1 00:00:12,220 --> 00:00:14,431 I was born into a Buddhist family 2 00:00:15,849 --> 00:00:19,811 My mother was especially an ardent believer 3 00:00:21,187 --> 00:00:22,105 With her influence 4 00:00:22,439 --> 00:00:25,150 I naturally became a believer of Buddhism too 5 00:00:27,152 --> 00:00:32,407 Looking back, I can say we weren't a family in its true sense 6 00:00:34,534 --> 00:00:39,581 This is because my father suddenly disappeared 7 00:00:42,208 --> 00:00:46,713 My mother was left to care for me by herself 8 00:00:49,007 --> 00:00:50,425 In 1999 9 00:00:51,509 --> 00:00:55,805 I graduated from a Buddhist university 10 00:00:57,724 --> 00:01:00,810 From then on, my life became a downward spiral 11 00:01:03,354 --> 00:01:06,024 I went from job to job and never lasted long anywhere 12 00:01:07,859 --> 00:01:11,696 This was due to my selfishness and laziness 13 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:16,868 When things finally started going smoothly with my job 14 00:01:18,119 --> 00:01:22,123 my mother developed depression and mild dementia and I had to care for her 15 00:01:23,374 --> 00:01:27,545 She had depression and some dementia 16 00:01:29,631 --> 00:01:31,049 Eventually 17 00:01:32,842 --> 00:01:35,762 it came to the point where she had to enter a nursing home 18 00:01:37,555 --> 00:01:38,890 In 3 years' time 19 00:01:40,266 --> 00:01:41,684 I was homeless 20 00:01:42,936 --> 00:01:47,357 I was kicked out of my apartment for not paying the rent 21 00:01:51,152 --> 00:01:56,491 I often went to Yoyogi Park for a soup kitchen held by a church 22 00:01:59,369 --> 00:02:02,997 I started attending their open-air services held at the park 23 00:02:05,500 --> 00:02:09,587 There I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior 24 00:02:12,465 --> 00:02:17,262 The Christians I met there didn't force me to believe in Jesus 25 00:02:19,556 --> 00:02:21,182 On the contrary 26 00:02:22,809 --> 00:02:26,855 they loved me unconditionally with Jesus' love 27 00:02:30,108 --> 00:02:34,028 Soon I began praying to God even when I was alone 28 00:02:36,406 --> 00:02:37,365 One night 29 00:02:38,700 --> 00:02:42,579 I threw away all the idols I had until then 30 00:02:47,375 --> 00:02:48,418 The next morning 31 00:02:49,752 --> 00:02:54,382 I was able to receive God's forgiveness for all my sins 32 00:02:56,092 --> 00:02:59,888 He accepted me into His family as His child 33 00:03:02,473 --> 00:03:03,224 Of course 34 00:03:04,100 --> 00:03:05,935 I was homeless at the time 35 00:03:06,686 --> 00:03:09,564 so all of this took place on a piece of cardboard mat 36 00:03:10,315 --> 00:03:11,733 But in that moment 37 00:03:12,442 --> 00:03:15,653 I was given an eternal home 38 00:03:17,906 --> 00:03:20,658 This is because the Bible says 39 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:24,746 "In my Father's house are many rooms" 40 00:03:26,247 --> 00:03:29,042 "if it were not so, I would have told you" 41 00:03:30,376 --> 00:03:33,588 "I am going there to prepare a place for you” 42 00:03:35,381 --> 00:03:39,010 What's going on in my life now with Jesus? 43 00:03:40,929 --> 00:03:41,846 Of course 44 00:03:42,805 --> 00:03:47,602 I’m far from perfect and I mess up at times 45 00:03:51,022 --> 00:03:53,983 But God never forsakes me 46 00:03:55,902 --> 00:03:59,072 He gives me unimaginable and wonderful grace 47 00:04:02,617 --> 00:04:04,869 I speak some English now 48 00:04:05,745 --> 00:04:08,373 and it is something I could've never imagined 49 00:04:10,250 --> 00:04:12,752 I also have a fiancé 50 00:04:13,127 --> 00:04:16,589 I never imagined God would bless me with a wife 51 00:04:17,382 --> 00:04:20,843 to serve God together 52 00:04:23,513 --> 00:04:25,932 God has a wonderful plan 53 00:04:26,432 --> 00:04:29,644 that far exceeds our plans and imagination 54 00:04:32,230 --> 00:04:35,233 I received Jesus’ good news 55 00:04:38,945 --> 00:04:42,824 Sato-san started serving others who are homeless