From San Francisco to Muzaffarabad.  This is a time of year for stories of generosity and gratitude.  Here is such a story told by our staff member in San Francisco, Alice Kawahatsu, whose work is thanking our donors, and who keeps us in her heart always.

Our 12 year son, Masashi, has deeply wanted to take up drumming for the longest time. As parents, we knew that drums make an incredible amount of noise and with lessons and purchasing a drum set, it can get pretty costly. We finally decided to give in as we believe that with everything that comes in life, there is always a true spiritual meaning within. We are also strong believers that children can teach us important lessons in life.  

Masashi had been taking lessons for only about 3 months when he met another youth from our Konko Church who had been learning to play the guitar with his father.  They wanted a drummer to start a band.

They named the band “Laughter” as my husband really believes in the saying “Laughter is the best medicine”. The band now rehearses twice a month and decided that with all the disasters going on all over the world they wanted to raise money somehow to help with relief efforts. 

Last month, the weekend of Thanksgiving, they had a small concert. A good friend of ours offered a section of his gym so the band could have a place to play. Inspired by the cause, the manager of a nearby music store loaned Masashi set of drums for the occasion. My husband, Masato Kawahatsu, priest of the Konko church, designed T-shirts with the Japanese calligraphy character for “Laughter” in the center with words around the character that say, “Laughter is the best medicine”. 

The band was awesome, the T-shirts sold and the people came and gave donations. 

Everyone was delighted to hear that URI will send the money to our CCs in Pakistan, and that the coordinator of the CCs, Father James Channan, would make sure it will go directly to buy food, blankets and tents for the Pakistan earthquake survivors.

At the end of the event, our son and his band and all the organizers felt so satisfied that we were able to help raise money to help those in need. The gifts that we can offer to the world sometimes start with an innocent child wanting to follow a dream. I hope that we can all be inspired from this to look within ourselves and ask how we can make a difference in the world. 

Alice Kawahatsu