03.31.2011 | Michael's Insights
From Michael:
“Something I cannot get over is how meaningfully awesome everyday here is. As a group, today we knocked it out of the park. We are having way too much fun and success.
When we started the day, all of our trucks were stock full of supplies after having them brought up from Sendai. There was even a little discussion over dinner last night on whether or not we would be able to find the right groups of people to deliver to and we may have too much.
Nate F, Samuel and Jon H were supposed to go out to Baba Nakayama to help complete the new shelter where 20-30 of them will be sleeping. These are the same people living in the rubble.
I paired up with Nathan B’s brother Tomio, to go GPS tagging. The rest of the team was ready to move the supplies as the GPS tags came in.
Long story short, Tomio and I tracked down 4 communities that needed help, and Nate found another on his way to and from Baba Nakayama. Deliveries were made to all of these locations later in the day, some within the hour of getting the information. The system we have going is just awesome, and it gets a little better each day.
One of the communities we tracked down today was collecting canned food they were finding in the rubble- with the intention of eating it later.
When we can find people like this, ask them what they need, and get most of it to them within a few hours, they are really surprised and happy. It’s the best feeling in the world to see this and help others with such speed and efficiency.
Tomio and I had heard about an Island called Oshima that had just opened a ferry yesterday, and thought this would be a good place to check out. Long story short, we caught a ferry over, met with the Island Leader and arranged for his delivery to take place tomorrow morning as we need to bring supplies up from Sendai. We will send it over by boat.
On the way back to camp, we just so happened to watch one of our delivery crews reach one of the 4 we tagged before we went to the island. We helped them unload and this little old woman was just bowing over and over, smiling…happy. 🙂
Tomio and I had a great day together tagging- best day yet! We understand now that our “target market” so to speak- are the smaller coastal communities where people are still living in their destroyed homes- these people are the ones who most easily slip through the cracks, need the most help and whom we are best equipped to assist. We want to focus more on these groups.
Nate, Samuel and Jon finished the shelter- it is beautiful and a credit to their work effort and craftsmanship. Tomio noted how well Nate has fit in with the group- he was just what we needed when he came in.
We have 6 girls here at camp who help make meals and clean but they also go buy food and have been getting in on the deliveries. I call them the “honey bees” because they are always working. They, like so many other people are vital cogs of a very well functioning machine.
Toby Roybal, my “information operator” working from Atlanta has been scouring the Internet for leads and tips and has been a critical part of our success. He has supplied us with information that has led to many, many finds and has done so between family, work and sleep. None of this would have been possible without him.
I have a lot of family and friends who have also sacrificed greatly- Jen, Jill and Stephen, uncle jay and uncle tony. Friends on Facebook- everyone. I have received many emails if support and encouragement and I greatly appreciate it. I am so thankful to everyone who has contributed to our success.
Tonight, our supply trucks are empty- we moved everything we had. Honda, one of our delivery team members said “I won’t doubt you again”. I am really amazed at how well everything continues to work out.
Lessons Learned:
– Never Believe the Assumptions- in every major disaster situation, those in charge will think everything is under control, and it may be to some extent, at least as far as they can see, but when you get out there and meet the people face to face, it’s almost always a different story.
– Lack of Aid Variety- Rice and Water indefinitely isn’t going to cut it. Most of the groups we are finding are literally living off rice for the last 3 weeks.
– Aid Fatigue- The longer aid is needed, the greater chance those responding will eventually tire and become ineffective. Additionally, initial stocks of supplies and food must be continually refreshed. This can be a problem because with more time, there seems to be a less sense of urgency.
– We realize that we cannot help everyone. The need far exceeds our capacity, but we can focus on what we do best and do our best at it. We will fall short of what we want to do and in the end this is something we will have to live with.
– I know I will feel guilty going home, whenever this happens. I can pack up, get on a plane to Maui. Live under a roof, with my own clothes, food, car, job. It will hurt me to know these people cannot leave their circumstances as I can and will. I feel bad about that.
Right now the plan is to do a few more tags and deliveries tomorrow. We will probably take the weekend off to rest (much needed) and reassess how much more we will be able to do.
VERY Excited for tomorrow!”
Ferry ride to Oshima Island.
Tagging on Oshima Island.
A family of one of the communities they found.
Another community they tagged. These guys were collecting food from the rubble.
Tomio giving food to a woman they met on the road.
Helping with a delivery.
Dinner at camp – The honey bees have found a clever way to keep Michael’s appetite in check by determining mushrooms are a part of certain dishes in every single meal. 🙂 Michael says though that In all honesty, they feed him very well and even prepare meals for him when he is out all day, even if he doesn’t return in time to eat them. They never complain.
On a side note, he’s got the whole chopsticks thing down cold!
03.30.2011 | Michael's Insights
From Michael:
“Woke up this morning to a message from ATT that I had far exceeded my International Data plan and my iPhone was temporarily turned off, with the exception to call them.
Before I state my case, let me note that ATT has always treated me awesome- they waived all my cell phone charges on the first Haiti trip, which were absolutely outrageous at 10.99 / MB, using that phone everyday to track, tag, email, call, it really added up and ATT was proactive in waiving these charges. I was so appreciative of this that I talked about how awesome this was in my book.
Everything we are doing here, EVERYTHING, relies on my cell phone connection and service. Without the ability to GPS tag, text message, network, call, check the internet for news about tsunami warnings, radiation warnings, etc this operation would absolutely be dead in the water. We have already provided aid to several thousands of people.
All I asked for from ATT was the ability to buy a bigger package, but I had already maxed out their biggest one. (btw-I have 2 iPhone 4’s here, one for me and one for Nate/as a backup.) Thankfully it’s only $5/MB over, but taking all these things into consideration, I’m looking at a phone bill that will be around $3,500 as of today. I asked to speak with a supervisor, and was put on hold for about 15 minutes and then told that they would waive part of the charges, but anything from here on out I would have to cover.
Just an insight to what I think about stuff like this is simple:
Something like that isn’t going to stop me. We didn’t work this hard to get here, to get into a system where we are feeding hungry refugees to “tippy toe” like a sissy around some stupid limited data plan. As long as we are making a difference in these peoples lives it’s going to go forward.
I will however be very vocal and public about how this plays out. If ATT requires that I pay an enormous phone bill for doing this kind of work, so be it- just know I will keep all of you (which is about 30,000 readers) very much in the loop.
Having said that- today was another AWESOME day. Went out with Samuel and some of the other guys to do a delivery to Baba N, and on the way we tracked down two more small villages along the cost that needed help, one had about 600 people (they were living in the ruins of some 50 homes that survived the tsunami) and the other had about 150. Between these two and the one yesterday we had to hurry to get them supplied by the end of the day, which long story short we were able to.
Doing this kind of aid work is absolutely fun and addicting in the best of ways. I LOVE it!! It’s so easy to get sucked in to focusing on other people and serving them, and it has so many strange and wonderful side effects- one of which is that all of the things that caused me stress and pain are minimized. They don’t stress me out anymore-they mean nothing.
Another cool side effect in this case is the importance of understanding my role on a team of outstanding volunteers- we have really jelled, but so many times we have had a problem and by discussing it out loud we can come to a proper solution. In terms of creative planning and logistic ideas, this is some of the best brainstorming I’ve been part of.
I also take these as lessons learned, something that goes into the “playbook” of experience, a plan ready to go if we should encounter it in the future.
One thing I have been wondering today is….how in the world am I so lucky to do stuff like this? Like…literally on the front lines? I don’t understand how this happens.
When I first came over I thought I would be working with Salvation Army, but when that didn’t pan out, I really didn’t have a place to go or anything to do for a couple days. I will be honest with you, I had a lot of self doubts and worry. I slept in that airport for two nights, without a solid game plan or good connection.
Then, somehow…miraculously, I found Meysen through a friend on Facebook. At first I was maybe a little disappointed I wasn’t able to serve the way I wanted to but I was so hungry to serve that if loading and unloading boxes was all I could offer, I was absolutely happy to do so. This was a valuable lesson learned- if you truly want to serve, the capacity will not matter as long as you are making a difference. This takes some time to figure out, but once you are given a task, no matter how small, that task is a measurement of your desire to serve. If your heart is pure towards service- all needed tasks are equal.
There was one point when I really thought all I would be doing here was loading and unloading boxes, and I remember thinking “if that is what is needed, that is what I will do”.
I am still having a hard time wrapping my mind around what the coincidence it is, just a few days later, I am doing what I came to do, not with SA but with what is most likely THE VERY BEST group (Meysen) to do this type of work here. While I am sure there are other groups doing this, I just don’t how anyone else can be doing these types of small findings and deliveries with the speed and efficiency we are. Meysen was absolutely prepared, years in advance, to do this type of work and they do it without a thought of themselves- day in and day out. They are truly some of the finest and most humble people I have ever met.
When I think about how I started, and where we are now as a team, it makes me pause and wonder….”how in the world did that just happen?”. In any event…. I’m going to go with it!!
When we tag a place for the first time, I think some of the Japanese are a little suspicious of us, not sure what to think, and then when we return with supplies in hand, something wonderful happens there…trust…love…relief…hope. I feel a deep sense of inner peace and love for my fellow man.
At one delivery today, there was clapping and laughing. Do you have any idea how awesome that feels to see that? To be able to help someone who has been through a living hell, wondering if they would be killed one moment, to lose loved ones, home, belongings, without a shower or good meal for weeks?
Without question it will be one of the most rewarding and memorable experiences of my life. I know I can always think about these days with happiness and knowing the very slight discomfort was absolutely well worth it. I really believe that if everyone could feel these feelings we are experiencing, everyone would RUSH to serve one another. I have served before, but I am seeing a side of it I never have and it is beautiful.
At one delivery tonight, as soon as we set the vegetables down, they began to wash and prepare them for dinner. When you see that….you know.
Looks like we will work at least until Saturday morning, then we will go back to Sendai to reassess the operation. Maybe it will end, maybe we will go another week.
We are hearing reports of people in the evacuated areas starving, but there are conflicting reports- I personally think there are a lot of pockets of people in there that need help. If we have the resources I would have no problem bringing it to them.
We have two days left in the Minamisanriku area, we are completely stocked on supplies and aid, and I know there are several groups of people out there we haven’t found that need it. For some reason, every morning I have a little doubt that we will be able to, but in the end, everything has come together better than I could have ever hoped.
What an awesome and wonderful adventure we are having. 🙂
Looking forward to tomorrow.![]()
03.30.2011 | Michael's Insights
This is a cool article on the MotionX website on how Michael is using their GPS app to tag locations in need of supplies in Japan. Check it out!!!
Japanese Tsunami Relief Effort with MotionX-GPS
March 29, 2011
Professional photographer and educator Michael Shiffler traveled to Japan to help with the relief efforts along coastal areas hit hardest by the tsunami, roughly 150 miles north of Tokyo. Michael has been using MotionX-GPS to mark places badly in need of assistance and supplies. He sends the GPS coordinates to relief distribution centers, who then deliver supplies via helicopter or van to the marked location quickly and efficiently. Such streamlined delivery of aid would not be possible without the help of volunteers on the ground using handheld GPS tagging tools such as the iPhone with MotionX-GPS.
A few excerpts from Michael’s recent blog posts (https://www.michaelthemaven.com/):
03.22.11 I have an incredible opportunity to do GPS tagging for the Meysen school for distributions. Meysen has partnered with Samaritans Purse in Sendai and there are now 90+ tons of aid waiting to be delivered. I went out on a trial run with the Meysen team to assess and GPS tag four locations. I think they are realizing how powerful this is in speeding things up for delivery.
03.25.11 Toby [a fellow volunteer] sent me a few possible GPS locations of distribution points in the area. The first place was an elderly home for about 250 people. When we showed them some of the sample supplies, the director started crying, saying it was exactly what he was looking for and couldn’t find. Japanese people do not cry very often, so we knew he was grateful. I was able to tag the location and email a copy of it in real time.
03.26.11 Baba Nakayama, Japan. To our surprise, people were living in their destroyed homes, trying to clean up their yards. We asked to speak with the area leader, named Abe (pronouced Abay) and he invited us inside his home, where 100 people are sleeping each night (you are reading this correctly). I sent in the GPS report to Nathan and then we headed back to camp to get cleaned up and have lunch….. Nathan immediately loaded up his van and trailer with food, water, tarps, hygiene kits, gasoline and other supplies and we took it straight out to Baba Nakayama for delivery. They were very happy to get them, and we are working on getting them the rest of their supplies later this week.
03.27.11 Meysen is bringing up some tents and heavy equipment — a lot of great things are happening. Abe broke down to tears and expressed deep gratitude saying “90% of what we have received has come from you.” All from one little GPS tag. It’s so humbling to be a part of it.This is a cool article on the MotionX website on how Michael is using their GPS app to tag locations in need of supplies in Japan. Check it out!!!
Japanese Tsunami Relief Effort with MotionX-GPS
March 29, 2011
Professional photographer and educator Michael Shiffler traveled to Japan to help with the relief efforts along coastal areas hit hardest by the tsunami, roughly 150 miles north of Tokyo. Michael has been using MotionX-GPS to mark places badly in need of assistance and supplies. He sends the GPS coordinates to relief distribution centers, who then deliver supplies via helicopter or van to the marked location quickly and efficiently. Such streamlined delivery of aid would not be possible without the help of volunteers on the ground using handheld GPS tagging tools such as the iPhone with MotionX-GPS.
A few excerpts from Michael’s recent blog posts (https://www.michaelthemaven.com/):
03.22.11 I have an incredible opportunity to do GPS tagging for the Meysen school for distributions. Meysen has partnered with Samaritans Purse in Sendai and there are now 90+ tons of aid waiting to be delivered. I went out on a trial run with the Meysen team to assess and GPS tag four locations. I think they are realizing how powerful this is in speeding things up for delivery.
03.25.11 Toby [a fellow volunteer] sent me a few possible GPS locations of distribution points in the area. The first place was an elderly home for about 250 people. When we showed them some of the sample supplies, the director started crying, saying it was exactly what he was looking for and couldn’t find. Japanese people do not cry very often, so we knew he was grateful. I was able to tag the location and email a copy of it in real time.
03.26.11 Baba Nakayama, Japan. To our surprise, people were living in their destroyed homes, trying to clean up their yards. We asked to speak with the area leader, named Abe (pronouced Abay) and he invited us inside his home, where 100 people are sleeping each night (you are reading this correctly). I sent in the GPS report to Nathan and then we headed back to camp to get cleaned up and have lunch….. Nathan immediately loaded up his van and trailer with food, water, tarps, hygiene kits, gasoline and other supplies and we took it straight out to Baba Nakayama for delivery. They were very happy to get them, and we are working on getting them the rest of their supplies later this week.
03.27.11 Meysen is bringing up some tents and heavy equipment — a lot of great things are happening. Abe broke down to tears and expressed deep gratitude saying “90% of what we have received has come from you.” All from one little GPS tag. It’s so humbling to be a part of it.
03.29.2011 | Michael's Insights
The following entry is written by Nate Farnsworth, Michael’s volunteer translator from Utah.
“Today was just one of those days that will jog my memory forever. It was my first time being able to make it out to the small fishing village Babanakayama. Mike literally found a village that had fallen through the cracks and had been forgotten by the main distribution centers and Japanese self defense forces. Anyone that has ever sat alone or been ignored might be able to somewhat grasp the situation of being lonely, however; The people in this town were much more than just lonely, they were freezing, exhausted, homeless, hungry, terrified, and overcome by a feeling of defeat. It’s one thing to survive a catastrophe, but it’s also crazy to survive and to be left
with nothing.
Babanakayama is not only an awesome name but it literally has some of the most beautiful coast line that you could ever imagine. Standing together high above the town and being taken back by the sheer devastation, a 60 year old man told me his story of the quake and tsunami. When the quake hit he was eating lunch on his tatami mat, and he said that the magnitude was so fierce that his soup and bowl were rocked off the table, his cabinet doors flung open and nearly everything inside was thrown out. He said the main support beams in his house were moving like waves, and he could hear the crashing of glass in the background, books covered the floor and little statues were falling off his dresser, he knew that this was a big one. After a minute he thought that the quake was just about over, but the chaos continued for another four and a half minutes! From a young age he was taught that if there is a big quake, head for high ground, so that is exactly what he did, he lived hundreds of yards from the coast line, but he decided to head inland in his small work truck. Taking nothing with him but the clothes he had on his body and his truck he made it to a very high place that looked over the town. Within three minutes of getting to his spot, he literally watched his whole town get blindsided by a tsunami wave. Everything that he had ever worked for was instantly gone. His house is nothing but a concrete slab, his field can no longer harvest rice because of salt water damage, his life literally changed in the blink of an eye. He escaped with his life, but his life will never be the same.
This story fueled my heart and soul, and it made me think deeply about how fragile life really is. I have heard several stories like this, and some that are much more tragic, but I can’t help but feel the need to reevaluate my priorities in life.
Today is where the hammer hit the nail, and it seems as if a new phase of disaster recovery was underway. More than 200 people are in need of a immediate shelter in Babanakayama, so today we worked on building a huge permanent tent that will be able to sleep up-to eighty people.
The frame, walls, roof and doors have all been put up, and it will be strong enough to handle high winds and the ever changing weather
conditions. I spent most of my efforts today building a six inch deep drainage system around the outer walls of the tent to keep the water from coming in. Anyone who personally knows me, knows that I’m not fond of shoveling through rocks and clay all day, but I found it so
much easier to be digging when I knew that this was going to be used for these people who had lost their homes. Tomorrow a floor will be
put in, and they will hopefully be able to find some peace in their new living quarters. While working on the tent, our work was stopped
because the people of the town prepared us a feast. I truly was taken back emotionally by the generosity of these people, they were literally feeding us like kings, yet they have nothing; their charity touched me greatly.
Mike went GPS tagging up and down the coastline today, and was able to find a refugee camp in need of supplies. It is because of his patience
and desire to keep going that groups like Babanakayama are found. Teamwork is key in disaster recovery.
The Meysen team that has taken us around is truly filled with the most humble and hard working people that I have ever met, I honestly
feel at home with them.
I need to wash my feet, I’m looking forward to tomorrow!”![]()
03.28.2011 | Michael's Insights
Had a pretty big earthquake this morning and started hearing the Tsunami warnings- not a comforting thought when you are literally driving through the remains of towns wiped out in the last one. Thankfully it turned out to be pretty small and nothing really happened.
Spent most of the day riding up the coast with Makato. We made it all the way up to Otsuchi and Yamada, 2 places we heard that aid was slow to arrive. It was a 3.5 hour drive each way from base camp in Minamisanriku.
Most of the leads Toby sent us were doing pretty good, however, one place in particular that was caring for 773 people was hurting. Their three main leaders were dirty and wearing clothing that had holes in them, a sure sign they were struggling. When the site leader is dressed nicely and asks for very specific, non-essential type items, they are doing good.
One of the leaders had returned from looking through the rubble, he had two purses full of belongings. Kind of a weird thought to think that there were 2 women no longer with those purses. Humbling.
I think they didn’t really know what to make of us, or they were nervous but they made some requests for clothing, underwear, boots and 800 hygiene kits.
My thought is when we deliver these items they will request more things they need. It’s very important to do what you say in order to establish trust with those in need.
Kind of an interesting thought there, the desire and even ability to serve are not enough- you have to be trustworthy to gain more of these opportunities. You have to be a playmaker and come through with what you say you will do, otherwise you are just talk.
I know Nathan and the rest of the team worked on getting food and clothing for the four sites we found yesterday. I’m pretty sure these deliveries will happen tomorrow.
Mark’s show aired tonight and I was so sorry I missed it. Can’t wait to watch it when I get back.
Hard to imagine I’ve already been here for 2 weeks. Everything that has led up to what we are doing now has taken a toll on me stress wise, and I am starting to feel the fatigue. While Im eating better and don’t have the illnesses to deal with that I did in Haiti, I know that 3 weeks was my limit there before I finally “broke” so to speak. I want to help as much as possible here, but only as long as I feel I am making a meaningful contribution. I have gained so much from this experience, great new friends and opportunities. So glad I came.
Japan will be rebuilding for years, but I think they are one of the most organized and prepared countries to do so.
It was another great day- looking forward to what tomorrow brings.
Ramen dinner at Ofunato
