Aloha Everyone,
As we near the end of a very challenging year, let’s look forward to better times ahead.
We are happy to have Reverend Yamaguchi back home at Rinzai Zen Mission. He is in good spirits and making progress due to the excellent care he’s receiving from his daughters, Naomi and Mika, and his in-home therapy sessions. Even as Reverend works towards a full recovery, he’s thinking about the future welfare of Rinzai Zen Mission and our temple’s members.
As we hear the encouraging news of the development of a new vaccine to help fight the virus, please remember to continue to practice health and safety protocols, show respect for others, and use common sense especially during the upcoming holiday season. Although the virus cases here on Maui are relatively low compared to the rest of our nation, it’s important to continue to adhere to all safety measures. Rinzai Zen Mission will postpone all future gatherings at our Temple except for the Maui Zendo sessions and the once-a-month cleaning day. Please note that cleaning day in December is scheduled for Sunday, December 20th starting at 8 a.m.
Thank you to everyone who has invested their time and effort in maintaining our Temple’s facilities and grounds. Also thank you to those who donated to Rinzai Zen Mission through Foodland’s “Give Aloha Program”. Our Temple received $1,914 in donations along with Foodland’s and Western Union’s matching percentage donation of $453.
As we prepare to welcome in the Year of the Ox, let’s hope for a happier and healthier 2021 and continue to treat each other with kindness and respect.
In Gassho,
Alan Nago President,
Rinzai Zen Mission
THANK YOU from the Yamaguchi Family
Firstly, the Yamaguchi family would like to express their appreciation for the kindness and generosity of the members and community who sent their support, prayers, and well-wishes for Reverend Yamaguchi’s recovery.
At the end of August, Rev. Yamaguchi had a ruptured brain aneurysm, was taken to Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu, and underwent an emergency brain surgery followed by a second surgery within two weeks. During this cascade of events, he experienced several strokes and medical complications. He was in the ICU for three weeks then transferred to a skilled nursing facility where he received care for recovery and rehabilitation.
Reverend Yamaguchi returned home to Maui at the end of October and has been making progress every day both physically and cognitively through receiving physical, occupational, and speech therapies. So far, he has been able to recover the ability to plant and care for his garden, clean up leaves, sweep the temple, and even cast his fishing pole. While he has come a long way since he was hospitalized, it will take at least a year for him to heal and to gauge the extent of his recovery.