News From California - 2nd Generation Winter Workshop

by Kevin Thompson

Aetna Springs experienced the power of God's 2nd Generation in a high- spirited game of Yute which shattered the stillness of a quiet Napa evening. Playing for prize money donated by Father, and with more than a little pride at stake, the teenagers of our movement expressed themselves in very demonstrative ways until late in the evening on the final evening of a very special 3-day Winter Workshop for 13-17 year olds.

Three special guests from New York came to share their wisdom and experience with their younger brothers and sisters. Jin Hyung Eu (son of the late President and Mrs. Eu), Jin Man Choi (son of Tiger Choi) and Young Shim Kim (daughter of Peter and Phyllis Kim) came directly from an elder 2nd Generation workshop in New York to share on such topics as Father's hope for the 2nd Generation, The Future, School Life, etc., and to present a wonderful video about True Family. The wonderful opportunity for the 2nd Generation to connect to these elders from New York was greatly appreciated.

On the first day of the workshop, Kevin Thompson gave Principles of Creation and an explanation of Father's projects worldwide as well as a clear, no-holds-barred look at what the Fall of Man means in the life of teenagers. Pam Stein captivated the audience with her testimony of life and death situations as a missionary to Africa.

Casey Cox and Bill Bechtel led everyone on a hike to the waterfall, which inspired Joseph Lim and Wiljago Cook so much that they took a plunge in the icy water.

Everyone agreed on the need to continue to develop these workshops in winter and summer. However, seven days would be much better than three.

Local WFWP Women Give Input to the U.N.

by Kristina Seher

On Tuesday, November 15, Christine Froehlich and I assembled with 1200 other women at the Oakland Convention Center for a Region 9 (California, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, and the Pacific Islands) Official U.S. Preparatory Meeting for the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women. We were excited about meeting other women activists and were especially curious about the United States' agenda for the U.N. conference to be held in Beijing, China in September 1995. We had prayed for some time before the conference that we could meet Arvonne Fraser, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations who is coordinating the U.S. contribution to the upcoming Beijing conference.

We were dismayed upon registering to find that of the 24 breakout sessions, only one mentioned the word "family"-and that only in an offhanded way. For this session the focus was on child- and elder-care and women's roles in providing it. The opening plenary session shocked us. The speakers spoke of their "anger" and the need for women to "keep on fighting." For what? Equal rights in the workplace. Christine and I felt they were tragically short-sighted. They offered the women assembled no positive vision, no view of a healthy and peaceful family, society or world. The keynote speaker, Carol M. Browner, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and a member of Pres. Clinton's cabinet, never mentioned the internal role of women as the spiritual center of the family. Instead, she focused on environmental pollution and women's health. Surely these are important issues, but without attention to women's and families' spiritual health, we will never achieve a good society.

Christine and I decided not to be depressed but to roll up our sleeves and get to work. We drafted a statement outlining the need for a positive vision and briefly explained the WFWP view of world peace as dependent upon women and the spiritual nurturing they give their families and communities. We requested that the U.S. organize round- table discussions at the Beijing conferences on the issues which are at the core of a healthy world:

* character education;
* preparation for marriage;
* parenting education;
* an ethic of caring in human relationships;
* responsible stewardship of the natural environment;
* conflict resolution; and
* peace studies.

We emphasized that, based on this internal or spiritual education, women can more readily fulfill their potential in the world of work. (We looked so official as we worked that the conference photographer took pictures of us and people kept interrupting us to ask us about the conference!)

We then split up. Christine took one copy of our handwritten vision statement and action steps to a breakout session to read into the official record of the conference and I took the other to the executive offices of the Conference Center to type. Our plan was to meet back in a short time and track down Ambassador Fraser to present it to her, no matter what!

When Christine read our statement in one of the breakout sessions, she was applauded. Afterwards, several women handed her their cards and said they were interested in finding out more about the WFWP. Meanwhile, I finished typing our statement and a cover letter on WFWP stationery. Something made me linger for a few minutes in the executive offices looking at historical photos of the East Bay. Lo and behold, as I exited, I ran smack into Ambassador Fraser, who was wandering around looking for an exit. She wanted to take a walk outside to "clear her head." Naturally, I escorted her outside and took a few minutes to explain our statement to her and why we felt such an intense need for the U.N. to consider the spiritual role of women in their families and communities. I personally handed her the typed copy (so I know it won't be lost on someone's desk!) and saw her tuck it into her purse. Please continue to pray with us that our vision can be represented somewhere in the U.S. contribution to the Beijing conference.

Reprinted from American Neighborhood.

Mrs. First World

by Penny Moore Amarel

Penny Moore Amarel joined the Unification Church in Adelaide, Australia in 1979. She was blessed in 1992 to Brazilian Hamilton Amarel. She has been living in Brazil for the past year and during a recent visit to London was invited to speak about her new life in that country-George Robinson.

I would like to talk to you about my first year in Brazil. I hope it will help you to reflect on your own lives and the many blessings we so easily take for granted.

As soon as I arrived in Brazil I felt God helping very much. From the moment I first arrived I couldn't believe the respect I was given. From the word go they respected me so much. They started to call me "Mrs. First World." That's why I am so keen to learn the language. I have a kind of advantage and I know people will listen to me.

When I flew in to Sao Paulo, my husband was late meeting me at the airport, but I caught my first glimpse of Brazilian hospitality when the man at the reception desk telephoned the local church center for me.

My husband's name is Hamilton. I am keen to learn Portuguese but when I speak in Portuguese gleaned from my dictionary, he answers in English. I told him if he didn't stop speaking English I would never learn.

He's been working for two years in Teoflootoni where he joined our movement four years ago. He was working at the town hall and studying law at the same time. When he joined the church he was like a pioneer in Brazil insofar as he eventually continued his studies although he did give up everything for a while. It's been a policy in Brazil. There is a pattern here: generally you find a state center and a pastor and several missionaries supplying it. When people join they get sent to the main state center for training: initially a seven-day workshop. Maybe they will stay on for a longer period.

My first six months we were living in my husband's home town. The membership fluctuated. At any one time we lived with an average of about eight members, and they would be going down to the state center quite often. He has been very active in witnessing. In the year before I came, he had taught several hundred people. Even though he was a missionary to the bigger city, he was constantly commuting back to his town. He have moved since then to Goiania, which is close to Brasilia, and that's where I am returning to. Eventually Hamilton wants to start a school back in his hometown.

Life in our little house was pretty basic. There is no hot water for washing clothes or dishes. Outside is a big metal trough and that's what you use. Members do get up early to pray at 5am and again quite late at night. One morning I came downstairs to get some breakfast ready; I opened the cupboard and screamed. There in the corner of the cupboard was the biggest spider I have ever seen. I mean, I am not really frightened of the gangly little things you see in Europe, but this was a whopper, furry and five inches broad!

My husband liberated it (from this life...) with a piece of wood. Everyone was laughing. He put it in a vinegar bottle and it carried on twitching. Despite this rather curious interpretation of the third blessing, he really is quite a remarkable man. Everywhere we went, every difficult situation we came across, Hamilton would manage to come up with an interesting story to get us out of the problem. This is the way Brazil is run; if you don't exaggerate and are not cunning you don't get anywhere. So for Brazilians to come to Europe or England it is very difficult to know how to relate to the culture. That is the way Brazil is run.

For example, one day in a bank we came across an enormous queue when we wanted to change money. I was in a bit of a rush to get to school. Half the time I don't know what Hamilton says to people. All I see is this miraculous change in people's attitude to me. There was this long queue and we had been waiting for ten minutes. Other people had been waiting for an hour or an hour and a half. Hamilton said something to the cashier and all of a sudden two of them beckoned me: "Oh come here! Come here! Quickly quickly!" I have no idea what he said. He's a good talker. Because he has a good and fast mind, he can survive very well in Brazil, but if he came here I don't know....

When people have rubbish in Brazil they just put it into the street. Of course the dogs come and they are really dirty and full of diseases. They rummage and rip the plastic bags to shreds. People put their scraps and rubbish into all kinds of plastic containers, boxes, whatever they've got. It's all just dumped on the road.

On the outskirts of the towns are the real slums, the favellas. When the night comes, the favella dwellers come down into the city. After the dogs have got to the rubbish, these people come down with wheelbarrows and find whatever they can: food scraps or whatever. They put it into their wheelbarrows. If they can find them, you'll see them with the big tin cans which oil comes in. They'll take anything which can be boiled down to eat or which can be of use in their homes.

I used to be so surprised that my husband would collect anything and everything and never throw anything out. I am the kind of person who dislikes clutter and will throw out anything I wasn't using.

When I did sort out what I thought was rubbish and threw it out in the street, all these little kids came up and raked through it. They pulled out glass bottles, old shoes full of holes, tin cans, anything. They thought they had found real treasure.

As I talked to these street kids (they're about 4 to 7 years old), all the neighbors were staring. They usually shoo them away. When they asked for food, all we had was bananas. I gave them some and they were delighted.

Because they are often so hungry, people fill themselves up with rice and beans. It may not be very nutritious but at least you can feel full. Meat is a luxury. When it does come it's usually very fatty. I lost my appetite and lost weight. One day we were in a large town at an American-style shopping center. We went into a restaurant. Because I missed it so much, I piled on the salad, to everyone's amazement.

Brazil is a Catholic country and I've been thinking a lot about the results of Catholicism recently. One nice aspect is a lack of complaint. Members do what is asked of them. There is a kind of culture of obedience everywhere. It may sound very righteous but the other side of it is that you won't see much real change by passively following your leader and not taking any personal responsibility for your life.

I see this as a consequence of the lack of education both inside and outside the church. There are some non-Catholics and it's interesting that in the growing Protestant community, which is the result of thirty years of American missionary activity, there is an evolving middle class who emphasize education, working hard, honesty and self- motivation.

When I saw the clothes people wear, I felt so sad. My modest suitcase made me look like a really wealthy lady. I gave many clothes away to members. Some of the poor people in Brazil will save and save to buy one good pair of shoes or a good shirt or a lovely dress. They will cherish it and wear it proudly like a dream in the midst of such poverty.

After some time I did a short teacher's training course and found a school to teach in. There is no statutory requirement to send children to school. That's why you see gangs of street children.

Schools have a morning, afternoon and evening session. It totals four hours a day per pupil whether rich or poor. In our schools, children generally spend a minimum of six or even seven hours. Trying to squeeze a syllabus into the same amount of time is very difficult. There are also many holidays. My school is called CNA (Culturo Note Americano). At my school parents pay approximately sixty pounds a month. That, of course, is why many children will have no education whatsoever. Their parents cannot afford to send them to school.

Some do make it, and one of the things which moved me very much was the innocence and the trust of the teenagers at the school where I teach. They are so eager to learn and to listen. In that sense they are also in stark contrast to the rebellion and disrespect of many European and North American children.

Of course, when I first arrived we visited many of my husband's relatives. Sometimes they would open up the only book they had and they would ask me to write something for them in English. Then they would spend the next couple of weeks trying to figure out what I had written. It was like a treasure, so special to them.

One day we went up-with one of my husband's spiritual sons who had a car-into the hills of his town. We went further and further into this really beautiful area which had really steep roads. At one point we couldn't go any further and we got out of the car. Everyone was staring. We knew it was dangerous. Everyone was looking. They were desperate to get the car. We locked up very carefully and we just kept on walking and walking.

The hills were completely bare and children were everywhere. We came to this little hut and walked through it to another. Hamilton introduced me to his aunt. She had a little red shirt with holes all around and obviously no brassiere. This was not actually her indifference or anything; it was simply because she just didn't have any money. I'm sure she would have liked to wear something nice but this woman, as I discovered, couldn't afford to buy a bra. It would have been an extra and not necessary to live.

She offered us some water and the water was really cloudy. I was very worried. I couldn't overcome this feeling of disgust. I couldn't drink it. Inside the hut it was incredibly smoky. She had this stone kiln and all the smoke was stinging my eyes. They were streaming.

Apart from the kitchen there were two rooms. One had a bunk bed made from just trunks of trees. They were unplaned with the bark still on them. The blankets were really rough. Those were the bunk beds for the two children.

I asked about the children and Hamilton said that actually a richer uncle had offered to send the older daughter, who was about ten years old, to a school. She went there for a couple of weeks, but became so withdrawn and frightened that they had to send her back home. One day we were going to visit another relative of my husband and we had to take one of the suburban trains to a poor area. These trains are very dangerous. There are no lights inside. The carriages are filthy, and boys, salesmen and beggars are flitting continuously through the standing passengers. Organized gangs of criminals get on from different points at stations and will make mass raids, killing and stabbing.

When we reached this particular aunt, she was out, and a neighbor took us in. They had been about to eat and seemed nervous and agitated. I suggested to Hamilton that we leave, and when I questioned him he explained that normal hospitality would have been to give us a meal, which they would have done. However, when he passed their kitchen he saw that all they were about to eat was a few eggs, and they were ashamed.

Finally, when his aunt came, she disappeared and later Hamilton learned she had gone to borrow some money to buy meat for us. We stayed overnight. She insisted on giving us her double bed and slept with her teenage sons.

One day back at the center in Teoflootoni, I was about to leave the house. I was wearing flip-flops. Hamilton's mother, who lived nearby, came rushing out of her house quite upset, shouting and pointing at the ground. I knew there was a danger of catching ringworm or other diseases from the ground, but eventually I realized that what had upset her was the indignity of my wearing flip-flops. Someone of my standing should not have been in such humble footwear. I have many things to learn.

If you do get ill, there is a kind of state provision for health. It works like this: if you are ill, you must get up at 3 or 4am and go to the local health administration center. There you pick up a ticket which will tell you what doctor you can see. Maybe you will get an appointment the same day and that's when you start to wait. The queues can go quickly. One day I went through this process and in 20 minutes one doctor had seen more than 20 people. Only the very serious and life-threatening illnesses are given more time. There are men too at the administration center who for a three-dollar fee will fix a quick appointment for you.

What other things do I recall? Brazilians have a mania for soap operas which, if they have access to one, they will watch avidly on TV and talk about all day long. Their love of football is legendary, of course, and it's true! During the World Cup it was like a national holiday. Crowds of people gathered outside shops or even a home where there was a TV and the updates on what was happening were relayed to those at the back who couldn't see.

I didn't feel angry when I came back to Europe and compared life here to there. People there have known nothing else and so their basic way of thinking and their expectations are quite different. They were born into such a life and have never known a different standard. Of course, that is no reason to keep it like that, and I am very conscious of the differences between these worlds: the so-called First World and the Third.

I was naturally concerned at what my parents' reaction might be when I broke the news some years ago that I was marrying a Brazilian. My father comes from good, realistic Scots blood and his reaction when I told him I would be living in Brazil (and this is typical of him and his white skin) was to congratulate me. "Your children will have brown skin. That's good. They won't burn up in the sun like me!"

Mr. & Miss University: A Rejuvenating Experience

by Daniela Wetherall-NYC

CARP has always had a special place in my heart, mainly because that is the organization I chose to work with when I first joined the Unification Church ten years ago. And maybe because the spirit of young people has often been my great source of "fear" and inspiration.

It was back in 1987 that, as a CARP member, I took care of Mr. University from the Philippines, who had come to Italy on his world tour. It was a special week as we traveled along the beautiful peninsula, sharing about our different cultures and discovering what all mankind has in common-mainly, our Heavenly Father! For many years afterwards, Vincent and I kept a tight correspondence that has created an indelible friendship.

Thus I wish here to offer my heartfelt gratitude to both J-CARP and US-CARP, because when I was first asked to partake in the organization of the 17th edition of this special University Pageant, I could not help but anticipate the joy that my previous experience had given me. This time, though, God had in store something different for me-and certainly not less valuable!

Since I was engaged in helping out with the invitations to the UN ambassadors and the organization of the three main banquets, I found myself more in the shoes of an observer when it came to a rapport with the participants. I remember the first evening, though, while sharing dinner with the future Miss University from Tanzania and Miss Bangladesh, when I found myself suddenly caught in a "deja vu" experience: a few months earlier I had had a dream of exactly that same dinner and those very same people, and this thrilled me even more, for I knew that I was really in the right place. Hence, whenever time and chance allowed me, I started paying close attention to the participants and their activities.

I must admit though that despite my interest in them, I could not really feel part of them or have them feel part of me. Most of them looked so "immature, strange and beyond grasp" and I could not adjust to those feelings. Thus, I continued to be an observer. It was only after the major events, though, that one evening while saying good-bye to the first few participants who were returning to their countries, that I understood what Heavenly Father had been trying to convey to me in those few days. Some of the participants were truly in tears and their separation from one another seemed to be the most devastating experience of their lives. Everybody was in tears but me. Actually, my tears were hidden inside, as I thought I could not understand them, did not want to understand them...was afraid to understand them. Yes, there it was! Their laughter and their tears flushed back memories of my adolescence, an adolescence that I had undeniably tried to forget!

I do have wonderful parents and had a fantastic childhood, but when I turned 12, suddenly the world broke apart. I was much more mature than my peers, and my beloved parents did not have a clue what to do with such a restless and unpredictable teenager like me. Thus, hell broke loose inside my heart and I decided to become an adult by refusing to associate with people of my own age. All my friends were at least ten years older than I, and the pain of missing out on those special years has been at times excruciating. Thus, during that first farewell my soul was hit once again with those acute memories and, as I had done before, I just wanted to escape. But now God had decided to stop time for me and was determined to show me how beautiful these young people were in their own freshness, enthusiasm, emotions and, yes, even in their natural immaturity. There and then, I was able to grab that part of me that I had chased away for so long, and soothing tears swelled up in my eyes.

There I was, the teenager I never wanted to be, crying with them and for them at the farewell of adolescence: a time to laugh and a time to cry without knowing why.

Montana

by Michael Yakawich-Billings, MT

On May 13, 1994, the day before Mother's Day, I was in a serious car accident. Fortunately now, nine months later, there are no lasting effects. The highway patrolman stated: "In all my life as a highway patrolman, I have never seen anyone live through such an accident!" I knew I was fortunate and blessed once again by God.

This caused me to think about my recent past. What have I really accomplished in my mission, my work with this church here in Montana? Certainly not enough! Yet, I reflected to evaluate and count my blessings. It was also my neighbors, friends and members who in their outpouring of kindness, food, support-my brother even taking time off from work to help-indicated to me that there were many rich blessings surrounding me. This helped me to realize my blessings even more.

It was in 1988 Rev. Moon assigned me to Montana, along with my wife. I have been blessed with such opportunities as talking with the governor, US Congressmen, chiefs of police, mayors, etc. My memories resound with opportunities to meet with various ministers, community and state leaders, wonderful picnics with neighborhood families, and quiet coffee/tea talks in the homes of many great Montana folks. And of course, our four children were born in Montana-another blessing!

It is not an article of advice, theology or even suggestions. More so, it is our story as a pastor and provider, a father and friend, husband and neighbor. Yet no story could begin without recognizing the incredible parents I have and how they gave me the great start to my life. The more I live around them, the greater is my appreciation and gratitude for them. Also, I am very grateful for the elder leaders of our Unification community, who have had a positive influence on me and my work-and the many others from family and friends to church members and colleagues. I am extremely appreciative and grateful for Rev. and Mrs. Moon, who have had a major impact on my spiritual values, through their direction, guidance and teachings. I am confident to say that without them my life would not have been as rich, as profound and as purposeful.

We arrived in Montana in the spring of 1988. With early church financial needs, I was encouraged to travel extensively in the first few years of our ministry to raise money. It was a great opportunity to visit the great expanse of my home state. I traveled approximately 50,000 miles each of the first three years! Later and since then, my traveling on the road has been down to 30,000 yearly. Interestingly, I often run into clergy colleagues of mine in various establishments. They remain quite humble and some are inspired knowing that they may get a salary and other financial benefits and do not have to take on extra work as I do to pay for church and other expenses.

Early blessing came with front-page coverage of my wife and me, in the largest paper in the state, The Billings Gazette: "Moonie Church in Montana: Pastor Finds New Faith in Unification." Later this was reprinted in my hometown paper, the Butte Montana Standard, with the new title: "Moonie Pastor: Butte Native as Pastor in Unification Church." It was great. It immediately stirred up interest, controversy and letters to the editor.

The Catholic bishop of western Montana even got into the act by writing a letter to the editor regarding my article. Through all of this, the bishop and I could meet in his office, talk and even take a photo together. Later, he sent me an Easter card before moving on to his new post this past year, at Boys Town, Nebraska. He wrote, "I ask the risen Lord to bless you and your family." I was invited to, and attended, the last two Governor's Balls as a guest. What a great experience to be there and meet the many leaders of our state of Montana. I already knew some of the state senators from various other meetings we'd attended.

We had some great experiences with the USA tour (an awards program for youth-related volunteers). The ACC leader, Paul DiLorenzo, was coordinator for the tour, and he and I traveled to 50 communities throughout Montana. Even my dad participated by offering help in meeting and introducing the mayor of his hometown. Later, he offered his artwork for mayor USA community awards. It was a wonderful experience to travel hundreds of miles and meet some of the greatest people in Montana.

Joining such groups as the Billings Clergy Association has provided a great opportunity to meet new people and network. Though at the beginning there were various responses to my affiliations, later over the years colleagues have invited me to comment at the meetings, have coffee and lunch together and even asked me for ideas. One minister/professor who initially met my wife and me was unfamiliar with our work. As notable a person as he is, he took time for us to meet over the years. While writing his second book, Religions in Montana Book II, he requested and I submitted to him an article of the history of the Unification Church in Montana. He accepted this article with gratitude. I asked him to include the statement Mrs. Moon made here in Billings, July 12, 1993, "declaring the Rev. and Mrs. Moon the first True Parents of all mankind." He did. It will be printed this year, 1995.

Having Rev. Moon speak in Seattle in 1993 offered us a great opportunity. Thirty guests and dignitaries attended from Montana. Ministers, parents, community leaders and political leaders traveled from all over Montana to attend. My dad was also a guest who attended and, as an artist, he offered a painting to Rev. and Mrs. Moon: one of Lewis and Clark, the famous explorers to Montana and the West. They joyfully accepted it in Seattle after the talk. Mrs. Moon's 1993 talk in Billings also provided an opportunity for a variety of Montanans to attend. One reporter, who is sparing of "nice words," said it was one of the best events he has ever covered, with such a variety of representatives of cultures, races, religions and creeds.

Interestingly, one outreach that has been a pleasure to do has been my wife's distribution of homemade pies, jams, cookies and jellies. Even my friends who own businesses which I am able to fundraise in are genuinely grateful for the pies, cakes and other goodies we drop off throughout the year.

Participating with local organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club, South Side Neighborhood Task Force or a community board have been not only a service opportunity but a way to make friends. A few years ago one minister who had wondered greatly about me found me working as a volunteer for one of his organizations that work with children. I was helping his group in the painting of the local park equipment. He was looking up at me while I was painting on a ladder one day. He was in his suit while I was in my painting clothes. He was sincerely moved and ever since our relationship has been much closer.

We were able to do some projects this year with CARP and community outreach. When in the past I was usually mobilized to another state to help out, or to Israel one summer and Russia another, this was my first summer to stay close by. We were able to buy 700 lb. of potatoes and hand them out to families in the area. Also, we have a movie showing on Wednesdays and during the summer we held a white water rafting trip for the older children. My dad in fact came with us to teach the participants about fishing. In these experiences, I found the attitude of our church looked at in a different light. In the community where we handed out 10 lb. bags of potatoes, I have been introduced by the local residents as Pastor Mike, the guy who handed out the potatoes. Other parents have expressed gratitude for trying to provide something for their children during the summer. One community leader was genuinely moved by the effort and said this may touch people who cannot be reached by the other groups.

My brothers repaired the church for me. Out of friendship for me, they have helped the church in plumbing and other repair needs.

The genuine leaders in the community really want to make a difference. One Hispanic leader, who introduced Mrs. Moon, pushed me to get more involved. He has invited me onto various boards of one of which I am now a member. This led to the opportunity to meet one of Montana's U.S. Senators.

We have had our share of reality checks. Like other cities, we have not been immune to drugs and other problems. One of the largest drug busts occurred across the street from us. A 16-year-old was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting three doors from where we live. We have had two more shootings in the neighborhood since. My son, after one Sunday service, was out in the front with some other children, and he came up to me with a hypodermic needle having its cap off. These realities have pushed me to be even more concerned for my neighborhood, community and state.

Even over New Year's Day 1995-True God's Day-we had over 30 guests join us at our church for a celebration with potluck, videos, fellowship and fireworks. There are many good people who are happy to associate with our church and genuinely respectful of our activities in the community.

These may be small examples of our work; yet I feel these are examples of a larger picture. For me, it is the challenge and struggle, the joy and inspiration of the coming acceptance of Rev. and Mrs. Moon and their ministry. We all have our testimonies of our work. Though it is true I haven't done enough, I hope that through reflections and counting our blessings, we gain greater strength and momentum really to break through in the future, to achieve our goal of a better world for all.

Marriage and Family Seminars in South Asia

by Dr. Thomas G. Walsh-Lexington, KY

Dr. Walsh is the Executive Director of the International Religious Foundation

During a recent tour through South Asia, John Gehring, Executive Director of the Religious Youth Service, and I presented a series of seminars on "Marriage and Family" which were intended to introduce the Unificationist ideal of the family and the Blessing to friends and contacts of our movement. We presented a variety of such seminars, using a variety of formats, including two-day, one-day, and half-day programs. The countries we lectured in were Nepal, which is majority Hindu with minority Buddhist population; Bangladesh, which is largely Muslim; and India, which is majority Hindu, but with Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Christian and Zoraostrian minorities; we presented a half-day program in Amritsar, in India's northern Punjab state, the holy city of the Sikh faith.

Our first stop was in Kathmandu, Nepal, the land of Mt. Everest and the Himalayas. Nepal is a Hindu state with a king and queen, but, ironically, with a recently elected Prime Minister who heads the communist party of Nepal. I should point out that we were privileged to have a private meeting with the Prime Minister and learned that the name of their party dates back a couple of decades whereas their platform has shifted rightward.

Our seminar was entitled, "Marriage and Family for World Peace." Due to the hard work of Dr. Kishur, the national leader, and his able staff consisting of several Nepalese Blessed couples and a group of ten Japanese sisters, well over 100 people attended, most of the adult professionals, including several alumni of the Youth Seminar on World Religions (1982-1985) and the Religious Youth Service.

There was keen interest in our topic, particularly, it seemed, among the many women who attended. Although Nepal does not yet suffer from the serious family problems, for example divorce, that developed societies are experiencing, there is evidence that true love does not characterize most marriages and families. Over fifty percent of those who attended the seminar expressed interest in participating in the Unification Blessing.

After Nepal we traveled to Dhaka, Bangladesh, a small country with over 130 million people, many of them poor. In Nepal we were involved in several programs. The first, was a program on "The Crisis of Marriage and Family: Different Cultural and Religious Perspectives," organized by our dear friends, Dr. Kazi Nurul Islam, Chair of the Philosophy Department at Dhaka University, and Mr. Katsumi Date, Director of the International Relief and Friendship Foundation in Bangladesh, both principals in the sponsoring organization called WARMHEART.

Seventy people assembled for the one-day program which featured presentations by a Muslim, Dr. A.N.M. Abdul Mannan Khan, a Unificationist, Dr. Thomas Walsh, a Hindu, Dr. Kali Prasanna Das, a Roman Catholic Christian, Sister M. Eugenia, a Sikh, Prof. Priti Kana Barua, and a Buddhist, Dr. Praimal Mutsuddi. On the two days following the WARMHEART Seminar we held evening programs on the Unification Ideal of Marriage and Family. Several of the WARMHEART Seminar participants attended these programs along with numerous RYS alumni, a total of forty in all, gathering at the office of the Women's Federation for World Peace staffed by several Japanese sisters. Again there was keen interest in our Blessing. After Bangladesh we traveled to Amritsar in India's Punjab to a seminar organized by local RYS alumnae. Sixty-five members of the Sikh faith assembled to hear a presentation of three lectures by Rev. John Gehring, Mr. David MacLackland, (national leader in India) and myself lecture on marriage and family in Unificationism. The Sikh's have a strong family tradition and represent a kind of "Protestant Ethic" in South Asia. Our lectures were much appreciated and after the seminar we were treated to a tour of Sikhism's holiest, and one of India's most spectacular shrines, the Golden Temple at Amritsar. We also were given a special audience with Bhai Manjit Singh, the Jathedar of the Amritsar Temple, the highest position in all Sikhism, and a good friend of the IRF and IRFWP.

We concluded our tour in Delhi where we had our largest seminar. David and Ursula MacLackland, Mr. and Mrs. Nishi, and, again, many Japanese sisters, organized a very successful two-day seminar with over 200 people in attendance. The India, and perhaps especially people from Delhi, are very outspoken, so our seminar discussion time was frequently punctuated by the expression of very strong opinions, with participants at times shouting at each other. Nevertheless a harmonious spirit prevailed, and in the end over one hundred people expressed interest in either learning more about the Blessing or attending the Blessing.

There were several factors which we took into account in developing the organization of our seminars and the specific lectures. First, we understood that we would be lecturing to many people who would be receiving their first introduction to the teachings and activities of our movement. Second, we understood that we were not lecturing to people familiar with or even sympathetic to the Judeo-Christian heritage. Thirdly, we understood that our assignment from Father, through Rev. Kwak, was not only to encourage our listeners to accept Divine Principle, but to invite representatives from other faiths to the Blessing in 1995.

These three points led us to conclude that we should not try to present Divine Principle as conventionally taught. In particular, we avoided the emphasis on the Bible with all its Hebrew and Christian concepts and characters. As such we were quite selective in our use of slides. Just as our movement in the CIS contextualized the lecture material in order, at least at the introductory level, to better reach an audience of atheists and agnostics, we geared our lectures to a largely non-Christian, interreligious audience. Moreover, we did not view it as our mission to proceed in the kind of argumentative or demonstrative style which seeks to move toward converting the listener from one religious worldview to Unificationism. Rather we sought only to convert them to a profound appreciation of Rev. and Mrs. Moon and the Unification ideal of the family which they have brought about.

The basic theme of our lectures was "Marriage and Family." These were, in fact, seminars on "Marriage and Family" from the Unificationist perspective. Therefore, with this as our guiding theme we taught Divine Principle, and, as much as possible, we sought to make each lecture relevant to a seminar on marriage and family.

We began each seminar with some introductory remarks about the Unification Movement and our reasons for holding seminars such as these. We then showed a short video on Father's life and our movement. The first formal lecture was on the ideals which make up Divine Principle's first chapter, the Principle of Creation. When we taught the Principle of Creation we emphasized God's essential nature as a heartistic and harmonious unity of masculinity and femininity. We stressed the law of give-and-take action and its applicability to harmony and joy within the family. We stressed the three blessings, centering on the family. We introduced the concept of True Parents. In teaching the Fall or the Root of Human Conflict we did not go through the Genesis story of Adam and Eve in any detail. We refer to the Adam and Eve account, but seek to make reference to other stories too, e.g., Pandora's Box or ancient African tales which also suggest the problem of the misuse of love. We attempted to drive home our point about the misuse of love in a more empirical way, referring to sociological, psychological, including educational psychology, criminological, and medical data which support the claim that good families are the base for the creation of good people and good societies. Broken families, rooted in selfishness and the misuse of love, create broken, alienated people and dysfunctional societies. The theological anthropology that undergirds our argument goes something like this. God's essential nature is love and human beings have been created similarly. That is, our deepest need and longing is for a fulfilling, permanent and orderly life of love, for eternity. The family is the structure created by God for the realization of this need and desire. Absent the realization of true love in our lives, all other aberrant symptoms manifest themselves in multiple ways: greed, selfishness, the selfish pursuit of fame or power, drug use, sexual promiscuity and deviancy, etc. In effect, we make the claim that the breakdown of the family is the root cause of human suffering. In light of this thesis, the Adam and Eve story can be understood as one narrative account of this human situation, namely the loss of the True Parents. We did not go into any discussion of Satan.

At one seminar we included a presentation on AIDS just prior to the lecture on the Fall. In that instance, in Delhi, the audience very much appreciated the AIDS lecture for it seemed to be very concrete and relevant to a pressing social problem. It also ties in well with the lecture on the misuse of love and broken families.

The lecture on restoration, or Resolving Human Conflict, which followed the Fall/Cause of Human Conflict lecture sought to discuss principles for overcoming evil -- the Foundation of Faith and Substance -- but without going into the Foundation for the Messiah. We did not emphasize Jesus' mission and we did not discuss Satan. We did go into fallen natures and various vices, and how we can work on overcoming these fallen natures and vices. We emphasize the need to be rightly related to God and to overcome our bodily appetites and selfishness. In addition we emphasized the need to overcome resentment and to practice forgiveness and service to others as the means of overcoming conflict in a family, in society and between groups of people or nations.

After the lecture on principles of resolving conflict we presented an overview of activities of the Unification Movement to illustrate how Rev. Moon has dedicated himself and his movement to world peace by applying the principles of restoration, engaging in activities which promote constructive give-and-take action, reconciliation, service to others, and appreciation for all spheres of human endeavor: science, scholarship, arts, journalism, religion, business, etc. We conclude the overview with a discussion of the Blessing as Rev. Moon's move significant accomplishment and most important activity. At this time we showed the World Culture and Sports Festival video which also concludes with the Blessing.

After the activities overview, we gave a lecture on "The Ideal of the Family and the Four Great Realms of Heart." Here we go into detail of the first and second blessing and, while summarizing much of the previous lecture content, drive home the significance of God-centered family and true love as the solution to the desperate longing of each human heart.

The final session of the seminar consists of a variety of Blessing testimonies and a strong welcome to all seminar participants to seriously consider participating in follow-up programs in preparation for the 1995 Blessing. We sought to have a range of testimonies including older couples and younger couples, international couples and same-nationality couples, matched couples and previously married couples, Unification couples and couples from other faiths. In this respect the wideness of the gate is made evident and no one feels left out.

Evaluation forms and response forms were made available for everyone to fill out, indicating the level of their interest in the Unification Movement's activities and/or the Blessing.

A final word must be said about the work, not only of our missionaries who have been pioneering the way for twenty years now, but also for the Japanese sisters who now grace 160 nations and are bringing great blessing and support for this time of harvest. On the foundation of Mother's tour through forty nations, and True Father's education of the Japanese sisters at that same time, our movement is seeing a time of great rebirth throughout the world.

Our teaching on Marriage and Family is a precious treasure which Unificationists can share with the world. It is our strongest, most affirmative message, and one which the world desperately needs. Through these seminars we saw a tremendous opportunity, and a way to spread the "good news" of the Blessing far and wide.

It May Be Easier Than You Think To Minimize Your Tax Bill

Another tax season has come and gone. Are you still smarting from this year's tax bite? Is reducing the size of next year's tax bill one of your top priorities? Are you missing out on tax-saving opportunities? Check the following ideas with your tax advisor. Then determine which of them might be appropriate for your financial situation.

Retirement Program for the Self-Employed

An individual with self-employment income can establish a qualified retirement plan-in addition to a tax-favored IRA-and reduce taxable income in an amount equal to the contributions. At the same time, that individual can defer taxes on all income earned by plan assets. This means you can act today to reduce taxes for future years.

Deferred Annuity Contracts

Fixed and variable deferred annuity contracts are both outstanding vehicles for faster money growth, through the deferral of current income taxes. These contracts also offer the potential for guaranteed lifetime income. With a deferred annuity contract, you normally pay no federal, state or local income tax on the earnings until you decide to receive payments from your annuity. If distribution occurs during retirement, you may be in a lower tax bracket.

Tax-Exempt Investments

Investing in quality municipal bonds is a prudent way to earn high after-tax income while easing your current tax burden. Investing in "municipals" may provide additional tax benefits for investors residing in the state where particular municipal bonds are issued.

Deferring Income with Treasury Bills and CDs

If a large sale of stock or other property, a retirement distribution or unexpected income has placed you in a higher tax bracket this year than you will be in next year, you can realize tax savings by deferring receipt of additional investment income until next year-when you expect your tax bracket to be lower. This may be done by purchasing a Treasury bill or short-term CD (one year or less between issue date and maturity) that will mature after the conclusion of the tax year. At maturity, the income will be taxed at what could be a substantially lower tax rate.

Growth-Oriented Investments

Growth-oriented investments, such as common stocks, provide the bulk of their return in the form of appreciation rather than current income. Since little or not current income is generated, investing in such assets can be an effective method to save on current income taxes.

Gift Tax Exclusion

Although not deductible for income tax purposes, the $10,000 federal gift exclusion enables you to give away that amount in cash or property each year to as many individuals as you like, free of gift tax. In appropriate situations, the gift tax exclusion can be an effective tax-saving strategy.

Gifts to Minors While the annual gift tax exclusion applies to donees regardless of age, state laws known as the "Uniform Gifts to Minors Act" or the "Uniform Transfers to Minors Act" allow annual gifts to be made to a minor's account. The minor cannot legally demand control of these funds until the age of majority is reached, but because the gift is irrevocable, it still qualifies for the $10,000 annual gift tax exclusion.

Rollover of Qualified Plan Distributions

Under certain conditions, distributions from qualified retirement plans may be rolled over tax-free into an IRA. This permits the recipient to postpone taxation on the distribution until it is withdrawn. All appreciation and income earned on those funds continue to grow tax-deferred until withdrawn from the IRA. If the distribution is made payable directly to the recipient, the plan must withhold 20% of the taxable amount. However, if the plan distributes the asset directly to an IRA or other qualified plan, the distribution will escape withholding.

Corporate Retirement Plans

Many options are available to a corporation when selecting a retirement plan for its employees. Substantial tax-deductible contributions may be possible. Additionally, the plan's appreciation, interest, dividends and other income are not taxed to the plan's participants until distributed. Further, lump-sum distributions from corporate retirement plans may qualify for a special lower federal tax rate, and most distributions are eligible for tax-free rollover into an IRA.

Salary Reduction Plans

Many employers now offer salary reduction plans to their employees. These plans offer participants an opportunity to defer receipt of a portion of their salaries (up to a maximum of $9,240 in 1994) until a later year, which creates a number of tax benefits. First, since the deferred salary is not included in the employee's current income, it is not taxed until withdrawn, which will likely be after retirement. In addition, the income earned on the deferred salary is also not taxed until withdrawn.

In Memorium Jean-Pierre Gabriel

As some of you already know, we have to announce the ascension of our dear brother Jean-Pierre Gabriel to the Spirit World. This tragedy took place on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 1994, between 8:30 and 9:00 pm in the city of Antony, near Paris.

This is a brief history of his life and the tragic circumstances under which he died.

Jean-Pierre Gabriel was born in 1952, in the southwest of France. His father was a famous poet and novelist who recently passed away. After commencing his studies in architecture in Bordeaux, Jean-Pierre Gabriel met the church there and joined in Sept. 1972. He participated in the IOWC through the USA, Japan and Korea during the seventies, and when he returned to France always had missions connected to publications and PR work. Jean-Pierre wrote dozens of editorials which inspired the members and many of our friends. On July 1, 1982 he was blessed with a Canadian sister, Myrna, who was then a top fund-raiser in America. After spending some time in Latin America working for CAUSA (he was fluent in Spanish and English), he became one of the key persons in the establishment of CAUSA in France, assuming the direction of the CAUSA magazine for three years. During all these years, Jean-Pierre wrote several books for the movement. IN 1988, he became more and more involved with the political activity of Pierre Ceyrac, but after the decline of our political commitments, he started to work as a speechwriter for many conservative politicians. In 1993, he received the mission of pastor for the Paris region. Later during this year he was given the mission of Education Department leader.

For the movement he wrote two books: an introduction to the Divine Principle, and a book on the spiritual mission of France. He also wrote many articles for outside publications in France, USA and Japan. Often defining himself as a "workaholic", he was nevertheless a religious person with eight spiritual children dedicated to our church, a very respected pastor in his region whose sermons deeply inspired brothers and sisters. Jean-Pierre had many friends outside the movement and was definitely a very public person. We also discover now that his couple and small family (only one child) are probably among his greatest accomplishments.

We all feel, however, that Jean-Pierre's main accomplishment was something more internal: he had a deep initial understanding of the Principle and had kept studying the truth and teaching it over the years. He kept a very pure faith throughout his church life. Whenever we remember him, the adjectives "good" and "pure" are the most commonly used. This means that Jean-Pierre was not just somebody whom we admired or respected very much, but he was fundamentally a brother whom we deeply loved for his kindness, total humility and sense of humor. We all remember him as a person who never argued with others. This brotherly heart is what we all miss so much now.

During the last week, after he returned from a workshop in Germany with other Education Department leaders in Europe, his wife noticed a deep change in his behavior. He prayed a lot with many tears, which was quite unusual for him, expressing deep repentance for his own life as well as for our church and nation. Myrna said that her husband was almost obsessed by the salvation of France, and was sleeping just two or three hours every day. He was constantly praying for some brothers and sisters, with a desperate heart to help them. Myrna was so amazed by the change in her husband that she said: "Jean-Pierre, I feel God is preparing you for an important mission." He himself declared that he was so surprised by what happened to him. The real circumstances of his death remain mysterious. On Dec. 6 at 7pm, he went to visit a blessed coupled in the city of Antony. He could not find the way and parked his car somewhere. He then said to Myrna that he would go to look for a telephone and make a call. He never came back. Myrna started to worry and phoned to the blessed couple he was to visit. They then started to search everywhere for Jean-Pierre. After a few minutes, they finally saw an ambulance and a few police cars. They then started to fear the worst. Jean-Pierre's body was found lying on the street, already wrapped in a sack. After describing the clothes Jean-Pierre was wearing, the police let them see the body, which was very severely wounded. It was our unfortunate brother. It is extremely difficult to know exactly what had happened. The official statement is that he was hit by at least one truck.

The French family is still in shock. We all loved and are missing our brother very much. Yet we want to offer his sacrifice completely for God's providence.

This kind of tragic, extremely violent accident cannot happen at random and surely has some providential meaning. When we know that Jean-Pierre's last week on the earth was spiritually so rich, we can feel that something very special was being prepared for him. We all feel responsible not just to mourn over his death, but to follow his example. The fact that he died in his mission, as he was trying to help a blessed couple, together with all his family, makes him a very special heroic offering for God. We feel very proud of our dearest and most beloved brother Jean-Pierre Gabriel and that it is not appropriate to speculate too much about the meaning of his death.

Heartwing

In May I got a job to train high school students to teach sixth graders life skills which can both enhance their chances for success and help them avoid teen pregnancy, substance abuse, and violence. This has taken much time and energy, but it has also been an inspiring and educational experience. I would really appreciate your sending any and all ideas you have that could help this succeed. Perhaps you know of good curriculums, books, or ongoing programs. My focus is on enhancing the resiliency or protective factors--high expectations, caring relationships, and meaningful participation. In Principle terms, these are just the elements necessary for healthy spiritual growth. The bottom line is finding ways to empower them to express their true, original selves. And I think that's the bottom line for all of us, too, so I'd also be very grateful to hear what helps you personally make choices that reflect your original nature. . . . Thank you for any help you can give.

ITN, Victoria Clevenger (see box for address and phone number)

Who killed childhood?

Contributed by Nancy Asmundson, Davis, CA

Nancy writes: "I thought this letter from James Dobson and Focus on the Family [February 1994] was very profound, poignant, and so true."

The words from Ellen Goodman's editorial reminded me of a significant book I read in the 1960's while in college, Theodore Roszak's Making of a Counterculture. It was done before; we can make one again. Here are excerpts from Dr. Dobson's letter.

My letter this month is dedicated to today's parents, and particularly to those special people we call "mothers." There is no assignment on earth that requires the array of skills and understanding needed by a mom in fulfilling her everyday duties-psychologist, doctor, theologian, educator, nurse, chef, taxi driver, fire marshall, and occasional police offer. And if she succeeds in each of these responsibilities, her reward is a quick hug from a rambunctious kid on his way out to play.

God made mothers good at what they do. And He gave them a passion for their children. They would, quite literally, lay down their lives to protect the kids entrusted to their care.

It is precisely this vulnerability that makes parenting so difficult today. Unspeakable dangers haunt our schools and streets that were almost unheard of a generation ago. . . . Newsweek devoted its January 10th cover story to the disturbing topic "Growing Up Scared: How Our Kids Are Robbed of Their Childhood." The article details the daily horror that especially inner-city kids live with and ends:

It gets dark early in the Midwest this time of year. Long before many parents are home from work, the shadows creep up the walls and gather in the corners, while on the carpet a little figure sprawls in the glow emanating from an anchorman's tan. There's been a murder in the Loop, a fire in the nightclub, an indictment of another priest. Red and blue lights swirl in urgent pinwheels as the ambulances howl down the dark streets. And there's one more crime that never gets reported, because there's no one to arrest. Who killed childhood? We all did." [Jerry Adler, Newsweek, January 10, 1994, pp. 43-49.] Unfortunately, the risks to today's children are not limited to physical threats. Parents must also worry about the culture and how it impacts the hearts and minds of their precious kids. Columnist Ellen Goodman wrote a powerful editorial on this topic, a portion of which follows:

Sooner or later, most Americans become card-carrying members of the counterculture. This is not an underground holdout of Hippies. No beads are required. All you need to join is a child.

At some point between Lamaze and PTA, it becomes clear that one of your main jobs as a parent is to counter the culture. What the media deliver to children by the masses, you are expected to rebut one at a time.

But it occurs to me now that the call for "parental responsibility" is increasing in direct proportion to the irresponsibility of the marketplace. Parents are expected to protect their children from an increasingly hostile environment.

Are the kids being sold junk food? Just say no. Is TV bad? Turn it off. Are there messages about sex, drugs, violence all around? Counter the culture.

Mothers and fathers are expected to screen virtually every aspect of their children's lives. To check the ratings on the movies, to read the labels on the CDs, to find out if there's MTV in the house next door. All the while keeping in touch with school and in their free time, earning a living.

Barbara Dafoe Whitehead, a research associate at the Institute for American Values, found this out in interviews with middle-class parents. "A common complaint I heard from parents was their sense of being overwhelmed by the culture. They felt relatively more helpless than their parents."

"Parents," she notes, "see themselves in a struggle for the hearts and minds of their own children. It isn't that they can't say no. It's that there's so much more to say no to."

Without wallowing in false nostalgia, there has been a fundamental shift. Americans once expected parents to raise their children in accordance with the dominant cultural messages. Today they are expected to raise their children in opposition.

Once the chorus of cultural values was full of ministers, teachers, neighbors, leaders. They demanded more conformity, but offered more support. Now the messengers are Ninja Turtles, Madonna, rap groups, and celebrities pushing sneakers. Parents are considered "responsible" only if they are successful in their resistance.

It's what makes child-raising harder. It's why parents feel more isolated. It's not just that American families have less time with their kids. It's that we have to spend more of this time doing battle with our own culture.

It's rather like trying to get your kids to eat their green beans after they've been told all day about the wonders of Milky Way. Come to think of it, it's exactly like that. ["Battling Our Culture is Parent's Task," Ellen Goodman, Chicago Tribune, August 18, 1993.]

Dr. Dobson offers the services of Focus on the Family, P.O. Box 35500, Colorado Springs, CO 80935-3550.

More suggestions to help in winning the culture war: From Maxine Becker, Bloomfield, NJ:

Best tip: Feature Films for Families-an excellent collection of right- on films-call for catalogue-excellent -800-347-2833 for kids and you ("Buttercream Gang," "Buttercream Gang Treasure," "Rigoletto," "Split Infinity," etc.).

Also she adds: I've begun an aerobic walking program-rapid walking for 30 minutes 4 or 5 times a week because at 46 years old I'm determined to be as healthy as I can-for the sake of my family. Please exercise- it changes your life!

From Pepper Parker, Vancouver, WA:

Readers concerned about the media can contact: Americans for Responsible Television, PO Box 627, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303.

From Denis Manor, Washington, DC:

Here's some info about a magazine that I subscribe to about Christians attacking the ugliness in society: Christian Society Today, a supplement for local bulletins and newsletters from the American Family Association (AFA), PO Drawer 2440, 107 Parkgate, Tupelo, MS 38803.

From Victoria Clevenger:

The AFA says it has more than a million supporters in all 50 states and gives much specific information on people, corporations, and shows to target. It actively seeks to get the entertainment industry to act responsibly, saying, "Our children, families, and country are being hurt too much for us to remain silent."

This is a condensed version of a beautiful story from Dr. Don E. Wildmon, president of the AFA.

I remember an incident about 25 years ago when I was a young minister and my son Tim, who works with me now, was about 5 years old. The day had been rough. It seemed like everything had gone wrong from the moment I woke up and I had been in a mood that even I didn't like. To add to my woes, it seemed that my son had purposely been doing everything he shouldn't. I had been very grouchy with him and had taken very little time to understand or help him. It just seemed as if he were constantly in the way all that day.

Why do we have days like that? One reason may be we get in too big a hurry. We think our much doing and fast going means good living. I think we're wrong. Often we need to "be still and know." Also we forget the eternal presence of the gentle Galilean Carpenter. Life wasn't designed to be lived alone. How often we need to talk things over with our Silent Partner!

Finally it was time for family prayers. If not for habit, I wouldn't have knelt down with my son. I let my son say his prayer first, and then I intended to say a quick one and call it quits. He began in the usual manner, thanking God for several things. Then his voice changed and he ended with a voice so sincere that I thought he was going to cry, saying "And dear God, make me a better little boy. Amen." I was stunned, shocked, humbled, and ashamed. I had only one petition, and it came from the heart: "Dear God, make me a better father. Amen."

The Carpenter once said that those who enter His Kingdom would have to come as a small child. Tim's prayer 25 years ago helped me understand a little better what He meant by that.