Latin America Delegates Workshop held in Brazil
People from Thirteen Countries Study the Truth
First Attendance from Nicaragua
In Brazil, a Latin America Delegates Workshop (Spanish) was held at the South American Spiritual Training Center in Ibiuna, Sao Paulo from January 18 to 22 and was attended by 27 delegates from the Central and South America and southern Europe.
This Workshop is held every year for Chiefs and Chairmen of Missionary Areas in Latin American countries except Brazil. This was the 18th Workshop. The countries represented included Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Paraguay, Columbia, Uruguay, Chile, Panama, Venezuela, Bolivia, Portugal, and Spain. There was an attendee from Nicaragua for the first time. In total, 13 countries were represented.
The theme of the Workshop had two aspects: from the perspective of faith, the practice of the Four Immeasurable Minds and the importance of living in harmony with nature; and from the perspective of the Movement, the development of successors. The lecturers were Rev. Yoshio Mukai (Ordained Minister, Bishop of Seicho-No-Ie Latin America), Rev. Marie Murakami (Ordained Minister, Chairperson of Brazil Missionary Headquarters), and four Ordained Ministers/Assistant Ministers. The lectures included “Let’s Promote the Movement While Practicing the Four Immeasurable Minds,” “Development of Leaders and Raising their Awareness,” and “For the Future of the Movement.” Also, training was provided by officer category.
A special session was held for the representative from Nicaragua, where the Movement had just begun, including “On the Founding of Seicho-No-Ie” and “On the Development of the Seicho-No-Ie Movement in Latin American Countries.” The Nicaraguan representative commented, “I feel very enthusiastic about propagating when I return home. Since the environmental problem is not taken up very much in my country, I was very surprised when I learned the significance of environmental protection by religion. I learned a great deal.”
Comments received from other attendees included: “I found answers to my misgivings and questions I had regarding the operation of the Movement and the teaching. I also received guidance which is needed for my country. It was a very meaningful workshop.”
Remarks by Rev. Yoshio Mukai, Bishop of Seicho-No-Ie Latin America
“Once a year we gather the Chiefs of Missionary Areas and Chairmen of the national headquarters from each country and provide guidance on the Movement Policy and organizational activities. With CO2 emission reduction in mind, we are cultivating a new area by using the Internet. We also continued to guide Nicaragua via the Internet. This produced a result. We had the first attendee from that country. Everyone was overjoyed.”