Mr. Choi Sang-ik (who later received the name Bong-choon from his father), better known to many of us as Papa-san Choi, ascended to the spirit world in late February this year. A national-level Seonghwa Ceremony was conducted in California, USA, on March 18.
Papa-san Choi was our first missionary to Japan, and the first missionary True Father sent out with the mission to restore another nation back to our Heavenly Parent. This testimony has been translated from original texts that Papa-san wrote in Korean and Japanese and draws from both. Some of the content is written more in the form of a daily journal, and these parts are dated.
The year is 1959 and Papa-san Choi has escaped from the hospital and taken a train for Tokyo.
By Papa-san Choi
Part 13 (Click here to read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11 and Part 12)
I reflected on the past, while making plans for future mission work in Japan. Around noon the next day I would be in Tokyo. I entrusted my fortune to heaven. I had hoped to witness to someone on the train, but there was very old person in front of me, not suitable. A few seats away was a woman who seemed like an intellectual and I thought to speak to her but could not. While I was thinking, the dawn began to break in the eastern skies. The train moved north. I recalled the days, and everyone I knew, when I had previously stayed in Tokyo, wondering if I could meet them, and while deep in thought, the train reached Atami, close to Tokyo, and stopped for a while there. On the other platform, a train for Shinjuku was waiting, so I changed to that train. I feared that my escape had by now been discovered and that a search was already on.
Finally in Tokyo
Past noon, I arrived at Shinjuku station, praying, my heart dancing, but with some anxiety as well. I hadn’t been to Tokyo in 7 years, since 1953. I got off the train with nowhere to go to, and decided to visit the Korean YMCA. I walked, my first steps in Tokyo. “Father, Father!” I strengthened my resolve and burned with a fighting spirit.
I got to the YMCA. It was the same as before. It seemed a Korean students’ association of young men and women were meeting. I waited until it was over and explained my situation to a young man who appeared to be the leader. I wanted to find a place to stay, and he went to a minister of the organization, Rev. Hwang of the Seiketsu Church. I spoke a little about when I was in Korea. He invited me to dinner in the evening so I stayed. I wanted to see one Rev. Oh and attended the Sunday evening service. I was able to meet him and as it had been seven years there was much to talk about. I said I hoped to stay in Japan for a while and was looking for a place, but the church declined and told me to sleep at the YMCA. Thinking about various things, about tomorrow, I prayed deeply before Father and the Lord, happy that I was safely in Tokyo.
Visiting friends
Day 3 – I stepped out of the YMCA, full of hope. Had breakfast outside, thinking what to do with my plans, my situation. I had to be constantly careful and go about wisely in Satan’s world… I had nowhere to go but thought to visit an acquaintance, and last night I’d found out at the YFC, buying a Japanese Bible, that Ms. Imoo was still there, so I called her. We met around noon at a coffee shop on Suzuran Street. It had been seven years. She hadn’t changed much. We talked a little and when she asked what brought me to Japan, I said it was to become a resident, but that I was wondering how things would turn out.
She knew where several past employees were, and I visited one of them, Ms. Ozeki. She said she knew where Ms. Tamura lived, so I visited that evening, about ten minutes from Mitaka station. It was good to see former friends, I was comforted and did not feel alone anymore. Ms. Tamura had always been a calm person. She welcomed me the most. There was a young man named Kimura at her home, so I witnessed to him. He did listen, but was self-centered. He was materialistic, a typical modern man who was becoming like an animal.
It was getting late, so I left. I returned to the YMCA unwillingly, but had nowhere else to go. I was told “Only one night,” and it was the third night. The pastor was coldhearted, but I asked for just one more night and stayed. He asked many things about my situation and didn’t leave a good impression. I went to sleep thinking this would be the last night here.
Difficulty finding a place
Day 4 – I wanted to resolve this today. I went to Ms. Tamura’s. She also asked what brought me to Japan. I thought I should give some answer, so I said I was with a school, a faith-based business organization. I had dinner with her at Kichijoji, and went back to her family’s home. Although she agreed to let me stay for a while, her family did not approve.
I had no place to go. If I went to an inn and something happened [with the authorities], all would be in vain. It was getting late, and having no choice, I went to an inn in front of the station. But I didn’t have a good feeling, so got on the train to Suidobashi, and stayed at an inn there. I felt tense and was vigilant.
Relying on an acquaintance in Yamanashi
I stayed a few days at the inn. I had to eat and money was dwindling. I was getting anxious. Yet my strong faith didn’t waver and I strove to overcome. I decided to visit one Mr. Iwashita, a former colleague who was now a pastor in Yamanashi prefecture. It was unbearable to have reached Tokyo, and then go out to the Yamanashi countryside.
I arrived in the late afternoon. There was an evening service that night, with 5-6 participants at the church which had been there for decades. Mr. Iwashita gave a sermon, and externally he seemed stable. I felt a little better, and decided to go to sleep.
His parents lived with him and I wished to have some freedom so I went to his church with him. It was a nice, quiet place. I said I’d like to stay here on my own and eat by myself. I felt more at peace. There was a small 4-mat room in the back of the church where I hoped to stay until I planned the next move.
As I had time on my hands, I started translating Wolli Haeseol [Explanation of Divine Principle] into Japanese. I worked on the remainder of what I’d started at the sanatorium. Although it was hard to stay in the room day after day, I couldn’t be found walking around a small town too much either. Gradually, I began to feel confined. I looked forward to letters from Tokyo and Korea.
In about two weeks, a letter came from Korea; our trinity was trying to find money but things were difficult.
Unexpectedly, I got a letter from the address of Mrs. Ito, with whom I had visited Japan together about seven years previously. It was Godsent and feeling I should visit right away, I greeted Mr. Iwashita and went to Tokyo. I was hopeful again.
I met Mrs. Ito in Tokyo. She greeted me kindly. I also saw Mr. Tsuruichi, who had always been a likeable man. Later, Ms. Keiko came in a kimono, but perhaps I’d said some extreme things, and she seemed to be on her guard.
I stayed the night there, and visited Ms. Tamura the next day. She’d actually found a place and was just about to send me a letter about it; I planned to go see the place immediately.
In the evening, I returned to the Itos, but she felt distant. Satan was trying to speak through her to have me return to Korea, using materialistic reasoning. Yet, I couldn’t complain or alter my will.
Renting an 8-mat room
I decided on a place the next day in Higashi-fushimi, an 8-mat room to myself. I paid half the rent and returned to Mrs. Ito, who scolded me, but I stood my ground. I said I’d found a place and left in the morning. She gave me some money and I accepted it. I did not miss her place; in fact it was a daily spiritual battle there. They didn’t understand me from a heavenly perspective, but treated me like a bad man or a patient. This was also probably an indemnity course.
Ms. Tamura and I bought bedding in installments, packed it on a bicycle and I moved in the afternoon. I felt so anxious, as if everyone was watching me. This was because I had no legal freedom. But the mission of restoring the cosmos had to be fulfilled, and I would go forward today, and tomorrow. I slept in the large room alone.
After spending a lonely night like Jacob at the new place, the landlord invited me to a simple meal, so I ate with some reserve. In the afternoons, I witnessed to students at Ochanomizu student hall, visited a church at times, and witnessed with an impatient heart.
Continued next week…