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Mitch Maxted
Hey everybody--
Several people have been asking about my wife's family in Japan. Her mother and brother's family all live in the northeastern part of Japan, the hardest hit by the earthquakes and tsunami. They are all okay. Though their communities sustained some earthquake damage, they live far from the coast and avoided the tsunami devastation you've seen on television. Sendai, Rikuzentakada, Ofunato, Yamada, Miyako, Kamaishi . . . these are all towns where Kumi and I have taught English. A couple of them have been essentially wiped off the map. The people and the landscape there are beautiful, and it is heartbreaking.
A pastor friend of ours there, Miura Yoichi-sensei, recently sent us a lengthy email, with photos, describing how he and his church members are working to get fresh fruits and vegetables to people in remote areas. Individuals are only allowed to get 10 liters of gas at a time, so the line up of cars at the gas stations makes it a time-consuming proposition. People have to be creative to care for themselves and their loved ones. Japan is a very modern country with a great health care system, but the need is overwhelming right now. As for the nuclear power plant in Fukushima, my in-laws live about 180 miles north of there. Like most Japanese, they are concerned but not in a panic (unlike so many of our fellow Americans on the West Coast who have rushed out to buy anti-radiation drugs . . .). At any rate, your prayers are appreciated. Our family plans to visit Japan this summer, as we do every summer. Perhaps it will be more like a mission trip this year.
Peace,
Mitch
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