Last Modified : 2010-08-28 5:37 am
Categories : News
For 18 days from 6th to 23rd August, four students (leader: Mr. Masanobu Yamaguchi) of the Tenri University Yoboku Association Australia Group visited Australia. Staying at the Oceania Centre as their base and engaging various activities, they played an active role in conveying the teachings of Oyasama to as many people as possible from the local communities in Brisbane.
The Yoboku Association has a long history as a religious club of Tenri University. Since 1953 they have conducted missionary work at various places throughout Japan every summer, making use of the long summer vacation. This year they have conveyed the teachings through missionary work at Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan from 6th to 11th August. The association has also looked overseas since 1970, organised the ‘Overseas Missionary Group’, and conducted missionary activities mainly in Hong Kong until 2000.
The Australia group was first organised in 1999, and the eleventh group has visited us this year. Throughout these 11 years, a total of 62 students from the Yoboku Association have visited Australia so far. During their stay at the Centre, they sincerely conveyed the teachings of Oyasama to the local communities of Brisbane not only through door-to-door missionary work and cultural exchanges with such educational institutions and local facilities as primary and high schools, a university and a nursing home, but also through homestays. Then having successfully completed their schedule without major problems, they left for Jiba on the very early morning of 23rd August.
The following is a report on their main schedule and activities.
- 6th Arrival in BNE, Orientation, Lecture, Welcome Party
- 7th Nioigake 1, Hinokishin, Discussion
- 8th Hinokishin, Cultural tour 1
- 9th Nioigake 2, 3, Discussion
- 10th Exchange at MacGregor State High School,Hometay until 12th
- 12th Hinokishin
- 13th Nioigake 4, 5, Discussion
- 14th Hinokishin, Service practice
- 15th Monthly service, TSA meeting
- 16th Exchange at Sunnybank Special School,Visiting Kutomi BNE MS
- 17th Exchange at Thornlands State School,Exchange at Griffith University
- 18th Exchange at Carindale Court Nursing Home,Cultural tour 2
- 19th Exchange at Junction Park State School,Hinokishin
- 20th Preparation for dinner party for host families,Dinner party inviting host families
- 21st Cultural tour 3
- 22nd General cleaning, Thank-you party
- 23rd Departure for Jiba
Since the number of the group this time was four and only boys, we felt a little worried at the beginning. Making use of this situation, they showed momentum and unity as a group, although there was no bright and flowery atmosphere created by female students in the previous years. Above all, it was one of the greatest joys that all the members could go through the entire period without getting sick or injured.
On the other hand, door-to-door mission-ary work as a direct method of missionary activities was conducted five times during their stay. This time, all the members had prepared well to convey the teachings to others in English before they came here, talked willingly to those whom they visited, and administered the truth of the Sazuke, the Divine Grant, all of which made them feel very fulfilled. It is very significant, however, that through the experience of door-to-door missionary work, each student experienced joy and wonderfulness in sprinkling the fragrance of the teachings, and enhanced the willingness of missionary work in future. Furthermore, it is important for them to consider how to utilise what they learned and experienced through their activities in Australia, and also how to keep in touch with people both whom they met and who took care of them during their stay for overseas mission in their future.
Finally, we earnestly hope that the Australia Group of the Yoboku Association, which has just completed its 11th tour, will plan more fruitful activities and take a continuous and steady step each time in the future, and thus will be a great power in the prosperity of the path in Australia.
