JOPLIN, Mo. – Yesterday while visiting our various projects in Joplin, I kept thinking that something was different, but I couldn’t put my finger on it until late in the day. It was the trees! Trees that looked dead a few weeks ago were sprouting leaves. The struggle of the trees seemed a perfect metaphor for the struggle of the people. (more…)

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

KESENNUMA, Japan – Our recent eye clinics have been in the city of Kesennuma, a decimated major fishing port in the northern eastern corner of Miyagi Prefecture. At our first clinic here we met the former mayor of Motoyoshi Town, which had merged with the city two years ago. (more…)

JOPLIN, Mo. – “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass…it’s about learning to dance in the rain.” The quote appears on an elegant plaque in John and Debbie’s home, but it’s more than just a saying—it’s something that defines the way they live. (more…)

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

URATO ISLANDS, Japan – Fishermen always suffer in the aftermath of a tsunami. The historically unprecedented tsunami that struck along 300 miles of the east coast of northern Japan and reached heights of 90 feet and traveled up to 5 miles inland was no exception. (more…)

JOPLIN, Mo. – Ron and his wife, Norma, live in Joplin, Mo. where their home sustained considerable damage in the recent tornado that ripped through the city, killing 132 people and leaving countless families without homes. The insurance company told Ron and Norma that they would take care of all the roof damage and structural damage to their home, but the insurance would not pay to repair the damage to Ron’s wheelchair ramp. (more…)

JOPLIN, Mo.— When I asked Randy, a 51-year-old Joplin resident, how he would move on after the tornado, he simply answered, “You’ve just got to live it every day, and the next day will be better than the day before and it will get better.” This is true both physically and emotionally. Each day in Joplin, progress is being made in the cleanup process as compassionate volunteers swarm the streets and lend their hands and hearts to the survivors of this terrible tornado. (more…)

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…)