Walking
Together Bulletin No.48
P1
“TO
REPRESENTATIVE KANNO AND
SUPPORTERS OF
WALKING ROGETHER”
APRIL 12, 2025
BY MOTHER MARTA G.HERNANDEZ M. DEL C.,
SUPERIOR GENERAL OF
THE CLARISSAN MISSIONAEY SISTERS OF THE BLESSED
SACRAMWNT
"And hope does not put us to
shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy
Spirit who has been given to us" (Romans 5:5).
May
God's love and mercy fill our lives with joy and hope! Once again, we thank
each and every one of you for the wonderful news you have shared with us
through the newsletters, photos, and messages from our supporters who continue
to generously sow seeds of hope for our beloved brothers and sisters in Sierra
Leone.
We
share the joy of children and young people like Hannah Z. Forna who
enthusiastically participated in the cultural and sports activities organized
by the school. We also commend Catherine B. Aruna and Kadiatou Z. Sesay for
their desire to serve others and their dedication and enthusiasm in their
university studies and internships. Thank you again! We hope that how many
people make these experiences possible will be transformative for each child
and their family.
We
would like to thank Miyoko Fukuyoshi and Ms. Miki Hayashi for their efforts in
organizing the flea market, and Father Sekine and all the participants for
their valuable contributions. On behalf of all the sisters in the mission of
loving Sierra Leone, we pray that the joy of Easter will fill your hearts and
that the certainty of Christ's resurrection will illuminate your lives with
hope that will never cause you to lose heart. Happy Easter. May God bless you!
P2.
“DREAMING BIG –
THROUGH EDUCATION”
APRIL 13, 2025
By Sr. Josephine Kamara, Regional Superior
As we continue
to journey along with our Pupils at the Our Lady of Guadalupe School, Lunsar,
we never stop dreaming big and bigger every day and we encourage them to do the
same, for everything in life is possible for the one who makes the effort to
achieve set up goals.
Most of our
pupils have expressed the fact that they want to be successful in life, but
success we tell them, has its own implication – that is responsibility and hard
work. For this reason, they are encouraged to do their daily best to make a
difference in life. As most of them do not have parents with a formal
education, the work of motivating them academically remains in our hands, so we
have a dual responsibility towards them – serving as parents and as teachers.
We however do it willing, hoping that they attain their dream in life and make
a difference in this world.
Thank you very
much for being part of the journey with our pupils and students.
A wise man once
said, “You must dream big dreams for only big dreams have the power to
move the minds of men.”
“TO EVERYONE I
MISS FROM THE WALKING TOGTHER ASSOCIATION”
APRIL 23, 2025
BY SR. KAZUKO SHIRAHATA
Hello to everyone at the Walk
Together Society. It is now 3:25pm on April 23rd. It must be night in your
area. I don't listen to the radio, watch TV or read newspapers, so I don't know
much about Japan or the world.
On February 20th, a volunteer from
Spain and Kimijima-san came from Port Loko. He is always so kind, even though
he is busy. He brought a new computer and some Japanese food. He also brought a
lot of staples for the wall that Representative Kanno had prepared. Thank you
so much. Kimijima-san was so kind as to teach me how to use the new computer,
even though I didn't know anything. Kimijima-san
is always so kind, but this time he was even more kind. Thanks to him, I am
able to use the computer.
On February 26th, Professor
Takehiko Ochiai from Ryukoku University and his niece Sayuki came to Lunsar at
6:45am. They brought lots of Japanese food and medicine, including curry.
After a short break, we went to
the elementary school and kindergarten. At the kindergarten, the children and
teachers danced and sang songs to give us a warm welcome. For lunch, Professor
Ochiai and Sayuki made curry rice using the curry roux they had brought with
them. It was delicious.
P3.
It was 3:30 in the afternoon, the
hottest time of the day, but I set out with a black parasol to a health center
in the same town. Professor Ochiai asked the staff many questions. What kind of
people come? Do they charge a fee? and so on.
I had looked up the names of
children and parents who had been absent from kindergarten for more than a
week, so I looked them up on a map at the center and visited them. Both the
children and the parents were very happy, and I was very happy too.
On the way back to the monastery,
we came across a private clinic. It was run by an Egyptian. This clinic had
more medicines and was cleaner. Prof. Ochiai asked many questions there as
well. We had them rest well that night.
The next day, on the 27th, we went
to Maria Ines Vocational Training School and met with about 30 students who
were mothers. The principal, Sister Sandra, gives them a bag of rice, milk, and
necessary clothes every month. We often see malnourished children here. If they
are too thin, we take them to the hospital and have them admitted.
On the 28th, Prof. Ochiai and
Sayuki went to Mile 91 Clinic. I wanted to go too, but I had to teach at a
kindergarten, so I couldn't.
Sayuki is a doctor, and when she
left, she said, "I wish I had had more experience at Mile 91 Clinic."
At the beginning of February,
Sister Elisa came from Rome. Sister Elisa is the district superior before
Sister Adriana. We were so happy, like we were meeting a mother.
March 17th was Saint Joseph's Day.
Our district superior's name was
Sr. Josephine, so we celebrated on
that day. We all sang Cañanitas in the morning. We had a feast for breakfast,
lunch, and dinner. Sister Elisa left here on March 22nd.
All the sisters gathered together
to express their heartfelt gratitude to Sister Josephine and Sister Elisa.
♪ Sister Elisa came, I saw the
light, I saw it today too. I saw the shape, I saw the color, and I saw the love
that surrounded me ♪
We also showed our gratitude to
Sister Elisa at church. Not only us, but many people were happy. In March, a
person in Freetown whom one of the sisters knew sent us a lot of rice, sweets,
and biscuits. We shared them not only with teachers but also with students in
need, the poor, the seminaries in Freetown and Makeni, and various schools in
Lunsar. They were very happy. Now rice is very expensive, so the teachers were
jumping for joy.
April 5th was a Saturday, but we
all thought of the fact that we were pilgrims at church, and then we walked to
the neighboring town of Malampa, praying in tune with the suffering of Christ.
After attending mass there, we ate some sweets prepared by the sisters and some
simple bread prepared by someone, and then went home. I couldn't walk, so
someone took me there by car.
April 17th was the day of the Last
Supper. Mass was held at 6:30 in the evening. After that, we prayed the rosary
in front of the church. April 18th was the day Christ died. From 1:30 in the
afternoon, we walked down the street and prayed for an hour and a half. After
that, a long poem was read in the church. On the 19th, mass was held at 8:00 in
the evening, and 30 people were baptized during it. On the 20th, we celebrated
the resurrection of the Lord. Mass was held at 10:00.
On the 21st, the Pope of the
Catholic Church passed away. We gathered in Lungi and prayed. We prayed from
the bottom of our hearts for his eternal rest. He will definitely be in heaven.
This is the end of today. I hope
you will continue to support us. The children are always praying for you. Sister Shirahata
P4
“MY BIGGEST DREAM”
BY HAJARATU ISATU MANASARAY -
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL, CLASS 6
My name is
Hajaratu Isatu Mansaray. I am 11 years old and I am a Sierra Leonean by
nationality and a Theme by tribe. I live
with my Aunty and younger sibling, since both my father and mother died in a
car accident when I was eight years old.
I am attending
the Our Lady of Guadalupe Primary School, Lunsar. My biggest dream in life is
to become a Nurse, so that I can help many people regain their health. I would
like to improve the living conditions of people in this country and wish to
make my family proud of me.
In my dream I
wish people from other countries will come to my country Sierra Leone for
medical treatment. I want to be a Nurse to save people from dying.
Thank you very
much
“MY BIG DREAM”
BY CHRISTIANA Iye MACFOY – 1ST
LEVEL OF SENIOR SECONDAEYSCHOOL
My name is
Christiana Iye Macfoy, I am fourteen years and attending Our Lady of Guadalupe
Secondary School, Lunsar. I was born in a town called Kailahun, eight hours
drive from my school in Lunsar, where I now live in the Boarding Home.
I am in school
studying hard to be able to achieve a dream in life, that of becoming a Medical
Doctor. I am in the Science Department with the sole aim of achieving my dream
career in life. I know this implies a lot of effort but I am willing to do my
best, so that I can help my country Sierra Leone be a better place to dwell in.
Apart from
becoming a medical Doctor, I also dream of becoming the President of this
nation, so as to better the lives of our people by making provisions for better
living – portable water supply, sustainable electricity, good education,
agriculture etc. I want through the help of God and the solid education which I
am now receiving to forge forward. I know it is not always easy to attain
dreams but dreaming big helps a lot.
In conclusion;
I want Sierra Leone to be a better place to live in, a beautiful country that
everyone will lie to visit someday.
Thank you very
much.
“NAVIGATING THE
JOURNEY AS A PRE-PHARMACY STUDENT”
BY MABINTY SIDIQUE BANGURA – UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP HOLDER
I am a former
student of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Secondary School,
Lunsar, who gained admission into the
University to study Pharmacy.
P5
As a Pre -
Pharmacy student, my journey is fueled by an unwavering commitment to
healthcare and a desire to improve the lives of our people through proper
medication management. My primary aim is to deepen my understanding of
pharmacology and clinical practice, and become a certified graduate in this
area.
Although the
path is filled with challenges – the attention to coursework, including organic
chemistry, biochemistry and pharmacology which demands of me not only time but
also a significant amount of mental endeavor; I am however determined by God’s
grace and the help of my sponsors to achieve my dream. Balancing my studies and
daily life struggle while maintaining a high grade point average (GPA) often
leads to stress and anxiety which I am learning to manage.
Financially,
pursuing a pharmacy degree is a bit costly for a student of my socioeconomic
level; tuition costs, coupled with living expenses, create a substantial
financial burden on my family. I am really grateful to my sponsors in Japan -
Walking Together – who have given me a scholarship to assist in my academic journey.
In conclusion,
with the above mentioned, I am confident in my ability to navigate these
hurdles. My passion for pharmacy keeps me motivated, and I look forward to
contributing meaningfully to the healthcare community of my country Sierra
Leone in future.
“A DIARY OF MY STAY IN SIERRA LEONE
-I LIVE BY RELYING ON OTHERS-
BY SAYUKI OCHIAI,
DEPARTMENT OF PLASTIC SURGERY - YOKOHAMA
CITY UNIVERSITY
My
name is Sayuki Ochiai, and I am a doctor in Japan. I would like to report that
I visited Lunsar and Mile 91 accompanied by my uncle Takehiko Ochiai (professor
at Ryukoku University), an African regional researcher. I was studying Spanish
in Spain after taking a break from my work as a doctor and studying tropical
medicine in London when my uncle asked me, "Would you like to go and see
the medical care in Sierra Leone?"
All
I knew about Sierra Leone was that my uncle was so fond of it that he named his
dog "Sierra". However, this was a wonderful opportunity to put my
knowledge of tropical medicine to good use, and the religious order I was going
to be with was a Mexican religious order, and I could speak Spanish. I
immediately booked a plane ticket.
One
day at the end of February, I met my uncle at Istanbul Airport and arrived in
Freetown late at night. During the two-hour drive to Lunsar, I listened to my
uncle's lecture on Sierra Leone. "The people of Sierra Leone help each
other because they are poor." "When you come to Africa, you can just
ask people anything." There were no streetlights on the night roads, and
as a first timer, I still didn't know what kind of country it was. I could only
reply "Is that so?" while watching the pedestrians with flashlights
that appeared from time to time, but by the end of my nine-day stay, I felt
that it was really true.
We
were greeted at the Lunsar by the fantastical monastery garden, where palm
trees cast shadows against the pale pink dawn sky, and by Sr. Shirahata. The
other sisters who had just finished their morning service also all said
"welcome."
P6
The
children of Tamagawa Shirayuri Kindergarten performed a welcome song and dance.
It was an energy and rhythm that is hard to find in Japan. After that, I had
the opportunity to visit the OLG elementary and junior high school. It was exam
time, and everyone was working on their test papers in earnest.
That
afternoon, I went to visit the public clinic in Lunsar with my uncle and Sr.
Shirahata. We went out for about two hours in the scorching heat of nearly 38
degrees Celsius, but after we left the convent, there was a girl who stayed by
Sr. Shirahata's side and showed us the way. I was surprised and asked Sr. Shirahata,
"Why did that girl follow us?" and she replied, "I don't
know." "But she's one of my students..."
This
kind of thing happens a lot around Sr. Shirahata. Even when Sr. Shirahata steps
out onto the porch, someone rushes over and offers a hand. The tough-looking
man he meets in town, the fashionable mother, and her students all come running
up to her with a smile, saying, "Sister!" It's easy to imagine just
how much Sr. Shirahata has done here. But even I, who have not contributed
anything to this country, can only imagine how much she has done.
However,
even though I have not contributed anything to this country, "someone
helped me" on a daily basis, although to different degrees. When I was
watching mango picking on the roadside, someone gave me a mango, when I
suddenly went to a hospital or clinic, they were happy to let me take a look,
when I asked a passerby about something I didn't understand, they were happy to
explain it to me. I realized that in this country, people overcome difficult
days that seem to have no solution, such as poverty, language differences, and
inadequate infrastructure, by "helping each other." For me, who grew
up in Japan, where the difficulties of life are often dismissed as personal
responsibility, the idea that it is okay to rely on others was new and reassuring.
However,
we can't overcome everything by helping each other. I moved to Mile 91 and
worked at the clinic for a few days, but there were no tests that could be
done, so I could only give painkillers to patients who complained of pain, and
I couldn't prescribe basic asthma medicine because it was too expensive. It was
more painful than I had imagined that we couldn't get treatments that are easy
to do in Japan. Many people died, and even when I interviewed them, the number
of children a mother gave birth to was different from the number of children
living at home. What may have been an abnormal situation for me was everyday
life for the local people. I felt frustrated because I felt like I was the only
one who was surprised or anxious. Even in such a situation, another patient
translated for me during the examination, and I continued to receive help from
others.
Although
I don't need Spanish at all for my everyday work, I still study it because I
like the sound of the language. I was happy to hear one of my favorite words,
"compartir," during the meal prayer at the monastery. The word
"partir," which means "to share," is preceded by
"con-," which means "with," and the literal translation is
"to share together." The English word "share," which has
the same meaning, may be shorter and smarter, but every time I say
"compartir," I can imagine specifically who I'm sharing with, and it
makes me feel warm inside.
Both
the monastic orders and the local people provided me with a lot of resources,
knowledge, and kindness, and my stay in Sierra Leone was filled with warmth. I
would like to be able to rely on others, be relied on and do more compartir a
little more easier in Japan. Thank you very much.
P7
“POPE
FRANCIS, EVERYONE’S PAPA,”
BY MARTA TANAKA, HEADQUARTERS STAFF
OF WALKING TOGETHER
To
the people of Argentina, where I was born, the Pope is like a kind father and
is called "everyone's papa." He is like a family member who is always
there for them and will listen to anything they have to say.
I
was born and raised in Flores, a town on the suburbs of the capital, a town
full of close neighbors, neither rich nor poor, just an ordinary town like any
other. It was an environment where children naturally learned the spirit of
helping and sharing with others.
The Pope was an archbishop at the
church my sister belongs to. So I heard a lot of stories about the daily life
of the Pope when he was an archbishop.
This is an episode that gives you
a sense of Pope Francis' personality and his down-to-earth personality.
First of all, he lived in a small
apartment, not in a house given to him as an archbishop, and did not use a car.
He commuted to the archbishop's place every day by subway or bus. His daily
routine was to buy a newspaper on the way from the station where he got off. He
had a friend who was a taxi driver, and his family would invite him to dinner
once a month. He refused all of the driver’s offers to pick him up, but instead
took a cheesecake and went out by bus. I heard that he liked the home-cooked
pasta that the family had served him.
After work, he enjoyed tea time
with the members of the youth and women's groups who worked at the Archbishop's
House. They talked about many things, including slums, the situation of the
homeless, and his favorite sport, soccer.
The Pope has visited many
countries in Africa, Asia, America, Oceania, etc., but has not made official
visits to major European countries such as Spain, France, and England.
I think he conveyed to the world
that it is precisely in those places where the light of Christ should shine,
where there are those who do not stand out, those who are on the fringes of the
world and society.
In 2016, members of the church in
Buenos Aires, where the Pope used to live, visited the Vatican together because
the local friendly Archbishop Bergoglio could not return to his home country
after he became Pope Francis.
Papa was very happy to be reunited
with his old friends and exchanged words with each of them. He also spoke to my
sister, who said she would pray for our mother, who recently passed away. The
photo of this occasion is a treasured part of our family.
“E-MAIL FROM
SISTER ESMERALDA”
MAY 15, 2025
I would like to express my
sincere gratitude for all your kind prayers. After more than a year and three
surgeries, I have returned to Sierra Leone safely. I would like to express my
sincere gratitude to everyone who prayed for my recovery. I am feeling much
better now and am ready to return to work.
I am very happy to be back in this missionary
work and to be able to work energetically again. I hope to catch up on the
backlogged work soon.
The reason for the long
treatment was that I had problems with my right kidney and also had a stomach
infection that required surgery to remove the infected area to prevent
esophageal cancer. Thank God.
P8
Everything went well, and the
treatment and surgery were successful. I am doing very well now. Thank you for
all your prayers. Let's keep in touch. May God bless you and all the supporters
of Walking Together.
COMMENTS FROM OUR SUPPORTERS
💙Thank you for the newsletter. I read it carefully. Sister
Shirahata, who is 83 years old and still working cheerfully in faraway Sierra
Leone, and all the students are just so cheerful. C.T.
💙May Sister Shirahata's sickness and pain be healed. May
the children of Lunsar and their school be given what they need. May the Lord's
help and appreciation be with the work of the "Walking Together
Association." K.S.
💙Thank you always for your newsletter. I look forward to
every issue. Supporters’ continued support for the flea market and garage sale
is a great strength. I would like to continue supporting you in the future. K.K.
💙Thank you for sending me the 47th issue of the
newsletter. I was happy to see that Sister Shirahata is doing well. I would
also like to know how Sister Yoshida is doing. H. N.
💙Thank you for your newsletter. It's a small thing, but I
feel blessed and happy to be able to support the children of Sierra Leone.
Thank you.K.T.
💙No one can imitate Sister Shirahata's efforts. And the
bright smiles of Sister Josephine the principal, and the students are so
wonderful. Y. H.
💙 I feel like I’m saved to see the
shining eyes of children who must be living in difficult conditions every day.
Although it is a small amount of support, I hope that it can continue for as
long as possible. N.M.
💙 Sister Shirahata,
I hope you are doing well. I am as healthy as anyone my age. When I think of
you, I see the smiling faces of the children around you. I hope you continue to
be healthy. S.A.
SR. YOSHIDA’S LATEST UPDATE
BY SR. CHIEKO KAMOI, SUPERIOR OF
THE JAPANESE REGION
Thank you for the newsletter.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone for your hard work. As
for Sr. Yoshida's health, thanks to you all, there was nothing abnormal in her
recent regular checkup. The doctor said that five years after her cancer
surgery is a milestone, so in her case, that will be this year. Currently, she
is gradually taking part in the work of the monastery in a way appropriate to
her age. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone for the
concern and prayers for Sr. Yoshida's health. I do not know yet what her
apostolic work will be like in the future, but I would like to express my
gratitude to each and every one of you for your generous support through your
prayers, so I hope you will accept it. Thank you, God.
[Obituary]
Long-time supporter Kiyoko
Kato passed away on January 26th. We pray that the Lord's comfort be abundantly
given to her family.
NOTICE FROM HEADQUARTERS♪
On April 25th, we were able to
send the third support money of this year. The total amount is 2.3 million yen,
consisting of 1.8 million yen for school lunch support for three months (March
to May) and 500,000 yen for multipurpose support for OLG schools. For the next support
money (July), we plan to send the remaining 2 months of school lunch support,
100,000 yen for medical support, and 200,000 yen for support for Mile 91
Clinic.
<Editor's
Note> The photo on the right shows
Prof. Takehiko Ochiai, his niece and doctor Sayuki Ochiai, and Sister
Elizabeth, who visited Lunsar. Thanks to them, this issue is also full of gratitude.
(Katsujiro Kanno)
Pictures:
P1: We are so happy Dr. Sayuki
visited us!
Junior high school students are dressed
neatly for a cooking class.
P2: Sr. Josephine Kamara standing in front of a
portrait of Maria Ines
Sr. Kazuko Shirahata with a volunteer
from Spain
P4: Mansaray standing in front of a map of Africa
Macfoy drawing water from a well
P5: Bangura (center) and
her schoolmates
P6: Clinic Staff （Sayuki is second from the right in the front row）
P7 The author’s sister receiving the Pope’s
blessing
P8 Professor.
Takehiko Ochiai, his niece and doctor Sayuki Ochiai, with Sister Elizabeth.
(Translation by A. Yamamoto)