Rose’s First Post

Hello!

Firstly i have to say i can't believe how fast everything has gone seeing as we only have less than a week left..i've definitely enjoyed this experience a lot and really glad i came. I really wanted to experience a different side to japan as even though i've been to japan many times and already familiar to the culture, coming to carp here has been a very different experience.

The main things we've been doing everyday is going to the witnessing center meeting guests, playing uno, cooking and just generally helping out. At first i was getting a bit repetitive doing the same things everyday but to be fair i came here to experience carp life and this is basically what they do everyday. However for the past few days we haven't really been doing this. Basically we were asked to do a performance for family night on a 2 day workshop so for like 2 days we practiced that a bit, they asked us to sing and dance to a Japanese carp song which was....interesting, anyway we promised never to mention that performance again so i shall move on...anyway so for the 2 day workshop we were kitchen staff but this time it wasn't so hard as the workshop was only for one guest. It was really interesting to see how much effort and hard work they put into just one guest, giving her a big welcoming, always trying to keep up a happy atmosphere, lots of praying and so on.


























Other things we've been doing is asking Carp members to give us their testimony from both 1st and 2nd gen and take them out somewhere like a family restaurant and asking things like why they joined carp, what they most enjoy about carp, what they find most difficult ect. This has really given us more of an insight into what Japanese carp life is like and also get to know that person better.

Yesterday we went into Hiroshima city with 2 other carp members and went to the Atomic bomb museum, although it was a bit depressing it was still an interesting experience and i learnt a lot about what happened. Afterwards we met up with some other carp members from the other Hiroshima carp centre and went to a local park to do some cleaning, picking up litter ect.



Anyway i've really enjoyed this week as it's been a bit of a change from our usual schedule, i really feel recently i've gotten to know all the people here better and really feel adjusted to carp life and just being here so I'm sad were gonna leave so soon, everyone here has been so friendly and welcoming. so overall.. I'm really glad that i met these people and thankful about being able to have this experience here:)

Time's passing fast

Rose is out to do some laundry, so I've got some time to write a bit more here.

We sat down with the center leader the other day, and aimed to get a clearer idea as to what we can do in the remaining time.

Here's a little basic schedule we put together, courtesy of Seijins pen skills:

We'll carry on with helping out with their witnessing efforts and cooking and doing all the little things we can to help out, so we'll be busy enough for the next week and a bit, until we all meet for some touristy fun.
This morning we did a slideshow(ish) presentation about British culture and a little about the movement here. I think it was a success and they all found it pretty interesting!

Here's a random quick mash-up of some of the slides we showed:

We showed loads of photos of family, friends, activities, school, etc etc.

Anyway, I'll leave this one short and will write more soon.
Take care all!

Seijin's Post

Hi everyone, sorry it took so long to write this but here we go!

So we have been here in Hiroshima Daigaku CARP for about a week and a half now. It has been quite an intense and extremely insightful experience. Seeing the passion and devotion of the CARP members and staff is amazing. Actually its really hard to relate to back home in London, because the fundamental culture of the movement is SO different.




One of the biggest initial culture shocks, apart from the toilet slippers was seeing the way the members treat people in position. So much respect and courtesy towards their leaders. Then I think of the way normal leaders in England get treated… Royal treatment to the max! The finest cutlery serving trays and best seats in the house. But I soon came to see that behind every action they have such great depth and meaning connected to something greater. I feel that there are many aspects within this culture that would be good to share at home.

Our usual schedule involves going to guests centre in the afternoon where we spend the rest of the day cooking dinner and entertaining the many guests they have here. We have gotten to know some of the guest quite well and are becoming expect UNO players! I feel all the members here are really busy! Hiroshima University is supposed to be the largest in Japan. The tour we had of it was astonishing. We also attended the university festival. The whole place is like at least 10 times bigger than any uni I have ever seen. The CARP members here have so much studies and the rest of their time is spent witnessing. The spirit and work ethic is comparable to being on STF. That group culture of uplifting each other and striving for a better relation with God is prevalent, they are really serious about their situation. Its like STF and uni life combined. Quite extraordinary!

The toughest time was probably being cooking staff for a workshop as I am sure u have all experienced. So much attention to detail and consideration and effort into every meal! and it was only for 2 days! Things I have enjoyed most are meeting new CARP members and hanging out with them. We have been to quite a few malls to hang out! Also sports, and the spirit and meaning they put into every game. Lots of effort everywhere. OK will write more later! Take everyone hope 2 c u soon and that u r havin fun!!!

More than a game of UNO!

Hey everyone,

First of all, I hope everyone's having a good so far. We spent our first day in Okayama which was our first taste of CARP culture, and being Japanese and having been here during STF before I knew the freshness that was to ensue, but reality is always more overwhelming. We actually spent the first day chilling out. So I can't say that was hard. The 'gakku-cho' there took us out to eat in a Italian 'famiressu' of all places. And then took us out to an 'On-sen' which was sweet once we got used to the nakedness. Anyway if you guys get to go sometime, try going in the sauna and then jumping in to the ice cold bath. That was pretty intense. Anyway that evening we got picked up by another 'mystery' moonie which drove us to the Hiroshima center, to disappear as quickly as he turned up. Nice guy though.

Second day I was super sick, and KO'd. I think it's a combination of change in diet, climate, and lack of sleep but mostly dehydration. I was seriously dying with vomiting, blurred vision and feverish symptoms which were pretty intense, but I'm better now. So drink a lot of water kids.

Third day, we did what Rose and Seijin did the day before, which was to go up to the CARP centre, and cook food/take care of guests and mainly play UNO. I'm motivated to become the best uno player here so watch out fo' that. yeah. Oh yeah, we also had a meeting with the centre leader and discussed what we wanna do, as it is apparent they are clueless as to what to do with us. But hopefully that made things clearer, so thanks to Yoshiko who shared the good word with us this morning.

All the external goings on aside, I think Keishin said it best. We're all inspired by the energy they have and the sincerity in which they go forward with the witnessing and the general attitude that they have. But I won't go on about that for now.

So thanks for reading and GAMBATTE!
Yoshi

Welcome!


Rose, Yoshi, Seijin