"What ?! that Sato-san is becoming a nun ? A real act of God ! Congratulations ! "
Such
was the greeting telegram I received on the day of my first vow.
People who knew me before I entered the convent never even imagined that I could
become a nun, and said " that Sato-san!”. I had my hair dyed in brown which was
not yet very common at that time, and was dressed in showy fashion. I was running
around with enthusiasm with my work, and also dancing, skiing, bowling, and swimming.
One
day, a happening made me wonder about the uncertain existence of human beings,
also about money. "Who am I ? ", " What has an eternal value ? I started on a
wondering trip with those questions. It was on this trip that I could meet Jesus
Christ.
Introduced by a priest, I began to work at the Saint Paul bookstore in Yamaguchi.
Sisters were saying: "This girl who is now in our bookstore works well, but her
showy fashion !...” and I was often a subject of their conversation. Sisters who
often invited young girls to retreats, never addressed a word to me. Because from
the beginning they could not imagine someone like me to have a vocation.
However,
quite unlike the outside look, I was seriously looking for my own way, and I was
active in meetings of young people and CLC. Getting married or is there another
way ? Looking for the answer, I went to an eight-day-retreat. There I could clearly
hear the invitation from Jesus:” Follow me.”, and made my decision to enter the
Daughters of St. Paul congregation. Sisters were most surprised at this decision.
"What ? that young girl ?! "
My grandmother and my parents who gave me the permission saying "If you are ready
to go on till the end of the way you have chosen yourself…” are now watching upon
me from Heaven. When I look back, I can see that God is working in me precisely
when I am weak. And even now, I often think : "What ?! me ? this is an act of
God. It looks so strange to other people."