Engrish in church

Today on the way to/from church I was telling funny stories to Watanabe-sensei and he said I should write a book about my experience in Japan and he could translate it. “I’m serious,” he kept insisting - though he also told me I should be on Saturday Night Live because I’m so good at imitating people from school and church. A few other people, including my mother, have also told me I should write a book. I don’t know about writing a book, but I thought I could start writing down funny stories and posting them on my blog.

All of the hymns we sing in church are sung in Japanese, but sometimes they project the Japanese words and an English translation onto the front wall of the sactuary. Our first hymn at church today had the Japanese words and an English translation below. Here is the first verse and chorus:

You are there. If there is a smiling face.
You are there. Even if you cannot do something.
I begun to sing in my heart. I begun to sing the peace of God.
Lord, please be together into this intersection.

On the way home when I explained my confusion about the translation, specifically “intersection,” Watanabe-sensei told me that “fellowship” would have been a better. I get the idea of the song, and I appreciate that they want me to be able to understand what I’m saying. I say “me” because I am the only native English speaker at church.

Sometimes I feel bad laughing at their English when they really go out of their way to try and make me feel comfortable, but I can't help it - it's funny. Things seem even funnier when you're in church, where you’re supposed to be serious, especially in Japan. Maybe next week we’ll sing the song “when the crouds of glory fill the temple.” That's one of my favorites.