Speech to East Coast Members (Rev. Sun Myung Moon)
The Affirmation of True Parents: A Confession of Faith (Joong Hyun Pak)
Who Do You Say That I Am? (Chang Shik Yang)
A Public Confession - Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s and Our Responsibility
A Testimony of the Pioneer Ideal Family Workshop held in South America
An Evening at the New Life Tabernacle in Brooklyn
Bringing the Blessing to Burkina Faso
Celebration of Chusok Festival in Sao Paulo
Competent Schools
Dae Mo Nim's visit to Europe
Disability and Spirituality - JONI by Joni Eareckson Tada
Divine Principle Study
Ego te absolvo
Fabulous Music in NYC
Faith and Interfaith
Foundation Day of the Nation of the Unified World
Hello, Elmer! Part III
Hurricane Georges Relief Effort
I Kissed Dating Goodbye
It Happened to Nancy by an anonymous teenager, A true story from her diary
Life on the Lake and Beyond
Messianism: Divine Mystery or Human Misunderstanding?
Montana, Big Sky and Big Hearts
New Hope East Garden, the Place to go After Chung Pyung Lake
Nurturing Love Through Music
Oneness With God
Producing Blessing '98/Behind the Scenes
Reclaiming the Seed
Spiritual Growth on the Pure Love Tour ’98: Japan and Korea
St. Petersburg Prosecutor vs. CARP
Testimony to General Chang Song Kim
The Crippled Teacher
The Family Pledge and the Human Energy System
The Mobile Homes: A Mistake?
The Role of Youth for Peace and Unification in the 21st Century
Tortured in the Orchard
Trust In The God Whose Ways Are Not Man’s Ways
UTS Student Wins Templeton Prize
Viewpoint - The Big Picture
What about the Future?
What’s Going On?
Word Poem
Youth & Family Camp in Pennsylvania
by Rob Sayre-New Tripoli, PA
Over 170 adults and children gathered in Eastern Pennsylvania Aug. 10-16 for lectures, prayer and fun. A Youth Camp for kids 9-15 features two lecture tracks, one for 4th-6th graders and one for 7th and up.
The Camp Shehaqua is a former Girl Scout Camp located in Hickory Run State Park in East Central Pennsylvania. It is maintained by the Dept. of Environmental Resource. The Camp itself has 40 individual cabins (w/o electricity) for sleeping and many other buildings that were used for staff quarters, lectures, crafts and dining. It’s surrounded by State Forest in a beautiful wooded setting approximately 2 hours drive east of New York City of I-80.
The Family Camp consisted of 14 families with kids younger than 9. Excepts of the kids reflections appear below.
The camp was very good. I liked it because it was in God’s creation. (True) Father said that now we should care about our surroundings. I didn’t like the fact that there was no electricity or mirrors, but I lived. Probably I would have been late to lectures and things if there were those things. I was not excited at all about coming to this camp, basically because I came from far away and I didn’t know anyone, but now I am very glad I came because it has been a good experience for me.
Making Friends-90 kids aged 9-15 attended Youth Camp, 11 younger kids of Youth Camp Staff joined the Family Camp, which consisted of 14 families and 34 kids.
Before, I didn’t want to go because none of my friends were going, but I made new friends and saw people from last summer. I made many new friends right away, it’s hard not to when everyone was so wonderful and open. I find it so much easier to relate to them, seeing as how we share a very important thread, True Parents.Also, during this workshop, I liked my group and having group discussions and stuff. Our group leader was really great. No offense to the adults, but I liked having a 2nd generation elder as a group leader because she gave us a lot of advice about school, the blessing, and stuff like that.
The Square Dance-the Virginia Reel and others!
I loved the square dance. I liked it this year that we could dance with our friends at the end. I could take up pages about it. I probably had the most fun square dancing. I felt God’s presence with us, like he was having as much fun as we were. I understood then about when my dad said that God needed us to experience joy through. At first I really, really didn’t want to square dance but when I did, I really enjoyed it. I thought the dance was very fun despite the partner I got (he was very short and couldn’t waltz with me).
Other Activities - Evening activities consisted of campfires & singing, a candlelight prayer, a pictionary tournament, and an evening of entertainment by the children. Afternoon activities included crafts, swimming, sports and a hike.
I especially liked the candlelight prayer and pictionary. Crafts were great and so were the sports…I loved the square dance, candlelight prayer and especially pictionary because we won! I bet the talent show will be good too! The evening programs like the candlelight prayer, campfire, pictionary, the dance I really liked, the camp & lectures. I liked everything.
Being with other BC’s
Whether it be at camp or not, I am happy to be with other blessed children.
I really love being here in this atmosphere with other BC’s. I rarely get the chance to do this, and when I do, it becomes all the more special. I met a lot of people and got to hang around with other BC’s which isn’t something I can do often.
Growth & Overcoming
I learned to overcome difficulties (such as the fear of spiders) very quickly. Instead of concentrating on external things, I was able to concentrate on my relationship with God because of the heavenly atmosphere. But I think the most important part was that I think and hope this camp made me a better person. I gained a lot of new knowledge through the lectures and also felt God’s presence during the campfire and our prayers with candles …Establishing a relationship with God was, on the other hand, not as easy. I really didn’t know where to begin or how to start. The prayer over candlelight was wonderful. This is when I felt closest to God. Being in his creation, just pouring out my heart to him through tears and average conversation. It was the most wonderful experience, and truthfully, I felt and I knew He was listening, this was, to me, the best part of camp. I made a lot of new friends and my relationship towards God improved (mostly from the candlelight prayer and lectures).
The Lectures-there was two lecture groups. Noah Ross lectured the 4th-6th graders and Scott Simonds the 7th and up. During the 70’s Noah taught in N. California and Scott in Southern.
The lectures were very good because he (Uncle Scott Simonds) explained so well and made me understand even more about the Divine Principle. I feel a little more close to God now. GOD RULES!!! The lectures and lecturer was interesting, as was said before, no matter how many time I hear DP, or certain areas, it always sounds wonderful, and something new hits me, I learn every time. He (Scott Simonds) was also very thorough and clear and allowed everything to be easily understood. My relationship to God improved because of Noah’s lectures. The lectures were interesting. Scott was good at explaining things. The lectures were really good too. I learned a lot more about True Father, Abraham, Noah, and all the other people we learned about. God really did speak through him. THANK YOU NOAH!!! This camp helped me work on more of my intellectual aspect of my life of faith. I learned more than I thought I would from these lectures. I learned about my heart and position in the world. This was a very good workshop for me to learn leadership position over the little ones (younger children) when I’m usually the little one.
Growing Closer to God
Every time I come to a camp like this I feel that I become closer to God and I understand everything a little more clearly. I feel more like an older sister and I found myself really loving everyone as it they were my younger brother or sister. I especially liked the candlelight prayer. I really felt close to God, I actually cried!
The Food
The food was a lot better than most of the other camps I go to so that was definitely a plus. The food? . . . As last year, flawless! The food was good and the servers were friendly too! The food was "Da Boom!" PLEASE KEEP THE COOK! She made the BEST FOOD! I LOVED IT. All the food was GREAT.
Future Activities
The Pennsylvania Camps (Youth & Family) are organized and staffed by parents. 1998 was the fourth year and represented a milestone in our development. While the Camp began with parents in Pennsylvania, they have grown and serve families from a wide geographic area. To continue to grow and serve the needs of the 2nd Generation and their families will require helping others to start similar initiatives in their areas. We intend to offer information and instruction about how to go about this.
To this end we are establishing a web site, planning activities throughout the year as well as many new activities and initiatives for next summer. We also video taped Noah’s lectures and plan to edit and offer these for sale with proceeds going to fund other youth activities. The participation and active involvement of parents, their energy, enthusiasm and commitment to a bright future for our children are our only limits.
For more information about:
The Youth Camp-Contact Rob or Sally Sayre 610-298-2919 kittatinney@sprintmail.com or Kyle or Cynthia Toffey 732-530-8284 toffey@injersey.com
For Family Camp-Contact Robert or Kyoko Pickell 717-629-6249 rpickell@ptd.net or Chris or Heddy Ching 732-957-8208 chrisc@mcstudios.com
Check out our web-site at www.bccamps.a9.org for information on Winter Workshops and other fun activities.
World Leaders Meeting, Alaska-Style
You can’t get there from here, unless you have a boat or plane or happen to be a salmon. It’s called Chignik, and it’s a ways out on the Aleutian peninsula. That makes it closer to China than to New York. To get there, get in a puddle-jumper and fly an hour and a half southwest out of King Salmon. What, you’re asking me where King Salmon is? Well, I don’t exactly know where it is, but it has the only gift store I’ve ever seen that sells fur-covered nose warmers.
I’ve never been anywhere like Chignik. The closest thing I can compare it to would be an almost-abandoned mining town in the Nevada desert. Combine that with scenery from Vail, Colorado and weather from the inside of a refrigerated truck. This is where True Parents come for relaxation.
My great grandfather Frederick Godbolt came to Alaska in the 1890s searching for gold. He died there, having not found the gold of Alaska, and is buried in Haynes, Alaska, according to family lore.
His great grandson Tyler Hendricks found the gold of Alaska on his fourth attempt. Three times, promised trips to Alaska fizzled out. Number one: the musical group I was with once was offered the chance to play on an Alaskan cruise ship; then the offer was rescinded. Number two: in 1973, Kristina Morrison invited me to join a team pioneer witnessing in Alaska. I said yes, and then the direction changed. Number three: True Father, at the close of the 1983 Ocean Challenge, asked me if I wanted to go to Alaska. I said yes, and then the direction changed. Number four: finally, in 1998, the call came to come to Alaska, and this time, the direction didn’t change.
I was on the 6 a.m. flight to Anchorage the next day. By that night, I was flying on a little propeller plane across the Alaskan tundra into a village called Chignik. The bush pilot who flew us there invited anyone who liked to sit in the co-pilot’s seat, so I did. A half-hour out he popped open a bottle of Pepsi; he exuded a feeling of confidence as we flew blind through the low-lying clouds. I asked about some of the gauges and dials; some worked, some… well, didn’t. "Does the man know," I thought, "that these are top disciples of the Lord and his wife, snoozing in the back of his plane? Should I tell him?" I decided not to. The landing was soft as a feather. "It should be," he said, "the plane is so light." The runway being dirt probably helped as well. Later I read that the accident rate for bush pilots in Alaska is five times that for small planes in the lower 48. But there are no roads, railroads or regular airports, so what can ya do?
We jumped out of the plane and were greeted by a few local children riding quads. Our landing provided some entertainment for the day. The pilot became the ground crew, unloading our baggage. The airport terminal was a barn. We set out by foot to our lodging. The town has, as far as I observed, one broken-down pickup truck. And we were renting it. The other vehicles, besides simple tin boats with outboards, are quads. The age of the driver averages about 12, and the number of passengers per trip about three, usually younger than the driver. The pickup truck took our luggage, and we walked to the house. It was full daylight, around 10 p.m. True Parents were there, sitting cross-legged on the living room floor, awaiting our arrival.
It is here that Reverend and Mrs. Moon bring followers and friends for training and education. Here we would spend the next seven days, fishing all day, sometimes until 10:30 at night, and meeting with True Parents morning and night until 1am or 2am. There is one what you would call middle-class home in Chignik. It’s where we stayed. The house has three bedrooms. One for True Parents, one for the sisters and one for the luggage. If I count up correctly, that leaves none for the brothers. We continental directors, newspaper publishers, world and national church leaders slept toe to toe in the living room. But not to worry, there was no time for sleep anyway. Welcome to Reverend Moon’s hobby life.
Daily Routine
The schedule of each day is as simple and majestic as the environment. Each day began with hoon dok hae, usually around 5am or even before. Start time depended upon the time of retirement the night before. Usually we had about a four-hour break for resting. Around True Parents, I find it a verity there is lots to eat but no time to sleep. It held true here. After reading an hour, with everyone except the reader and kitchen staff in a state of deep meditation, Father would share guidance. It was as it must have been forty years ago: big visions for world peace and the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. Three of us then would be invited to sup with True Parents at the dinette table, and the rest of us would sit around a makeshift cardboard table in the living room.
Stepping out into the great outdoors, it was revisiting Eden. The green forest, mountains blue and brown and white in the distance rising up into the clouds and blue sky. It is untouched, as the saying goes, by human hands. It is the North American equivalent of the Pantenal in Brazil, an area primeval and wild.
Returning home there would be time to clean up and shower, as the boats usually returned one at a time, in pleasant contrast to the crowded morning. Then all would gather for dinner. The food was delicious and plentiful. Korean and Chinese-style, in general, with ever-present salmon sashimi. Our excellent meals were prepared by sisters from Kodiak and Kum Hee Fontaine from East Garden. Kum Hee also proved to be an intrepid fisherman.
After dinner we would reconvene with Rev. Moon, and teaching and discussion would continue into the night, usually until between midnight and 2am. It was a notable collection of participants. They were about 16 in number, including the top leadership of Korea, Japan and the USA. Men whose responsibilities encompass millions of people, following the schedule I mentioned above. Sleeping side by side like sardines in sleeping bags on the living room floor. Sharing one bathroom. It was a peaceful group, harmoniously bespeaking the future harmony of the world. We all struggled with the same fishing gear, raggedy fishing boats and recalcitrant salmon. One welcome addition to the group was two second-generation youths, Tweeran Verheyen and Yoni Drucker.
On the boats we had bags of fruit, pbj’s, cup’o’soup, crackers, chips and candy, as well as spring water and coffee. Like I said, you get no sleep but lots of food. Even with that store on the boat, we often came home for lunch. Our fishing grounds began a few hundred yards from the beach, and went as far as three miles down river. So everything was close at hand. And the house was about a five-minute walk from the beach, past a little clapboard Russian Orthodox church, with its little graveyard.
The weather, cloudy and rainy at first, turned fair on our fourth day, to reveal to my happy surprise the most stunning scenery I’ve ever seen. Imagine floating downstream, trolling for salmon, at every turn of the river your eyes welcome a new vista, a new range of mountains, covered with snow, soaring into the blue sky.
When the sun appeared, the animals came out. We saw bears on the shore, a single one, and a family with a mother and three cubs. They were brown bears, very big. They are amazing, really, in some ways resembling dogs and in some ways cats. There was a warning in the village to look out for them. We saw on a beach very close to the village. We were told that if a bear approaches, start yelling at it very loudly to frighten it away. A bear killed a child a few weeks before our stay, bit off the 6-year old’s head. "Human beings are on their food chain," said Barry, our local general affairs staff. Bill Gates, he said, had recently come to Chignik to hunt for bear, and he got one. But you need several hunters, as one gun’s bullets may ricochet off the beast’s skull. "I’ll take salmon, thank you," I thought to myself.
We saw seals and beavers swimming. We saw eagles flying and perched grandly on various perches. Floating downstream there would not be a sound other than the soft lapping of water and the cries of birds.
Eternity And Father’s Feet
Light remained in the sky well past midnight. The days stretched into a peaceful Zone of God’s abundant blessing in the long evenings. Time stood still because, for me, this is time which is usually scheduled for travel home, dinner, and various doings, but here the hours slipped by in the most simple mode of fishing. Once one gives up struggling with the whole idea, one receives incredible grace. The body is subjugated by this point, no longer struggling with sleepiness or with what I should rather be doing.
I actually found myself one evening, around 9 p.m., with rain falling, dripping off the visor of my cap, sitting in the boat, fishing line in the water, feeling there is no better place to be on earth or in heaven. I thought to myself, "Hmmm… I’ve accomplished something here."
It was like a wonderful fundraising evening after a long good day, having a lovely evening going door to door, oblivious to the time. The state of mind in heaven may be "being oblivious to time." At least that is one dimension of the reality of heaven. Just enjoying the moment as it by itself stretches into eternity. Completely satisfied with the moment for what it has to offer, and spending the rest of your life in it. Caring not for the next moment, caring not if it ever ends or changes, letting the day’s own troubles be sufficient for the day.
General affairs were the province of the dedicated Mr. Yoshihisa Inoue. He captained True Parents’ boat. He is one with fishing. His motto is, "Don’t stop fishing to eat." He said that we should keep fishing, because people are much happier if they catch fish than if they eat. He proclaimed, "I love to fish, 15 hours a day." We wanted to use his (True Parents’) boat, late one night, and told him to rest, but he insisted on piloting us, saying with finality, "I come with the boat." Later, he confided to me that after a summer of True Parents and True Family activities in Alaska, it takes him weeks to recover. Where does he obtain his power?
I found out one night, when Mr. Inoue became my hero and role model. As I arrived in the living room after cleaning up, there he was at Reverend Moon’s feet, massaging Reverend Moon’s feet. He was calm and in a meditative state. His expression was beatific. I know, I’m getting syrupy here, but this is what I observed and felt. It was like Jesus washing the disciple’s feet, and they didn’t want him to. Why? Because they didn’t like clean feet? No; because it was too intimate. It was too much love to bear.
Well, that’s what I felt, looking at Mr. Inoue. I could hardly bear witnessing his degree of childlike love, but I could not take my eyes off him, and I just sat down and watched. Oh, I wish I could have that much love for True Father, so much love that I would not be embarrassed about massaging the man’s feet. I imagined myself easing up to Father, taking off his socks, and plunging in with a good massage. But the gap between thinking about it and doing it… "Oh," I thought, "Us stuffy white Anglo-Saxon protestant male chauvinist pigs!"
Later, I brought up my feelings to Mr. Inoue. He said it was not easy for him to do that, but he had learned it from Mr. Koo Bae Park. Another encounter with a beatified saint, this "businessman," Mr. Park. I observed him talking with Father. His face is very round, like the sun. It reflected delicate feelings so sensitively, so expressively, so lovingly. He was speaking and listening to Rev. Moon-about some issue I’m sure the world would consider very trivial-and I saw the love of a perfect object in his face. Gentle, quickly responsive, cajoling, not pushing his point of view, although he had one, making supreme effort to unite his heart with that of his Teacher. Short of my own wife’s face, I’ve never witnessed such a beautiful human visage.
Girl On The Beach
And there was the morning after the night before. We had stayed up until past 2am. And, just like in your family and mine, it was so late that accidentally on purpose no one had set an alarm clock. Except for our parents. So here are Rev. Kwak, Rev. Pak, Rev. Kamiyama, President Hwang, President Otsuka, President Joo, Rev. Peter Kim, Dr. Yang and my unworthy self, all snoring away, and in the shadows of my awareness I see True Mother entering the room, lightly but sternly advising everyone that hoon dok hae starts in five minutes. Hi mom, oh sorry about that. You’d never believe that so many high-level bureaucrats could transmute themselves from sleeping babies to studious disciples in only five minutes, relying on one bathroom, but it has been known to happen.
Chignik has no stores, although a few days after we arrived an enterprising resident with a home next to the beach where our boats landed put up a sign advertising snacks for sale, 24-hours. I didn’t see much business going on. The village has, at last counting, one street light. No, not "stop-light," street light. Actually, I should say, dirt-road light. But not to worry, it’s dark only two hours a night.
Most of the village’s 25 or so houses have the same last name on their signs. It’s a Russian name, and the people look like Eskimos, but they are not Eskimos; they are Aleuts. That explains what happened when we came in from fishing my first day. It was starting to get dark, about 11 p.m. I and the others on the boat were wrapped up tight in rain gear, parkas, sweaters, jackets, boots, sun-glasses, etc. etc. We were literally freezing. And there on the beach was a little Aleut girl, maybe eight years old. She was wearing shorts and a tee shirt. She was barefoot. She was playing in the water. Playing, mind you, splashing in the water, with us grown men bundled up for subfreezing weather.
Is that an allegory for our status in comparison with True Parents? Father and Mother are out there working and playing in the cosmos, embracing all the forces of nature, spiritual and physical. We disciples are bundled up like crazy, trying to protect ourselves,… from what? Father is saying, toughen up in order to live a life of freedom in true love. This was the lesson of Chignik. It is the lesson that True Parents teach everywhere they go. Let’s loosen up and catch salvation moon fish.
Who Has Responsibility for the Second Generation?
by Mr. Nobuhiro Igarashi-Denmark
The education of the Second Generation (Blessed Children) has become more important since the victory of the 40 Million Couples Blessing. Even when we accomplish 360 million blessed couples and FFWPU is accepted in the world, if we do not realize ideal families, many people will be very disappointed. So we should think seriously about the education of the Second Generation.
When I was in Japan, I worked with the Second Generation Department for three years, from 1989 to 1991. I had the position of Dormitory Superintendent in a hostel for Blessed Children. At that time I had many precious, wonderful, difficult and unforgettable experiences. Unfortunately I had many failures. From this viewpoint, I want to tell my experiences of educating the Second Generation.
I took care of 30 children, 15 boys and 15 girls. They were all 12 years old and first-year (seventh grade) students. At that time I didn’t have any experience with older children, because my eldest daughter was only seven years old. So I didn’t know how to educate children of their age.
Surprisingly, I found there were three types of students. One third was a more Abel type, another third was the normal type and the other type was the little bit more difficult type. Although the last type were children of blessed couples, they had lonely minds and were a bit mixed-up. This was partly because their parents were too busy to look after them properly. Even though the Second Generation does not have original sin, they have lonely minds when they do not receive the full amount of love from their parents.
Since I didn’t know how to educate the Second Generation fully, I endeavored to teach them according to the Divine Principle. In a sense their lifestyle was like a workshop. Each day they had morning service, and in the evening they had a night meeting. On Sunday, of course, they attended Sunday service, and on Saturday they were given lectures on Divine Principle.
Many of the students, especially the Abel types, developed their spirits at that time. I was honestly surprised and many times moved by their prayers and their attitudes of attending True Parents. They read the Divine Principle several times, and some read the Bible all the way through. Quite a few children were elected, by students of their school, to be leaders of sports clubs, class monitors and leaders of their school. Also they usually got high grades on their exams. Now they are the leaders of the Second Generation in Japan.
However, there were some who couldn’t follow such a lifestyle, especially those who had lonely minds. They wanted to be loved by our staff members and me. Nevertheless, I only gave them the words of the Divine Principle and True Parents. Gradually, they began to get love by other means. It appeared in the form of mischief. At first some things such as candies, cakes and stationery were lost. Next furniture was broken and some money disappeared. I didn’t know the reason. For more than half a year we had staff meetings every night to discuss how to take preventative measures. I tried to read many kinds of books on education and consulted with elders on how to educate the children. However, I could not find a solution to the problem. Consequently, that period was a very painful time for all of staff children and ourselves alike.
Then a big problem occurred: two children were caught shoplifting toys with their school friends. Of course, they did it on impulse, being lured into it by other students. I discussed the problem with their parents, and then one boy’s parents said to their son, "You made a big problem, because we couldn’t bring you up properly. We cannot become an ideal blessed family. We have decided to make a three-day fast, and you can also do a meal fast if you think you are wrong." He felt deep love from his parents in their deep and strong determination. He also did a three-day fast, and then he changed a lot. Now, he is one of the leaders of the Second Generation in Japan.
This occurrence taught me a big and valuable lesson. I realized who has responsibility for the Second Generation children. Obviously parents should be responsible to educate and raise up their children. However, parents tend to avoid their responsibility when their children have problems or some evil character. For example, sometimes parents discuss their children’s problems, and then argue with each other over whom their children resemble, their father or mother.
When children have some evil character and have a problem, there are a few reasons. The first is usually some kind of problem inherited from the parents. The second is an ancestral problem from spirit world. The third is their own personal problem. The fourth is a problem of the environment. If parents take full responsibility for their children, they can protect them. However, if they avoid responsibility for their children and try to blame other reasons for their problems, they cannot bring up their children well.
After one year, I learned a very important point about education of the Second Generation. Then I endeavored to love them with parental love. They also learned my character, thinking and love. Then we had very good relationships from that time on.
Let us reconfirm who has responsibility for the Second Generation. Of course, it is the parents. The main point is to be responsible to raise them up as true children. However, it is important how parents think when their children have problems. Even though there are other reasons for the problems, if the parents accept them as their own problems and cope with them, the children can change their thinking.
To take responsibility for the Second Generation means to love them, pray for them and bring them up and educate them with parental love. The goal of education for the Second Generation is to build a true family. However, parents should at least bring up their children better than their own parents did. When we, as parents, truly take responsibility for the Second Generation, they will grow up to be true children.
Mr. Nobuhiro Igarashi is the Japanese "Eve" National Messiah to Denmark. Reprinted from The European.
WFWP Hold Bridge of Peace in Moscow
by Konstantin Krylov-Moscow, Russia
On the 3rd of September a meeting took place between women of Japan and Russia within the framework of the international "Bridge of Peace" project. More than 100 heads of women's organizations, female public figures and government officials attended the forum in the Marriott Grand Hotel of Moscow.
"Bridge of Peace" ceremonies have been held by the Women's Federation for World Peace since 1994. These international conferences of friendship among women aim to establish neighborly relations between all nations of the world through creating ties of sisterhood among women representing different cultures and traditions.
The organizers of the Moscow conference, which took place during the Days of Japanese Culture in Moscow, believe that friendship between the women of Russia and Japan will offer a new impetus to strengthening the family and solving youth issues. It should also help mend the historical conflicts between Russia and Japan. In 1992 the international president of the Women's Federation for World Peace, Mrs. Hak Ja Han Moon, addressing the inauguration of this U.N. non-governmental organization, said, "If women become sisters, the men will stop their wars."
Duma Deputy Svyatoslav Fyodorov, Alevtina Aparina, the head of Parliamentary Committee on Women, and Mrs. Maureen Reagan addressed the audience on issues relating to women and family. The participants of the conference signed an unofficial peace treaty between Russia and Japan. Next comes the turn of the politicians.
For more information, contact: Angelica Birdsong, Tel./fax: Moscow (7-095) 953-3717.
A Westerner in Japan
by Nick Bikkal-Tokyo, Japan
It took 120 before the bubble burst after Meiji brought this nation back to the world 130 years ago. Japan took many turns, some for the better, some for the worst. Below I speak of some. Writing a story on Japan has been very difficult. The problem has always been where to start and how to focus it.
Recently, however, a friend gave me an idea after telling me a story I could not agree with. It had to do with the question of why Japan is changing. Many Japanese say simply that Japan lost World War II thus it was forced to change by having to rebuild. This misses the point on several accounts.
Japan's society today The first is what was the character of society that led Japan to war in the first place. Second, what would be different today if Japan had won the war? Running deep within the veins of Japan today are still denials of some of the war atrocities the Japanese military committed. Whereas no one denies the war was fought there is a strong undercurrent that believes that not only Japan did not commit atrocities, but if they did it was sanctionable. Reports of medical groups such as the infamous Unit 731 have in recent years just started to become public, implicating many who today are in high university positions, among others. Tens if not hundreds of thousands are believed to have been tortured, poisoned, or to have undergone unwilling biological experimentations, and after being experimented on, tortured.
Let me analyze quickly some of the social structure in existence today in Japan. Today's society is a 130-year-old face lift done at the time of the Meiji Restoration. The Shogunate, the existing government before then, ruled the country for over 260 years, since 1600, during the so called Edo Period. Edo is Tokyo's old name. The Shogun had one overwhelming concern: keep power, and do it by weakening the perceived threatening forces. Prior to Edo the country had been divided, and under the Tokugawa government the country was united. This system would ultimately lead to the weakening and end of the Shogunate itself.
Under the Bakufu, the Shogunal government, the next in power were the Daimyo, the regional heads, and then the Samurai (bushi to the Japanese). The strategy was simple. The Shogun created the Sankin Koutai system: have the Daimyo alternate living one other in Edo and one outside Edo, in their domain, their home province. His family, however, was to be held hostage in Edo, it could not go to the hometown with the Daimyo himself. Samurai, on the other hand, had to live here 6 months out of the year and the family had to stay in the home town. This Sankin Koutai strengthened Edo and weakened the Daimyo in his home province. This meant bringing along skilled labor, etc. The Daimyo was also totally responsible for much of the construction of Edo, investing his own resources. This made for competition in Edo among the Daimyo for quality work and subsequent recognition. It also meant strengthening the Shogun at their expense.
The family
One can imagine that a hardening of ways and cynical attitudes developed toward the family. As the central power was built and the feudal lords weakened, the also family broke. Marriage was a social contract. Woman was relegated to second class citizenry, still largely visible in today's society, especially among the elders, as business has capitalized on this idea and often separates families. Men go on long term assignments, often lasting one, two, or more years, while the wife and family stay in the hometown. The most common excuse is that the kids can't leave the school system. This is true as the school system is very closed and inflexible, lacking imagination. The truth is, however, that companies don't encourage the family being together. An example of this separation is the endless hours expected of the "salaryman" in attendance to the boss. The workman waits for the boss to finish his work and then they all go out together, complements of the boss (company) often, for a drink, supper, etc. The salaryman/familyman then goes home late and drunk not seeing their family, only to be on the train headed back to work in the early hours of the morning.
The office place is the man's first loyalty.
Thus, marriage as a social contract rather than a relationship between two individuals developed. Choosing a wife in Japan has been done often in the workplace. Today's couples often have met at work. It helps the boss know who he is dealing with in the future, also. She is often asked to leave the workplace, especially after pregnancy, and often to not return. These bosses also expect to be invited to the wedding. There is hope that since the woman knows the company, and there is loyalty in this society, she would allow for the capricious ways. The women did, but they also did what they wanted in turn. This is changing among the younger people.
Thus in the past one often saw tours of mostly Japanese men, rarely a woman was visible. Entertainment was limited to money and imagination only.
Personal allegiance
Another characteristic of Edo that was brought forth to post Meiji and then post WWII Japan was the allegiance and loyalty to elevating the person in the central position. As during Edo all forces, social and economic, were geared to elevating the person of the Shogun, so in today's society the company, today's feudal domain in miniature, dedicates much of its internal energy to supporting the central figures in the company, often above the national interests and laws. This is seen in the many scandals during the last years in which much was done, illegally if necessary, to support the boss and the company.
People take blame, often without due cause, in place of the boss and the company. Salarymen wear a company pin on their left lapel. It is their pride to say they work for such and such a company. In fact this is their source of identification. The older and more traditional the company, the closer it is to the center of power within the nation, the higher the profile, the greater the pride. Thus it is a dream to work in the government, a bank, or in the heavy industry, etc. This is the culmination of many dreadful years of study in junior high school, high school, university, Juku (cram schools, etc.). It's the ultimate fruits of a railroading system. As we'll see below the ideal combination is Tokyo University and one of the Ministries.
Religion
There were several attempts since Western merchants came to Asia some 500 years ago to Christianize Japan. All these were met with ultimate resistance. Japan does have Christian martyrs. They died for their faith. Today there are, oddly enough in the very places where the US dropped their atomic bombs during WWII, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the oldest Christian communities dating back centuries. The reason Christianity was stopped was less racial or religious than the Shogunate attempt at supremacy. They had a tight control of the news, commerce, etc. Japan, in that sense, has never been a free country. Even today the media has strong ties to the government which is why, until recently, there has been relatively little exposure of crime in government. Lack of transparency, vague laws, and a top management and government who often puts itself above the law makes for ongoing scandals. This is the inheritance of the regionalism of centuries back.
Everyone worked not for the common good but for the boss, the Daimyo. Today it's the company president, etc. This makes for a lot of company loyalty, buddy-buddyism, weak family life, high alcohol consumption, and whatever company success may entail. This means one's own company is everything. Wear the badge with pride, stay late with the boss until he is ready to leave, no or few vacations because of fear to miss out on important matters. IT is the family.
The back side is: family problems: separation is OK, lots of unpaid overtime, boss and company is the source of life, etc. Unsatisfying family ties is the result at home. Crime is rampant because no discipline at home to the youth.
An interesting note is that when discussing social problems and possible solutions rarely do people recognize that the family needs strengthening. It is not part of the reason young people are turning towards crime. It's the TV, or other social factors, not the home. Meiji The Meiji Restoration proved to be a rush to catch up to Western standards in science and technology but not internally. The purpose was for Japan to "prove" itself. Understandably so. It was humiliating for a nation to suffer a defeat at the hands of four ships thousands of miles from home. As the sleeping giant was awoken with the attack on Pearl Harbor a few decades later, these ships awoke a racial supremacy streak that would lead the until now peaceful nation to a succession of wars with Russia, then China, then Korea, and finally all of Asia, the United States, and its other western nations. Japanese sense of invincibility after Meiji was a little false. They beat Russia in their war on a technicality. They politically invaded Korea, trampling on all their rights, freedoms, and then massacring hundreds of thousands of Christians. China was in the midst of civil war. Japan actually bullied itself through out Asia. This false sense of confidence was then turned towards the US. Their morale high because of all their victories, however they were not prepared for the big war.
This racial supremacy created a Japan-centered culture which it has been unable to kick. This government is less interested in world bonds than protecting, even now, its own businesses. The strong MITI (Ministry of International Trade and Industry) is powerful agency which guides all international business. Companies need government approval to do business abroad. They cannot go ahead of each other. Thus they are regulated. They must work and compete together against the world. Thus it's Japan, Inc. against the IBMs, Phillips, etc. It is not companies taking on companies.
So the question bothering Japan today is if all the deregulation in the Big Bang is going to hurt Japan? Are Japanese ready to compete? Big brother government was always there to help and bail them out. From the Convoy system to the accounting system was geared to protect and help Japan, Inc. The government was not there for the people, fair competition, etc. Over priced and over regulated Japan is a witness of this today. Thus, there is little surprise the government and banks, especially, are eager to see the implementation of the Big Bang and it's deregulations. Banks, especially those abusing the liberal elements of the system are the first to fall in the new conservative business arena now set to begin in April 1998.
One strong characteristic has kept Japan from opening up to the world. The Japanese are not risk takers. (At the end of 1997 and the beginning of 1998 we see the Japanese industry suffering not for lack of money but lack of will to take economic risks).
"Dootoku"
Dootoku, the Japanese education of morals and ethics in schools is the system of creating harmony and maintaining the status quo. There is no concept of standing up for a principle as we have in the West. Blood shedding, especially among one's own, is never a solution. The individual is respected only in context of a larger body. The absoluteness of the individual is a non-concept. Youth are at a loss. They can't make decisions, often, often having no opinions about things. They have no basis on which to make a judgment. Their ambition is to succeed in the prescribed rout to success, thus spending endless hours in school memorizing. The cost, as well as monetary is little social interaction and thus an inability to talk about much other than TV shows, and some sports, especially baseball, which the television amply covers Individual excellence is not a concept since there is no call for it. The call, ultimately, is for ability to be flexible for the sake of the corporation. Many don't walk with their heads high.
They don't have pride in themselves. They don't express their hearts, wearing themselves down. The only socially accepted time to express themselves to their bosses is when they are drunk. This is a reason they drink oftentimes, so that they not be held responsible for their words. This is an added reason that they like to form big groups. Telecommunications are OK for business but not for social needs, gripes, etc. Living in this bubble-like social environment it's not hard to be perceived as selfish vis a vis the world, and uninterested in it. During the Gulf War in 1991 Japan only reluctantly gave $6 billion to the war effort but contributed nothing in the front line. They also got nothing in the reconstruction pie. They have since made friends with other Arab nations not heavily involved in the war.
Protectionism
Another face of this character is protectionist. For a nation as developed economically and advanced technologically as this one it is very protective. The caravan system in place since before the war, and which the soon-to-come Big Bang is trying to address, of the government sheltering a chosen few companies in various industries has made for very unfair opportunities, has restricted individual expression in the work force, and has made for artificially high prices. There is no reason for Tokyo's prices, across the board, to be double Seoul's or even New York's, for example. People accept it as the cost of having no natural resources. This is true.
The reality is that there is no way of bringing prices down, or change without a strong push from abroad, the famed Black Ship syndrome. The name taken from Commodore Perry's four black ships which in 1868 finally pushed, without bloodshed, the Shogun to open its doors to foreign trade. Today this means mostly the United States' government insistence on deregulation, open doors to foreign competitors, etc. Japanese know this and accept it as the only way to change Japan. Thus the respect toward Americans, especially among the younger generation.
The Japan, Inc, mentality has lead to the sad position of Tokyo having little world clout, politically or ideologically. Legitimately they claim a position in world bodies because of the large sums Japan, Inc. gives to the world community in aid and loans, etc. This may reverse soon if the Asian developing economies are in a prolonged recession. Japanese banks have many billions of outstanding dollars in loans to Asian countries. As they are unable to pay, and as the accounting system no longer allows for the hiding of potential losses or unrecoverable debts banks are in a very tight position. Clearly, people have lost confidence in their country's infallible image.
Education tends to focus on harmony and non-adversity. This had the original purpose of keeping the Bafuku in power. This educational staple is still strongly in force with only few signs of letting up. Violence in schools in the last few years has been widely seen. There is a tendency to blame TV violence, freedom, etc. The reality is that the home is often an empty shell where people share living quarters but where there is little communication. A particularly big problem is the question of where does education start? Fathers are the busy salary men unable to come home for their family duties. Mothers don't seem to want the responsibility to discipline their children. Schools see their jobs of educating, not disciplining. During the last few months we have seen a teenage killing almost weekly. This passive society is no more. Violence and rage rules within youth. Understanding society's forces one sees that the youth is abandoned to learn from what society has to offer: violence on TV, violence in the ever growing computer games, and a lack of disciplining.
A few years ago after a 13-year-old committed suicide because of bullying the bully was asked why he did so. He answered that he didn't know it hurt the other young man. Confucianism, Shinto and Buddhism are the three ideologies that are in force to one degree or other in Japan today.
Shinto is the worship of the goddess Amaterasu-Omi kami, a princess of about 1300 years ago. Some now believe she is a Korean princess who came to Japan to establish herself. She would have stood supreme with a Japanese victory. Japanese have always seen themselves loved by God as they had never lost a war before their WWII defeat. They had her to thank.
Buddhism came through China and Korea. Most Japanese are buried in the Buddhist tradition. It is the repository of the connections with their always revered ancestor. Confucianism, from China, is the tradition which keeps the leadership in such high esteem, and often beyond accusation, untouchable. Elders are respected and trusted implicitly. This keeps the Japanese submissive, never questioning authority, dependent on foreign forces for its changes. This also allowed for unchecked wrongdoing. There is a subtle sense of being maligned by the US for social changes undergone since end of W.W.II, thus breaking Japan apart from its old traditions. On the other hand some see it's happening for the better.
Volunteerism, and giving is new to this nation. After the 1995 Kobe earthquake the first real signs of volunteerism appeared when a handful of people went down and helped the hard stricken victims. This is not natural in this society, accustomed to vertical, service. They traditionally only minded their business and never looked to help laterally, or beyond their immediate surroundings. This has given Japan a new, if small, sense of pride in their people. Japanese are gentle within their group, not without. Many Japanese love going abroad, especially to English speaking countries, and if possible, on home stays. One common reason given often is the gentility of the Western families. This is something they claim not to find in Tokyo, a very busy city.
"Amakudari"
I don't know what the real heart of the MOF is but one can safely bet that they are at best reluctant to let go of the Convoy System which so well has served Japan since the end of the war. What is Amakudari (descent from Heaven) and why is it still around after so many scandals and negative press? Simply, it is where bureaucrats make their big money before final retirement.
The Japanese bureaucracy is 90%+ run by Tokyo University (ToDai) graduates. It's a boy's club. Very elitist, short on moral teaching, high on working together. It's the Harvard University of Japan. They are deeply rooted in the government. It carried, until the economic bubble burst in the later 80s, an aura of trustworthiness. After all they are the intellectual elite. The education system in Japan is gear ultimately to government service. The ultimate path is going to the top schools, and then Tokyo University. They learnt how to take care of "number 1" without often taking care of the others. This is where Amakudari is most relevant. To supplement an already good government pension these bureaucrats often push themselves into the private sector a few years before retirement. They actually demand it in some cases with dire consequences to the companies if they don't comply with their demands. They get it. Not because they are a fine bunch but because Amakudari works on the government retaining information valuable to the respective industries. The only ones to get it are the members of the boy's club, the ToDai graduates. Let's say you are a company which has invested time and money on new inventions, medicines, etc. and want the government to "approve" your product. The government might be choosy as to whom it will support and protect, whose products will be introduced, or if it will give your company a hard time. How well you treat the officials may mean the life of your new product, countless millions of dollars spent notwithstanding. This includes foreign companies. This is corruption at its worst.
It's little wonder why scandals never cease to surface, apathy in Japan runs rampant, and the doors are closed to those outside a little group. Thus the Convoy System has created a group of government protected companies, especially in key industries, which work together, none having more benefits than the next. This was great to build Japan and protect it from foreign competition. Today it not only has lost its purpose but has also held back some major Japanese companies from competing in fields they were well set up to compete in successfully. Many compare Japan after the bubble broke to Edo 120 years ago seeing the same weaknesses and problems. This creates a strong sense of doubt towards Japan. Japan's Future However, Japan's here to stay. An economic force this size is not easily destroyed. Japan has some things going for it such as high technology in the TV industry. They still make quality products. All this, though, may be cut short as banks don't open up their credit departments not only to Japanese companies in need of funds, but also southeast Asia which is in desperate need to boost their economy.
The world is looking at Japan. It must decide its path. The world is watching. Painful changes are in the cards for this nation in the near future. Tradition and Japan-for-Japan thinking has to confront Japan-as-member-of-the-international-community thinking. Which way will Japan go? Japan will have to look at its education as it a source of much stress among youth today ranging from the courses studied, the purpose of education, etc. Among a group of outspoken friends this is what they said Japan's character an culture included: subtlety and sophistication, calligraphy, lacquer (ryushi), cooking ware, respect, poor life style, not open-minded, no identity, no humor, sadistic humor, pro-West, hesitant (cowardly), not risk takers, not opinionated, when laughing cover the mouth, etc. Others added that the quality of an item is measured by its cost, that there is a lack of spirituality, looking inside.
The future
The Big Bang, the economic deregulatory laws that are to take place will be a door of opportunity for changes not only in the economic and financial industries but will also open the doors to social changes. With competition and more internationalism Japan is bound to further break away from its old closed ways and further enter the international community.
A Time for Prayer and Healing
This is the text of a statement released to the membership by HSA Headquarters, New York City, on September 10, 1998.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
You may or may not be aware of negative stories currently in the media. Much of it revolves around the recent publication of a book called In the Shadow of the Moons, by Nansook Hong (Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1998). It may not be a pressing matter for you to read this book, but occasions may arise in which you find yourself called upon by friends or family to respond to issues raised.
We write at this time to offer information, positions, and reflections which will help, should such occasions arise.
In the book and related negative media, you are likely to encounter certain recurring themes and attacks. We have identified approximately six such areas and have given these matters very careful consideration. As you prayerfully develop your views and understanding please make use of the following aspects which should be considered when addressing these points:
Issues of Personal and Marital Abuse
As you know Father and Mother both teach and embody the noblest ideal of love and mutual respect between husband and wife. We have been taught from day one that our spouse is God's own child. For men, our wives are daughters of God. ANY form of abuse or disrespect, and certainly physical abuse, is absolutely unacceptable.
Issues of Financial Misuse
Father teaches and practices the principles of honesty and integrity in financial affairs. All of the businesses and non-profit organizations affiliated with the Unification Church (HSA-UWC) are audited by a firm of certified public accountants every year and are in compliance with IRS regulations.
Issues of Political Power
All evangelical religions have as part of their mission the spread of Gospel, the "Good News." Unificationists believe God wants His love to reach all people and naturally invest in spreading Unification teachings.
Father's opponents argue that father personally seeks political power. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Father is a 78-year old religious leader. He has never sought political office or power. He simply leads the life of a devoted religious leader. As with other religious leaders, Father seeks to influence society and culture to embrace spiritual values embodied in his religious teachings.
Religious Freedom
Father has a deep and abiding love for the United States and its tradition of religious freedom. He has great respect for America's Judeo-Christian foundations, and for the many great religions which currently influence American culture. As a religious leader, Father adds his voice to the many who express concern over current trends toward extreme individualism and excessive materialism. True Parents are completely sincere in their work for the sake of America, its freedoms and its traditional Judeo-Christian, family values. These works, including those listed below, are in no way a ruse in order to gain membership in the Unification Church, or to "legitimate" True Parents' religious teachings. Father has initiated a great many projects to support spiritual values in America. These include:
The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification
True Family Values Ministry
Women's Federation for World Peace
The International Coalition for Religious Freedom
Pure Love Alliance
The Washington Times Foundation
The American Constitution Committee
The American Leadership Conference
Teaching and Practice of Family Values
As we all know, the restoration of the ideal family means everything to True Parents. It is the core of their life's work and the unending content of Father's teaching. Families are the dwelling place of God's love, and the place where people learn the basic patterns of living an upright and positive life.
But the family is not an isolated and self-centered entity. Father teaches that the family should be dedicated to serving the welfare of the society, nation, and world. No one applies this concept more fully than Father and Mother, and as such their dedication to the world mission has entailed an enormous sacrifice for their children. Sadly, problems can arise from this, and have. Still, Father and Mother did their very best to love and educate their family, even while they devoted themselves sacrificially to their world mission. Despite difficulties, they are a model couple in terms of living as True Parents for their own family and the world, and this remains as valid today as ever.
Lifestyle Issues
The property that houses Father and his family is owned by the Unification Church and serves primarily as a center for local, national and international conferences, and secondarily as housing for his large family and the conference center staff. The constant presence of church leaders and guests, at times numbering over 500, creates the very opposite of self-indulgence. Family members live without normal privacy enjoyed by others.
It is widely known that True Parents maintain a severe spiritual discipline, dedicating long hours in prayer and teaching and conducting a public ministry at great cost to themselves and their family.
Furthermore Unification doctrine has never encouraged poverty for its own sake. Father encourages members to develop their talents, and devote their blessings and prosperity sacrificially for the public good. He encourages his children to pursue their extraordinary talents, but this parental impulse is not limited to his children. Reverend Moon enthusiastically invests in ideas and projects arising among church members in many areas, ranging from performing arts, to fishing industries, technology, and manufacturing.
We think you will come across these themes generated by negative media and recognize where particular aspects of the above information are applicable.
Even though this information, applied together with your own life of faith can help you to digest and respond to upcoming challenges, please always refer all media to Mr. Chris Corcoran, the official spokesperson of HSA Family Church headquarters. His phone number is 212-997-0050 x213; his fax is 212-719-4784; his e-mail is pr@hsanahq.org.
As always we are praying for you and for all Blessed Families. Please continue to pray for one another.
We fully anticipate that our faithful dedication to God will allow for this event, as with all things related to God, to work together for good.
The Study-in-Korea Program
Institute of Korean Studies for Foreign Student
by Steve and Jeri Tamayo- Kuri City, Korea
Steve and Jeri Tamayo are Head Teacher and Dorm Parents for the Western students in the program.
If I had the time I would write each and every Parent a personal note encouraging you for to allow your child to come to Korea and have this wonderful experience in the Fatherland of our faith. Instead I am using this wonderful technology which allows me to save time and yet express my sincerity to all of you at the same time. In this letter I hope to convey to you the value of this program.
Also, I would like to encourage you to find the speech Father gave to Blessed Children in 1986, the Unification News reprinted it in the March 1997 issue. In this speech Father states what his goals are for the program and the children who attend it. It 's very clear.
Until now parents have had the idea or impression that this is a one-year study in Korea program. But actually it is a very competitive program. Students compete for the highest grade in order to be able to continue their studies in Korea. From this year the top 13 students of each GOP class (the General Orientation Program) has the opportunity to be chosen to continue on into the prep. program for attending Middle School at Sun Hwa Junior High (known in America as, (The Little Angels School, founded by Father) It is one of the best schools in Korea and their is great competition among Koreans to be able to attend it. They even have a waiting list for their Elementary school. For the middle school a special and very difficult written test must be passed as well as an Art test (whatever the major might be, music, drawing, dancing etc.) Our students only qualifications are that they are in the top 10 of their GOP class and that their Korean grade is over 80% and that they set a good standard of a life of faith and action.
I believe it's important for you to understand that as soon as your children arrive they begin to learn and understand that this could actually be their first mission that they receive in life. And that mission is to study Korean in Korea for a long time. Until now, some parents (most parents) have been shocked and surprised when their child has called them and said, "Dad, Mom, I want to continue to study in Korea. I really feel like this is where Heavenly Father wants me to be, if I make the top 13 will you let me stay?" This will happen, guaranteed. I want to help you to avoid that shock when it comes, and I would hope that you read Father's speech together with your child and talk about the possibility of such a thing happening.
The lifestyle that is created here in our program is based on our church traditions handed to us by our Father. The following is an outline of one typical week day here in our dorm. 6:00 AM Morning Service (Hoon dok hae)
7:00 AM Breakfast
9:10 AM First class begins
3:20 PM School Finishes
3:30 to4:30 is special tutoring time.
4:30 to 6:00 is free time
6:00 PM Dinner
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM mandatory study time
9:00 PM Evening service. This time is used for Divine Principle study, internal guidance, birthday parties, song practice, and group meetings.
Groups consist of a leader (an elder student) and about 8-9 students. These groups are held for the elder student to give internal or practical guidance of dorm life or Principle life education based on his or her personal experiences or based on the internal guidance elder students receive from the Teachers. It is also a format students use to take turns giving Divine Principle lectures and honing their public speech abilities. Group meetings are held once a week and the students look forward to them. Also evening service may consist of group play outdoors especially in the Spring, Summer and Fall. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday The teachers give internal guidance, Divine Principle study, or Principle life education.
10:00 PM to 11:00 PM is free time, and bed preparation time.
All students must be in bed at 11:00 PM and all lights are out at that time. Students are allowed to stay up longer for study purposes, or as permission is granted.
It 's a pretty full schedule and of course Saturdays and Sundays have a slightly different schedule but this can give you a general idea of how time is spent here. By the way, students do go to school half days on Saturday. Of course all Holy days are celebrated and attended by everyone. As well as weekly and monthly pledge. We celebrate birthdays individually and also once a month the students have a birthday party day where they spend 3 hours playing games and celebrating all the students birthdays for that month. Often on Korean Holidays and especially Holy days we play traditional Korean games and or attend entertainment when True Parents are here.
Students have also discovered that when they have been able to create a good relationship with their teachers and the dorm parents their experience and time here is greatly enriched. So I would like to encourage you as their parents to guide them in this matter. This is a very important point for them to understand and it will help them to adapt quickly to their new lifestyle.
Steve and I try our best to be there for each student as they need us. This being our fifth year here we feel we have learned and grown a lot and of course hopefully we will continue to do so. Steve and I came to this program with a very strong desire to be here and to help raise our families blessed children. We take this mission very seriously. We have found that prayer and patience are important factors in our lives in order to develop the right heart and to create the correct atmosphere where your children can best begin to realize their great potential and their intrinsic value as blessed children. These are not just fancy words I'm sharing with you this truly is our heart and desire. Unfortunately we don't yet have the highest of standards but we pledge to you we will always try our best to be better every day, for your children's sake and for the sake of God's Kingdom.
This year we are welcoming a new support couple to our staff James and Katya Chisolm. James is from England, and Katya is from Germany. They have both worked on CARP in America for the past 7 years. They have had much experience in witnessing and workshop training. Both have been lecturers and workshop leaders. James will be helping Steve on the school side and Katya will be working dorm side. We are very happy to have them with us and look forward to the new year with a new sense of gusto.
Another very important part of our dorm life is that we have the blessing to also live, study and work with blessed children and teachers from Japan., they eat and attend school together. Although the their classes are held separately because of language differences, they're just across the hall from each other. We have pledge together, we attend our Sagam Sun Sang nim's (Dormitory Supervisor) speeches together. We celebrate Holy days, Holidays, and birthdays together. We study and play together.
Their is one very big difference between our western program and the Japanese program. That difference is, the Japanese who attend this program have no option to return home after one year. They come with the built in plan that they attend Middle School, High School and University in Korea. As is Father's original plan for this program. Personally I'm a bit jealous of the Japanese program, because since 1986 they have graduated at least up to 18 students into High School each year, and since 1989 have graduated that many into Universities every year. Thus far we have one western student who graduated into University this year, another one in twelfth grade and two presently in 11th grade High School. This year we had 4 ninth grade graduates who have stayed and attended Korean High School. When I think about the fact that Father began this program with western blessed children in mind, so that they could learn the Korean language, and eastern culture as well as Heavenly traditions so that they could become the world leaders this world needs, I feel sorry. But, then again I realize that people just don't know and haven't known what this program is really all about.
These past two years have been extra ordinary for us here at Sun Hwa dorm. One reason for this has been the Chungpyung providence. Last year we were able to attend three weekend workshops at Chungpyung. November, April and July. This year we attended in February April, and June. It truly helps to set the pace for our students to have a most remarkable and memorable year. Not to mention the Dorm parents too. We are of course planning to attend the Chungpyung workshop with each new class every year. In the past Dae Mo Nim has spoken directly to our students and they most assuredly reaped the benefits of a good cleansing and liberation. Of course the Chungpyung workshop is not a part of our school curriculum, so students had to receive special permission from their parents to attend and the workshop fee is an extra cost of $20.00 per workshop for our first year students.
One year here in Korea attending this program will be an amazing year for your child. One of great discoveries. About themselves, about Heavenly Father, about True Parents and about you. Most every child who comes here will begin to discover their value and purpose and most of all their personal relationship to Heaven. I am most sure that this would be the best year of your child's life and one he/she would always remember.
Please contact Tom and Carolynn Burkholder at these following phone numbers and addresses for more information about the Study in Korea program.
Tom and Carolynn Burkholder
1245 Jackson St.
Peekskill, NY 10566
Home phone # 914-734-7009
Fax # 914-734-1678
E-mail address KSSFGOP@aol.com
The numbers and addresses to the Dormitory in Korea follow,
Sun Hwa Dormitory
Suteak Dong 437-45
Kuri City, Kyonggi do
South Korea, 471-030
Phone # 82-346-65-3797
Fax # 82-346-65-3797
E-mail address: sjtam@shinbiro.com