YAD member Takumi- a very special young man

A friend from Japan, Buddha's Light International Association South Island Young Adult Division member Takumi-through YAD member Danny Chen’s recommendation-joined YAD at the beginning of 2008. In this short time, he has learnt and improved in many ways.

During the middle of October, his parents flew to Christchurch from Japan to visit him. Takumi invited his parents to the Art and Culture Festival that was held on the 12th of October at the Fo Guang Shan South Island Temple, for which they especially came. At the Temple, they met all the other YAD members, but more importantly, they had the opportunity to meet with Venerable Abbess Manshin and Venerable Juexi, where the parents showed their appreciation for taking care of Takumi.

As Chinese and English aren’t Takumi’s first languages, during activities and classes run by YAD, he uses his observation skills to understand what the group is talking about, and by using his instincts, he helps to meet others’ needs. By this, he overcomes his language barrier, in which he has also helped Venerable Juexi and the youths in many tasks. For this, he has received much gratitude from his peers and adults around the Temple.

Takumi’s parents were touched to see their son’s improvement in learning by being part of YAD, and were very grateful to the Temple. They said that at the year’s end, Takumi will be going back to Japan, and that will round up his oversea’s education and the experiences and activities he has been part of at the Temple.

However, they explained that the experiences will be memories to treasure when he goes back. Abbess Manshin encouraged Takumi to join Fo Guang Shan Temple in Japan, and by doing so, allow him to share his experiences with the YAD there, as well as his family and friends.

Account by Fan-Ping Chiang and Sheng Han Lim