Earthquake

I lived in Tokyo, Japan for 222 days (exactly). I never once thought what would happen if a major earthquake or other natural disaster struck while I was there. I simply went about my daily tasks, business, etc. I took walks by myself and with friends. I made frequent runs to the 7-11 as you know from reading my blog. I made it to the trains and missed trains all the time! I never thought: "what if this is my last action?" Often I walked down the streets of Tokyo and Ginza, or Harajuku some of the top shopping places in the world. After being there and seeing all of it I wonder: "How could all of it be completely destroyed in 5 minutes?"


Doubtless you have heard about the earthquake, tsunami, and following aftershocks that hit Japan late last week. That 8.9 earthquake was the largest earthquake to ever hit Japan, and the 5th largest to ever occur. Thousands of people have lost their lives. When they left home or even woke up that morning, I wonder how many of them thought that this would be their last day. Even the people who have not lost their lives have lost much. The Japanese economy will suffer greatly. The Japanese people have lost homes, family, health, jobs, etc. The train systems that were punctual to the second while I was there are not the same now. The malls and shopping streets are all changed. The people I visited are now in bad times. What else can I say? I don't think it has all even sunk into my brain yet. Practically everything that I knew is now changed in some way or another. 


I have heard from many of my friends. The Lowthers are all OK. The Fukuda family (the pastor of the church in Tokyo) is safe. Everyone in Chiba (the MTW team) is safe. To read my friend's blog about her experiences that day go to http://operation-arigatou-jesus.blogspot.com/ . 


All my love,
Hannah