Evacuated!

Five days ago, my MIL called informing us that they're (MIL and BIL,my FIL is doing volunteer job at a evacuation center at Towa, Nihonmatsu Shi)heading to Aizuwakamatsu to evacuate and asked to go with them. Lack of water supply, radiation leakage, no deliveries of supplies are increasing in Iwaki and I guess same to all areas in Fukushima. We decided to pack our things and headed to Aizuwakamatsu using the highway for free ( I guess the toll fee are free for those are leaving). The road were bumpy, some areas have cracks due to the earthquake but we arrived there safely.

I was expecting an evacuate center that's full with evacuees, cold and dark room but it was the opposite. Generous groups of 'ryokan' owners here in Aizu letting evacuees stay for free at their banquet hall for shelter with free meal! In return they need volunteers (seen at their white board that they're looking for volunteers)to serve the evacuees well. Registered my name, I can't help it...I need to do something! I was given then a schedule of duties and rotation for the next day and get excited.

We didn't have something to sleep on, not even a single blanket but one of the evacuees (same room )handed us her futon, we're very thankful for her kindness!That night, we had dinner...onigiri(rice ball),pickles and miso soup...HOW LUXURIOUS!!!Evacuees can use their onsen ( hot spring--with fee but there's some ryokan that evacuees can go for free onsen) and after a week of not taking a bathe, we're able to do so. Really seeing the light...eventually!

We looked around, we found that supermarkets and convenience here are open and with stocks--bought foods and stuffs to be used during our stay here (good for 20 days), books for the kids to keep them busy and not to feel stress but they're the ones giving our fellow evacuees a smile on their faces and am happy to see most of them smiling!

I would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all of you my friends for your support and PRAYERS. Your heartfelt comments here and messages really made me cry for joy! I just want to let you guys that we're all okay here. We will be here in this shelter for awhile-- I believe that we will come back to our apartment the soonest. Please pray for the 'heroes' of Fukushima Nuclear Plant, some of them haven't seen their families yet...

Evacuees are treated well here ( we're 43 together in one room here) we've got medicine,diapers for the babies and toddlers,adult diapers for the oldies too, books and toys for the kids. Yesterday we were given a towel to use and some bread and today yogurt and juice. We evacuees here share tables, share foods and stories...stories that was simply heartbreaking. We can't do much but letting them know that we care, we listen to them to make them feel at least lighten up, to lessen the burden that they're carrying on and when receiving 'thank you in return', can't help but cry inside. Kung meron lang akong magagawa para sa kanila...



Hope you'll continue to pray for TOHOKU and being one of many evacuees from Fukushima

一緒に未来に向かって　がんばって　いくべ！