Illuminated by Heavenly Light
Ikuko Kisaichi
(Oberá, Argentina)
I came here with my parents and sister eighty years ago, when I was one year old and my sister four. Just before World War II, when I was ten years old, we returned to Japan with my mother, leaving my father in Argentina. After the war, I worked at the Kawasaki City Municipality Office. I missed the impressive and grandiose landscape of South America. Therefore, later I returned to Argentina where my father lived.
When I turned 25 in Argentina, my father introduced me to a 42-year-old Japanese man to be my husband. He had been a pioneer in a settlement in Argentina since he emigrated. When we first met, I said, "I am short, unappealing, and have nothing to be proud of." He liked my simplicity and accepted me as his wife.
My husband was a very proud and generous man. I was very grateful to marry him, because I thought he was more than I deserved. We settled in Oberá, in the province of Misiones, located in the northeast of Argentina and at the borders of Paraguay and Brazil. The wild forest spreads endlessly here with the roar of Iguazú Falls felt from afar.
Meeting with a Minister of Makuya
In South America, the Japanese immigrants settled on undeveloped land in a remote area, where there were no roads. First, they had to build roads and a ranch to live. They cut trees and worked on the land. My husband opened the jungle and cultivated yerba mate tea.
One day, Rev. Isao Numata from the Original Gospel group called Makuya visited us at our home with a church evangelist during their trips for ministry. Since my husband was from Sapporo, Hokkaido (the northern island of Japan), where Rev. Numata spent the first years of his ministry, they quickly became familiar with each other and we enjoyed chatting with him. In the evening, the church evangelist asked for a private room to rest, but Rev. Numata smiled and said, "If you let me sleep in the corner of the hall, that is enough for me." His words and his humble personality left a deep impression on my heart. At the time of his departure, he left some copies of Light of Life with us.
From Sadness to Joy
I came to Makuya after my husband passed away. It was one morning when he, after having a cup of tea, went to the Agricultural Association as usual. There he had a heart attack and fell. He did not recover anymore and passed away. After losing my husband, I felt very lonely and wanted to see him. Unable to think of anything else to fill my empty heart, I borrowed my friend's Buddhist sutra and started praying day and night.
One day, I received a copy of Light of Life that Rev. Numata sent me from Japan. At first, I did not understand the Bible lectures that much, but the testimonies of various people touched my heart. They were incredible.
Every month Rev. Numata sent me a copy of the magazine, and so I sent him a letter of thanks. Soon after that, a person from São Paulo Makuya visited me. He invited me to attend the Makuya meetings, but I was undecided. I knew how great the Makuya faith was from the monthly magazine, but I asked myself if I could live with the faith of the Original Gospel. It was at that time that my late husband and Rev. Numata appeared in my mind and I heard a voice whispering inside me, "If you miss this opportunity, when will it be next?" Then, without realizing, I said, "Please, let me join your faith group." God must have pushed me forward.
Euphoric Joy
I first attended a Makuya summer holy convocation in Brazil eight years ago. In the holy convocation, all the participants prayed aloud, "Heavenly Father!" Even though we were in the same room, it felt like their voices were coming from afar. I wanted to pray like them, but my voice did not come out. At the last meeting, I was finally able to say loudly, "Heavenly Father!" At that moment, a dazzling light shone from the sky and fell in front of me like rain. In addition, extraordinary joy welled up from my belly, and I felt like I was lifted up to heaven. I had never felt such joy until then. Tears kept falling from my eyes.
Although I received joy in the holy convocation, after returning home I had no one besides me to pray together and encourage one another. Every time I had a trouble, my mind got caught up in it and filled with worries. One day I thought, "I should turn to the Bible." I quickly opened the Book of Luke, and then my Bible was illuminated by light. At that moment, the love of God entered my heart. Surprised at what happened to me, I just thanked for this incredible experience; I was wrapped by the peace of God.
I came to know the love of God for the first time in my life at the age of seventy-five. Overwhelmed by joy, I could not stop sharing this joy with my close friends. An old friend of mine told me: "You have really changed. You become more animated and positive. You are rejuvenated and your face shines with joy." And she began to read the Light of Life I sent her. Now I have several friends to pray together, including one who even comes to my house from very far. With these four or five people, I hold regular prayer meetings at my house.
(2012)