◆ SpookStack

. April 18, 1942 Dear Frienns: On the eve of evacuation, I grect you with mixed feel- ings. The swift current of events following the outbreak __ of the present war has disrupted the lives of many of us. T must state at the outset that it has not all been unmixed evil, Asa ed valuable ex- perience and opportunities of service that will strengthen and make more effective my ministry. But to the people whom I seeve these months have been time of uncertainty, fear, and heartbreaking disappointments. Not that. we have expected to lead normai iives, but it was a biow to Ametica-loving, peaceful permanent residents who have lived i in America thirty to fifty yeats, to be suddenly classi- fied as “enemy aliens” and receive treatment as such. - The impact has been an especially hatd one for the Nisei, the American citizens of Japanese parentage. They have no home but this—no allegiance but the United States. Already over five thousand are in the U. S. Army. Suddenly they awoke on the morning of March 3, and dis- covered to their utter bewilderment, that their own govern- ment has classified them as Class 3 “enemy aliens,” ahead of German and Italian aliens. As I go about busily engaged in welfare work among needy families; soliciting funds and food for welfare, understanding and aid from Caucasian friends; helping with registrations, disposal or storage of real and personal property; finding renters for houses and businesses; col- lecting junk; trying to preach to the being-disillusioned on the meaning of the Cross: Providing nursery and reiea- widely ‘seattered friends (and forgetting about packing my * things while going about urging others to do so in the face of imminent evacuation orders) ; being testricted to fre miles and having to be in at 8:00 P. M., I cannot believe that only three and a half months ago I was iravel- fing from onc end of the continent to the other, attending the National Conference of Methodist Students at Urbana and visiting many of you. In all these days, the heart-warming and encouraging experiences in the midst of darkness have been your thoughtful letters and the sympathy and help of these Caucasian friends who have helped us unstintedly. The real meaning of friendship, and of the Christian fellow. ship that transcends the barriers of rave and nations stand out in clear-cut relicf in these heart-breaking days. What the future holds for us is very uncertain, except for the definite knowledge that there will be untold suffer: ing. But it is not the physical suffering that is the most difficult for us. We are willing to go a second mile in onan Aliens and Pricnioes af Weel - If you would like to help, write to any of the following: Epistle to Amorica Japanese Methodist Church, Fresno, California, ‘end member of the Fellowship of Reconci » pastor a! serving and suffering for our nation and for the principles for which she stands. But it is the feeling that we are - Men without a country, not by our choice but against our will by the decree of the Fourth Army. However, when a feeling of beirig unjustly discriminated against is combined with physical hardship, it is next to to 10,000 n Cent: people will be housed and fed " have been built in about a week to ten days. There must be about fifteen or twenty of them, most of them in racetracks and county fairgrounds. Many of the durable buildings are made-over stables, but ihe majority of them are iough frame structures 20 feet by one hundred fect with smatt windows, tat-paper walls and roofs, and asphalt floors! About five familics will be housed in each. Imagine a typical Japanese family of six oc sgven (not the average, because there are many newiy-weds and singie men and women) living in a single room twenty feet square, in these shacks during the typical Fresno summer weather of 105 degrees outside in the shade—perhaps 125 degrees inside (with asphalt floors!). No one knows where the people will be “relocated” from these centers. The Army has taken upon itself (or was forced by powerfully maneu- vered minority “public” pressure) a task that is not its usual, The Army has done it as well as may be expected, but it is faced with almost insuperable difficulties. Tam to be evacuated and to enter into one of these - concentration camps, for that is what they really are, with double barbed fences and all. Only families: men, women, children, sick, and invalid, are to be placed in them, 1! shall probably be responsible to between 3.000 and 5.000 souls in one of these, perhaps at Fresno Fairgrounds. Many old people will die. Many babics will be born’ and will dic, (The largest group of Nisci is now in the carly twenties). Many will pass away more because of tht loss d for in “temporatily, lack of something t to ) live for. Tam to be their pastor, the minister of the Gospel. How am I to preach to them? 1 do not ask in resentment or cynicism. There is nothing in my heart but the fecling of ie undertak iv 1 even feel that it is my providential oppor: tunity to serve the people and the Master, But more than ever before I feel humble in the face of the gigantic task. . Eneed your help and your prayers. “it is beiter to. ight a candic than to curse the dark- ness.” Let us all endeavor, in the name of our Master, to do our bit for His Kingdom in these days of darkness. Yours in fellowship, - Heo Hastumoro,