JCarp for me was a really great experience and I’ m very happy that I got the opportunity to participate in this project. It actually changed many things in my life. JCarp definitely got me more connected with church; it helped me being more positive in life and taught me many life lessons through experiencing the JCarp lifestyle and spending time with our church members. The Japanese members treated us so nicely which really warmed our hearts. It was also a very good experience as a group who participated in this JCarp project. I had a lot of fun together with Haesul, Jun and Marina, which made this trip extra special.
My first two weeks I spent in Sosei Centre, near Korakuen station in Tokyo with Jun Chan. I remember feeling a little bit scared because it was a whole new experience. But I tried to keep an open mind and not have any expectations beforehand so that I could be ready for anything. When I first entered the centre it was around lunch time and there were no Carp members in the centre except for the Centre Leader, Yamada-san. When time passed, slowly but surely people started to come home. At dinner time almost everyone was present and we had a great evening. The members showed a lot of interest in us and together they created this cheerful and fun atmosphere. Later I found out that not only this dinner was great, but every dinner was like this. It’s really amazing to see how everyone gets along so well with each other.
The Japanese Carp schedule is a pretty tough schedule. They wake up early in the morning around 6 for Hoon Dok He, then morning service, cleaning, cooking breakfast, university, mission, homework, cooking dinner, and closing around 11 and after that sharing and reflection. I found out they don’t have any time to sleep because even after that, some of the members need to study for tests. Sometimes members find some spare time during the day and take a quick nap to catch some sleep. Although they have this busy schedule, I never saw them complaining or do a bad job. I think this is because they really motivate each other and they have a very strong connection with each other. After closing off the day, everyone hugs and complements the other members and most of them take some time together to refelct. In this way they really support each other, which is really inspiring for me.
During these first two weeks in Tokyo I experienced many new things. For example, it was my first time witnessing and I gave a short Devine Principle lecture, which was also my first time. I would expect this to be a scary thing, but it wasn’t at all actually. Because the Carp members ( and Jun, Haesul and Marina too) were so supportive and helpful I was really motivated to do these things and to help our brothers and sisters in Japan. I really hope we helped them and made them smile with our visit to the Carp Centre’s.
What made this trip also really great was that it was very well planned. Every day was a busy day and we experienced many special and unique things. Some memorable moments were attending International Sunday Service in Shibuya Church, joining a Second Generation Pick Nick in Ueno Park, lunch with President Song, singing for people in the Church Hospital and many more.
After Tokyo, it was time for sightseeing week in Hiroshima and Kyoto. During this week we also stayed in Carp Centre’s, which was really nice because both Centre’s treated us so nicely. We found out that every Centre has roughly the same schedule. But this time for us, we could spend more time for sightseeing. Both in Hiroshima and Kyoto there were members who were so kind to show us around, which was really nice. I think we were really blessed with that, because the initial plan was that we had to plan these sightseeing days ourselves.
For the last week(s) we took off for Miyakojima, a small island in the very south of Japan. This is also the place where my mother was born and where she grew up, so it was very nice for me to go back there again. We stayed in the house of the blessed family of Miyake, which is also the ‘church’ of the island. This week was just paradise for us. This island has beautiful nature, surrounded by a transparent blue sea. The Miyake family was so nice to us and prepared us so much food, which was very delicious.
On this island we also did a lot of things. We helped with teaching English as a service project and also did some witnessing. The people on this island are so kind and many people showed us around. A couple times we visited the school on this island and the principle took time to talk to us and to show us around the school. Besides that we also enjoyed the beautiful sea and went swimming, snorkeling, stargazing and watch the sunset from a boat. I was very lucky because I could also visit my family on Miyakojima. On my last day we had a Sunday service where the four of us and my parents gave testimonies about our trip. This was a very special and moving day which I will never forget.
All in all I would say I had a great and memorable trip which actually changed my life in many positive ways. I’m really thankful I got this opportunity and for all the people that made this trip possible and who made it so special and amazing. Hopefully our members in Japan think about it the same way and I hope to see them again in Japan or in Europe!
My first two weeks I spent in Sosei Centre, near Korakuen station in Tokyo with Jun Chan. I remember feeling a little bit scared because it was a whole new experience. But I tried to keep an open mind and not have any expectations beforehand so that I could be ready for anything. When I first entered the centre it was around lunch time and there were no Carp members in the centre except for the Centre Leader, Yamada-san. When time passed, slowly but surely people started to come home. At dinner time almost everyone was present and we had a great evening. The members showed a lot of interest in us and together they created this cheerful and fun atmosphere. Later I found out that not only this dinner was great, but every dinner was like this. It’s really amazing to see how everyone gets along so well with each other.
The Japanese Carp schedule is a pretty tough schedule. They wake up early in the morning around 6 for Hoon Dok He, then morning service, cleaning, cooking breakfast, university, mission, homework, cooking dinner, and closing around 11 and after that sharing and reflection. I found out they don’t have any time to sleep because even after that, some of the members need to study for tests. Sometimes members find some spare time during the day and take a quick nap to catch some sleep. Although they have this busy schedule, I never saw them complaining or do a bad job. I think this is because they really motivate each other and they have a very strong connection with each other. After closing off the day, everyone hugs and complements the other members and most of them take some time together to refelct. In this way they really support each other, which is really inspiring for me.
During these first two weeks in Tokyo I experienced many new things. For example, it was my first time witnessing and I gave a short Devine Principle lecture, which was also my first time. I would expect this to be a scary thing, but it wasn’t at all actually. Because the Carp members ( and Jun, Haesul and Marina too) were so supportive and helpful I was really motivated to do these things and to help our brothers and sisters in Japan. I really hope we helped them and made them smile with our visit to the Carp Centre’s.
What made this trip also really great was that it was very well planned. Every day was a busy day and we experienced many special and unique things. Some memorable moments were attending International Sunday Service in Shibuya Church, joining a Second Generation Pick Nick in Ueno Park, lunch with President Song, singing for people in the Church Hospital and many more.
After Tokyo, it was time for sightseeing week in Hiroshima and Kyoto. During this week we also stayed in Carp Centre’s, which was really nice because both Centre’s treated us so nicely. We found out that every Centre has roughly the same schedule. But this time for us, we could spend more time for sightseeing. Both in Hiroshima and Kyoto there were members who were so kind to show us around, which was really nice. I think we were really blessed with that, because the initial plan was that we had to plan these sightseeing days ourselves.
For the last week(s) we took off for Miyakojima, a small island in the very south of Japan. This is also the place where my mother was born and where she grew up, so it was very nice for me to go back there again. We stayed in the house of the blessed family of Miyake, which is also the ‘church’ of the island. This week was just paradise for us. This island has beautiful nature, surrounded by a transparent blue sea. The Miyake family was so nice to us and prepared us so much food, which was very delicious.
On this island we also did a lot of things. We helped with teaching English as a service project and also did some witnessing. The people on this island are so kind and many people showed us around. A couple times we visited the school on this island and the principle took time to talk to us and to show us around the school. Besides that we also enjoyed the beautiful sea and went swimming, snorkeling, stargazing and watch the sunset from a boat. I was very lucky because I could also visit my family on Miyakojima. On my last day we had a Sunday service where the four of us and my parents gave testimonies about our trip. This was a very special and moving day which I will never forget.
All in all I would say I had a great and memorable trip which actually changed my life in many positive ways. I’m really thankful I got this opportunity and for all the people that made this trip possible and who made it so special and amazing. Hopefully our members in Japan think about it the same way and I hope to see them again in Japan or in Europe!