Personal incident in my life which influenced me to devote my life to the YMCA

A PERSONAL INCIDENT IN MY LIFE YHICH

INFLUENCED MB TO DEVCTE MY

LIFE TO THES YMCA

A great flue epidemic had spread throughout the United States during ta

fall of 1918. San Francisco was severely hit. Like hundreds of others, I was

stricken with the flue on the 3lst of December 1918. Tew days later, my wife

was ajso caught in the devastating sweep of the epidemic scythe. When January

4th, 1919 dawned, both my wife and I were bedridden with high fever and agony

witheut anyone in the house to care for us. Ye faced an alarming plight.

In the face of our dire distress there was a ray of hope for help. Ve

had a friend whom we knew and so immediately I telephoned him to come to our

aid. It so happened that nearly everyone in the community were also stricken

with the influenza, and all those who were able to help were giving full time

service at the local Reformed Church building which was the quarantine station.

Much to our disappointment we learned that our friend could not possibly get

away to help us from the quarantine station. However, he did promise us that

he would send someone he knew to look after us.

/

Barly next day a stranger called and told us that he was asked to come to

our address and administer to our needs. This was the first time that either

my wife or I saw this person, but we soon learned to love and appreciate him for

his unselfish and devoted services. Everyday he would come over three times to

pring us our broth and other specially prepared food for bed-ridden patients.

In addition to bringing us warm food, he would give us words of encouragement

and assurance, and looked after our bodily and other needs about the house.

We soon learned that this stranger owned a small Art Repair Shop on the

ninth floor of the Phelan Building in San Francisco. Everyday, he would cook

our specially prepared food in the back of his small shop, and bring it to us

three times daily, a distance of some twenty odd blocks.

Improvement was very slow and without the proper medical attention, our

conditions did not seem too hopeful. `There being no other alternative if we

were to get well, I applied to the hospitals, out all the hospitals were full.

On January 8th, word came that there was just one vacant bed in the women's

ward of the Children's Hospital of San Francisco. I sent my wife there right

away, but I had to remain at home on Pine Street in the outskirts of the local

Japanese Town.

Our newly found `stranger! friend continued to make his three visits dai-

ly with my food, and then after bringing me my supper, he would go visit my

wife at the Children's Hospital to see how she was getting along. Every even~ -

ing he would tell my wife how I was getting along with words of assurance and

encouragement. Each morning he would tell me about the condition of my wife

as he brought me my breakfast. This liaison service which kept the contact bet

ween my wife and myself gave both of us strength, courage and confidence, and it

prevented unnecessary worrying which helped us to get well quicker. He did all

these ministering for the whole month of January.

By the time February rolled around, both my wife and I were recovered suffi-

ciently to get up so she returned from the hospital and we were able to care for

ourselves. It took us about one month to convalesce during which time we had

many opportunities to think together about our future. Important question be~

fore us was our immediate concern for our future. We asked ourselves, "hat shall

we do?", "What kind of work shall I seek?" a8

Re

It was during one of the times when we were discussing our none too hopetu

or too optimistic future that my wife suggested that I devote the rest of my

life to something which would be a life of service. She continued: 'You were

sick, very sick, and if it weren't for the help and kindness of our "stranger'!

friend, you probably would not be alive now. Why don't you seek some kind of

work in which you can devote and dedicate the rest of your life in service to

your fellowmen so that you can express your sincere appreciation to him and %o

many like him who live such helpful, noble, and inspiring lives, and especially

to our Almighty Father for sparing your life."

While seriously considering my wife's suggestion, I spied an advertisement

in the March 5th, 1919 iusue of the local Japanese newspaper. This ad asirec -or

a worker in the Japanese Branch of the YMCA, which was organized in June 1918, by

Mr. Kiyoshi Tomizava at 1555 Post Street. I applied and was interviewed by Mr.-

Tomizawa. This was the first time that I ever met him, but found him very

friendly. During our interview he asked me why I wanted to enter the YMOA move:

ment, so I told him my reasons. Fortune smiled upon my life for he accepted me,

and on March 8th, 1919, I started my career in the YMCA. Until his retiremen(R) in

September 1939, I worked side by side with him continuously ever since that mem-

orable day in 1919, and I have yet to mect @ more sincere Christian and a finer

gentleman.

This year, 1942, marks my twenty-third continuous year with the local Jap-

anese Branch of the San Francisco Young Men's Christian Association. During this

long period, I have had many happy experiences which will always be in my mem-

ories, made many real friends, both here and abroad, and was given opportunities

to do my bit toward helping my fellow-men. I was able to rear and educate my

only daughter in the best of American schools, learn to enjoy and appreciate the

democratic way of life, and to contribute to the melting pot which characterivzes

our American culture. All this I shall always cherish and feel an undying appre=

ciation and zratitude.

Unforeseen circumstances and impersonal forces too great for us to control

has made it necessary for us to evacuate from our deep-rooted happy surroundings

which we have learned to love and call our home, but ve shall leave with no bit-

terness of heart. If it is at all possible we shall return to take up where we

left off. I will be looking forward to the time when I can again come back to

the familiar thappy hunting grounds! where I spent the best part of my life and

to meet and be with you all again. In the meantime, woerever I shall be, I will

endeavor to try my best in living out in action my philosophy of life, and con-

tinue my efforts toward building a Christian world of human brotherhood.

In closing may I express my personal appreciation and heartfelt thanks to

each of you who have been so generous and kind to me. I shall never forget it.

God only knows what the future will hold for us, but with constant and abiding

faith in Him, our lives will be guided towards the same goals irrespective of

the parting paths we must take. Itts not tgood bye!, but just farewell until

Wh meet Beeih. "tee ,God bless you all and keep you.

Sincerely, yours,

April 1942. Chojuro i