“Today is the day I leave for China,” she wrote in her travel diary on June 29. “I have been told that this will be a life changing trip.”

Johnson, who is the mayor of Buckley, traveled with Ron Chow, a Lakewood businessman. Chow set up charities to give money to the victims of the magnitude 7.9 quake on May 12 that killed almost 70,000 people and has all but destroyed the infrastructure in many parts of China.

On their weeklong trip, the two saw crumbled buildings, including a destroyed school where 17 children died in Mianyang, a city of more than 5 million people in the Sichuan province. They saw a hospital that was almost destroyed.

They walked through tent villages where thousands of the millions who were displaced now live.

They witnessed the suffering that has faded from global media attention.

“Those people are going to be suffering for years and years. Whatever we can do, I think it’s a good thing,” Chow said.

Chow, who also serves as commissioner of Asian and Pacific Affairs for the state, travels to China four to five times a year. The earthquake deeply affected him, and he is trying to do all he can to help. Just weeks before the earthquake struck, his son, Ron Jr., was in the province.

“I could have been burying my son,” Chow said.

After flying to Hong Kong, where Chow grew up, the first city he and Johnson visited was Jiangyou, which has been University Place’s sister city for about three years. There, they delivered money that was raised in University Place and across the state.

Overall, Chow said he helped raise more than $4 million for earthquake relief, but the amount is just “a drop in the bucket” compared to rebuilding costs in the worst-hit areas.

“For me, I try not to think about background or politics ... I think we need to help them out,” Chow said. “They need it.”

Looking back, it is hard for Johnson to pinpoint all the lessons she learned on the trip. As a mayor, it taught her about disaster preparedness. It could happen here, she said, but she doesn’t know if Buckley is ready.

On a deeper level, it taught her lessons about humanity, about how resilient people are. It was just weeks after the earthquake when they visited, and the city was still covered in rubble.

But they passed a middle school that was on the last day of the school year. Hundreds of kids lined a courtyard in front of the building, and they were all laughing and smiling.

They had lost 17 classmates just weeks before.

It was an inspiration, Johnson said.

“People just pick up and move on.”

Johnson is putting together a presentation for schools and local charity groups to explain the importance of international aid and what people can do. The first step it to seek understanding by getting past the differences between China and America.

After leaving China, Johnson closed her diary under the title “Home.” She explained the things she learned and the things that confused her during the trip. She wrote how thankful she was for everything she has in her city on the plateau in East Pierce County.

“The culture, way of life, government ... all is different. Is our way better?” she wrote. “What I did learn is that people are people no matter where I go. We all want the same basic things ... We will not have peace on earth until we understand this and accept each other unconditionally.

“It is great to be home.”

Brian Everstine: 253-597-8374

HOW TO HELP

Lakewood businessman Ron Chow will continue to raise money for earthquake relief. He plans to return to China next month. Those interested in helping can contact him at r3kchow@comcast.net">r3kchow@comcast.net.