Several months before the CARP Hyo Jeong trip took place, I was planning on going to Japan. For one thing, I wanted to use my time before going back to studies to get to know the Japanese culture and to practice my language skills. For another thing, I really felt like I needed some time for myself away from the environment I am used to especially in order to work on my life of faith and to gain clarity about my future. One day then, my mother got an e-mail about the trip and without thinking about it much I knew that I should take part. As it was a very spontaneous decision, I did not really have many expectations about how it is going to be and actually found myself being very unprepared once I have arrived in Japan.
It took a while for me to get used to everything. In the beginning I felt out of place sometimes because I have been the only German and one of the few European people there. However, it was a very precious experience for me to get to know the American spirit and their style of organizing a workshop. At first, it was more of a culture shock for me because I perceived the American way as so different to the European one, which overwhelmed me. When I got to know about what the American CARP does, though, I was very impressed and grateful that I had the chance to learn from them. Up to that point, CARP for me just meant that you are a CARP member when you are too old to be a HARP member. I did not know that CARP is actually doing something like the American CARP, which is trying to restore campuses by reaching out to people and trying to bring them to the church. It was also very interesting to hear testimonies from some of the 1st gen participants who got witnessed by the American CARP at their campus. I was moved by their stories and even more impressed by the effort of the USA CARP.
One of the highlights for me was definitely to experience the American, the Japanese and the Korean CARP. And even though I was challenged by tiredness, the heat and a very packed schedule I am really grateful now that in a short time we had the chance to experience so much. Moreover, I am very happy that I decided to stay in Japan after the trip and have time for sightseeing, as well. Looking back now it is actually crazy that I have been one of the people who could experience three different parts of Japan – Tokyo, Kyoto and Kyushu – which makes me feel extremely blessed and super grateful that we were given the chance and got supported so much.
When sightseeing we stayed at CARP centers. I was happy that this way I could experience JCARP more. We spent one day at a CARP center in Fukuoka and some days at a CARP center in Kyoto. Although it was a quite short time, I felt like I could learn a lot from the CARP members. According to their daily routine you can tell that they are very determined and disciplined. They usually start their day early with HDH and morning service and told us that pretty much every day after school/university they go witnessing. Some of the CARP members there are even 1st gen who got witnessed before by the 2nd gen members. I think it is really impressive that despite getting up early and having just a couple hours of sleep they are still willing to and have enough energy left to go witnessing besides school and studying for exams. Moreover, even though they already got enough things to do they still made so much effort to make us feel comfortable and welcomed.
After sightseeing we went to Kumamoto in order to take part in the Peace Road Project and to teach English to Japanese children. There I felt even more cared about and it was there that I could learn so much about what it really means to have a sacrificial heart and give to others. I am truly grateful from the bottom of my heart for everything they did for us there. We were always welcomed so warmly and the people were so grateful to have us. The way they were treating us even felt like we were celebrities for them. And there are many more things which really moved me. Even merely small things. For instance, they cooked our favorite meals for us and, generally, were always trying to act according to our needs and wishes. Also, people really wanted to get to know us and prepared presents for us. They did not know who we were but really wanted to get to know us when they heard European members were coming. In the end, they even expressed so much gratitude when we gave them a small present even though it was them who gave so much more to us. Words really cannot express the immense gratitude I feel for them. What I experienced in Kumamoto showed me how much I have to work on myself still in terms of gratitude and sacrificing for others, and I am actually deeply sorry that I did not give more and did not push myself more.
Finally, I am so happy that I decided to come to Japan to join the Hyo Jeong trip and the service project in Kumamoto. Again, I want to express my gratitude for everything what I learned there, what I was given, for the awesome people I got to know, and the precious experiences and memories which I will always keep in my heart. Furthermore, I think it is a great opportunity to learn more about the church and True Parents and about other cultures and ways of practicing the church's teachings. The time in Japan personally helped me a lot to gain a deeper understanding about the church and to refocus again on what I need to work on.
One of the highlights for me was definitely to experience the American, the Japanese and the Korean CARP. And even though I was challenged by tiredness, the heat and a very packed schedule I am really grateful now that in a short time we had the chance to experience so much. Moreover, I am very happy that I decided to stay in Japan after the trip and have time for sightseeing, as well. Looking back now it is actually crazy that I have been one of the people who could experience three different parts of Japan – Tokyo, Kyoto and Kyushu – which makes me feel extremely blessed and super grateful that we were given the chance and got supported so much.
When sightseeing we stayed at CARP centers. I was happy that this way I could experience JCARP more. We spent one day at a CARP center in Fukuoka and some days at a CARP center in Kyoto. Although it was a quite short time, I felt like I could learn a lot from the CARP members. According to their daily routine you can tell that they are very determined and disciplined. They usually start their day early with HDH and morning service and told us that pretty much every day after school/university they go witnessing. Some of the CARP members there are even 1st gen who got witnessed before by the 2nd gen members. I think it is really impressive that despite getting up early and having just a couple hours of sleep they are still willing to and have enough energy left to go witnessing besides school and studying for exams. Moreover, even though they already got enough things to do they still made so much effort to make us feel comfortable and welcomed.
After sightseeing we went to Kumamoto in order to take part in the Peace Road Project and to teach English to Japanese children. There I felt even more cared about and it was there that I could learn so much about what it really means to have a sacrificial heart and give to others. I am truly grateful from the bottom of my heart for everything they did for us there. We were always welcomed so warmly and the people were so grateful to have us. The way they were treating us even felt like we were celebrities for them. And there are many more things which really moved me. Even merely small things. For instance, they cooked our favorite meals for us and, generally, were always trying to act according to our needs and wishes. Also, people really wanted to get to know us and prepared presents for us. They did not know who we were but really wanted to get to know us when they heard European members were coming. In the end, they even expressed so much gratitude when we gave them a small present even though it was them who gave so much more to us. Words really cannot express the immense gratitude I feel for them. What I experienced in Kumamoto showed me how much I have to work on myself still in terms of gratitude and sacrificing for others, and I am actually deeply sorry that I did not give more and did not push myself more.
Finally, I am so happy that I decided to come to Japan to join the Hyo Jeong trip and the service project in Kumamoto. Again, I want to express my gratitude for everything what I learned there, what I was given, for the awesome people I got to know, and the precious experiences and memories which I will always keep in my heart. Furthermore, I think it is a great opportunity to learn more about the church and True Parents and about other cultures and ways of practicing the church's teachings. The time in Japan personally helped me a lot to gain a deeper understanding about the church and to refocus again on what I need to work on.