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Mrs. Florence Walters has said she will be back in two years.
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Mrs. Florence Walters--a Londoner who had celebrated her 80th birthday during her first pilgrimage to Jiba in 2001--was recently in Tenri for the third time. Between attending the Oyasama Birth Celebration Service on April 18, the April Monthly Service on the 26th, and a host of other events and activities, she was requested to make a speech at Hitosuji Dormitory, which houses girls enrolled in Tenri Kyoko Gakuen High School. Below is the full text of her speech, in which she shares some of her experiences with Tenrikyo. Mrs. Walters belongs to London Kyokushi Mission Station, headed by Mr. Nobuyuki Takeuchi.
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Speech Given by Mrs. Florence Walters on April 24, 2006
My name is Florence. I am 85 years old. I have four daughters and one son. I also have 14 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
I suffered from osteoarthritis for many years, which meant I could not walk very far. Twelve years ago I became housebound, which meant I could not walk at all. I had to crawl up the stairs and then bump down again.
Ten years ago I met Nobu. He then told me about Oyasama and the Divine Grant which he administered to me while I was waiting for surgery in 1997. I had the knee bone removed and a plastic one put into my left leg, and then in 1999 I had my right knee done.
In July 1999, although walking with sticks I attended my first Tenrikyo European Seminar in Paris, France, where I learnt the life of Oyasama and the songs for the Service. I also learnt to play the koto.
During those 10 days, I was having the Divine Grant administered to me, and by the 8th day I was walking without the sticks. I have attended seven seminars in all. This year will be my 8th in August.
In 2001, I came to Japan for the first time. I cannot express the feeling I had as I walked towards the Kanrodai. It was very emotional and uplifting, and I thought that this is where I want to be. I took the Besseki lectures and then received the Sazuke.
When I administer the Divine Grant to people in need of healing, many of them say to me that they feel my hands are very warm. Nobu tells me that Oyasama's warm parental heart is conveyed through the administration.
In 2003, I returned to Japan for the 2nd time and attended the Autumn Grand Service. As you can see, I am quite fit and healthy. One of my grandsons got married three years ago and I even danced at his wedding, which I hadn't done for about 17 years. His friends wouldn't believe I was his grandmother.
About a year ago, my eldest daughter had a very bad cold. So I gave her the sacred rice. Within a few days she recovered from it completely. So she asked me what was in it. I said to her that it is nothing but sacred rice from Oyasama. Since then, she is taking one grain every day. I also take three grains of sacred rice every day. I firmly believe that it keeps me young at heart.
In 2001, I had a surgery to remove a cataract from my left eye. In 2002, I had my right eye done. During those surgeries I was reciting the songs for the seated service. I am sure that Oyasama was with me on both occasions.
At the Autumn Grand Service three years ago, I made a promise to come back to attend Oyasama's 120th anniversary. With daily prayers, monthly services, reading a page of the Ofudesaki every night, and helping other people in accordance with Oyasama's guidance, I have been able to keep that promise.
At one of our weekly music practices in February this year, I had the pleasure of meeting one of your senior students who had heard my speech here three years ago. She told me that I inspired her. Ever since, she studied hard as she wanted to come to London to study about the social welfare system there.
As you work hard I am sure that you all will be given a good opportunity as she has been. I am looking forward to seeing many of you here, next time in London! Thank you for listening.
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