New York Grace Church School visited Tohon Grand Church
| (Tohon Newsletter Vol.2_No.4_Total No.8) Reported by Mr. TOHDA Masao A member of Tohon Overseas Mission Dept. At the request of the Tenri Cultural Institute of New York, we made accommodation for the New York Grace Church School (NYGCS) to stay in Tokyo. It was the third time that students of NYGCS visited Tohon Grand Church since 1997. The NYGCS party consisted of 13 junior high students and 3 teachers. They safely arrived at Tohon in the evening of June 24th. At their arrival, we greeted them joyously at the sanctuary of Tohon with our Bodo-kai members (a student association of Tohon). Although we have different faiths, we prayed and thanked to God the Parent and Oyasama for their safety arrival and their happy stay at Tohon together. We briefly explained them about Tohon Grand Church, the facilities and their schedule. Looking around inside of the big sanctuary, one of the students interestedly asked us, “What kind of God is this?” Maybe it was the first time for them to hear the name of God the Parent, Tenri-O-no-Mikoto and the Foundress, Oyasama. We told them a little about God the Parent and hand them out pamphlets on Tenrikyo later on. As we prepared for their arrival, we made a large board that read “Welcome to Tohon” on the 7th floor room. We held a welcome pizza party for students of NYGCS with the members of Bodo-kai and the members of Tohon’s last homestay program in N.Y. They entertained themselves dancing, singing, taking pictures and conversation together. 30 people participated in this party. I felt that we adults could not make such atmosphere but young powers were borderless. After the party, all students of both groups made cleanup-hinokishin together. Mrs. Barbara Haney, a vice president and a head of lower school, said, “This is an important thing to let the students have appreciation.” So hot and humid next day on 25th, we drove a mini bus for their sightseeing in Tokyo; walking Tokyo Bay area, crossing the rainbow bridge, seeing the Imperial Palace, going up to the top of Tokyo Metropolitan Hall and having lunch at the 34th floor sky cafeteria. Finally we took them to Asakusa for their souvenir time, and they concluded their Tokyo night at “Karaoke”. Wow, it sounds like they know how to enjoy Japan. Their schedule in Tokyo was quite tight, but they said to us, “We enjoyed sightseeing in Tokyo and had good time staying at Tohon Grand Church.” We were thanked from all students and teachers heartily. They went back to New York from Narita safely on June 26th. Thank you very much for those who helped us doing hinokishin this time. Especially Bodo-kai and young members of Tohon. Return to the top of the page. |
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