Operation Blessing’s Japan Disaster Relief Manager, Don Thomson, shares his firsthand account of the relief efforts in Japan.

KESSENUMA, Japan – There is a general impression that most evacuees staying in emergency shelters are now being well supplied with basic needs such as food and water by the government. We were surprised to receive a sudden call from a pastor in the area telling us that the city of Kessenuma was sending out an “SOS” for more rice and dry foods. (more…)

Operation Blessing’s Japan Disaster Relief Manager, Don Thomson, shares his firsthand account of the relief efforts in Japan.

HIRAISO, Japan – We spent another day delivering long awaited glasses, this time to the survivors of the small fishing village of Hiraiso. We had conducted an eye clinic there some 10 days previously. Once again, tsunami victims were excited to be able to see properly again. (more…)

Operation Blessing’s Japan Disaster Relief Manager, Don Thomson, shares his firsthand account of the relief efforts in Japan.

URATO ISLANDS, Japan – Today our team delivered to the Urato Islands eyeglasses that had been prescribed individually to the islanders at our eye clinic over a week ago. Mr. Taketora Nishimura, the optician working with Operation Blessing to provide this service, said that it always gives him great satisfaction when the people try on the glasses he has prepared, and exclaim, “Mieru!” (I can see!) (more…)

Operation Blessing’s Japan Disaster Relief Manager, Don Thomson, shares his firsthand account of the relief efforts in Japan.

URATO ISLANDS, Japan – We finally received the go ahead from the barge operator this morning, and Operation Blessing was able to deliver the long-awaited industrial grade generators to three of the Urato Islands. (more…)

Operation Blessing’s Japan Disaster Relief Manager, Don Thomson, shares his firsthand account of the relief efforts in Japan.

SHIOGAMA, Japan – On Friday we held our fourth eye clinic for the week—this time in Hiraiso Village, a small fishing and farming hamlet nestled in an inlet on the Miyagi Coast. Here, the neighboring large town of Minami Sanriku, 55 miles north of Sendai, had been wiped out by the tsunami. (more…)

Operation Blessing’s Japan Disaster Relief Manager, Don Thomson, shares his firsthand account of the relief efforts in Japan.

SABUSAWA ISLAND, Japan – Today was our third and last eye clinic in the Urato Islands—on Sabusawa Island. The mayor of Shiogama (the city that has jurisdiction over the islands) was on the ferry with us today. He was heading to the opening ceremony for the local elementary and middle school on Nonoshima Island, and then also went on to pay us a visit at our eye clinic on the third island. (more…)

Operation Blessing’s Japan Disaster Relief Manager, Don Thomson, shares his firsthand account of the relief efforts in Japan.

NONOSHIMA ISLAND, Japan – We are into our second day, and second island, of the Urato Islands eye clinics. We left Shiogama port this morning on the ferry, then transferred to an even smaller ferry at the first of the islands. We eventually arrived at our destination of Nonoshima Island, which had been quite heavily damaged by the tsunami. (more…)

Operation Blessing’s Japan Disaster Relief Manager, Don Thomson, shares his firsthand account of the relief efforts in Japan.

SHIOGAMA, Japan – Today was the start of another series of eye clinics in Shiogama City. This time we went to three of the Urato Islands. (more…)

Operation Blessing’s Japan Disaster Relief Manager, Don Thomson, shares his firsthand account of the relief efforts in Japan.

SHIOGAMA, Japan – Asian Director Ron Oates and I met with the Urato Islands Fishing Guild, at their temporary office set up on the mainland in Shiogama City. Our meeting was to discuss how Operation Blessing could help the local oyster and seaweed cultivation industry get back on its feet. (more…)

Operation Blessing’s Japan Disaster Relief Manager, Don Thomson, shares his firsthand account of the relief efforts in Japan.

ONAGAWA, Japan – Operation Blessing delivered another 3,300 pounds of rice to tsunami survivors on the Miyagi Coast. (more…)

Operation Blessing’s Japan Disaster Relief Manager, Don Thomson, shares his firsthand account of the relief efforts in Japan.

SHIOGAMA, Japan – Today was the big day that many survivors of the tsunami in Shiogama City had been waiting for—the day they were to receive new glasses that had been prescribed for them at the Operation Blessing Eye Clinic. (more…)

URATO ISLANDS, Japan – Shiogama is known as the tuna capital of Japan and the center of a huge fishing industry. There are tuna statues and art work depicting tuna everywhere. The oceanfront was decimated by the tsunami, but much of the wave’s velocity struck four islands just off shore. (more…)