Kitchen

A lot of good food came out of that kitchen. French cuisine, spaghetti, ramen... Surfers knew Tokeidai (Clock Tower) for its big bowls of ramen. Not the instant stuff, either. Homemade noodles, perfect broth, and plenty of additional veggies or meat. A real bowl of ramen, enough for a hungry surfer. 

The tsunami demolished the restaurant. The rubble was covered with several inches of sand and debris. The owner needs the building cleaned out before he decides his next move. 

Yesterday was day five of cleaning up. The indoor debris was mostly removed and heaped along the side of the building. I was part of the crew finding the floor in the empty kitchen. There was only about an inch of sand left. We seived it to remove glass shards and dish fragments and burnables. And occasional silverware. 

We don't quite know what'll happen there. The building may have to go. We can't decide for him, or figure out what to do next. 

But we could sweep out his kitchen to honor what the room had been. We could sing as we worked. And, as always, we could pray for guidance and wisdom for the days ahead. 

Will he restart?

Tough question. Probably not here. The beaches are closed this summer and there are no customers. 

"And there's no point in restarting unless my wife restarts with me."

Good man. 

He let us pray for him at the end of the day. And asked if we could come back for a few more days. Yes, the inn he had on the second floor needs attention too. But his wife is out of town for a couple of days, and he wants her to meet us. 

That sounds pretty lifeish.