Sophie's last post

I am now participating in the last leg of my Japanese CARP adventures. Having seen five different CARP centres I cannot emphasise enough how wonderful it is to find that they’re all so different but still fundamentally the same. It shows the adaptiveness of the CARP lifestyle.

Sometimes I was able to see what makes the centre work and how the people are so happy, but with the peach you get the stone, I also could see things that perhaps hinder the members or make the atmosphere uncomfortable. One thing that has stood out to me that truly has a positive effect on the members is living the concept of ‘One family under God’. Where the CARP leader is involved in everyone’s life as a father and everyone feels completely comfortable to be absolutely themselves; a place where true love is flowing from all angles.

To achieve this of course requires mountains of effort and I am astounded by the Japanese members continuous positivity despite any hard times. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting so many people with unwavering faith who are able to speak sincerely and freely about deep topics which creates pure surroundings to live in. On some occasions they were asked to give messages on the spot and I was blown away with what they said. I think the Japanese culture has contributed to the speech skills of the members.

I’ve learnt so much whilst being on this trip including how to brew good ocha, speak a little Japanese, bowing etiquette, witnessing techniques and much more. Skills which I hope will come in handy in the future.

An experience that was important to me was witnessing. I was privileged enough to see a person through the first few stages of their spiritual growth. And although with some of the people we approached I felt I couldn’t say much or involve myself, with this one girl I really felt connected and able to talk to her and contribute, I felt needed. It was amazing to see how people joined the church in this modern age.

I’ve been so lucky as to have seen so much of Japan; the city lifestyle, where people are flying in and out catching tubes meeting guests etc and the countryside where although it is equally busy, it feels calmer and the members feel a little more relaxed, enough to have a cheeky afternoon nap or reading etc.

Another treasured experience I had was the 5-day guest workshop that we attended. We as kitchen staff were providing fuel so they could concentrate in lectures etc, we also did occasional birthday cakes or performances and decorations (^^) it felt like a family and I hope that came across to the guests!

I’m amazed at how well we did since we had almost no sleep and little experience in cooking. However, it was only in our faces that tiredness could be seen, everyone else looked happy and bright and still had a gicing, loving attitude. This I really need to learn how to do! J

The formalities of Japanese meals were to be endured but it was lightened by the gratitude and ‘cuteness’ of the participants.

I want to thank Masa and Il Kook for being such good brothers and friends throughout. They made each day interesting even if we were just sat on a climbing frame in the park.

And especially to Masa for his brilliant and eloquent translation, without whom I think I’d have had half the experience!! (Sanks!!)

I also want to say a mahusive thank you to each CARP centre I stayed at for the love they gave and the experiences I had ther however large or small. For example in one centre, I was sat talking with one of the sisters by the open window and a large majestic heron flew past close enough to hear the flap of its pearly blue wings!

And thank you for teaching me Japanese culture and the various openings to meals!!! <3

Sometimes I’d be watching the members witness or hearing their deep prayers or talking with the CARP leader and I’d think this would never work in Europe, its too Japanese or too ‘cutesy’, and in some ways it is, but I can now say after hearing it countless times from almost every Japanese CARP member, that with God we can do anything.