Thank you for always helping and
praying for us with a generous heart.
Here is bulletin No.９ of “Walking Together”. The content summary is
as follows.
The photo on page 1 is the
ceremony to celebrate the completion of the new school building for Tamagawa
Shirayuri Kindergarten in Lunsar.
Priest Enmanuel was on hand to
celebrate the new building opening.
A summarized report for fiscal
year 2015 (2014/9/1-2015/8/31) by Katsujiro Kanno, the representative of
“Walking Together”, is on pages1-2.
This year, Sierra Leone
experienced difficult situations with the outbreak of the Ebola disease.
However with the Lord’s
protection, we were able to receive more donations than expected, which helped
support the activities of our sisters helping cure the Ebola outbreak on site.
On pages 2-3, you can find Sister
Elisa Padilla’s report and her message of thanks. In 2015, a total of
$123,663.22 was donated by “Walking Together”.
Although schools were closed from
September to April due to the Ebola disease, funds for school lunch programs,
etc. were diverted to be used for supplying food for the poor.
This helped many in need, prevented
the spread of the Ebola disease and also helped the recovery of those who were
infected.
Now that classes have resumed, the
biggest challenge is the support for children who have lost their parents due
to Ebola.
But Sr. Elisa Padilla notes that
the contributions that have been made by “Walking Together” has been of great
support.
The photo on page 3, shows a
village near Lunsar after it has regained peace.
The report from Sr. Kazuko
Shirahata, who has temporarily returned to Japan for treatment on her knee, is
on pages 3-4.
Her knee pain seems to be healing.
She expresses her joy and thanks for the completion of the new school building.
The photo on page 4 is Sr. Shirahata at the Tokyo monastery.
Sr. Fumiko Yoshida’s report is on
pages 5-6. Although official reports say 3,586 people out of 8,697 people who
were infected by the Ebola disease in Sierra Leone died, Sr. Yoshida says the reality
is much worse.
The day after the President of
Sierra Leone declared the end to the Ebola outbreak, there were reports of
additional infections. It can be said that more time is needed for the complete
eradication of the Ebola disease.
However, many still hold hopes for
the future.
The challenge from now on will be
the support needed after the Ebola eradication. First, we need to concentrate
all support on getting schools to start again.
The biggest challenge will be
supporting children who have lost parents/guardians.
The government has promised to
supply all schools with food, but this has not yet been fulfilled. The kids in Sierra Leone need the support
from “Walking Together”.
The people of Sierra Leone are
starting to show changes by being positive, and we are expressing our thoughts
to walk together with them through our reports.
The photo on page 6, shows Sr.
Yoshida (right) with emergency foods supplied by Japan.
The latter part of page 6 is a
letter from Sr. Mari Luz of “ Maria Ines Vocational Center”.
She expressed her sincere thanks
to “Walking Together” for support in getting funds to feed the children at
school. It was a stream of light when she heard this news from Sr. Elisa, after
schools had restarted.
Page 7 is a report on the speech
made by Miyoko Fukuyoshi of The
Friends Association of Africa of the region of Kita Kyushu at the Kokura
Catholic Church.
At the same time, a free market to
support Sierra Leone was held and many donations were gained that day. The
photo is of Miyoko Fukuyoshi.
Notes from those supporting the
cause can be found at the end of page 7.
Administrative announcements can
be found on page 8.
Announcements include the sudden
death of Tan Koji (Advisory Committee) and the visit to Sr. Michiko Negeshi’s
grave on October 31st.
The photo shows the children and
Father Joseph in Mange, a sister school to OLG. The drawing was done by a Lunsar kindergarten
student.
（Translator:
Ayako Nokuo）