Sundays with Sensei

I never really liked Sundays. While some viewed their Sunday as precious moments to relax and spend time with their families, I saw it not as a day of rest but the start of another week. I detested Sunday the same way that people have the Monday Blues. Let me explain. I grew in a family where education was really valued. After a week of studying, our weekends would start by Friday well until Saturday. We would then start Sunday with Mass at church, and then lunch in a restaurant. Once we got home, it was straight to our school books. We would study well into the night to prepare for our Monday lessons. Thus our Sunday was not part of the weekend, it was the start of the week!


As we got older, our Sundays gradually changed. Our parents weren't as strict anymore and we spent much of our time going out to the mall and dining out with the family after church. Sunday was turning into a real rest day. However in spite of that, I didn't value Sunday as the Lord's day as I ought to. For me Sunday was about going to Mass, and after an hour go straight to the mall (and sometimes having Mass at the mall).


That changed when I went to Japan three years ago. After being invited by a special friend, I was introduced to the Tsukuba Kibou Kyoukai (Tsukuba Hope Church). Growing up a Catholic, I found the church service quite different. Being Presbyterian, it gave emphasis on bible readings, worship and prayer. Compared to the Catholic Mass, the service was significantly less in rituals. At first I had a hard time since the services were all done in Japanese and Korean. I could barely follow the teachings and songs.
I have to admit that under normal circumstances I would not have stayed if not for our wonderful pastor, Park Sensei. Sensei did not fit my image of what a reverend should be. For one, although he is married and has two kids, he has this boyish charm that made him seem like a big brother to us. Further more he was an electronics geek, loved sports and was really into music. During service he would be very passionate in teaching us the scriptures, but after service he was like one of the guys. Although he also had his moods, he was the type of guy that you could joke around with.

After faithfully building our community for 12 years, Park Sensei is finally leaving our church for another assignment in Tokyo. It has been decided that he would take care of another flock.

Looking back this past three years I find it a blessing that although I could barely understand let alone speak proper Japanese, I was able to understand God's teaching through sensei here in Japan than when I was attending English church services in the Philippines. Sensei taught me that beyond language and culture, faith was truly more powerful than words.

My Sundays have never been the same. Sundays are not workdays anymore, I have already started looking forward to Sunday service as the best way to start my week. That's all thanks to our Sensei, Samonim (Pastor's wife in Korean) and his wonderful kids Jifun and Chihi.

To you Park sensei, Doumo Arigatou Gozaimashita...