, but knowing that we'll see the Huddlestons in the States this summer made it a little bit easier. 

It was the end of spring break for Japanese schools, so in the morning we watched Caleb and Katia head off walking to school.  Spring starts the Japanese school year, so today was a big deal for them starting 4th and 2nd grades.  Then I drove with Jennifer to drop Gideon off at his bus stop where he takes the bus to kindergarten.  What would have been his school is no longer due to the tsunami, so he is bused with three other kids to another school. 

Gideon's bus stop is at the school where he would have attended.  This picture speaks a thousand words to me.  The school is just to the right, soon to be razed because it was so damaged from 3-11-11.  Just behind the bus is just one of many homes yet to be razed...it was flooded up to the first floor.  The ground on which they are standing is still a bit littered with bits of tile, broken pieces of a variety of things, etc.....although crews have been through to pick up piles of wreckage and trash left from the tsunami.  There are only three children standing here, way less than there should be heading off to their first day of kindergarten.....lives were lost or families had to move to find new homes.  These families are surrounded by such loss and sadness, yet they are standing.  I see in them hope, tomorrow will come, they will carry on as best as they can.  There is one "aid family" standing among the Japanese.  They are there to not only bring physical help and hope, they are there to share the only true Hope.  God's love is alive and working through Chad and Jennifer and the thousands of volunteers who have been through to help.  It's a beautiful thing to see.

 So thankful for the time spent with my amazing sister and her family.  

As we took off, you could see the ravaged coast from horizon to horizon.  The vastness of the disaster is incredible.  The brown area that you see along the water would have once been covered with homes and buildings, but water covered and washed away everything up to the line of green hills.

On the way home we got a great view of Mt. Fuji, so majestic.  

 

Finally home to Osaka, such a concrete jungle!

Mom and Dad's home is down the Yoda River and off to the right.