I had been in Japan since 1957 teaching in our high school in Tsu and ministering in a church in Kyoto when in 1970 I was asked to go to Tokyo to be the administrator of our house of studies there. While living with several of our young Japanese sisters who were students at various universities, I became interested in doing some volunteer work with the poor.

Father Joseph Spae asked a small group of us to visit several areas where help was need and he would support the volunteers in the place that we chose as the most needy. We chose Airin Hoikuin in Koto-Ku where a charasmatic protestant misister, Rev. Reiji Takahashi was ministering to the poor. We formed the Friendship Volunteers which grew to two hundred vollunteers. The volunteers included many nationalities and all ages. They took part in a variety of services such as Charity Shows, Jumbo Bazaars, home visiting etc.

The selfless and compassionate spirit of Rev. Takahashi was an inspiration fo all of the volunteers. In 1976 we helped fund a new day-care and chapel for Rev. Takahashi's people. I worked with and met many beautiful people during my time there and I'm grateful to God for thse eight wonderful years.