Relieved Green Country Mom Hears From Son In Earthquake-Ravaged Japan

Craig Day, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- A Green Country mom is relieved after hearing word that her son and his family in Japan are okay.

Her son pastors a church in Japan while his wife serves in the U.S. Air Force there.

The images in the aftermath of Japan's powerful earthquake are heartbreaking, hard to believe.

3/11/2011 Related Story: Hundreds Killed In Tsunami After 8.9 Japan Quake

Even when you're a great-great grandparent, even when your own children are grown and gone, you never stop worrying about them.

"Can't let them grow up," Mary Gray, Beggs Resident, said. "They're precious."

So imagine the worry Mary Gray had when she found out such devastation had hit Japan. Her son, Herman, and his wife and ten-year-old daughter live there.

"I can't put it into words," Gray said.

It's hard to put into words, but if you had to sum up what Mary and another son, Howard, went through while glued to the TV, its agony.

"Water was going everywhere, and the earth was shaking and people, you could see the fear on the people's faces you know," she said.

"I was on pins and needles pretty much the whole time," Howard said.

As time went on, they prayed and hoped they would hear from Herman.

"Just keep them safe; keep them safe Lord," Williams said.

"I thought, now God you said you would take care of them for me. And I'm depending on you, so I went to praying," Gray said.

Finally, they learned their prayers were answered. Herman got through on the phone to those he loves.

"He said, I've never been so scared, I was so scared," she said.

And they've never been so grateful to hear his voice and that Herman and his family are okay.

"He said Hi Mama! And I said 'oh praise God, praise God, praise God,'" Gray said.

Herman Williams and his family evacuated to higher ground after the earthquake and before the Tsunami hit. He could only talk a short while, but it was long enough to give his loved ones peace of mind.

"I'm very relieved because we're all pretty close," Howard said.

"He said, we're all, alright. So I was just happy," Gray said.

There are others in Oklahoma who haven't heard from their loved ones in Japan yet.

With most phone systems down there, people are being urged to use texting, email and social media to let loved ones know they're ok.

So Williams' family is thankful he was able to get through to them.

3/11/2011 Related Story: How You Can Help Earthquake Victims In Japan