メリディアン
日本語
日本の教会員
Yuji Sekiguchi Called to Portugal
January 14, 2007
I hope many of you remember Brother Osamu Sekiguchi who with his family walked to SLC on the re-enactment Pioneer Trek in 1997 and then took a three-month bicycle tour to Europe in the summer of 2006. You might be interested in this exchange. Note: It is the custom to open missionary call letters in Sacrament Meeting in some ｗards in Japan. That is what Yuji did.
Dear Elder Fillmore,
My son, Yuji received his mission call. He is assigned to serve to the
Portugal Porto Mission.
He didn't write anything about our trip to Europe in 2006 on his mission paper. I'm so surprised.
In
1549, the first Christian missionary came from Portugal to Japan to tell
the gospel. It's almost 460 years ago. Now, Japanese boy goes to
Portugal to tell the restored gospel to it's people. It's interesting.
Thank you, Osamu Sekiguchi
Dear Sam,
It is interesting indeed! I would like to mention this on the website if you don't mind. The first missionary from to Japan to learn Portuguese was Masakazu Watabe who now teaches at BYU. He was called to Brazil on his mission. He is the son of Masao and Hisako Watabe. Perhaps you knew this. Does you son know him?
Best wishes, WWF
Dear Elder Fillmore,
I know Brother Masakazu Watabe. I think I met him several times.
There are two missions in Portugal. One is Portugal Lisbon South
Mission (Portugal South), the other one is Portugal Porto Mission
(Portugal North) . My son, Yuji goes to Portugal Porto Mission. There
are only two big cities in Purtugal. Lisbon and Porto. I called to PBO
today. They said one Japanese sister was called to Portugal Lisbon
Mission (Maybe) about 5~7 years ago. She was belonged to my ward
before. Her name was Sister Kikumori. She was married at the Temple.
I don't know her husband's name now. Anyway, Yuji is the first Japanese
Elder who is called to Portugal. You can write something on your news
mail.
He was told to go to Provo MTC at April 30. He has to study Portuguese
at there for two months. Then, he will fly to Porto, Portugal at the
end of June. I think he will leave Tokyo just before he enters MTC.
Thank you for your support. Osamu Sekiguchi
Dear Sam,
My son, Brent who works for CES at Church HQ (Interestingly, he supervises the CES website) went to Porto Alegre Mission in Brazil. All of his companions were native Brasilians. A wonderful way to learn a new language. I think he still speaks very good Portuguese. When Yuji comes home, I hope they can meet and talk. I think Brazilian Portuguese is a little different from that spoken in Portugal, however.
There are many wonderful children of Heavenly Father in Portugal. We pray Yuji will be able to teach hundreds of them with the gentle persuasive power of the Spirit.
You keep shorting me one "l" on my name. Doesn't your keyboard have enough "l's?" The extra "l" is not needed for correct pronunciation, of course and one "l" is better than none. I am not sure why we have double "consonants" in English. At one time, they may have been pronounced as they are in Japanese. Yappari so desu.
Best wishes, WWF