Europeans at Keisei Carp

Keishin Barrett
July 5, 2010

The ball seems to be rolling

Over this past week, everyday has somehow become more and more busy. Today we managed to drag ourselves out of bed, 2 minutes before opening with sore muscles.

The week started with a lot of planning. Brainstorming and drawing out a colorful calendar. But we have also experienced some really nice things this week. We visited a hospital which is run by a blessed family and both Mariam and I experienced witnessing for the first time.

Out of my one year on STF I didn't get a chance to go witnessing once. I remember doing it once when I was 12 in London. But I can barely call it witnessing. I have always looked at it as an activity for the really brave and strong. It was something which I knew wanted and should do, but something that I thought I might be able to wheedle my way out of for the rest of my life.

We had given guidance by the center leader. It was simple because of language, however it was one of the most inspiring and beautiful lectures I have heard. The language barrier actually made it possible to really receive the real essence, without fancy words and long sentences. The lecture had something very natural and pure about it. It was truly inspiring.

Going witnessing was really interesting. There are rules on whom to approach. I thought it would be like fundraising where we approach everybody, but actually with witnessing we often waited for somebody who fit a criteria and who we felt was prepared.

The CARP approach is also really relatable and understandable. It's very friendly, like a questionnaire, starting with simple questions which get deeper and deeper. I actually really enjoyed it. Witnessing is actually something really beautiful and I think it's so important to find a spiritual child in this life.

Other than that we have somehow been running here and there. Yesterday we wanted to cook an English meal. But it ended up becoming spaghetti bolognaise with cake and custard for desert… if you can call it custard. We tried making it from scratch and it became an absolute mission and disaster… even though we followed all the instructions. Why! Why???

Then yesterday we played sports with guests. These kinds of evenings are called "Care". About 6 of us played basket ball and Badminton with really short reflection and goal making. The evening was actually a lot of jokes, with a lot of energy and laughing and the internal aspect really subtle but effective. Again, I was particularly inspired by the CARP member's natural enthusiasm. It just isn't forced and is often funny and free. Out of the months that I've spent in Japan, I have started to love Japan most in the last week.

Keishin.

In the past, I was a person that was critical of the Japanese movement. I used to think that it was too extreme, that it wasn't possible or normal to be so "hard-core".

However, deep down I think that I was trying to justify my own lack of passion. I have come to realize that one of the things that I would like most, is to have the same level of faith and passion that the Japanese Unification Church community dedicates.

I arrived in Japan in early February this year. After years of wishing to speak Japanese and having recently been blessed to a Japanese, I felt that it was about time to just throw myself into it.

I spent the last few months with a Japanese family in a village in the countryside. I managed to overcome culture shock and -- for once in my life -- take a LOT of time to myself; studying Japanese by myself and I started attending Japanese Ink painting lessons.

It was all really wonderful and many times, I wondered why life couldn't always be this way. Sitting by rivers and eating ice-cream. Taking long walks and reading books. However after a while, I started to wonder what was the purpose of it all. I even felt internally stale, and felt frustrated easily.

So I found myself on a night bus to Tokyo.

Life went from my own pink bedroom, with birds singing and frogs croaking out my window.

To sharing a room with 5 other girls, next to a train track and a children's playground.

I have to say though, that I suddenly feel really enriched.

I don't yet know much about the structure of CARP, and why it works so well here. But I can say that I have been struck and inspired by the dedication of the CARP members here. Yoshiko said once, that she hasn't seen any conflict here -- in a house of 20 people -- and it doesn't surprise me. Everybody is serving each other and there is a lot of energy and positivity.

As Europeans, we are wondering what we can offer to a country with a movement that is so advanced. However, there is a reason that True Father blessed so many East/West families. I am really starting to realize the importance of connecting and understanding the best of both worlds as there is a lot that we can learn from each other.

Love

Keishin