Thank you for always helping and praying
for us with a generous heart.
Here is a
summary of bulletin No.21 of “Walking Together”.
Sr. Shirahata
is surrounded by her students in the city in the top left photo of page 1.
Bottom left are children working in a store during summer vacation. Top right
are smiling children, and the bottom right photo shows a family gathering. All
of these photos were taken by Rumi Goodrich.
From the
bottom half of page 1, is the annual report for “Walking Together” that covers
all the events that happened for the 2018 fiscal year (September 2017 – August
2018) as well as plans for the upcoming 2019 year. (1) Appreciation to the Lord
for the past 5 years (2) Welcoming back Sr. Bernadetta Shirahata to Sierra
Leone, after her 2.5 years in medical treatment (3) Being able to have a firm
connection with Sr. Adriana, although there were changes with the regional
director of the Clara Convent (4) Grateful that Sr. Shirahata and Sr. Yoshida
received the “Social Contributors Award” – prestigious award in Japan (5) Being
able to exceed budget for the 2018 year, with many support funds (6) Being able
to allocated support funds to OLG to help with lunch and education (7) Good
discussions about the next 5 years for “Walking Together” (8) Setting up budget
for the 2019 year based on 2018 results.
On page 4, Sr
Adrianna Juarez Navarette – the regional superior expresses her appreciation
for the support for this year. It is titled “He must reign”, and she quotes
as below.
How to thank your brotherly care? Holy
father Pope Francis says: “giving alms locking into the eyes of the person, and
holding his hand made us really brothers and sisters”. And this is what we
experience with you.
You are not somebody helping a “beggar” you
are elder brothers taking care of the young ones, that are in difficulties,
recognizing their dignity and wishing the best, you are the ones that moves to
compassion knowing that in Sierra Leon there are children that suffer because
they have little or nothing to live for the day, you are the ones that cannot
pass a long without stopping to see the needs of others…
The photo on page 4, is Sr. Adriana when
she attended an International Meeting in Costa Rica.
The bottom of page 4, starts the 2018
annual financial report from Sr. Esmeralda Franco Leon and Sr. Adriana. It reports in
detail how the support funds sent were used.
Page 6 is a letter from Sr. Bernadetta Shirahata titled “Now, I am
here”. She states that she is happy to be “home” and appreciated being able to
return and happy to be doing all that needs to be done there.
Sr. Adriana and Sr. Shirahata’s photo is on page 6.
The second half of page 7 is a report from a Tamagawa Gakuen’s
physical educations teacher Carlos Pena, a
Dominican-American from New York City. He reports on “Physical Educations in
Sierra Leone“. He visited OLG is August and gave advice to the teachers there.
Although there is no equipment needed to teach, he states as follows.
The people were lovely, kind and giving.
Even though they do not have much they still would give what little they had.
If the world took a look at how these people interacted with one another, and
followed their example I feel the world would be a much better place.
Page 8 is some
voices from supporters. There was one that read “Every time I read the
bulletin, I feel how the Lord had been with everyone “walking together” through
all the activities. It is a weird feeling, but I am very happy I am able to
feel that way”.
The top left
photo on page 8 is a group photo with Sr. Elisa Padilla, who was with Sr.
Yoshida to receive the award.
Bottom left is
Mr. and Mrs. Goodrich with Sr. Yoshida, Sr. Maria Roa Ventura.
Top right is a
blouse made by Sr. Leticia Legacy and on the bottom right a beads bracelet.
“Walking Together” also hands out these bracelets and bags made by Sr. Leticia
Legacy.
(Copy:Katsujiro Kanno,
Translation:Ayako Nokuo)