The ministers from the North American Diocese (NAD) did a skit about an event that occurred at last year's Missionary Women's Society gathering for North American ministers in Whittier. Before doing the skit, the Reverend Michie Uzunoe (Portland)「ポートランド教会の埋ノ江道江先生」 in a loud voice shouted, "Todd! Todd!! Hold this sign." I said, "Ok." I went over and the sign read, 「おはか」[Grave]. I was like, "I'm a dead person? Oh my!! What dead person?"
Rev. Joanne Tolosa (San Francisco) 「サンフランシスコ教会のトロサ・ジョアン先生」began the skit by narrating what was taking place. She shared that at the event last year, they wanted to visit the grave of the late Reverend Sadako Takeda (Gardena)「ガーデナ教会の故武田貞子先生」. That's when it my eyes bulged, I was shocked and at the same time felt so grateful! I said absolutely nothing until the end of the skit.
After all was said and done, I asked Michie Sensei, "Why did you ask me to hold the sign?" She responded, "I don't know. It just came out of my mouth. Why?"
I responded (with onlookers and listeners), "I was wondering why you chose me because I know Takeda Sensei is here with us right now and has been with you since the start. And the reason for that is, Reverend Takeda and I share the same birthdate." Everyone was shocked. Both Reverends Uzunoe and Wakiko Igawa (Whittier-Rose Hill) 「ウィティア・薔薇ヶ岡教会の井川和喜子先生」looked at each other and then me. Both said, "She's here. Takeda Sensei wanted to let us know she is here."
As Rev. Igawa stated right after, "That wasn't a coincidence. Sadako Sensei knew Todd well. How grateful to have confirmation that she is here with us."
