The Lord works in mysterious ways.

March 11th, 2011

The day the earthquake hit Tohoku, Japan

To tell you the truth, when I first got the message from Marissa I simply shrugged thinking "we always have earthquakes in japan". And then I reread it, and it said "magnitude 9.0".

My parents were in Japan at that time while I was in Hawaii at school. 

I was in a group meeting with my edu 312 classmates, planning our lesson. After I received that message I couldn't really pay attention.

My focus was on the 'rents.

I got a message from my dad that they were ok, and that I needed to go to high-ground because there might be a tsunami in Hawaii.

Remember the "tsunami" last year? 

it was smaller than a surfable wave.

That's exactly how it was this year on our part of the island.

But, Japan had a tsunami that nearly wiped out 20,000 people.

People are still being found today (only their skeletons).

They say that the houses with crows flying in circles around them have rotten bodies...

 

(amazed at how much is destroyed)

 

yes, that is a house completely on it's side. can you believe it?

I went up to Furukawa with the Mormon Helping Hands to see if I can do ANYTHING to help.

It turns out, they were desperate for volunteers.

THE

BEST

EXPERIENCE 

OF 

MY

LIFE.

It hurt my heart to see all of Ishinomaki city completely destroyed.

We tore down a house that was already ruined.

It needed to be done so they can rebuild it.

A 4 million dollar house.

wow.

I stayed with the sweetest family in Furukawa.

The dad is the branch president, and had lost their home.

All they dug out from the house were a couple of files

and a big teddy bear.

Since they had no home, they stayed at the missionaries apartments.

He told me that because they had nothing,

whenever they had found something they would feel so blessed.

The Lord works in mysterious ways.

The branch president told me of what happened to them on March 10th and 11th 

The day before the earthquake, he filled his car with gas--100%

He told me he usually NEVER does that.

His wife went to the bank and pulled out extra money.

She told me she usually never does that either.

The next day, the earthquake happened. they were both at work, and met up after it happened.

There was a tsunami warning.

But it wasnt for another couple of hours

so they thought it would be safe to go home and pick up a few things.

They were on their way home when they saw, with their own eyes the tsunami coming in.

They went right around and sped as fast as they can to anywhere far from the ocean.

They told me people say it was by consequence that they got extra money out, and filled up the tank with gas.

But we know that the Lord had helped them.