My deepest gratitude to Heavenly Parents and True Parent for protecting STF through the year

Dear STF Family Members, I must begin by expressing my deepest gratitude towards our Heavenly Parents and True Parents. Without their protection and guidance it would not have been possible to finish this year as well as we have done. Furthermore, I would like to sincerely congratulate you all on successfully completing your time on STF. When I think of how you came to STF and invested one, two or even three years for God and True Parents, I am tremendously proud of each and every one of you. This yearbook is simply to help you later recall your profound experiences on STF. I hope that you can open this book from time to time throughout your life and be reminded once again of all those precious lessons learned and that this will provide inspiration to keep moving forward in your life of faith. As the STF director and also as your older brother, I must also take this opportunity to apologise. I have to admit that due to my personal limitations and lack of understanding of the Principle, I was not able to adequately guide or connect you to the heart of True Parents. Nevertheless, I will add that despite my inadequacies, my focus was always on connecting you with the heavenly heart. I earnestly hope that this year deepened your relationship with God and True Parents. I really believe that without them our life is little more than a ship without its captain. I would also like to express my appreciation to all the staff who shared the challenge and responsibility in caring for our STF members – especially, 3rd year participants Shigenori and Nicole who, although encountering many personal challenges, were still able to invest so much for you. Of course, I must mention all the 2nd year participants, Corina, Dongsoon, Iasmin, Patrick, Peter and Unja, all of whom deserve the loudest applause for their sacrifice and investment throughout this period. Also, let us never forget our parents who steadfastly prayed and worried about us, recognising the need for us to take part in a personal journey of self-discovery in search of true love in freedom. Thus, I think it fair to say that we have all attained a new starting point in our lives. I say ‘starting point’ because I am convinced that we have only just begun an eternal journey in search of the most profound relationship with our Heavenly Parents and True Parents. Since Father’s Sunghwa, our movement has faced a great many hurdles, indeed difficulties. Such challenges will continue and therefore I sincerely encourage you to keep studying True Parents’ words every day. At the same time, please embolden your brothers and sisters to keep moving forward in their lives of faith. I earnestly wish you all true happiness and joy in your coming lives as students, and later in your professional lives and of course within your families.

Love to all of you, S. Choi STF Europe Director