長島さんレポート120317

3月も既に半ばを過ぎました。職場では、年度内最後の会議があり、退職なさる先生方が挨拶をなさいました。一年前の大震災の日も同じ会議の日でした。本日の会議の冒頭で、わたしは聖書を朗読し、祈祷を行いました。わたしたちの周りの多くのものが崩れ去りましたが、永遠に残るもの、すなわち御言葉に堅く立って教育と研究の業に励むことを祈りました。今後、毎年のように、この季節は大震災を思い起こすことでしょう。昨日のことのように覚えています。寒かったこと、暗かったこと、余震に怯えたこと、助け合ったことなどです。
被災地は、今もなお現実的な問題を抱えています。一昨日、いつもの通勤途上で自動車を降りてみました。多賀城市の中央公園の傍です。撮影した写真を末尾にリンクしました。多賀城中央公園は、多賀城政庁跡の近くにあり、大震災前はゲートボールを楽しむ人々を見ることができました。今は、瓦礫置き場になっています。一年をかけて、瓦礫は分類され、一部は写真にあるように袋に入れて積み上げてあります。それでも、自動車を降りると鼻を衝くにおいに襲われました。このにおいは自宅に戻っても残りました。この中央公園の近くには中学校があって、わきの道路は通学路になっています。わたしが写真を撮影している間も、中学生が帰宅の途を急いでいました。阪神・淡路大震災のときとは異なり、あまりにも大量な瓦礫が広範囲に拡がっています。原発事故が問題を更に困難にしています。確かに、瓦礫処理の問題は容易ではないでしょう。それでも、なんとか助けていただきたいのです。瓦礫の問題は、このブログで話題にすることは相応しくないことかも知れません。ただ、被災地に住む者のひとりとしての気持ちを述べたかったのです。共に、祈りましょう。https://picasaweb.google.com/118043873387557594061/Rubble2012314?authuser=0&feat=directlink

仙台教会　長島慎二

長島さんレポート120313

Dear Friends 13 March 2012

One year has gone by since the terrible earthquake occuured.

We had the one year worship in Sendai church on 11th March.
Pastor Fumio Itoh who has been dispatched to "Lutheran Neighbors"
preached a sermon.
We consecrate the prayers cards which were sent from all sides in the worship.
And we prayed for the victims.
The government-sponsored memorial ceremony took place in Tokyo.
I watched it on TV.
Three representatives of the family of victims made speeches in it.
One of them lost her father, husband, son and daughter.
She made a speech softly.
I was deeply touched by her tragedy.
But this story is only a fraction of tragedies.
Many victims endure in silence.
We have to lay eyes on it.

The volunteer staffs of Lutheran emergency relief are having informal get-togethers at the temporary houses.

One of the problems is dying solitary death in temporary houses.
We believe that the condition of Fukushima nuclear plant is stable.
But I feel it isn't well controlled.

Mr. Sasaki who was a student one year ago visited to my office yesterday.

I let him stay with my family for five days just after the earthquake.
He is a graduate of Nagoya University now.
He was accompanied by his sister.
She is going to enter the faculty of engineering of our university from the next April.
We had a happy time for one hour.
The young person have futures and hopes.

I went shopping at the electronics shop in Tagajo city to buy something yesterday.

Many people was sacrificed there.
We can watch the movie form Youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gELOQf_pMc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwCBaYEhUfE

Rubble was cleaned up.

But the restaurant I used to go was removed.
The bookstore I used to go remains as it was when it was destroyed.
Many factories remain as they were too.
We have the new semester from the next April.
I prepared sermons for the college worship in the orientation.
We get along step by step.

Tagajo2012_3_12

https://picasaweb.google.com/118043873387557594061/Tagajo2012_3_12?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite

Amen

fromsendai

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/316285/church/fromsendai.html

God bless you!

Shinji Nagashima

仙台教会から120304チェンバロコンサート

ルーテルとなりびと便り
あと一週間で大震災から1年なんですね。もちろん、いま気が付いたわけでもなく、3月11日が迫っていることは被災地の住民にとっては心の中にずっとあったことです。特にこのところは、「もう1年ですね」と言うのが挨拶代わりになっています。それぞれの体験によって、「もう」の意味も異なるでしょうし、「まだ」や「ようやく」と言ったほうが相応しいと感じる方も多くいるでしょう。厳しい現実が覆いかぶさって光を見出すことができない方も多いでしょう。
　今日は、礼拝後、チェンバロ奏者の武久源造氏および山口真理子氏によるチャリティーコンサートが開催されました。個人的には、近くでチェンバロを聴いたことはありましたが、今回、教会に響き渡った驚くほど豊かな音色に安らぎを与えられました。コンサートを手配してくださった杉並聖真ルーテル教会の北川牧師をはじめスタッフ一同、おふたりの奏楽者の気持ちが心に沁みました。こころから感謝いたします。
　本日の旧約聖書は、ハランに向かうヤコブに神が声をかけられた箇所でした。好きな箇所です。いま、わたしたちもまた、大いなる約束を聴きたいものです。あらためて、来週こそは「大震災から1年」になります。3月11日も、皆でみことばを聴く日になることに望みをおいて待ちたいと思います。
仙台教会　長島慎二

長島さんレポート20120212

Dear Friends　12 February 2012

It's been a while.

We have unusually cold weather in these days in Japan.

We heard about the frozen water pipes of the temporary houses on the news.

The staffs of Tonaribito have been organizing informal get-togethers at the temporary houses.

I feel sorry for the residents of the temporary houses.

Many people have exhausted the unemployment benefits.

The population of Sendai city is gradually increasing from the disaster.

Many people who had been employed in the fishing industry are flowing into Sendai city.

I visited Sendai Airpot.

Because Sendai Airport is located near the coast, airplanes and automobiles were swept away.

The special team of US Air Force cleaned them up.

You can see the article from below.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/14/world/asia/14sendai.html?_r=1&ref=asia

I saw as the same airport building and runway as I knew befor the disaster.

But many pay parking lots around the airport remained closed.

And I saw the town which has only a few houses remained.

We have the busy time for the university in Japan.

We have just finished the entrance exam and term exam.

The day after tomorrow, the senior students have the workshop.

The next month, they have the commencement.

But many of them didn't find their job.

Just one month left befor the next 11th March.

I knew of the anniversary reaction from the leaflet which was distributed in the university.

The first anniversary will make me remind the days last year.

But we must not forget about suffering people in disaster areas.

Sendai Airport

2012年2月12日Sendai Airport

https://picasaweb.google.com/118043873387557594061/2012212SendaiAirport?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite

Amen

fromsendai

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/316285/church/fromsendai.html

God bless you!

Shinji Nagashima

長島さんレポート120108

Dear Friends 8 January 2012

When the clerk was packing the sweater I bought, I talked to him.
"I didn't think this store would open again!".
He replied with smile on his face.
"Really we thought as same as you thought. I thought I had to move to the anoter store. But our manager decided to reopen eventually."
"Indeed it was apparently difficult to reopen with any repair. It was almost a start from zero."
We didn't need words any more to understand each other.
I know well of the damage this store recieved.
And I can imagine easily how they felt at the disaster.
Because I'm not the journalist, I don't ask many questions.
Only a few words are enough for us to understand each another here.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
New year 2012 started.
I introduce you some topics.
As you know Japanese people return to each hometown in the New Year holidays.
My student who lost his house in Kesennuma told me that he visited to his relative in Tokyo.
His grandmother stayed with her relative in Tokyo too.
But she kept being inside the house of her relative in Tokyo during these holidays.
I understand her a little.
If that terrible disaster had not occured, she was supposed to enjoy the happy season at her own house beside the beautiful sea.
++++++++++++++++++++
2011年12月31日New Year's Eve
https://picasaweb.google.com/118043873387557594061/20111231NewYearSEve?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Mr. Suzuki visited my home on the last day of the year.
He is one of the graduates of my labo.
He is an owner of an auto garage.
I saw him for the first time in a year.
We talked about each experieces at the disaster.
The next day of the disaster, he visited to Yuriage district by bicycle.
He saw plenty of the dead bodies, more precisely plenty of the parts of the dead bodies.
Because he has an auto garage, he has some experiences of encountering the dead bodies.
But he has never seen such a lot of the dead bodies.
He hoped these bodies would be found by their family.
He delivered some oil heaters personally to one of the temporary villages last mid-November.
This village was made in an obscure area of Ishinomaki and has only ten temporary houses.
Even it was already mid-November, the residents had no heater.
Now all evacuation centeres were closed.
But there are many people remained who need daily help.
++++++++++++++++++++
2012年1月1日New Year dishes

https://picasaweb.google.com/118043873387557594061/201211NewYearDishes?authuser=0&feat=directlink
Next photos are the New Year dishes of my home.
"Osechi" we call the New Year dishes in Japanese.
It usually includes many foods, i.e. chestnuts , herring eggs, black beans, dried kelp, burdock roots and so on.
And we have rice cake soup.
I felt a little sorry for enjoying these Osechi.
It must be difficult for many people to enjoy Osechi.
Well, these many people include you.
Sorry!
++++++++++++++++++++
2012年1月5日Historical site

https://picasaweb.google.com/118043873387557594061/201215HistoricalSite?authuser=0&feat=directlink
I visited to historical sites of Tagajo.
I wrote about Tagajo in the article of From Sendai 15 http://dl.dropbox.com/u/316285/church/fromsendai15.html
I saw rubbles remained.
And I saw snow covered rubbles equally.
++++++++++++++++++++
2012年1月7日Sendai harbor

https://picasaweb.google.com/118043873387557594061/201217SendaiHarbor?authuser=0&feat=directlink
I visited to Sendai harbor yesterday.
I saw a ferry boat at anchor.
And I saw the sea so calm.
But you can find a building which roof was deformed by tsunami.
We will not encounter such a terrible building from now.
Volunteers take a New Year holidays by tomorrow.
They start their activities from the day after tomorrow.

Pray for them.Amen

fromsendai

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/316285/church/fromsendai.html
God bless you!

Shinji Nagashima

長島さんレポート20111230

先日28日のレポートにありますように、仙台市若林区の荒浜地区を訪れました。家内の祖母の出身地で、荒浜というよりも深沼との言い方が馴染みで、浜は深沼海水浴場として知られています。わたしも、新年の日の出を見に行った記憶や海水浴をした記憶があります。大震災直後、荒浜で数百体もの死体があがったというラジオのニュースに、蝋燭の火に集まった家族は動転したものでした。実際、親類の方が犠牲になっており、大震災直後は交通規制がかかって近づくこともできなかった地区でした。

長島さんレポート20111228

Dear Friends　28 December

I recieved a card from one of my old coworkers.

He is the person whom I wrote about in "From Sendai 11".

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/316285/church/fromsendai11.html

Fortunately his wife, child and mother were pulled away from the helicopter after the tsunami swept his house away.

But he lost his mother-in-law, sister-in-law with her husband and many friends.

He bought a used house to start his new life.

I was surprised by the handwriting he wrote on the card.

It was like that children write.

The next day one of my coworkers told me the truth.

My old coworker suffered cerebral infarction two months before.

The only thing that I can do is praying for him.

*****************************************************************

Today I took a year-end holiday and visited Arahama district, Sendai city.

I remember the news which told that hundreds of bodies were found in Arahama district.

It was the first news about the victims we got from the radio.

It was difficult to believe it for us.

Arahama town is the coastal town facing the Pacific Ocean.

My wife's grandmother was born and brought up in here.

One of the relatives was sacrificed.

I saw a little rabble on the rice field.

And I saw a few destroyed houses still left standing.

A lot of the people in the cars were sacrificed on the street running parallel to the coastline.

I experienced a sense of fear today.

If the earthquake occured now, I must die here.

I took some pictures from the Yuriage bridge.

It connects the Arahama district, Sendai city to the Yuriage district , Natori city.

Yuriage town was one of the towns which had terrible damages.

I found the loudspeaker on the top of a tower.

Fortunately I didn't hear the siren from it today.

I returned from the bridge soon.

Because I felt it's too difficult to go over the bridge today.

Arahama district, Sendai city

https://picasaweb.google.com/118043873387557594061/20111228ArahamaDistrictSendaiCity?authuser=0&feat=directlink

2011年12月28日Arahama district, Sendai city

fromsendai

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/316285/church/fromsendai.html

God bless you!

Shinji Nagashima

長島さんレポート20111224

Dear Friends
24 December

I wish you all a merry christmas and a happy new year!Even if you felt the light was so small, the light cuts through the darkness.

We found a light which shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

We had the 2011th Christmas Eve worship.Pastor Etoh who is the president of Japan Lutheran Theological Seminary preached a sermon in Sendai Church.

The volunteers of Lutheran Tonaribito, the relief center in Sendai church take the Christmas vacation.

Two members of them keep staying in Sendai church to help the event which is held on 31th December.They have the new year in Sendai.

God let us listen to the word of God throughout this year.

We give thanks to God.And we give thanks to all friends who kept praying for Japan.

Again let's give our mind to the small light on the first Christmas Eve.

We put oueselves to the small light to see each smiley faces shining by reflecting the true light.

Amen 

Christmas Eve
2011年12月24日

Shinji Nagashima

https://picasaweb.google.com/118043873387557594061/20111224ChristmasEve?authuser=0&feat=directlink

長島さんレポート111218

主の御名を賛美いたします。
本日は、待降節第４主日の礼拝を愛する兄弟姉妹と共にまもることができました。

クリスマスイブ礼拝および降誕祭は江藤牧師が説教を担当してくださいますので、2011年の仙台教会での藤井先生の説教はこれが最後となりました。ありがとうございました。

藤井先生は、一人で、仙台にある２つの教会と３つの保育所の責任を負っておられます。震災の直後は、特に、保育所のマネジメントは大変なご苦労がありました。あのときのことを思い起こすたびに、胸に迫るものがありますが、教会がいち早く人を送ってくださったことに支えられました。教会関連の皆様の祈りと支えに心から感謝いたします。

このブログの右上にリンクが張ってある「ボランティアのみなさんへ（必読）」には次のように記されています。
-------
日曜日の朝、9:20 より仙台教会の主日礼拝が行われます。日曜日の朝は礼拝ができるよう、念入りに片付けと掃除をしましょう。礼拝出席は強制ではありませんが、ぜひご出席ください。
-------

わたしにとって、仙台教会は何よりも主日礼拝をまもる場所です。主日礼拝がわたしを支えました。そして、多くのボランティアのみなさんとの交わりが、礼拝を通してなされたことに感謝いたします。

今日も、主だった救援スタッフのみなさんと礼拝をまもることができました。それぞれ、年末年始の休暇に入ります。一部のボランティアの方々は、仙台で年越しをなさるそうです。

長島さんレポート111217

Dear Friends 16 December

We moved toward a window growing in the darkness.The facility was situated in the mountains.My brother moved to the facility when I was seven years old.Just three days after my brother entered the facility, I got him to go round together with my parents.We peeked into the room from outside the window.I found my brother in the room.I will never forget the sight.He didn't understand why he had to be taken from us.I felt a little guilty.He came back home about once a month.

At the first Chritmas evening, some shepherds must have had peeked into the room through a gap in the wall.Were there only the shepherds who peeked into the room ?The God the Father must have had kept sending a soft look at the baby who was born at the Christmas evening.We feel the God looking at us in this season.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Today we had the Christmas worship in Tgajo campus.We had the Christms message in the college chapel which was filled with the people gotten away from tsunami on the last March.I was moved to tears when I listened to the voice.

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon Hisshoulder: and His name shall be calledWonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Amen Campus Christmashttps://picasaweb.google.com/118043873387557594061/20111216CampusChristmas?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite2011年12月16日CampusChristmas

fromsendaihttp://dl.dropbox.com/u/316285/church/fromsendai.html

God bless you! Shinji Nagashima

長島さんレポート111211

　わたしが勤務している大学はキリスト教学校ですので、教授会を始めるにあたって、聖書朗読と祈祷があります。30歳を超えるまでクリスチャンになることなど露ほどにも想像しなかったわたしが、毎朝行われる大学礼拝に出席するようになったのは、教授会で読まれたヨハネによる福音書9章の冒頭の御言葉によるものでした。その後、教会の門を潜ったわたしは、熱心に祈りましたが、それ以上に聖書研究会における牧師や宣教師および求道の友のとりなしの祈りに支えられました。最も苦しかったときに、宣教師夫妻が礼拝後に、「祈っています」と声をかけてくださったときのことは明瞭に覚えています。

　ここ、仙台教会を拠点として日々なされている救援活動も、御言葉と多くのひとびとのとりなしの祈りがあって、はじめて豊かな実りをもたらすものでしょう。どうか、引き続き、被災地で苦しむ方々のために、そして、身をささげて立ち働いているスタッフ、ボランティアのみなさんのために祈りを共にしてください。

　ところで、昨日は舎監をしている大学寄宿舎のクリスマス礼拝と祝会がありました。大学寄宿舎は単なる厚生施設ではなく、教育寮として長い歴史を有しています。小さいけれども、寄宿舎にも礼拝堂があり、毎週、夕礼拝を行っています。クリスマス礼拝など必ず出席する旨の誓約書を、入学前に保護者および入舎予定の生徒に提出してもらいます。実際、今回も、弓道の大会があるから欠席したいと申し出た舎生がおり、顧問教員からもお電話をいただきましたが、クリスマス礼拝に出席してもらいました。弓道の大会には参加できませんでしたが、その学生の顔は輝いていました。

　今日は、藤井牧師を通してテサロニケの信徒への手紙一5：16－24の御言葉を聞きました。常に、御言葉に立ち返り、喜びましょう。救援活動において御霊が豊かに働いてくださいますように。

　P.S.　昨日、仙台の夜空は澄み渡り、娘と一緒に1時間も玄関前で月を眺めました。美しい月でした。写真は以下です。それから、わたしの求道の友は、今、牧師になるべく研修を行っています。神様の働きができるように祈ります。更に、末尾になりましたが、今日は、礼拝後、石巻で活動をなさっているTさんのお話を伺いました。3月までいるHさんも身体を大切にしてくださいね。

　長島慎二

https://picasaweb.google.com/118043873387557594061/20111210?authuser=0&feat=directlink

長島さんレポート111204

　万葉歌人の大伴家持が越中国守として今の富山県に赴任したのが20代。多作の作家と言われる家持の作品の半数が富山で作られたそうです。富山で生まれ育ったわたしは、10代の頃より富山で作られた家持の歌には親しみを感じておりました。少し紹介しましょう。

もののふの八十少女（やそおとめ）らが汲みまがふ寺井の上の堅香子（かたかご）の花

馬並（な）めていざ打ち行かな渋谷（しぶたに）の清き磯廻（いそみ）に寄する波見に

玉くしげ二上山に鳴く鳥の声の恋しき時は来にけり

立山（たちやま）に降りおける雪を常夏（とこなつ）に見れともあかす神からならし

春の苑紅にほふ桃の花下照る道に出で立つをとめ

朝床に聞けば遙けし射水川朝漕ぎしつつ唱ふ船人

5年余りの越中国守としての務めの後の人生は、政治闘争に巻き込まれ、40代半ば以降の歌が残されておらず、西暦782年、60代半ばで陸奥按察使・鎮守将軍として、当時、国府が置かれていた多賀城に赴任し、その数年後に亡くなったようです。有名な坂上田村麻呂の東北征伐が西暦802年ですから、家持が赴任した当時の多賀城は蝦夷に対する最前線だったのです。

もとより、多賀城における家持の歌は残されておりませんが、大伴家持研究家がおり、わたしも若い頃に一度、研究会に連れて行ってもらった思い出があります。富山に生まれ育ち、多賀城で久しく働いているわたしには、大伴家持が目にした風景は原風景なのです。おそらくは家持も眺めたであろう、仙台平野と海岸線、多賀城から塩釜および七ヶ浜、そして松島にいたる美しい風景は一日にして荒れ野となりました。驚くことに、

契りきなかたみに袖をしぼりつつ末の松山波越さじとは （清原元輔）

で知られる多賀城市にある歌枕、末の松山も、周囲の道路は津波が押し寄せたのです。末の松山は、職場からは近いので何度も行きました。東北学院大学の特別伝道礼拝で説教なさったルーテル神学校のＥ校長先生もお連れした思い出があります。

それでも、わたしたちにとっては福音があります。荒れ野で洗礼者ヨハネの宣言をあらためて聞こうではありませんか。

「わたしよりも優れた方が、後から来られる。わたしは、かがんでその方の履物のひもを解く値打ちもない。

わたしは水であなたたちに洗礼を授けたが、その方は聖霊で洗礼をお授けになる。」（日本聖書協会『新共同訳

新約聖書』マルコによる福音書1章7節、8節）

　さて、今日、素敵なリースとクリスマスカードを受け取りました。ルーテル広島教会のお花屋さんであるY姉とお花仲間の方がお作りになったそうです。ありがとうございます。全国の皆様の祈りが被災地を励まします。皆様も良いクリスマスを。

仙台教会　長島慎二

長島さんレポート111127

Dear Friends　27 November

I wish you all have a good morning.Today we had the Advent Sunday in Sendai Church.We read the story today about the entering of Jesus to Jerusalem as the king.This story had been predeicted in Zechariah, Old Testament.It is good for us to read this story on the Advent Sunday because today is the first Sunday of the season in which we look forward to the birth of Christ,the King.But really the entreing of Jesus to Jerusalem took place only five days before the death of Jesus on the cross.Why Jesus Christ did the entering to Jerusalem just before his death?We know that the objective, destination of the entering to Jerusalem as the king was just the salvation of us throuh his death on the cross.We should think about his death on the cross now at the same time about his birth.Indeed Jesus Christ came to us as the king to be killd on the cross.Well, how was the entering to Jerusalem as the king? What do you imagine the scene?We may imagine Jesus on the back of a beautiful horse.But Jusus entered to Jerusalem on the back of a donkey, a young donkey.A young donkey isn't able to run fast, carry heavy baggages like a horse.But the young donkey did a greatest job than anyone.

When I imagine this donkey, I remind my elder brother who has died.He was an intellectually disabled person.He had a very beautiful heart.Anytime when someone who visited to us was going to leave our house, he routinely cried aloud at the entrance.I never seen such a person who cried aloud for guests.He wasn't able to care of himself.He could do a little things.He loved singing songs, dancing, playing with balloon and so on.He was thought worthless from others.But he did a great something for me.Nobody could did such a great job than my brother.Really, he was the person who let me know of Jesus Christ. I knew Jesus Christ on 1989.He was really Jesus Christ for me.Who define the worth of us?Our Lord is who defines the worth of us.The only thing we have to do is to listen to the voice of disciples 'You are reqested from Lord!'.

Amen

Advent Sundayhttps://picasaweb.google.com/118043873387557594061/20111127AdventSunday?authuser=0&feat=directlink

fromsendai

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/316285/church/fromsendai.html

God bless you! Shinji Nagashima

長島さんレポート20111116

Dear Friends 15 November

Do you remember the next article I sent in the From Sendai 13 ?

*****

Dear Friends

15 April

.......

I found a sheet of letter and a bag vegetables in it at my office today.

One of my students who graduated from my college last month wrote this letter.

He met the sudden death of his father last February.

Because his father was a farmer, my student began to prepare for the rice planting for his father.

But he lost his farm a lot after the terrible tsunami.

He wrote in his letter.

"Teacher Nagashima

These are the vegetables my father grew."

*****

Mr. Miura visited to my office today with muddy boots.

He brought some harvests as a gift for me.

Rice , onions and long green onions.

They are the first harvests Mr. Miura grew for his father after the tsunami.

Because he lost his farm around the coast, these harvests were grown on the inward farm.

As soon as he graduated from my college, he became a farmer.

I said to him "You are happy! You have a surviving farm."

He said "I had a hard time this year because I lost my father whom I depend on when I met the difficulties.

I have to enjoy his gift from my heart.

Haevest

https://picasaweb.google.com/118043873387557594061/20111115?authuser=0&feat=directlink

fromsendai

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/316285/church/fromsendai.html

God bless you!

Shinji Nagashima

長島さんレポート20111113

Dear Friends 13 November

Sorry! It's been a while.

How are you and your family doing?

I'm fine.

I'm enjoying my life, being busy with my job, Sunday worship in church.

Some students keep visiting to me every week.

One of them let me see a photo book which the residents in Kesennuma took.

It moved me because they themselves took their town.

We talked about the local cuisine and foods of each hometown.

Apple , fish, rice...

I was born in Toyama, midde part of Japan.

It snows much in winter.

I love sea foods in Toyama.

The student from Kesennuma said "I have been eating much sauries".

Kesennuma had a great fishery harbour before the earthquake.

The volunteers of lutheran emergency relief keep their activities.

Now the people in the evacuation centers moved to their each temporary houses.

But many of the houses were built in the area far from towns.

We are worrying about the coldness in the temporary houses.

The victims need psychological support.

Sirkka-Liisa Huhtinen and Sirpa Laurila form Finland together with Syuhei Ozawa visited the college dormitory the day after yesterday.

They had a mini concert.

It was a great time.

Sirkka-Liisa and Syuhei sang hymns and Sipra had a good speech.

Students sang Finlandia composed by Sibelius.

They had a concert in the temporary houses in Higashimatsushima yesterday and today they attended the Sunday worship in Sendai church.

Worship in Sendai Church

Concert in Asahigaoka Dormitory

Movie

http://youtu.be/Sh5xfZALe-o

Photo

https://picasaweb.google.com/118043873387557594061/Concert_in_Dormitory?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Worship in Sendai Church

Photo

https://picasaweb.google.com/118043873387557594061/Church2011_11_13?authuser=0&feat=directlink

God bless you!

Shinji Nagashima

[被災地教会から]大震災後半年を迎えて

　「大震災後半年を迎えて」　長島慎二（仙台教会）

　「心を騒がせるな。神を信じなさい。そして、わたしをも信じなさい。わたしの父の家には住む所がたくさんある。もしなければ、あなたがたのために場所を用意しに行くと言ったであろうか。行ってあなたがたのために場所を用意したら、戻って来て、あなたがたをわたしのもとに迎える。こうして、わたしのいる所に、あなたがたもいることになる。わたしがどこへ行くのか、その道をあなたがたは知っている。」（日本聖書協会『新共同訳新約聖書』  ヨハネによる福音書十四章一節から四節）

　十九年前に息子の一人を失ってより、何度、独り部屋に閉じこもって前掲のみことばを読み、泣いたことでしょう。みことばのリアリティーは、受け入れがたい現実を前にしたときに強く迫って来るものなのでしょう。大震災を経て、時間を戻すことができないことに苦しむ人々を前にして、みことばを通して約束された将来に対する希望が与えられることを切に願います。

　ルーテルとなりびとを通してなされる活動が、みことばのリアリティーに裏打ちされた働きであるべきとすれば、その最前線で、実際に被災者とのつながりを持ちながら、ボランティア活動に勤しむみなさんを導くために、ふたりの牧師が派遣されたことは第一に必要なことであったでしょう。

　伊藤牧師と立野牧師の派遣期間が、先週末を持って区切りを迎えました。後任がなかなか決まらないというニュースを受けながら、わたしのほうからお二人に申し込んで、お話を伺いました。お二人とも、公共交通機関も回復しておらず仙台教会の環境も整わない中で、ある意味では危険を伴う現場に入り、実際のボランティア活動をはじめ、ルーテルとなりびとの環境改善、ボランティア活動のマネジメント、被災者のみなさんとのコミュニケーションの確立、ボランティア活動の広報活動などを担って来られました。現地の教会員として深く感謝するものです。なによりも気がかりであったことは、おふたりの健康とご家族のことでした。無理をさせてしまったことを申し訳なく思っています。

　一方で、被災地で苦しむ人々を目の当たりにして、今後のルーテルとなりびとの働きについて、また、強い絆をつくりながらも、絆を引き継ぐ時間を持つことができないまま現地を離れなければいけなかったことについて深い憂慮を示されました。現地の教会員として、わたしも全く同じ気持ちです。教会の業として、隣人となるべき活動において、派遣牧師が途切れてしまったことについては、人事的な困難さも理解できるなかで残念なことです。

　これは、仙台教会、鶴ヶ谷教会の藤井牧師ともども個人的な希望の範囲を超えるものではありませんが、少なくとも最も厳しいときを働き、被災地の状況を全身で受け止められた伊藤牧師と立野牧師に、どのようなかたちになるべきかは別として、引き続きルーテルとなりびとの働きに関わりをもっていただき、後任への引き継ぎをお願いしたいと願っています。

　なお、これまで大きな犠牲を伴いながらも、ボランティア活動に携わっていただいた方々に、こころから感謝をいたします。ありがとうございました。

仙台教会　長島慎二

P.S.　渡邉先生を始め、救援活動の本部スタッフの先生方にお願いがあります。予算措置が許すならば、ルーテルとなりびとの活動を記録するための写真や動画撮影および記事を担当する専門スタッフを置くべきと思います。これまでは、立野先生などが夜遅くに、ボランティア活動から帰ってきてからブログに情報発信をしていた状況です。今回の大震災および、救援活動の記録は将来にわたってルーテル教会の極めて貴重な記録になるでしょう。ご検討願えれば幸いです。このようなブログで言い過ぎがありましたらお許しください。

長島さんレポート110728

Dear Friends　28 July

First of all, I pray for all victims of the national tragedy in Norway.

It's difficult to understand why such a terrible tragedy occured.

I hope the recovery from grief.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

A few days ago, my daughter found three kittens and their mother cat in the backyard.

We know the mother cat Elisabeth (we ever named her so) well for years.

After a little, my daughter found only one kitten left there.

But we waited for Elisabeth to come back for hours, she didn't.

We decided to take care of the kitten.

We named this ketten Kinako.

Kinako must be a couple of weeks old because she was only four hundreds gram weight.

We went to the pet store to get some milk for kittens.

Kinako kept crying through that night.

In the next morning, I put the box in which Kinako was in it near the window.

Just after I put the box, I found Elisabeth outside the window.

Elisabeth looked steadily at Kinako.

I put Kinako outside and Elisabeth carried Kinako in her mouth.

Kinako was only one night guest for us.

But we never forget her.

Even one stray kitten we love it.

People who lost thier lovers must be filled with grief.

長島さんレポート110717

Dear Friends　17 July

In the morning on March 12th, I went to Tagajo campus together with my student, Mr. Sasaki.

The photos on my first report were taken on this day.

As I wrote on the first report, college chapel was filled with the people gotten away from tsunami.

Even on the chapel pulpit, I saw some people lying still in the blanket.

In the entrance of the chapel, some students were working as volunteers.

One student, Mr. Okuse whom I know well came up to me.

He evacuated from his apartment house in the water.

He and his friends were staying in the chapel.

In front of the chaplel, I saw some tents and Japan Self-Defense Forces.

長島さんレポート110706

Dear Friends 5 July

It was on March 18th that I posted the first report "From Sendai".

The first 7 days after the earthquake were chaos for me.

I have many which I remember and I have many which I don't remember.

As I already wrote, I was in front of my computer when the earthquake occured.

Because the building suddenly began to quake, I dashed out the building.

All around me continued to quake for the long time.

I heard the abnormal sound.

The stone wall next to me collapsed.

One of my seminar students run up to me.

We escaped to the evacuated site of college.

In front of the chapel, students and co-workers gathered together.

I tried to call my family but wasn't able to contact with my family.

I don't know how long I was there, but maybe for one hour.

And I didn't know how terrible this disaster was.

I decided to drive one of my co-workers to his home.

I saw one of the students of the dormitory.

Because the dormitory was the period of being closed, I decided to let him stay with my family.

If we had headed for my co-worker's home first, we might been caught by tsunami.

When we arrived at my home, my wife had me know that my second daughter Hanako was near the Sendai railroad station.

I headed for the downtown of Sendai together with my co-worker and my third daughter Eiko by car again.

My co-worker told me that this earthquake would be one of the worst earthquakes through the Japanese history.

But I didn't believe what he said.

The traffic was getting heavier.

We couldn't contact with Hanako.

I droped my co-worker off and escaped to the alley.

My third daughter got an email from Hanako.

Hanako was walking a few kilometers from Sendai station in the snow.

We picked her and her friend up.

We drove her friend near his apartment house.

He taught me that his hometown was Rikuzen Takata.

I could say nothing because I got the news that tsunami rushed tward this town.

長島さんレポート110625

Dear Friends 26 Jun

It's been a while.

The rainy season has come in Sendai.

It's raining today.

I used to draw pictures in the room on rainy days when I was a boy.

My elder brother was always waiting for my mother to come back from shopping.

He kept looking at the entrance door during my mother was absent.

My brother was an intellectual disabled person.

Sometimes I suspected that he purposely played such an intellectual disabled person.

That was the germination of feeling guilty for me.

My brother was a person of pure heart.

The people around me looked at my brother with disapproval.

I felt the sin of them and I hated them.

It's really foolish that I didn't find the sin of myself.

My brother died when I was young.

I felt liberated from my brother.

But it was the beginning of my suffering.

I wasn't able to escape from hating the people around me.

The next words of Jesus liberated my mind.