DECEMBER 2010 VOLUME 371 Boys and Girls Association Sleepover TENRIKYO MISSION NEW YORK CEN T ER God is Wondrous, the Path is Wondrous 23 of Kiyoko just in case something critical In September 1934, my mother en- happens.” rolled in Bekka, the Six-Month Missionary My father was a doting parent like any Training Course at Tenri Seminary, taking other. But no matter how much he may her eldest daughter Kiyoko and Aunt Kura have believed in his head that the only with her. I imagine it was not easy to be a way to have his daughter be saved was to seminary student while having a two-year- dedicate himself single-heartedly to God, old with her, but because my mother did I can only imagine what he felt inside. not have to worry about meals every day, People can do nothing sitting at their dy- she surely must have thought to herself, ing child’s side. It is God who saves them. “Here is paradise on this earth.” However, If one wants to save someone who cannot this paradise-like seminary life did not last be saved, one must do something to stir very long. There was a serious measles epi- God’s heart. The only thing human beings demic across the nation that winter. When can do is to pour forth their sincerity until the measles occurred in conjunction with God accepts it. pneumonia, the combination was lethal. Kiyoko’s breathing was growing Deaths rose to the tens of thousands. weaker. Sitting at her side, my mother had Jiba was not spared from the outbreak. a sudden insight. She thought about how Seminary students became infected. Many Father surely must have been walking adults and children passed away for re- around ceaselessly in the cause of salvation birth. Funerals were held continuously work these past few days, without food day after day at the many followers dor- and without sleep, out of the single desire mitories. The epidemic was so awful that to have Kiyoko be saved. She thought, “I close to half of the 500 or so children of must do something too!” She gathered seminary students who were looked after her belongings. Deciding to keep just one at the day care center had passed away for nightdress, she ran and took everything rebirth. else to the pawnshop. With three yen in During this time, there was also her hand, she ran to the Main Sanctuary something wrong with Kiyoko. The doc- and prayed toward the Kanrodai. tor concluded that it was pneumonia trig- When Mother returned to the follow- gered by the measles. Kiyoko ran a high ers dormitory, Grandmother Sumi was fever for some time and her nostrils began there. Sumi heard the news from Father, twitching. It all appeared hopeless to ev- had rushed to the followers dormitory eryone’s eyes. Mother informed my father and was now wailing, cradling her dy- of Kiyoko’s condition a few days earlier, ing granddaughter in her arms. Mother, but his response was: “Even if I were to also in tears, went to sit at Sumi’s side. At stop my missionary work and return to that moment, Kiyoko suddenly shouted, Jiba, it would likely only result in me see- “Grandma!” and turned to Mother to say, ing her off as she passes away for rebirth. “Mommy, I’m hungry.” Mother’s room- To have Kiyoko be saved, I will leave the mate immediately went to the dining area rented home we have been living in and to get something Kiyoko could eat. Every- renew my missionary efforts today while one in the room shouted with joy. Kiyoko sleeping outdoors. I ask you to take care had been blessed with a full recovery. (R) November Monthly Service The November Monthly Service was held on November 7 under blue skies. (100 attendees) The sermon was delivered by Michael Yuge, Staff Minister of New York Center. After the service, a blood drive was held at Queens Hospital as well as a Women’s Assn. monthly meeting and a Drum and Fife Corps practice. Michael Yuge Service Sermon New York Center Staff Minister Thank you for attending the No- vember Monthly Service today and for performing the service in unison and in high spirits. It is a pleasure to be able to perform in the service with everyone in our wonderful sanctuary. It is also an honor to speak to you today. I would like to share a few of my thoughts on the state of things in New York and touch on where we can go in the future. First I would like to speak about Post. New York Center. In October, we opened Some of the other people who vis- up our doors to the public for the event ited us on that day apparently pass by called Open House New York which is a the church all the time but never had tour of New York City’s architecturally the courage to come inside. It is through interesting sites. It was our second year community activities such as these that participating as a church, but this year 20 people have really shown an interest in or 30 people came to visit us, including our new building and our practices. Ulti- a reporter. He eventually wrote a nice mately this becomes a great opportunity article about our church and the Tenrikyo to tell them about Tenrikyo. One of our teachings and how we opened our doors members who participated in Nioigake to “residents from across the city to a re- Day the previous week said, “It’s much ligion many in the area may have never better to have people come in for an event heard of.” It eventually was published in like this than to go out and pass out pam- the Flushing Times as well as the New York phlets.” This new building has given us a 1 way to break the ice and tell people about to its potential. the teachings. And when people step into In New York, we had previously the building, they often feel a great sense received a wonderful blessing and gift of peacefulness and comfort. I feel this is which was Tenri Cultural Institute. Next the ultimate gift from our architects, our year will mark the 20th Anniversary of contractors, our supporters, and God the TCI. Over the years, we have welcomed Parent and Oyasama. thousands of students and we have had And I cannot help but feel an over- hundreds of concerts and events. And whelming sense of gratitude to people every time someone comes for the first such as the late Rev. Jiro Morishita and the time, they are pleasantly surprised and late Mr. Tokiyuki Yokoi who sacrificed so comforted with the space and are eager to much so that this dream sanctuary could find out about all our programs. Whether be realized. I hope to one day tell my the person is a student, a parent, an artist, grandchildren about how Rev. Jiro spent a musician or a tourist, there is no deny- a year and a half to design and build ing the universal appeal of our space. It is these shrines, the kandoko housing, the up to us to show kindness to the people chairs, the hassoku stands, the donation who come in and show them how we box and this podium all in Los Angeles practice the teachings in our daily lives. and then shipped it to New York to put In New York, I meet many people who it all together. His greatest concern was say that they are not interested in reli- that this traditional looking shrine would gion, but they look at our staff, followers not match the modern construction of the and children and comment on what a building. I think it matches beautifully wonderful community of nice people we and it keeps us grounded and connected have. Rev. Okui used to say that it was to God no matter how modern the build- up to us to show people our “sokonashi no ing may be. And it was the late Mr. Yokoi shinsetsu,” or kindness which shows no who connected this microphone, our PA bounds. And it is thanks to this kindness, system and the translation receivers at which you rarely find in New York, that the risk of his life. He had a kidney disor- people will come back. der and needed to receive kidney dialysis And due to this, TCI has become treatment every other day, so coming an established community center. As a from Los Angeles to install this equip- Japanese school, we no longer have the ment was very risky. We later found out need to advertise since our classes are that he even passed up an opportunity to well attended. Nowadays people either receive a kidney transplant since he had hear by word of mouth or simply find committed to come to New York. Both of us on the internet and come in. If you these incredibly dedicated and generous search “Japanese Language New York individuals passed away shortly after City” in Google, we are the first hit. Not their tasks on this job were finished. Their only have our adult classes grown, but greatest hopes were that that the younger we now have an equal amount of chil- generation would utilize this sanctuary dren taking our classes. At last count, we 2 had 89 adults and 89 children. That’s 178 easier to bring someone who is familiar students, which is 22 short of this year’s with Tenri Cultural Institute in Manhat- goal of 200 students.