Here is a note from Shiro Obata, minister for the Haruna church of Christ, which accompanied his weekly church bulletin. He helped with relief and recovery from the Kobe earthquake in 1995
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of this week the son of one of our members went into the disaster area. He asked me if he could borrow my van which the missionary here uses. He did not tell me where he was going. Last evening he returned very late and I found out where he had gone. Of all things he went to two places within the 10 kilometers (6 miles) radius of the nuclear plant.
There are those elderly who cannot get about and are shut into their homes. They are completely shut off from support. He saw three people he knew in this condition on television. He loaded up needed materials to take to them. He loaded kerosene, water, medicine which he could get from a drug store, sanitary items, food, candy, etc. into boxes. There were 200 boxes he said. This was the first shipment.
As he approached there was no one around. Even at the barricades there were no people so he freely entered without any problem, found the houses, and visited with them. I thought it was a bit reckless for him to go, but he took precautions as he went and came back. He traveled 1800 kilometers (1125 miles) total. He feared many things would adhere to the car so he intended to wash it before returning. However, he returned late at night and there were no car washes open at the time. Today he washed it thoroughly inside and out.
I pray that he does not have any health issues from this. In time we will be making the same journey.
Shiro Obata, Haruna
今週、水、木、金曜と教会員の息子さんが被災地にに行ってきました。宣教師が使っている私のヴァンを貸してというのですが、行く先を言わないのです。でも、貸してあげました。昨晩、遅く帰ってきて初めて行って来た所を明かしました。なんと原発の１０ｋｍ圏内も２個所入っていました。道理でいわなかったはずです。
避難が始まっても、動きたくないと自宅に閉じこもっている高齢者がいて、支援の輪から完全に取り残されているということをテレビで知った彼は友だち３人と物資を集め始めました。灯油、水、薬局で手に入る医薬品、衛生用品、食糧、お菓子など段ボール箱に２００箱集めたそうです。それをもって第一便が今回でした。
そこは外にはだれもいなく、バリケードも監視人もいないので、自由に入り、それらしき家を見つけては訪問してきたそうです。かなり無謀とおもいましたが、彼はいても立ってもいられなかったので、出来るだけの注意を払って行って来たと言っていました。走行距離、１８００ｋｍ。いろいろ付着しているから、洗車しようとおもったけれど、夜おそく、開いてなかったのでというので、今日は内外とも徹底的に水で洗いました。
彼らの健康に何もないことを祈っています。まもなく、私たちも出かけようとしています。
はるな 小幡史朗