In Memoriam Sung Sook Kwak Lee

On January 31, 1995 (the lunar new year), Sung Sook Kwak Lee was killed while traveling on Route 9 to work at Ossining, New York. She had attended the lunar new year celebration at East Garden and then decided to go to work at United Vision Sales, Inc.

She leaves behind her husband, Jin Bok Lee, and three children. The youngest, a daughter, was delivered by cesarean section following Sung Sook's death.

The Seung Hwa Ceremony was held on February 2, 1995 at Edward's Funeral Home in Ardsley, New York, at 11am.

If You Can Manage a Nonprofit Organization's Finances, A Central Assets Account Can Help With Your Recordkeeping

by Gary Barker

If you manage the finances of a nonprofit organization, a foundation, or a government association, you know that the demand for cost control and fiscal accountability is growing more intense every day. Each charitable donation, request or grant application requires more accounting procedures and support data than ever.

One economical solution to the need for accurate fiscal recordkeeping- aside from hiring a major accounting firm-is to open a central assets account.

A central assets account is an all-in-one money management tool that typically combines all of your investment and savings activity, your checking and cash access card transactions, and an optional secured line of credit, into one central account.

Tracking Gifts of Stock or Other Charitable Donations

A central assets account can work especially well in situations in which your organization receives stock or other charitable gifts or raises cash as part of recurring donor drives and does not need to immediately liquidate the gift.

When charitable donations are held in a central assets account, as the account manager you retain the final decision over how to invest these funds to maximize their return. In addition, you will also be able to choose to invest in companies or government entities that share the moral, ethical, or religious beliefs of your organization.

Your Organization's Assets Work Harder

Cash held in a central assets account is regularly swept by computer into a money market fund of your choice, so money from deposits, interest, dividends and sales of securities is always invested, earning interest and working for your organization. Checkwriting privileges will allow your group to meet regular or even petty cash needs by simply writing a check.

Help with Your Recordkeeping

Associations and foundations generally must make some regular report to their accountant or auditor as well as to diverse boards and trustees. A central assets account will provide your organization with comprehensive monthly statements. These statements can help you improve your tracking, reporting, and planning, and over time help you manage expenses and keep track of your cash flow.

At year end, a good central assets account will also offer a summary statement of the entire year's activity in the account. This review an save you the trouble of compiling information from various dividend and interest statements, securities receipts and checkbook records. This time-saving feature can translate into substantial savings in accounting fees or other professional advisor expenses. Just be sure to check that the year-end statement can be made available to you on your organization's fiscal year end.

Key Features to Look For in a Central Assets Account

* High Current Earnings. Look for a daily automatic sweep by computer that invests every penny from deposits, dividends, interest and securities sales into one among several money market funds of your choice. Don't forget to compare rates. An account with a low or no annual fee can turn out to cost more than one with a fee if it pays a lower rate of return.

* Check Coding System. Look for a check coding feature that helps you categorize checks, which will aid you in monitoring expenses, tracking cash flow and organizing deductible items at tax time.

* Securities Protection. Central asset accounts offer protection for securities held in your account ranging up to $30 million. Make sure your coverage is adequate.

* Checkwriting Privilege. Find an account with a competitively priced or unlimited checking privilege.

* Easy-to-Understand Reporting. Nonprofit groups report to diverse boards, trustees, chairpersons, and private citizens. Look for plain-English comprehensive monthly and year-end statements. An added plus: Some central asset accounts will mail duplicate statements to designated individuals each month at no charge.

I am Proud of My Daughter

by Rev. Chung Hwan Kwak

This eulogy for his daughter was given at the Sung Hwa Ceremony.

Brothers and sisters, as a representative of the Lee family and Kwak family, I deeply appreciate your attendance and your prayers today for Sung Sook. As the father of Sung Sook, for me-her physical life was too short. She was born 1964, and so she was not yet fully 32. For me really, her physical life was too short. But today, I am so proud of her.

I know very well her daily schedule and how she dedicated herself to God and True Parents and True Family. According to Divine Principle, we will all join the spiritual world, later or sooner. Because of her dedication and pure heart - her single-minded attendance to True Parents and God, and True Family, Sung Sook was well prepared to join the spiritual world. The spiritual world is not the same as this earth, with its system and customs particularly in the heavenly kingdom as pertaining to all human relations. But it will not be too strange for her. This is because of her practice this past 30, almost 32 years. Her dedication and attendance will enable her to easily adapt to the spiritual world system and to heavenly law. I very much understood her mind, only one direction and one mind. I was so proud of her because she inherited most of her nature about attendance to God and True Parent's from her mother. Really, even though she is my daughter, in a certain sense I respect her for her exemplary life and standard of daily attendance.

Also, we are know how easy it is for us to love people, and to be able to easily love in loving situations and environments. But for Sung Sook, it didn't matter what the situation or environment was because of her dedication and her determination. She really tried to love people and each person. Her first priority always was her vertical attendance to God, True Parents, and True Children.

I regret that at the Sung Hwa Ceremony when Shin Sook read Sung Sook's life's determination, she only read it in Korean. I urge you, all Americans and especially Second Generation, to be able to read it in English and to comprehend it fully and to publish it in appropriate publications. This is one of her determinations that she wrote and it reveals how she lived and how she challenged herself. It is a good example for not only Second Generation, but for all of us. Really, she tried to love people and she tried to attend True Parents and True Family even though her physical life was short. She showed me many deep examples in very meaningful matters. Actually, we generally understand the spiritual world and its system. So from now on Sung Sook's life is pretty much simple - automatically moving in one direction, one way, all directions towards Heavenly Father, True Parents, and True Family - one vertical direction. In this sense, I believe from now on that her spiritual life much easier and also she is free and liberated.

Today, while we attended here, even for this short time we can think deeply of Sung Sook. But please don't do so only on this occasion. Still on the earth, Sung Sook's lovely husband, Jin Bok, and her 3 children are with us. I hope that Jin Bok Lee 's spiritual life, his faith and his daily attendance to True Parents and True Family - can develop, better than before. I believe that this is already his determination, his inner determination. In this way he will inherit his wife's standard of faith and attendance. And so we all have to support Jin Bok Lee's family. My prayers of encouragement go to him! He is still young and he needs many elders support and education. Please all of you, support his family. Sung Sook's love remains on the earth so we can all together prayerfully extend our support to his family. Once again, I am so proud because of Sung Sook, especially today that Hyo Jin Nim, Nan Sook Nim, Hyun Jin Nim, and Jun Sook Nim attended Sung Hwa Ceremony. I never expected this. I know their attendance here was in honor of her and also in honor of Jin Bok's family. This is their eternal honor. I also deeply appreciate it. I have heard even True Parents prayed for her. Really, I have no words to offer my deepest thanks to True Parents.

Once again, I deeply appreciate and extend our thanks to all of you for your attendance here today. Thank you.

Holding the Magic Key of Peace The International Women's Friendship Conference

by Lisa Lay-Port Washington, NY

Kon-ichi-wa! Wa-ta-shi-wa American no shim-ai desu! Domo ari-ga-to Go- zaimasu! Loosely translated (very loosely!) that means, Hello! I'm your American sister! Thank you for coming!

Beginning in January and winding up in March, the American chapter of the Women's Federation for World Peace (WFWP) hosted over 8000 Japanese professional women in Washington D.C. in what was called the International Women's Friendship Conference.

The conferences were a huge success, not only in terms of the numbers of participants, but also in the enthusiastic response and testimonies of those who went. "It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life," marveled one woman. "I really feel we have found a magic key to unlock the elusive secret of world peace."

The American delegation which came to meet its Japanese counterpart on the fourth day of each week-long conference consisted of influential women from all over the country, from as far away as Texas, California and Alaska. On this special fourth day, each Japanese delegate was matched with an American "sister" whom she could exchange personal information and conversation.

The conferences were held in several large, elegant hotels, including the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Crystal City, VA and the Washington Sheraton Hotel in the heart of D.C. Most of the day's activities were conducted in huge ballroms beautifully decorated for the occasion. As a symbol of unity and sisterhood, the logo for the event was a rose intertwined with a cherry blossom, symbolizing the peaceful unity of Japanese and American women. This beautiful symbol was reflected in the design of the stage as well as in the gift each delegate exchanged with her new "sister."

After a sumptuous lunch, the program officially began. Logistically, it was difficult to match exact numbers of Japanese women (who had traveled half-way around the world to attend) with Americans. Although reserving a place for the day was required, there was some degree of sweating on the part of the staff up until the final moments of each conference when the American women found their seats and the Japanese women filed in to take their places by their sides. But it was done, and the matches made seemingly at random were later felt to have been made in heaven!

The Same Dress

"I noticed that my Japanese sister had on a very unusual dress," said one participant. "We hit it off so incredibly well that I knew I wanted to come to another conference. And as I sat at the next conference, waiting for my second Japanese sister, I couldn't help but notice she was wearing the SAME DRESS! It was the DAUGHTER of my first sister! Who could have planned such a coincidence but God? We plan to write to each other and visit, if possible, in the future."

After the delegates had taken their seats and chatted with their new partner, Mrs. Josette Shiner, managing editor of The Washington Times, opened the program by introducing the American and Japanese WFWP presidents, Mrs. Nora Spurgin and Mrs. Motoko Sugiyama. Mrs. Spurgin noted that this time of great change is coming about at the turn of a millennium and how we would see even greater change by the year 2000. Mrs. Sugiyama spoke of the reconstruction of Japan as a great nation after World War II with the assistance of the United States. The famous cherry blossoms which bloom each spring around the city of Washington testify to the friendship of our two countries. Cherry Blossoms

These beautiful trees were a gift from Japan after World War I and have bloomed even through the war-torn years of World War II up until the present day. They have attracted visitors to our nation's capital every year and have inspired thousands, especially those who understand their historical significance. They also symbolize the unity among Japanese and American women. There is a story that tells of the time the Jefferson Memorial was being planned and several of the cherry blossom trees were to be moved to make way for the structure. In protest, a number of American women chained themselves to the marked trees.. Truly it is a sisterhood forged in steel! 50 years have gone by since the conclusion of World War II and what had been enemy nations are now in the full bloom of friendship.

Mrs. Shiner then introduced the day's special guest speaker. Such political luminaries as President and Mrs. George Bush, former Education Secretary William Bennett, Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick, Television interviewer Barbara Walters and former congressman Jack Kemp spoke to the gathering. Ms. Kirkpatrick noted, in her February 6th speech, the remarkable worldwide events which have occurred since 1980. Who could have predicted the crumbling of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of Soviet communism? These are monumental indications that the time of true world peace is at hand. Recalling her conversations with a generation of world leaders, Ms. Kirkpatrick felt that the reality of such a peace conference as this was a significant and fitting result of two decades of change.

At the February 18th conference, President and Mrs. George Bush each offered some words of hope and inspiration. Recalling his military days stationed in the Pacific, President Bush spoke of the changes that have occurred since flying in WWII. He also stressed the need for religious faith as the glue to keep any peace together. Mrs. Barbara Bush spoke about family values and her own 50 years of marriage to her husband, raising five children to become good citizens and now seeing them take over the reins of leadership of a country.

Crossing the Bridge

The highlight of each conference was undoubtedly the Sisters of Peace ceremony in which a group of the Japanese delegates crosses over a special bridge, meeting their American counterparts in the middle where each bows, embraces the other and then they walk down together, hand in hand. It is hard to fully describe how moving this simple ceremony is without witnessing it! Truly remarkable to see were the matches. Elegant, kimonoed Japanese women matched with noble-looking African-American sisters, elderly grandmothers matched with partners young enough to be their daughters, as well as partners who had everything in common except language. "I am a nurse," marveled one sister, "and my Japanese sister turned out to be one too! We talked and talked until it was time to go home!"

Mrs. Bush, on seeing how the ceremony worked, also wanted to walk over the bridge. The audience was moved to tears as she and Mrs. Sugiyama met, bowed and embraced each other, walking down the steps hand in hand! Mrs. Spurgin, left in the front row with only President Bush for company, sat by his side explaining more about the WFWP and its purpose, as well as her own dedication to it. "I thought I'd have no match that day," Mrs. Spurgin noted, chuckling, "but as it turned out, I didn't get a sister, I got a brother! I got George Bush!"

After the formal afternoon activities, there was time for each Japanese-American pair to converse, sharing family photos, gifts, and conversation. Flashbulbs were going off constantly as pictures were taken all over the place. "My Japanese sister must have taken 50 pictures of me," exclaimed one American woman. "We definitely will stay in touch." One mother who went to the conference after her daughter told her what a wonderful experience she had said, "I have three daughters who are active in the WFWP. Two of them happen to be married to Japanese husbands so they especially wanted to go to the conference. When one of them showed her Japanese sister photos of her family, she saw she was missing a picture of her younger sister. Suddenly she saw another American woman across the table waving a photo of this younger sister. It seemed that the Japanese partner of the American woman waving the photo was the sister of my daughter's husband! She was meeting her sister-in-law for the first time! Only God could have arranged such a meeting!"

Another woman brought her two sisters-in-law. "They were on cloud nine!" she said. They wanted to go again!" Still another woman brought her elderly mother to the conference. "Mom was matched to a 50-ish Japanese woman," she said. "She told me later that she felt as if she had gained a new daughter. She also won one of the scholarship prizes which she is offering to me so I can finally get my degree!

Wrapping Up the Day

The conference participants were then treated to a breathtaking performance by the Kirov Academy of Ballet, followed by an elegant banquet. Each Japanese-American pair stayed together throughout the day's events chatting either directly, or through translators provided at each table. A featured entertainer then sang for the group. Broadway and recording star Jennifer Holliday noted that she hadn't had time to find out what sort of music the audience enjoyed and so hoped they would like what she had chosen. She then sang some of the gospel songs which had been an important part of her life, bringing the audience to their feet in cheering and clapping. The wife of a minister, Ms. Holliday continues to serve as first lady of their congregation while furthering her busy career. One Japanese delegate, a great fan of Ms. Holliday's because of her work in Broadway's Dreamgirls, hoped to meet her idol here. A one-on-one meeting was arranged along with a special day on the town for the two of them. Other performers included Shirley Jones and Phylicia Rashad.

After the day's events, each new sister-pair said good-bye as if they had always known each other, with hugs and promises of letters and visits. Friendships forged that day will most assuredly last a lifetime! It is the hope of each local chapter of the WFWP to continue communication not only between each Japanese-American sister pair, but among American participants. Please contact your local chairwoman about upcoming "alumni" events in your area. They will fill you in on meeting schedules and provide access to translators for your letters to be sent overseas.

Lisa Lay is the Chairwoman of the Long Island chapter of the WFWP.

Healthy Love: Questions And Answers on Abstinence

By Teri Lester

This is the second in our series of four extracts from Healthy Love: 36 Questions and Answers on Practicing Abstinence

To practice abstinence is a choice. One reason why more young people do not choose abstinence is that the information that is available to them, and that they rely upon to make their decision, is heavily weighted in favor of premature sexual activity and against abstinence. Most young people can think of more pressing reasons not to practice abstinence than to do so. This is because abstinence is usually presented in a vacuum, as if it is purely a matter of refraining from a pleasurable activity, rather than as part of a larger, desirable and healthy life style. Premature sex, on the other hand, is promoted as being natural, attractive, fulfilling, and healthy if practiced "safely".

Sex cannot be separated from its accompanying emotions. The underlying and unaddressed issue is: What kind of love do we want our society to be based upon? What is our love concept? Should love be deep or shallow, changing or unchanging? Should love exist primarily for the individual or the whole, for myself or for my partner? Confusion in our concept of love is at the heart of all of the problems in contemporary human relationships. Without providing them with a clear, rational concept of love, we cannot expect young people to make a responsible decision to avoid premature sexual activity.

The following questions are from the booklet Healthy Love: 36 Questions and Answers on Practicing Abstinence. This booklet and other Healthy Love materials are available for purchase; ordering information is at the end.

How can I keep my commitment to practice Healthy Love?

No one can impose abstinence on you. To practice abstinence, you need to make a commitment to yourself. Ultimately, you decide how you live your life. What you need to do is gather all the information you can in order to make informed, intelligent, healthy lifestyle choices. You have to make your decision; nobody can decide for you, not your teachers or parents or anyone else. You have to know why you made your decision. Pick out the points that are most meaningful to you. Positive reasons will last longer than scare tactics. Think what you have to live for! Write down your reasons so that they will be clear to you. You have to own your decision: once your reasons are clear, make your own choice. Don't sabotage your decision - don't give yourself excuses or ways out, like "I'll be abstinent unless I meet someone really special." If you think that way, then you haven't quite gotten the point: that abstinence - Healthy Love - is freely developing into your full potential as a loving person, and saving yourself for one person, who will be faithful to you, and you to him or her. You have to decide what you want: a stable, lasting, dependable true love relationship, or a temporary, weak love, going from person to person, with all the heartache that causes. Once you decide, act in a way that will realize your goal; practice Healthy Love because it's consistent with what you want out of your life, with your own ideals.

How do I keep myself from giving in to sexual urges?

To remain in control of our sexual urges, we need to control the environment we choose to be in. Make lifestyle choices that will support your decision to practice Healthy Love. Sex doesn't happen by accident. Any time we are in a situation where we have to decide whether or not to have sex, we have already made choices and decisions that have brought us to that point. These choices involve what we wear, what we carry with us, who we're with, where we go, and, most importantly, what we're thinking. For example, if you wear football clothes, take football equipment, hang out with football players, go to a football field, and think about football plays and strategies, what will probably happen? You will most likely end up playing football. If you wear sexy clothes, carry sexual equipment - a change of underwear, condoms, lubricant - hang out with people who have sex, go to a place where people have sex, and think about hugging and kissing and touching and sex, what do you think will happen?

Does my clothing influence the way others see me?

In a sense, clothes are the way we package ourselves. It's how we show who we are, what we think of ourselves. Usually, people put the most important aspect of a product on the package. If we see a package with chocolate on it, what do we expect to find inside? Chocolate, right? We are attracted to it if we like chocolate. If you dress in clothes that emphasize your sexuality, what does that say to others about your priorities? Who's going to be attracted to you? Are you interested in the kind of person who's focused on sex? Do you want to build a relationship with someone who's primarily interested in your body? What do your clothes say about you? Do they show that you have self respect? Do they show that you take pride in your personal dignity? You can wear really beautiful, vibrant, exciting clothes, without ever wearing the sort of thing that draws cheap attention.

How can I be popular while I practice abstinence?

First you have to ask yourself: who do you want to be popular with? There's bound to be more than one crowd or clique or group in your school. Find the people who share your beliefs and interests, instead of changing yourself to fit others. People who are promiscuous are not popular. Are prostitutes popular? It's a myth that sexual activity will make you popular. People will respect you more in the long run if you have the courage to stand by your values, whether they agree with those values or not. Also, remember that you're not just trying to "avoid sex." You are actively, positively, vigorously practicing Healthy Love. You are growing into a generous, responsible, dependable, loving person - and who could be more popular? Everyone wants to have a friend like you!

What kind of surroundings will help me keep my commitment to Healthy Love?

Well, for instance, late at night in the dark alone with someone of the opposite sex is not a good idea. Put yourself in places that will reinforce your decision to remain abstinent. Make it easy for yourself. A healthy, supportive environment tends to be bright, open, with lots of people, clean air, and a family atmosphere that encourages conversation. It's better to go to places that are planned or scheduled, and it's better to go out early and come home early. Don't abuse alcohol; it impairs your ability to make healthy decisions. If you go to places that are dark, smoky, or isolated, it makes it difficult to talk. Either you have to lean real close to hear what the other person is saying, or you may not talk at all. If the person you're with starts to do something you don't like, are you going to be too embarrassed to say anything? If you stay away from places where people tend to have sex, then you are less likely to be confronted with a situation where your decision to practice Healthy Love will be challenged.

Is it okay to fantasize about sex?

Daydreaming or fantasizing about physical sex is the first step in the process of physical sexual arousal. If you focus your thoughts on sex, you will sabotage your decision to remain abstinent. Would you want your ideal love partner to be fantasizing about sex with someone else? Unfortunately, as we already discussed, most of what you'll find in the popular media promotes a false ideal of physical love, and neglects the positive values of true love, Healthy Love. You have to be aware of your own limitations; if you find that certain programs or commercials cause you to dwell on the unhealthy aspects of physical sex, turn them off. Watch something else, or do something else. Pornography makes sex an end in itself, totally divorced from any aspect of love, compassion, or commitment. Pornography encourages us to see others merely as potential objects for our own sexual gratification, and not as real persons who are in need of the same caring, appreciation and understanding as ourselves. Pornography is therefore completely incompatible with the underlying values of the Healthy Love program. Talking about sex will make you think about sex. If your friends start discussing sex, try to change the subject. Maybe you can inspire them about Healthy Love! Remember the power of peer pressure: find friends who can reinforce your decision to practice Healthy Love.

How do teenagers respond to Healthy Love?

There's a tremendous number of kids who are interested. Obviously they're curious about sex, but they're really fascinated to hear straight talk about love, and how to understand the difference between sex and love. We shouldn't underestimate teenagers. They are not animals!! They are quite capable of understanding the issues involved if they are presented in a clear, straightforward manner. And they are quite capable of making and keeping a commitment to practice Healthy Love. Kids are very sharp. They're really looking for answers. Their biggest question isn't why should they abstain, but how? When they are shown step-by-step, practical instructions on how to practice abstinence, they keep asking questions till the bell rings. They always want to hear more.

How do adults respond to Healthy Love?

Healthy Love is aimed at teenagers, but anyone can benefit from this process. The rules for kids and adults aren't so different. Adults have to practice abstinence as well; they don't have sex outside marriage. Adults need to choose their activities as carefully as kids do. Healthy Love can be a great bond between kids and adults. Single adults have often expressed a strong interest in the Healthy Love program. They, too, see a need to remind themselves of the underlying issues involved in their desire to practice abstinence, and they benefit from the practical advice contained in the Healthy Love program.

How can I promote Healthy Love in my community?

You can start a Healthy Love club. Get together with your friends and practice Healthy Love. The best advertisement for Healthy Love is a walking, talking, loving person!

If you want to order Healthy Love materials, the Question/Answer booklets are $1.00 each, or .80 for 10-20 copies, or .75 each for 21 or more copies. The 86-page manual is $8.00, and the original student booklets are $2.00 each, or $1.25 each for 10-20 copies, or $1.00 each for 21 or more copies. There is no extra charge for shipping within the US (if you live in Kansas, please add sales tax). Overseas orders please add 50% for airmail shipping. Mail your order with check payable to RUC Publications, 12736 West 110th Terrace, Overland Park, KS 66210. Or call me, Teri Lester, at (816) 756-5997; or e-mail TGLIT@DELPHI.COM.

God's Love

When my children are young
my love is affection
When they grow older
my love becomes concern
When they do right
my love is praise
When they do wrong
my love is discipline
When they achieve
my love is pride
When they fail
my love is encouragement
When they cry
my love is comfort
When they laugh
my love is joy
I love my children in many ways
but always
love

by Peter Reiner

God is working, even beyond our own efforts ....

by Lynn Mathers-NYC

One of the peak experiences of the entire series of International Women's Friendship Conferences had to be the final conference in which entertainer Jennifer Holliday participated in a remarkable way. Indeed, it was hard for any of the entertainers to not be touched by the spirit of what the conferences were accomplishing. However, an unexpected opportunity was able to profoundly affect the lives of Ms. Holliday, a very special young Japanese woman, and the more than 1,000 participants, staff and even stage crew, who took part in and witnessed that final Sisterhood Ceremony.

Jennifer Holliday was scheduled to be the featured evening performer for several of the conferences. After her initial appearance, she happened to received a letter from a devoted fan of hers in Japan. Hiromi Okazaki had earlier won an essay contest in Japan, sponsored by a fast-food chain, in which contestants wrote essays about Jennifer Holliday. Hiromi had admired Ms. Holliday for several years, striving to emulate her powerful style in developing her own singing talent. The first prize in this contest was a trip to America, and one of the stipulations was that the trip had to be taken by March of 1995. Hiromi's letter begged Ms. Holliday to consider meeting with Hiromi while she was in America, if only for 10 minutes, and possibly let her attend a performance. Her ultimate dream would be fulfilled if she could have a voice lesson from her.

It occurred to Ms. Holliday that since Hiromi was from Japan, and she was going to come to America in March, maybe her trip could coincide with one of the IWFCs, and the two of them could cross the bridge as sisters. She proposed the idea to the staff, and it was approved.

The background to the story was announced to the audience early in the day of the Sisterhood Ceremony. But even though this meeting was eagerly anticipated, absolutely no one was prepared for the powerful emotion which swept through the ballroom that day. Ms. Holliday and Hiromi were the last sister-pair to cross the bridge. Helped to the stage because she is blind, Hiromi fell into the welcoming arms of her singing idol amid tears of incredible joy, which quickly spread through out the entire ballroom. The loving embrace lasted quite a long time, and no one seemed to want it to end! When the ceremony did continue, the audience was delighted to hear that Hiromi would sing with Ms. Holliday at the entertainment later that evening.

During her performance, Ms. Holliday shared some of her heart concerning this special meeting, and explained that more than the 10 minutes Hiromi had asked for, they were able to spend large parts of about four days together. As for the singing lesson, Ms. Holliday said that upon hearing Hiromi sing, she responded, "Girl, you don't need singing lessons from anyone! You've got it! You just sing your heart out!", and gave her the stage. Hiromi chose the song, "Climb Every Mountain," which perfectly epitomized her own struggle to overcome the many obstacles that could have prevented her from achieving her ultimate dream.

Hiromi's performance brought the enthusiastic audience to their feet in thunderous applause. Her singing voice every bit as powerful as Mrs. Holliday's, Hiromi clearly showed tremendous promise. I think everyone in the audience felt they might have just witnessed the debut performance of a rising international singer. Certainly the audience of over 1,000 people, half from her native Japan and half from America, could see she was on her way.

The crowning moment came, however, at the finale of Ms. Holliday's set. She invited Hiromi to come up and sing together with her the song made famous by the Judds, "Love Can Build a Bridge." It was quite amazing how this song seemed to embody the founding ideal behind this "Bridge Ceremony" event. The audience and singers were totally united in the spirit of love and joy, singing the refrain together, "Love can build a bridge--don't you think it's time? Don't you think it's time?"

It was an experience those present can never forget; and one which showed us all that even beyond our own plans, God is working behind the scenes to bring people together in amazing ways.

Exploring the Heart of Attendance

by Barbara Zingg

As a UTS graduate of the class of '93, I was able to take part in a 40-day workshop with True Parents in Alaska following our graduation. I had a life-changing experience, being able to live with True Parents so intimately for many days. At the same time my understanding and standard of attendance to True Family were very much challenged.

It started with being in the same airplane as True Mother, and it continued every day when I found myself sitting in front of Father, feeling very unworthy and helpless, not so sure how to behave, how to move and how to really attend True Parents. It hit me that my focus in my life of faith should have been the internal dimension of my heart of attendance in preparation to meet True Parents and True Family much more than anything else. My desire-and I'm sure the desire of every reader of this article-is to live with True Family eternally, but we all know that this is not a simple matter. We clearly have to understand the proper order of relationships in our daily lives.

True Parents are not around us physically most of the time, but there is a universal order of relationships which we cannot ignore on a daily basis. Attending and respecting my Abel figures and elders as well as my younger brothers and sisters is our training ground to find our proper place in our relationship with True Parents and members of the True Family. I never made that connection so clearly in my heart and mind, but reflecting on my experience in Alaska and thinking about all the many times I saw True Children expressing so much frustration about our ignorance of how to attend True Family, it has become obvious to me that unless we make an effort to attend each other sincerely and properly in our daily lives, it's a joke to think that we can treat True Family properly.

I can't share this reflection without touching on a very precious and beautiful experience I had recently when Albertina, our beloved elder sister, national IW and Mum, came to my mission city, Ekaterinburg. I was greatly inspired by her outstanding example of attendance to God and True Family and especially about the fact that she clearly understands and guides people to live in proper relationships with their elder and younger brothers and sisters. We all may have some understanding of that importance, but her consistent efforts to educate and to exemplify it in her own life made a deep impact on myself and on many of our young members.

I had the privilege to live with her during the time of her stay, and she did not miss any chance to correct and educate me, for which I'm deeply grateful. There are not many people who really go out of their way to correct us with the right motivation, and my fallen nature usually rebels against people who try to tell me what I'm doing wrong. But because I could clearly feel her genuine concern for the manifestation of True Parents' tradition in my own life, and in the lives of all those around her, I learned such precious lessons, some of which even changed my life.

Ever since my experience in Alaska, I've been focusing on finding my proper place in relationships, vertical and horizontal ones. I found that we make many mistakes because of our incredible ignorance as fallen people. It takes us a lot of effort to understand what the `` Four Great Realms of Heart,'' which is the internal dimension of attendance, really mean. My experience with Albertina has helped me greatly to become conscientious about how I'm behaving towards different people. Her education always motivated me to search for deeper understanding, especially when she pointed out specific aspects of my fallen nature which I was not even aware of.

I'm deeply appreciative that we have people like Albertina in the CIS who are helping us in such substantial and exemplary ways to inherit a proper standard of attendance. How else are we going to prepare our young brothers and sisters to welcome and meet True Parents if they have a chance to do so? Reality is that they are looking at us, trying to understand what attendance means. Therefore, we had better make an effort to be good examples in our daily lives. It is a serious matter, and I hope that we can make common efforts to help each other to fulfill our true positions, as parental figures, as elder and younger brothers and sisters with one center which is, and will always be, Heavenly Father and True Parents. We just cannot disconnect the relationships in our daily lives from our relationships to True Family; it is crucial to understand how they relate to each other!!!

To finish my reflection, I would like to express my deep appreciation to True Parents for having revealed this precious, eternal, universal Principle, in which we can find true liberation of heart. Let's make it real and alive in our own bones, so that we can truly make a difference in the way we live, communicate, listen, walk and express God's love to each other.

Reprinted from Family Ties.