Mito MM Meeting House, Japan
Monthly Meetings and individuals in Aotearoa/NZ contributed a significant sum towards the reconstruction of the Mito Meeting House in Japan, and this was sent to Mamoru Hitomi, Clerk of Mito MM, in 2011.
A letter has been received thanking us for our contribution:
Mito Monthly Meeting
5-36 Bizenmachi
Mito, Ibaraki 310-0024
Japan
September 2012
Dear Friends worldwide,
Nobody could expect the dedication ceremony of our Meeting House and Kindergarten coming so quick! It was held on 9 September 2012, just two days before a year and half after the great earthquake on 11 March 2011. It was cerebrated by 130 attendants not only from our area but also Tokyo and much further.
Let me express appreciation to all the donors worldwide who have supported Mito Monthly Meeting to build a Meeting House and Kindergarten. The house is a joint house of the two. On weekdays it is a kindergarten and on Sunday it is our Meeting House. This system has been kept since 1951 when Edith F. Sharpless, a Philadelphia Quaker, started over again after WWII. 100 year old brick meeting house was replaced by wooden house, but bricks carefully taken out from the ruins were put on the walls up to the waist and on the walking space around the whole house. At the porch the kindergarteners placed each brick piece as their memory in July. Now they enjoy playing in the new house and out in the garden lively. Wood smells good in the hall under the tall triangle ceiling. On Sunday meeting for worship has been held comfortably. It might be impossible without your kind donation.
But I’m very sorry we have made you troublesome when you directly wanted to send us your donation because of our wrong bank account. That’s why some of your donation took a long journey through FWCC Section of Americas, FWCC World Office in London, FWCC Asia West Pacific Section and Japan Yearly Meeting, and to Mito Monthly Meeting. During the long journey personal donors’ names were not always clear, sorry to say. We thank each FWCC staff who worked for us often.
As our Meeting House and Kindergarten is a joint house, 1/3 of the building belongs to the Meeting and the other 2/3 to the kindergarten. The kindergarten is to be nearly half granted disaster subsidy from the government, but none to the religious body. That’s why your donation was very helpful for Mito Monthly Meeting
We cannot say thank you all directly, but let me send you much appreciation to all of the donors. Enclosed are the photos of the new safety and lovely house. We will be very happy if you could some day visit us and see our Meeting House and Kindergarten.
Friendship in Light,
Mamoru Hitomi, Clerk, Mito Monthly Meeting
Some photos follow:
