Donations Help Bring Sand Springs Family Home From Japan

NewsOn6.com

TULSA, Oklahoma – A Sand Springs family who survived last week's earthquake and tsunami in Japan is back on Sooner soil, thanks to the generosity of others.

Keith and Lisa Cash and their four children have lived in Japan for eight years as missionaries. But after last week's devastating earthquake and the current threat of radiation, the family decided it was time to leave.

3/15/2011 Related Story: Sand Springs Family Raises Money To Come Home From Japan

But the price to get home wasn't cheap. It was going to cost $12,000 to buy plane tickets to Oklahoma. 

But generous donations made the trip a reality for the Cash family.

"The last amount I heard was $6,500, but I think there's been more," Vicki Eklund, Lisa's mother, said. "Everything's been in such a frantic, frenzy right now that she hasn't had a chance to check, to see how much more has been donated."

Lisa and the children arrived at the Tulsa International Airport Friday afternoon to be reunited with family and friends.

"I can't wait to hug my grandchildren," Eklund said.  "I just love them so much and I love my daughter so much."

The Cashes eventually want to go back and continue their missionary work. Keith remains in Japan for work.

"I'm day to day right now. We're going to go stay at my mom's and pray and hope that my husband can come home really soon," Lisa said.

Keith Cash is a civilian employee with the Department of Defense. He teaches special needs kids and hopes he gets approval to leave Japan, especially since the school where he teaches has been closed because of the earthquake.