2000
years ago, Jesus called his disciples, just by saying " Come after me " (Math.
4-19)
Now that I think of my vocation, I can only think of this call.
I was born in Amami Oshima. Right after the war, Capuchin priests came to town and missionary activies started once again. Several churches have been built and the heart of people were filled with joy. On December 25th 1953, Amami Oshima got the Christmas gift of being returned to Japan.
The
following year, two Sisters came to Japan for the first time. People were saying
" This time, there are women priests ". Sisters came to our church also, extending
an in vitation to the religious life. That was the first time I saw a Sister,
and we talked about many things. Then I decided to enter the convent. I only had
a week in preparation.
My desire was to follow the Lord who called me. " I really will ! ". There was nothing else I could think about. Local people gossiped about me saying that my mother would never let me go. My father quietly tried to dissuade me saying " The life in a convent is far from being easy ". But my will has not changed. I was ready in a week, and there I was, off to the convent. It is a wonder that I am here right now !
The
following word of the Bible has always been the motive power for me, and has a
significant meaning for me :
" A ll that he does is apt for its time ; but although he has given us an awareness
of the passage of time, we can grasp neither the beginning nor the end of what
God does ".
(Ecclesiastes 3-11)