Last Modified : 2011-01-29 5:52 am
Categories : News
On 16th & 17th January, the “3rd Youth Gathering in Oceania” was held in a lively manner, inviting youths including mainly senior high school and university students in the diocese. This gathering was held just one year ago for the first time with the hope to provide such young people in the region who used to participate in the Children’s Sleepovers, sponsored by the Centre many times, with an opportunity to learn the teachings of Oyasama and to follow this faith in their future. During the gathering this time, the 3rd time, 14 high school and university students including 10 boys, 3 girls and 1 trainer, assembled not only from Brisbane and the Gold Coast but also from Sydney, and shared a very fruitful and precious time with each other. This time, since there were many youths among them who were born and raised in Australia, all the programs were conducted in English.
In the opening which started from 2:00 p.m., right after worshipping God the Parent and Oyasama, Rev. Adachi made opening remarks in which he talked about the significance of the Tenrikyo Students Association (TSA) in an easy manner, and then expressed his hope that all the participants would strengthen their bond as a student of the Path living in the Oceania region during the Gathering. After that, they enjoyed a warming-up session which helped relieve their tensions, and then a field rally game, which immediately created a friendly atmosphere. Later, they deepened their understanding through self-introduction games, which made them help bring unity as a team. Before evening service the hand dance practice was held, where Rev. Adachi instructed the seated service. Attentively listening to the meaning of the songs and the importance of the service, each participant practiced the hand dance in high spirits. In the Manabi during the evening service, the participants were in charge of playing the musical instruments and played them earnestly, which impressed us very much.
After dinner the information exchange games were conducted, where the participants found it important to help each other and to try to be aware of the virtues of others. Then the “TSA Hour” followed. Each participant made a short speech and then the trainer explained the TSA activities, which made them realise the importance of the TSA activities in the region. Afterwards, eating pizzas presented by the Centre, they reflected upon Day One in a cozy and friendly atmosphere.
Day Two started by doing clean-up hinokishin around the sanctuary and the parking lot in the refreshing early morning air. After the morning service and breakfast, they enjoyed a group exercise of exchanging information based on the HARP program in which they learned how important and how difficult group work is by listening to others’ opinions while having their own.
In closing, Rev. Adachi gave remarks in which he wanted the participants to link what they had learned during the gathering this time to their future activities and to voluntarily promote their activities by inviting other students around them. At the very end, all of them, in a circle, sang heartily together one of the TSA songs called “Akari–A light of faith–” that had been translated into English by some volunteers among the members, showing strong ties as peers of the path and with a feeling of satisfaction and a sense of expectation toward the future in their faces. In the luncheon that followed, they deepened their friendship while cooking “octopus balls” and “Japanese fried noodles” togeter.
