Reported by Reverend Lisa Uzunoe, Konko Church of Portland, USA
(edited from full 6 page report)
On April 15th this year, to my delight I received an email from the Konkokyo International Center asking if I could help with their annual faith gathering in London from June 4th -10th with Reverend Yukie Morimoto, Deputy director of KIC. I’ve never been to Europe before, and after receiving Mediation, as work and home schedule allowed it I was able to reply “yes.”
We had a total of four scheduled events: a “mama’s party” for the mothers to get together and talk specifically about families and children, a faith workshop presentation and discussion, a prayer service and social hour, and a requested prayer service at a believer’s house.
On the 6th, we had a wonderful mama’s gathering, where the everyday Sunday school items we use, the kid’s prayer book, Sunday school pledge, family teachings, etc, were so well received and needed.
In the morning of the 8th, we had a faith workshop presentation. My main message for the workshop was the teaching,
When practicing faith, there are more blessings which cannot be seen than those which can be seen. The blessings you unknowingly receive number more than the blessings you knowingly receive. If you think about it, you will come to realize the many divine blessings you have received. If you can do this, you are a true believer. (Voice of the Universe #130)
Then emphasized how important Mediation is to becoming able to achieve the above teaching. And even though there are no churches or Mediators in the UK, how KIC’s Mediators are there for them, and soon KCNA’s website Mediator request link, skype, and other media – truly through technology, Mediation is available anytime, anywhere. Also through sharing my own experiences, hoped to establish a connection for them with Konko Sama, as he doesn’t need technology to Mediate! At the end, wished to empower them by sharing stories of the KCNA pioneers.
In the afternoon, Reverend Morimoto and I officiated the prayer service with sermon.
On the 9th, prayer service at a believer’s house was held and after the service we all enjoyed a wonderful lunch.
It truly opened my heart when I saw their faith, how deeply appreciative they were to be able to hold and attend a service, to have the opportunity to be able to come together and talk (as many of them live very far apart), and how they had incorporated faith into their lives and were receiving blessings directly through Konko Daijin’s teachings. One lady said she had always wanted to expose her kids to the faith and see people praying together just as she had done when she went to church. Another lady commented that although she recited the prayers at home, it was much more spiritually inspiring to say the prayers together as a group.
Lately, I’ve been pushing away “world propagation” as I felt that was a bigger organization’s job, and our local churches should be concentrating on helping our local communities. I have been working hard at doing so, however I feel Kami is showing me (showing all of us) that we can do both at the same time—that we need to do both at the same time, to keep our hearts truly open and in fulfilling Kami’s greater wish.
Thank you to the Konkokyo International Center for the daily goyo you do, to my Head Minister for allowing me this goyo, to Konko Sama for your prayers and guidance, and to everyone for all of your prayers and support. Most of all, my deepest appreciation to the wonderful believers I met in London, for each one of you have taught and inspired me in so many more ways than you know. I truly appreciate the experience which has broadened and opened my heart, and I pray, the hearts of many others in turn.
