Shiori Yamada is a catholic woman with a beautiful voice. She uses it on her youtube channel to praise God but also to teach young children about the faith in church. She shares about her faith journey; the challenges and beautiful moments. Have a listen to her testimony which has also been translated into English by Makoto Yamada.

山田しおりさんは、美しい歌声を持つカトリック信者の女性です。その声を活かして、YouTubeチャンネルでは神を賛美する歌を歌うだけでなく、教会で子どもたちに信仰について教えています。
彼女は、自身の信仰の歩みや、困難だった時期、そして美しい瞬間についても分かち合っています。
彼女の証しは、山田まことさんによって英語にも翻訳されています。ぜひ耳を傾けてみてください。

Check out her Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@femgreen85

Declan Somers is a husband, father and the CEO of Mobell, a telecommunications service provider in the UK and Japan.

He is a man of deep faith and he shares his story of doing business and encountering the living God. Declan's journey started in Ireland and has continued in many countries including Malawi and Japan.

He now doesn't just do business but does business through doing charity. Don't miss his incredible testimony of faith, hope and charity.

In this episode, I speak with Sayaka Kojima who is a graduate from Sophia University in Tokyo. She and her husband, Yusuke, are teachers who started the Toka Free School which is an alternative way of studying in Japan. Here students choose their own subjects and pace of studying. Sayaka speaks about the school's beginnings and also that children are the hope of society.

[Disclaimer: this episode is mostly in Japanese but translated through the help of Makoto Yamada]

このエピソードでは、私は東京の上智大学を卒業した小島さやかさんとお話しします。さやかさんとご主人の祐介さんは、「トーカフリースクール」という、日本におけるオルタナティブな学びの場を立ち上げました。この学校では、生徒たちが自分で学ぶ科目やペースを選ぶことができます。

さやかさんは、学校の始まりについて語り、また「子どもたちは社会の希望である」と話しています。

【注記：このエピソードは主に日本語で収録されていますが、山田さんの協力により翻訳されています。】

Check it out:

学び舎トーカ～フリースクール https://touka-group.jp/

Sister Maria Nguyen Thi Phuong Chi, also known as Sister Chi, belongs to the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ACI. Sister Chi is originally from Vietnam and has been in Japan for the past 7 years as a missionary and teacher.

Sister Chi speaks about her encounter with the love of Christ as a young woman and the importance of the role of love in building up the virtue of hope.

She also shares the spirituality of the foundress of ACI, Saint Raphaela Mary and her story of hope.

Book recommendations:

Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyễn Van Thuận

- The Road of Hope: A Gospel from Prison

-Five Loaves and Two Fish

In this episode, I speak with Michelle Karen D'Silva who shares her insights on hope through her testimonies and gives us practical advice on how to live out the virtue of hope practically.

Michelle Karen D'Silva is a Catholic speaker, Youth Mentor and Women’s advocate who has spoken at multiple local and international conferences. Her conversion story from atheism to Catholicism has been featured on the ‘Jesus my Savior’ show on Shalom World.

Michelle resides in Doha-Qatar along with her husband and their two kids where they serve at their local parish. She also serves as an ex-officio member of the National Service of Communion (NSC).

Michelle’s passion to see women thrive has resulted in an online community on Facebook, called ‘WellSpring Women’ aimed at creating a safe haven for women to find faith, friendship and freedom in Christ. 

Check out her website and podcast here:

https://michelledsilva.com

https://michelledsilva.com/podcast/#

In this episode, Fr Irinel Doboş, a Franciscan priest from Romania, speaks about his journey of discernment into the priesthood and his call to serve in Japan.

Featured in this episode:

- Faith Journey from Romania to Japan

- Significance of the Priesthood in the lives of the Hidden Christians in Japan

- Embracing religious life by overcoming fear and finding happiness in God

This episode's interview is done by me, your host, as well as Makoto Yamada.

I hope you enjoy this gripping testimony as much as we did! God bless!

Makoto Yamada joins us on Lib to speak about his journey of discernment and his passion as director of NPO Seibo Japan.

Featured in this episode:

- Makoto's inspirtation, motivation and advice on dreams and purpose

- Marian apparations

-Tony Smith, Mobell

-Seibo's beginnings

-Japan's connection with Malawi

-Charity

-Opus Dei 'Sanctify the world through work'

-Invitation from Seibo Japan

Seibo is an International School Feeding NPO headquartered in Japan that aims to be at the forefront of a global movement that will impact our world forever. For more information and to support them, click here: https://www.seibojapan.or.jp/?la=en

Instagram: @seibojapan @mako.yamada

Warm Hearts Coffee Club is a venture of Seibo which was born to contribue to feeding school children in Malawi. Click here: https://www.charity-coffee.jp/en/

Instagram: @warmheartscoffeeclub

In this episode, I'm joined by Jessica Ilunga who is a dear friend of mine. She is a multi-talented women who is currently completing her PhD in Japan . Jessica will be sharing a poem she wrote about the intricacies of family relationships and the effects it has in our lives. We'll be sharing deeply about our lives and also on the very special relationship between mothers and daughters.

Check out her blog:

https://linktr.ee/jess.ilunga?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=74702de3-d63a-48ad-b3b1-25b949fa0ecb