TOC 41st Children’s Sleepover

The TOC 41st Child-ren’s Sleepover was successfully conducted during 26th and 27th of June, making use of the winter school holiday. This sleepover, held for the first time in half a year, was participated in by only 10 children, whose number was the smallest in recent years, but they showed a sense of unity accordingly in a cozy and friendly atmosphere.

In the opening ceremony, Rev Adachi, head of the Centre, first talked to the children in an easy manner about a “joyous life”, a keyword during the sleepover, for which they should keep the “Three Promises” advocated by the Tenrikyo Boys & Girls Association. Explaining the “Most Joyous Group Award”, he emphanised “mutual help” within the group for this purpose.

Then the participants enjoyed watching a video recording of the sleepover held just one year ago, which made them easily understand what the sleepover was going to be. Through the orientation, self-introduction and ice-breaking games, all of them, including three newcomers, fully opened up to each other.  In the service practice session, they practised not only the musical instruments for Yorozuyo, but also the hand movements for the seated service. What they had practised hard was shown at the evening and morning services in an unexpectedly better manner, which brought content and joy to the staff.

After enjoying dodge-ball games under the winter sky, the children listened to Rev. Adachi who, using a picture-story show, explained a story “With Round Mind” from the Anecdotes of Oyasama in an easy manner, and then attended the evening service uniting their minds as one.

Dinner was a rich “special dinner set for children”. All of them fully enjoyed the meal. After dinner, the Big Laughter Games Night was held as the main event of the day. Two teams earnestly competed in the three games such as “Ride-on Newspaper”, “Tail-hunting” and “Clothes-change Relay”. Being worthy of the name, “Big Laughter”, both players and spectators burst into laughter, sharing a wonderful time with each other.

Day Two started with morning exercises led by the active and vigorous staff. All of the participants warmed up by dancing the Radio Exercise and “Achikochi Taiso”, and listened to a small talk on Tenrikyo by Rev. Adachi who talked about the inportantce of filial devotion to parents and the mind of sincerity, quoting ‘The Child’s Concern for the Parent’ from the Anecdotes of Oyasama.

After the morning service and breakfast, the children were challenged to make a kaleidoscope in the workshop session. They fully enjoyed making their own kaleidoscope for the first time, which made them very impressed and satisfied. Afterwards, they went out and did clean-up hinokishin eagerly around the Centre, although it looked a bit difficult for some of them to handle the big tongs. Then the Sports Festival followed. It was held in the Centre’s yard as the main event of the second day. The children expressed their joy by running around the yard, participating in such competitions as a balls-in-basket and a tug of war where they needed to unite their strength together as a group. The children’s cheering echoed within the Centre while they were expressing their joy by running round the lawn with their minds as one.

The sleepover this time was relatively quiet due to the small number of the participants, but it was much easier for the staff to supervise them. We realized that we could lead part of a “joyous life”, the keyword mentioned by Rev. Adachi at the opening ceremony, together with the children. As we want to make continued efforts to create a more substantial sleepover, we humbly ask for your further support and cooperation.