Good morning everyone.

Last week we did not have Sunday Dharma service. Many Dharma school teachers and I attended the Dharma school teacher’s conference in Los Angeles. During the conference, there were several workshops…Origami, BonOdori, Chinese Tai-chi, Wood craft and Japanese paper Craft workshops. I took pictures and movies of these workshops.　In 2007, the Dharma school teacher’s conference will be held in Northern California.

So, I will have to give a report on this conference so we can make our 2007 conference even better.

 One of our Betsuin managers, Ms. Tak Ito said to me. “Rev. Kaz, one of our members said that Rev. Kaz will be getting married.” Then I replied “Really?” And she said “the member heard that you are getting married at the hospital.” I said “Hospital??”

Ms. Ito answered “I think a doctor may have told her that you will be getting married.”

 I’m not sure if I should spend our precious Dharma school time discussing my private happiness and good fortune… Is it OK? If it’s ok, then I would like to officially announce that I am getting married! My bride’s name is Michiko Ogata. Her name is the same as Sensei Yukawa’s wife. I draw her picture… My Michiko was born in January of 1979 in Kyushu Japan. So, she is 3 years younger than me. In college, her major was Food science and she is a registered nutritionist. She worked for 3 years at a nursing care home in Japan. Then last year, in May, she came to America to study American food science. There is the American river care home on Marconi Avenue here in Sacramento. Michiko stayed there for 10 months. Once, she called the Betsuin with an emergency. One of her residents wanted to talk with a minister. When I went to the care home, I met the resident and I also met Michiko. But I was not interested in her at that time. I was there on an emergency call. A few months later, one of my friends, Sherry Yamamoto introduced her to me. I did not expect to meet her again…. And now we are getting married! Now, she is in Japan. She will come back to America on June 2^nd. Anyway, our wedding will be held on Saturday August 6^th here at the Betsuin. We will have our reception also here at the Betsuin. And you are all invited to our wedding. If you are busy, it is not a problem you can come eat…and then run!

 Nowadays many people take long time and procrastinate when deciding to get married. If we wait until the perfect time to get married, the time will never come to get married. If you want to get married, you must make a decision and just do it. Because we do not know if there will be another chance to meet someone we might want to marry.

Gassho

I always say, “We should try something new. If we don’t try it, we will never know”.