2022年6月27日月曜日

Bulletin No.36 of Walking Together

 

Pages 12 is a report from Sr. Shirahata.

In this bulletin she reports on event during March through May. First, she explains why she was not able to report on the events taking place. She has had issues not being able to use her mobile phone and also injuring her arm. But was finally able to report on the events after Sr.Adriana Juarez Navarrete bought her a mobile phone on May 27th.

The main events that took place during this time is : since May Rosario prayers have been made every day, Fr. Martin Kamara from Lunsar was ordained to priesthood on April 30th, the passing away of Mrs. Margaret Y. Macauley,  a resident nearby, at the age of 83 on April 24th.       

One major school events was when the 4th to 6th graders went on a field trip to the beach. A bus ride to the beach was awarded to 3 students in each class, who worked hard such as cleaning the classrooms, and they all had a great time. The school plans to have this kind of field trip 3 times a year.

Sr. Shirahata sums up her report by saying that she will make a short visit to Japan after the graduation ceremony on July 2nd.

3 scholarship students who graduated this spring, express their happiness on pages 2-3. The 3 students are as follows:

Marian Adamsay KamaraNursing

Georgiana Ogoo       (Public Health)

Fatmata K. Kamara   (Accounting

All 3 had a very fulfilled college life, and they are proud to have achieved results during their time at school. They are looking forward to utilizing what they have learned to help them in society and are appreciative of the college to have given them a scholarship.

 

Pages 4-5 are voices from supporters.

 We’ve received such voices as “Recently there is not a lot of good news, but we have been getting energy from the warm smiles of the people in Sierra Leone” “There is blessing to Sr. Shirahata’s work and hope there is comfort for Sr. Yoshida.”

 The second half of page 5 to page 7 is a report from Ms. Kyoko Waki, a Walking Together HQ staff and executive coach (coaching is her life work). While she believes “coaching” is the work she was meant to have, there were times when she just didn’t feel satisfied. At that time, she met a book by the Christian author and became interested in Christianity. Then Mr. Hideki Mitani, who she works with, introduced her to Priest Fusao Sekine of Catholic Setagaya Church and about Walking Together. While becoming involved, she and Priest Sekine decided to co-author a book called “Hints to living under COVID anxiety : hints from the bible” and the content is so interesting.

  On and until page 8, is a report from Ms. Ayako Yamamoto, who is a Walking Together HQ staff and also a member of “Polvoron Group” of the Catholic Azabu Church. “Polvoron Group”  has been supporting Sr. Shirahata for more than 50 years. They started as a group baking and selling the Spanish snack called ”POLVORONES” and all sales went to support Sr. Shirahata. Since a few years ago, they have been sewing Sr. Shirahata’s embroidery onto a tote bag and selling them – all sales going to Walking Together. They talk about learnings from Sr. Shirahata and also the joy of being able to help each other out.

Announcement from HQ is on page 8. We have been able to send support funds in a timely manner, but the May lunch support funds have been a bit late and will be delivered by mid- June.

 

Photo explanation

P1         top left :               Sr. Shirahata’s embroidery

            Top right :             Sr. Shirahata with a polvoron

            Bottom : Happy students on their first beach experience (field trip)

P2        top right:              Graduate Marian Adamsay Kamara

P3        left :                     Graduate Georgiana Ogoo

P4        left :                    Graduate Fatmata K. Kamara

P6        left :                     Priest Fusao Sekine and Ms. Kyoko Waki

P.8    top left :                With the Polvoron Group members in front of the Catholic Azabu

Church. 3rd from the left is Ms. Ayako Yamamoto.

P8        bottom right:        Grade school students happily carrying their lunch 

 

 

 (Copy:Katsujiro Kanno Translation:Ayako Nokuo)