Nozomi Updates!
The Center will be open for the following dates: January 14th, 16th, 21st, 25th, 28th, and 30th.
All the activities will resume from February 1st. Thank you!
All the activities will resume from February 1st. Thank you!
About Nozomi Center
We are located approximately 1.5 km west of the eastern coast of mainland Japan, in a small town called Yamamoto. The center used to be a dental clinic that was appreciated very much by the locals, having more than 1,000 regular patients. On March 11 2011, this building survived 2 m of tsunami water and all that it contained. Dr. Ogihara escaped to the second floor of the building but all his dental equipment was destroyed. Rather than selling the land to the government, he chose to sell the land and the remained building for use as a relief center to a coalition of three mission organizations (CRC, OPC and Kosin) and the Reformed Church of Japan. The building was wrecked by the tsunami, but out of the rubble God provided a beautiful building to serve the needs of the community. Teams of volunteer carpenters from USA cleaned and remodeled the building to become a functional care center. Since the opening in May 2012, volunteers and staff have served at the near by temporary housing units providing emotional care. The center is open for all ages to find listening ears and caring hearts. It is a place to develop friendships. It's also a place where God's love and grace, the source of true hope, can be felt and experienced. Nozomi Center is a place for His people to express the love of Lord Jesus Christ in word and deed. |
About Yamamoto Town
Yamamoto Town, Miyagi Prefecture is surrounded by beautiful ocean and mountains. Strawberry greenhouses were spread along the sandy coastline and the pleasant sea-breeze had made this town a little resort in north-east Japan.
However, the East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami on March 11 2011 devastated the town. Railway line, two local stations and the greenhouses were swept away. The once fertile farm fields were left with sludge and debris. Homes and schools were heavily damaged or completely destroyed. Over 600 lives were lost and one third of the entire town was designated as a disaster zone. More than 20% of the town's population is still living in temporary housings as of March 2013, two years after the disaster. Our ActivitiesNozomi Center carries out mainly two types of activities.
Visiting temporary housings for emotional care (every Wednesday) Holding events at the Nozomi Center to help build up the community (English class, tea room, etc) Responding to the requests from the locals, we also carry out outdoor activities such as farm work, grass cutting. We also lease out the center for events and gatherings planned by the locals. For detailed activity reports, please refer here. |
