Operation Blessing delivered to the Urato Islands eyeglasses that had been prescribed individually to the islanders at an eye clinic over a week ago.

Report from the field: OBI teams share their firsthand, eye-witness accounts of the relief efforts in Japan

URATO ISLANDS, Japan – Today our team delivered to the Urato Islands eyeglasses that had been prescribed individually to the islanders at our eye clinic over a week ago. Mr. Taketora Nishimura, the optician working with Operation Blessing to provide this service, said that it always gives him great satisfaction when the people try on the glasses he has prepared, and exclaim, “Mieru!” (I can see!)

Mr. Yoshinobu Utsumi, an oysterman on Katsurajima (the largest of the four Urato Islands), could not stop exclaiming that he could now see so clearly. His glasses along with his whole house and livelihood had been completely washed away by the tsunami.

The local gazette published by the Shiogama City Office mentioned Operation Blessing and expressed gratefulness for all that OBI has done.

Now that Operation Blessing has brought hope and light to the islands through delivery of generators and eyeglasses, our next project is to provide equipment needed by the Fishermen’s Guild to help people like Mr. Utsumi get back to work cultivating oysters again.
 
The local gazette published by the Shiogama City Office (and delivered to every home in the city) recently published details and photos of the damage to the city and the Urato Islands. It also included a special feature on Operation Blessing’s activities in the community. The article expressed gratefulness for all that Operation Blessing has done and noted that it is reassuring for the people of the city to have an organization like Operation Blessing working with them to provide relief during this phase of recovery.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
You can help by making an online donation toward OBI's disaster relief efforts. With your support, we can continue to provide emergency relief and recovery. Please make an on-line donation today.

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