Footprints of the Martyrs of the Hosokawa Domain@No.18@ @@@@@
Genya Ogasawara and Miya Kagayama 9
Even today, you can see 16 of all farewell letters they wrote in their
last 50 days
before they were executed at Kumamoto University Library.
"Christian-hunting was executed again, and we were put in jail on November 4th. All 15 of
us including our whole family and 4 house girls are in jail."
Genya wrote about this fact of the struggles which occurred due to their
faith imperturbably
and peacefully.
"How happy I am to bask in the grace of martyrdom like this even though I am a woman!
It can't be expressed in words. I will end up laying down my life because
I can't give up my
faith."
Even though Miya also wrote it simply and shortly on the surface, we can
sense her firm
faith through her words.
Their children's letters were also left.
"Genya and Miya and their children were all together. As I have hoped
for several years,
I will end up being killed due to this faith." (Genpachi)
"Finally, I will end up dying, due to this faith." (Kuri)
In their last 50 days, they wrote letters to their renegade acquaintances strongly
encouraging them to get back to the Lord once again.
"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world
gives do I give to you.
Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27)
(The Kyoto Glory Church Translation Committee is responsible for the wording of this article.)