Paulo had already made up his mind when he was in junior high school: "After graduating from high school, I will enter seminary and become a missionary."
Although his parents were not Christians, Paul received a Christian education through the influence of his paternal grandmother.
On Sunday mornings, I took a 30-minute bus ride to my grandmother's house, and then went to church with her and my two cousins. The service was divided into an adult service and a children's service, but at noon we all gathered in the dining room, shared a meal, and had a good time. Paul especially loved talking to everyone.
Paulo lived with his family in a suburb of São Paulo, in a neighborhood that was not particularly safe, but it was difficult to buy a house in the city.
His father ran a printing company in the city of São Paulo, so he would leave the house early every morning in the car. When Paulo began attending his long-cherished dream of attending seminary in São Paulo, he would drive to school with his father early in the morning.
One morning, the two of them left their house in their car as usual, when they were attacked by two men on a motorcycle. When the father turned the corner to shake off the motorcycle, another man suddenly appeared and pointed a gun at the father. The father and Paulo did not resist and immediately got out of the car, but the father was shot in the leg, and the three men stole the car and escaped.
Paulo immediately took his father to the hospital, but his leg never fully recovered and he was no longer able to walk on his own. From then on, the family's life changed forever.
The stolen car was never found, and with the father left disabled, the family decided to rent a small apartment near the printing company that supported the family.
In order to support their father, their mother also began helping out at the company, and their two younger sisters began doing housework while attending school.
Paul successfully completed his first year of seminary, but after seeing his family working hard and helping each other, he decided to go to Japan to help his family as well.
"What about school?" "Dekasegi work is tough! You should quit," and "You'll be able to buy a house someday, so don't worry," said Paulo's family, who were against his going to Japan.
Paulo was worried, so when he went to church as usual on Sunday, he asked his grandmother about going to Japan.
"My grandfather -- Paul's great-great-grandfather -- studied at a Bible college in Sapporo, Hokkaido. It was at that time that he listened to God's call, made the decision to go to a foreign country, and after that he was involved in missionary work for a long time. So I think if Paul made the right decision before God, he would definitely be successful. If it's the right decision, God will give you what you want."
The old lady's words were decisive. After spending a happy New Year's holiday with his family and friends, Paulo left for Japan.
Paulo started working at an electronic conductor manufacturing company in Omachi, Nagano Prefecture. The winter scenery in Nagano was spectacular! After a year, Paulo's Japanese improved and he was completely accustomed to work and life in Japan.
Before he knew it, Paulo had become an indispensable presence among the Japanese Brazilians in the area. Whenever his colleagues had problems, they would come to him. Paulo would talk to his superiors and work together to resolve the issue. He also accompanied his colleagues and their families when they went to the city hall or the hospital, helping as an interpreter.
Every Sunday, he went to a Christian church in Isesaki, Gunma Prefecture. Here too, Paulo did everything he could. He translated the messages during the service into Portuguese for the Japanese Brazilians, helped clean up the Sunday school, and actively participated in volunteer activities.
One day, a child was hiding behind the church organ. When Paul tried to call out to him, a young woman who seemed to be the child's mother suddenly came running, pulled the child out, and went outside. The child looked like he was about to cry, but he turned around and waved to Paul.
Although Paul was concerned about the boy, he never saw him at church again.
Another year passed, and finally the day came when I returned to Brazil.
When Paulo returned to Brazil, he planned to return to seminary and graduate in the remaining three years, but what he was most looking forward to was being reunited with his beloved family.
I learned from a phone call the day before that my father was excited about buying a new house with Paulo, and I was also quite worried about the flirtatious words of my sister Karen: "I have some big news for you, so come home early."
The mountain peaks in the distance were still completely white. Hoping to return to Japan once more, Paulo got in a taxi and headed to the airport.
© 2023 Laura Honda-Hasegawa
