Today marks the end of HuMA’s support activities. While we enjoyed mild days where short-sleeves were sufficient just a few days ago, the weather has turned colder, and we’ve found myself unable to part with my windbreaker. We can truly feel winter approaching. Incidentally, our uniforms were very popular, with many people complimenting us on how stylish our HuMA windbreakers were.
During bathing assistance with the residents, we received countless warm words of gratitude, such as “This is the last day, isn’t it? I’m going to miss you.” After bathing and while walking back to the new building together, one person expressed their gratitude in the Noto dialect, saying, “Kanninna~ kanninna~,” which translates to “Thank you for being so kind to an old person like me.” Their warm hands after the bath enveloped ours, and we deeply felt the warmth of the people of Suzu.
We were told that the village, which once had 40 households, has now dwindled to about five. Many residents are struggling with the decision of whether to rebuild their homes and stay in Suzu or move in with their families. Despite these challenges, one staff member shared, “Although I lost many things in this disaster, it has also led to valuable encounters with people I would not have met otherwise. I am grateful.” Their positive attitude in the face of adversity deeply moved us.
During our final farewell, everyone gathered and expressed their gratitude with words like, “I wish you would stay here forever” and “Please come back.” As they saw us off to the entrance, waving until we were out of sight, we were filled with heartfelt gratitude.
With the hope of contributing even a little to the disaster-stricken area, we have been involved in support activities for a month. Through this experience, we have once again realized the importance of connections and mutual support among community members. Thank you very much. Although we may be of little help, we hope to contribute in any way we can in the future. We sincerely hope for a speedy recovery of the disaster-stricken area.
 |
 |
| With everyone smiling until the very end | Thanks to Peace Winds Japan’s incredible support! |