On November 8 (Tue) a group from the Mito and Park Avenue churches worked together to feed over 100 people who are living in temporary housing following the earthquake and tsunami of March 11.
In various parts of the town of Ishinomaki are temporary housing. These are generally 2-3 rooms with a kitchen, bath, and toilet. They are fully furnished and are connected together in rows of about 8 apartments to each row.
Today our goal was to serve a hot meal to these people and encourage them. The night before we prepared hamburger patties and fish for roasting on grills. These were wrapped in foil with some vegetables. Additionally there was fruit, rice balls, and pickles.
The weather cooperated beautifully with bright blue sky and temps in the low 60’s. With the grills set up, we began cooking the hamburger patties and fish steaks as well as roasting onigiri (rice balls) basted with miso.
People began lining up and were delighted to get such a wonderful meal. Most commented about the food and appreciated a warm meal. Three ladies came walking up, one with the help of a cane, saying the aroma enticed them to come. They were not disappointed.
Within two hours we had set up, cooked, and fed over 100 people. What a blessing to be able to serve in this way.
