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5 months have passed, but as world headlines moved on, the ground beneath Japan's main island still shakes as it always has – seeming almost to merge the definition of the terms earthquake and aftershock. While most in Japan are accustomed to living their lives between the quakes and shocks of their land and the threat of tsunamis by sea, the 8.9-magnitude earthquake on March 11th left a physical and emotional toll on the coastal communities of Japan's central island that will resonate for years to come. Unlike the brief violence of an earthquake, the vivid memories of inundated and crumpling houses, the loss of life, and the permanent damage of livelihoods are realities that will not simply fade away in minutes. Instead, it will take years for the tsunami-affected communities of Japan's eastern coastline to rebuild their homes, communities and livelihoods.
Gary Fairchild, World Relief's director of international relations, recently returned from Japan's north prefecture of Iwate and described the wreckage that still clogs the streets of many coastal towns. "Town after town, the scene is the same, but each time is totally unexpected: massive, total destruction, mile after mile, huge piles of debris…In the daylight machines and workers are busy clearing the rubble. At night all is quiet, no lights, no people; everybody has moved or is dead."
It is amongst these piles of rubble and scenes of destruction that the local Japanese Church and World Relief's partners, such as the Japan Evangelical Association (JEA) and Christian Relief Assistance, Support and Hope (CRASH), are responding and continually working to provide immediate food, shelter, and emergency supplies to the most vulnerable members of the communities in tsunami-affected areas. In addition to mobilizing volunteers to assist in the massive task of cleaning up debris and coordinating food distributions, CRASH has begun the long-term and sensitive process of assessing and meeting the emotional and mental health needs that will persist long after the visible debris of lost homes and livelihoods are removed. In a country that already suffers a high suicide rate, many pastors are wary that depression and suicides could greatly increase in the coming months. JEA is working to bring in mental health professionals to give trainings and provide resource tools on trauma counseling to local pastors and counseling volunteers.
However, it is difficult to look to the future when the Japanese government has yet to release any rebuilding plans, which it says it will not do for another two years. In the meantime, while clean-up continues, many coastal areas cannot begin rebuilding their homes, businesses, or church buildings – a physical and simultaneously emotional block to the overall recovery process.
While few in number, the churches and pastors in the prefecture of Iwate continue to respond to the physical and spiritual needs of their neighbors. Pastor Michio Nagata serves a church in the prefecture's principle city, Morioka, and with great heart and servitude reached out to an overwhelmed and underserved community 2 hours away. It is with committed pastors and selfless volunteers like Pastor Michio and many others that World Relief, its local partners and the Japanese Church will continue to serve, pray for, and empower the most vulnerable peoples of eastern Japan during the long-term process of recovery and healing.
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