YO DAMITA!

My first KFC Japan Activity!

Jan 25

leesaObservations, Pictures, Reflections 4 Comments

Today was the CFC Leaders’ Gathering for Japan. I was in charge of the Kids! (surprise, surprise right? haha) Anyway, I was super excited (and so were CFC, SFC, etc) because it was like the first KFC activity to have for all of Japan. So I got these talks from Manila, had a whole program script and I even bought prizes! We start trying to teach a song to the kids (Superhero)… and oh man, from the beginning, it was difficult because 1) HUGE age gap.. I mean there were 2 year olds to 14 year olds, 2) Japanese kids’ personalities (I’d elaborate, but my brain isn’t functioning as well as I’d like it to right now), and 3) I don’t speak Japanese. 

Praise the Lord for the team though! SFC and YFC! (who are bi-lingual! and good at English haha) They reeeeally held it down. The YFC took the older ones and did separate activities. They were the ones who took initiative. (I really miss working with the youth, btw). I was intending to do 2 activities, but I only ended up teaching 2 songs. It was sooo tiring. Seriously. They had to perform these 2 songs after Communion during the Mass. I was the only person who knew the actions and the songs so I used the mp3′s to teach them. However, during their presentation, the computer wasn’t playing the songs! Soooo I had to play the songs on the guitar in front of everyone. I just walked over to the Music Ministry, “Can I use the guitar?” OH MAN.  I WAS FREAKING NERVOUS. Why?! Well, I was the only one singing! And I was playing the guitar at the same time! In front of people! Like 200 people! :O I kept messing up ahhaha but I also told everyone “I think I’m the only one who knows the lyrics so bare with me. Please clap along! Ok here we go” We did Superhero then Every Move I Make. The kids were great! There were a few who particularly enjoyed it (see pictures below). SFC was great because they stood in front of the kids to show them the actions (from what they remembered haha). And as I started playing the songs, the Music Ministry started playing with me! WOOHOO! It ended up going well. (except for the fact that they really only played games and did whatever they wanted except for when we taught those 2 songs haha sigh)

After… I went back to the Kids’ Room because some kids went there during the praisefest. We played on Photobooth and they asked me to play the guitar again. (In Japanese haha I had one of the YFC’s translate for me) Seeing those 2 kids enjoy the songs and become my friend made the day ALL worthwhile. It wasn’t the greatest first step for KFC here in Japan, but it was a step. And that’s what matters. 

Some people came up to me and told me I’m good at the guitar. (Technically, “galing mo sa guitar!”) Seriously… I don’t think so. Maybe they think “good at the guitar.. for a girl” but then just don’t say the girl part? haha Then a Tita said “Lisa! I didn’t know you were so talented!” Ehhhhhhhh… they should meet my friends! Because they are MUCH more talented than I am! (Props to my blog roll! haha)  

I was able to talk to a youth from another part of Japan and he was quite open with me, for some odd reason. He shared about his frustrations in life (not necessarily in detail, but just being Japanese/Filipino/a Catholic/a YFC). I can see his passion is there for service, but I can also see he REALLY needs someone to pastor to him so he doesn’t get burnt out or discouraged. I hope I can help him! I could feel his desire to make YFC grow. I told him I wanted to have a youth camp. We are going to try and have one for the different areas in Japan! (I really hope this can push through before the summer.. and fyi, there really isn’t YFC here in Japan). 

Makoto! I had to say his name a million times to get him to stop being malicut. He was so fun. He kept talking to me in Japanese though haha. I kept saying “Nihongo wakarimasen!” which is, “I don’t understand Japanese.”

Yurika! She speaks Japanese and Tagalog. She kept trying to talk to me in both. Naturally, I didn’t understand her MOST of the time. haha But she was really sweet and cute. She wanted to eat dinner with me and she kept singing “Every Move I Make” to me while doing the actions. (Ok maybe it was only the NANANANA part but still! haha)

Makoto has like NO teeth on top haha. You can’t see it in this picture, but you can see it in the one above. I think that made him cuter.