Recent Personal Happenings

Spring is definitely coming here in Shizuoka... they say, earlier than usual.   The start of the new school year used to be the time when the cherry blossoms are blooming, but it seems it will not be anymore.  Cherry blossoms are expected to go full bloom by tomorrow over here.  

Just in front of the church compound is the inner moat that used to protect Sunpu Castle, 

the last place where the famous Ieyasu Tokugawa lived.  It was from this castle that 

the declaration to persecute Christians was handed 

down.  The castle is no more.  But there is a beautiful park in it.  On dry, cold winter days, one can see the beautiful, yet, 

imposing Mt. Fuji, white and mysterious, as if Mt. Olympus was just a stone's throw.  

Come March 

29, it will be the elections of the City Parliament.  The way they conduct their campaign is something Filipinos should 

learn from.  They make their speeches on places where people usually pass through like train stations and city squares.  They do not make rallies... and I suppose DO NOT COERCE people to become the crowd of these rallies.  All they do is make their speeches heard -- perhaps targeting the "unattentive" passerby's mind, 

knowing that it will naturally sink into his/her own thinking process.

But what actually strikes me is the limitation of posters.  Yes, no big streamers or tarpaulins!  No stickers or a barrage of posters on walls!  Just the designated, temporary board with 

the designated size for only ONE poster per candidate.  We, Filipinos, may still accuse the Japanese to be barbaric 

World War II offenders... but elections is one proof that they may be less "barbaric" than us, Pinoys, when it comes to elections. 

Last February 22, I received a text message from the bishop to see him for an emergency talk.  I went to his office the next day -- my mother's birthday! -- and he told me the surprising news: that I am moving from Shizuoka to Kamakura to become assistant parish priest.

No, it's not a promotion.  It's just that the parish priest of Kamakura (Yukinoshita Church) really needs a replacement for one of his assistants (who will be parish priest of another church).  The bishop told me he specifically asked for me.  Flattered or not, this is one new challenge for me.  Yet, I just cannot avoid thinking of the fact that this is my 8th transfer in my 9 years in Japan.  I feel like one of the Israelites in Moses' time traveling for 40 years to get to the Promised Land.   

(Right: picture of the church that I downloaded from its website.)