Mayumi Yayoi Hernández Valdés, Region Young Women’s Division Leader, Mexico City

On June 29,1996, over 200 SGI members gathered at Veracruz International Airport. Just after 1.30pm, the plane with SGI President Ikeda on board landed at the airport. Everyone was happy to see Mr and Mrs Ikeda when they appeared. I called out to President Ikeda, yokoso [welcome] in Japanese, and presented him with a bouquet. Still just nine years old, I was so nervous that I wasn’t able to pronounce yokoso correctly. Then, Mr Ikeda gave me a gentle smile, hugged me and said, “Thank you! You said yokoso. You are so clever.” Before leaving for the next destination after their stopover, he told us, “Thank you very much. I will never forget you. Please come to Japan when you grow up.”

Fifteen years later, in September 2011, I was able to visit Japan to attend an SGI youth training course. I wrote a letter to Mr Ikeda, reporting my stay and conveyed my gratitude for the opportunity. To my great surprise, one of his staff gave me his warm message expressing his pleasure upon learning of my visit to Japan. I was so happy to have realised my determination to come to Japan. This became a big turning point in my life.

Upon coming back to my country, I resolved to show actual proof in society. I prayed in earnest and eventually acquired a job offer from a major oil company. Now I am involved in SGI activities as region young women’s division leader in Veracruz. By talking regularly with friends, we were recently able to grow our young women’s division membership to three times the size we used to be. Veracruz is the place of my mission, and I am determined to follow the path I have embarked upon. (Apr 2015)