To start my reflection I want to point out my highlights and personal experiences. I travelled alone to Japan because I felt too much stress and pressure at home. The feeling of being in Japan was a beautiful feeling of happiness to be blessed to meet my mother, my mother in law and other 2nd generation children from other nations. The weather was not good at first. It was rainy most of the time with some sunshine. There were also warnings of a typhoon coming. We were told that the typhoon season was unusually late in Japan this year.
We started with a meeting in the Shibuya Mission Centre about Nigerian Tribal Messiahship and heard several testimonies. For the following days in Tokyo we had a one-day Waku Waku seminar given to us by a Japanese church lecturer. He pointed out many facts from the Divine Principle teachings and formulated them through Father’s words. He explained how we could reflect when we apply the Principle and “Forgive, Love, Unite, Thank, and remove our Fallen Nature.” In my mind I agreed “yes, this is the truth”.
Then we had a witnessing program with Japanese missionaries led by a very professional and experienced witnessing leader with more than 11 years of experience witnessing every day in Japan. Their motivation touched my heart. I feel like Europe has not shown any progress and lacks in cultivating heart and should give more support to those who are closest to God and active in the mission field. (Abel figures).
We next visited Kyoto, Hiroshima, Kumamoto and Fukuoka where I met more Japanese CARP students who live together and practice church life - families and young members. They endeavour to balance church work and everyday life. I was very inspired by that and I did sometimes envy their bond and lifestyle as brothers and sisters. But I felt worried when I heard how young students are lacking in sleep having only 5-6 hours only every night! Or choose to sleep in their cars because of late night work.
Sightseeing was also on our schedule. I enjoyed this but unfortunately there was not as much time to visit other Cities or do as much sightseeing as we would have liked. Our travel plan was very tight. Of course, most days the Japanese CARP members wanted to talk and invite us to a dinner party.
Kumamoto is where we stayed for 11 days. By far the longest and best experience. Kumamoto had a big earthquake about three years ago and many people lost their homes. The Kumamoto Shrine is being rebuilt on the original site but it may take another 30 to 50 years until it is completed. All of us met many good people, young students and made new friends.
Our responsibility was teaching Japanese kids English language, meeting high positioned politicians in the role of Peace Road Ambassadors and we went to visit the Bering Strait Tunnel project. The Peace Road event was reported in the local newspaper in Kumamoto. During our Peace Road event we experienced a lot of rain and luckily we made it without being hurt. On the final day of the Peace Road Project we heard how bad the relationship between Japan and Korea has become and that Reunification of Korea will take a lot of time and effort unless there is a miracle. Kumamoto is an international city. Foreigners have increased in numbers in the past years and have come to work. Kumamoto wants to welcome foreigners to work, live, study and for sports. Kumamoto was successful.
Our final destination was Noko Island for Ocean Challenge. We could stay at a family member’s house which was 150 years old. We did a service project by cleaning the beach, and went to shower at least 2 times per day. The weather was too hot for us, so we were not used to it. The following day we woke up early in the morning to go fishing for the first time. It was very hot. I caught a baby Hammerhead Shark. Of course, I reunited it back with the ocean. The next day we woke up even earlier and went out by boat to a deeper part of the ocean. I felt great. I think everyone had a wonderful time enjoying the sunrise. But in fact, the ocean is such a scary place. I was really determined to catch a fish. So I started really fast and all of the sudden I caught the first fish a Red Snapper. And in a short period of time I had another fish. It was a great experience but it did come with much pain in my arms. At the end we had a barbeque and ate a lot of fish and meat. At the end of this successful day we saw some beautiful fireworks to conclude our Ocean Challenge.
This time in Japan has been the most exciting experience and for our beloved True Parents we came together to unite as one Family under God!
Thank you, Aju.
Then we had a witnessing program with Japanese missionaries led by a very professional and experienced witnessing leader with more than 11 years of experience witnessing every day in Japan. Their motivation touched my heart. I feel like Europe has not shown any progress and lacks in cultivating heart and should give more support to those who are closest to God and active in the mission field. (Abel figures).
We next visited Kyoto, Hiroshima, Kumamoto and Fukuoka where I met more Japanese CARP students who live together and practice church life - families and young members. They endeavour to balance church work and everyday life. I was very inspired by that and I did sometimes envy their bond and lifestyle as brothers and sisters. But I felt worried when I heard how young students are lacking in sleep having only 5-6 hours only every night! Or choose to sleep in their cars because of late night work.
Sightseeing was also on our schedule. I enjoyed this but unfortunately there was not as much time to visit other Cities or do as much sightseeing as we would have liked. Our travel plan was very tight. Of course, most days the Japanese CARP members wanted to talk and invite us to a dinner party.
Kumamoto is where we stayed for 11 days. By far the longest and best experience. Kumamoto had a big earthquake about three years ago and many people lost their homes. The Kumamoto Shrine is being rebuilt on the original site but it may take another 30 to 50 years until it is completed. All of us met many good people, young students and made new friends.
Our responsibility was teaching Japanese kids English language, meeting high positioned politicians in the role of Peace Road Ambassadors and we went to visit the Bering Strait Tunnel project. The Peace Road event was reported in the local newspaper in Kumamoto. During our Peace Road event we experienced a lot of rain and luckily we made it without being hurt. On the final day of the Peace Road Project we heard how bad the relationship between Japan and Korea has become and that Reunification of Korea will take a lot of time and effort unless there is a miracle. Kumamoto is an international city. Foreigners have increased in numbers in the past years and have come to work. Kumamoto wants to welcome foreigners to work, live, study and for sports. Kumamoto was successful.
Our final destination was Noko Island for Ocean Challenge. We could stay at a family member’s house which was 150 years old. We did a service project by cleaning the beach, and went to shower at least 2 times per day. The weather was too hot for us, so we were not used to it. The following day we woke up early in the morning to go fishing for the first time. It was very hot. I caught a baby Hammerhead Shark. Of course, I reunited it back with the ocean. The next day we woke up even earlier and went out by boat to a deeper part of the ocean. I felt great. I think everyone had a wonderful time enjoying the sunrise. But in fact, the ocean is such a scary place. I was really determined to catch a fish. So I started really fast and all of the sudden I caught the first fish a Red Snapper. And in a short period of time I had another fish. It was a great experience but it did come with much pain in my arms. At the end we had a barbeque and ate a lot of fish and meat. At the end of this successful day we saw some beautiful fireworks to conclude our Ocean Challenge.
This time in Japan has been the most exciting experience and for our beloved True Parents we came together to unite as one Family under God!
Thank you, Aju.