There stood a cross made with drifted woods among debris in Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture. It was built by volunteers and pastors at the lot where Kesennuma First Bible Baptist Church, which was completely destroyed by the tsunami, used to be. People gathered and held the first service after the disaster on May 1, 2011. Rev. Hiroshi Minegishi (63), a pastor of this church who is living at the evacuation center said, “I hope that many will find comfort and healing at this place.”
Rev. Minegishi built the church near Kesennuma Bay three years ago. He currently delivers the relief goods received from churches in various places to the victims.
After the service, Christian people who came to help from U.S.A., Canada, and Singapore removed debris around and straightened the cross. Mr. David Torres (50) had helped the disaster hit areas in various countries such as earthquake damaged Haiti. He said, “I am very impressed that victims in Tohoku area are behaving with consideration toward each other.”
Asahi Shimbun, May 3, 2011
Translated by Makiko Tajima Asano
No comments:
Post a Comment