For much of the second week following the earthquake, we ran a drive to collect desperately needed items for the shelters from members of the community including underwear, sanitary products, snacks, canned foods and packed them to ship north. While my youngest was at nursery school, my 8 year old son, along with Asako and I worked at the supply drive. It was wonderful to be there with the other volunteers but it didn’t feel like we were doing everything we could. One afternoon we took stock of what we had to offer.
With both of us in education we aren’t sitting on 20 years of high incomes. With two young children, we aren’t in a place to drop what we’re doing and head north to help with translation or other requirements of the relief efforts. As arguably our strongest asset, however, we have a loving home where we put food on the table and clean, happy kids in pajamas to bed every night. Then it came to Asako and me at exactly the same time, “our family is the best thing we can share with the victims of the tsunami.”
So, last week, Asako and I put our names in to be considered to adopt a small child from Tohoku who lost both parents in the tsunami. The need for adoptive parents is still unknown, although given the timing of the tsunami on a weekday and the incredible death toll, it appears that many children have be left alone. Even having lived in Japan 10 years now and with Asako a lifelong resident of the country, the Japanese are reluctant to place children in “non-Japanese” homes. Rather than deter our efforts, this realism just drives us forward to do what we can and hope for success.
So far we have met some wonderful people in the process who are equally worried and dedicated to the well-being of the children left by the tsunami. Even if we are not successful in helping a child directly with our family, we will continue to help these children who’s lives were forever impacted by those events only 3 weeks ago. While much of the international attention may have moved on from this tragedy, children still cry themselves to sleep missing their parents and wake up hoping it was all a bad dream. Maybe we will be able to help them find a way to sleep soundly again. – AC
Posted On: Monday, April 4th, 2011
Posted In: Blog
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Comments: 4 Responses
Adam and Asako, what a wonderful thought and gesture. Your family is arguably the “best thing you can share” and what a beautiful family you have. I hope you will be lucky and I hope the people making these decisions can see how caring and genuine you both are.
All I can say is that It is a great honor to have you two as my friends. You seed love, and you harvest it too!
Good luck you two. I can only think that you would be the best thing for a child under the circumstances. I am hopeful for one and wish I could offer the same. xF
Any child would be lucky to have you and Asako as parents, and a child who has been through such a terrible experience would be living in the perfect, positive environment and with the perfect, loving family to help him or her heal. I wish you both the best in this process and hope that those choosing where to place these children will also recognize the value of what you can offer. As always you are in our minds and in our hearts!