Introduction to Series: "EXODUS 16"

It has been a very interesting last couple of days. What I left out of my last blog was my observations and conversations that I have had with the numerous people that have entered into the LECC Rescue Center’s doors.

On my first day alone at the center (02/04/2012) I had about five visitors in the morning. It was obvious what these visitors had come for. They enjoyed the warm room with out a doubt. In fact as soon as you walk out of the doors in the hallway it is so cold you see your breath. That’s why I keep the room extra toasty! Some of you who know me well are likely surprised by this, I am not a fan of hot places and living in cold weather is what I love.

This isn’t the main reason they walked through our doors. The main reason they walked through those doors that day was because they were cold. Plain and simple, it was freaking cold out and even someone like me needed a coat. They were very aware of what the center had offered to other people. They asked me “Do you have any blankets?” (In Japanese of course). And guess what I was able to say?!

I found Mushu from MULAN!!!!

Nope! But I have socks!?! The look on their face was all I needed and I knew exactly what they were thinking… “oooooo socks! I need those because my feet have been numb for the last week and a half… I could use that!” They did not actually say this to me but it doesn’t mean they weren’t thinking it. Do you know though what else they asked me? “Are you going to get more blankets? Thank you for the socks but will you be getting any other supplies? When do you think that will come? My response: “I am really sorry. I don’t know. But please come back and check and I will see what I can do.”

Later on that morning two older women came to the center. They were there for the same reason as the others. My response to them was the same. This time though the ladies stuck around for a while and allowed me to serve them some coffee. We actually had a great conversation (ish). As good as you can have when you are still working on your Japanese. About mid way through our conversation English class came up. I offered to teach them English. Their response; “LOL, how about you learn Japanese… we have bigger things to worry about right now.” I am going to go out on a limb right now and say that they were talking about all that destruction the Tsunami did almost a year ago… just a guess.

So this got me thinking. What am I doing here? I mean I know what I am doing here but do you know what I am doing here? And better than that do you know what you are doing there?

These questions have driven me to do some thinking and some research the past couple of days. What I decided to do was provide all of you beautiful people with a series of blog posts that are going to come out over the next week or two. I’m going to answer those questions I just asked and I’m going to sell this to you! We are going to call this series… Exodus 16.

Here is the outline of the six posts to come:

1. Basic needs

- What are they?

- Why are basic needs important (examples)?

- How they vary across cultures and examples of how basic needs are met across cultures

- How to use meeting basic needs to spread the word of God, examples from the bible

2. Empowering your target population

- What do you mean Empower?

- Example from my life

- Example from the Bible

3. Two stories about empowerment at the Center

- Mr. Suzuki San

- Mr. Satoshi San

4. Aide and Relief

Is that like building houses and stuff?

5. How does providing English class fit into Disaster Aide and Relief?

6. Soooooo What’s the Plan?