Las Vegas Family Church's Farewell to Japanese Missionaries at Cheon Hwa Gun

Around 80 people---members and guests — attended a wonderful farewell event for our Japanese Missionaries Wednesday evening (May 30) at CHG. After one year in Las Vegas, Tamami Nozoe, Saori Fuse, Erina Fukumoto and Nichika Kabakino are leaving Las Vegas. Tamami will begin working with WFWP at the United Nations in New York, Saori and Michika will become missionaries in the Phillipines and Argentina, and Erina will return to Japan to begin married life with her husband.

As in previous years, this event was an opportunity for the many people who had met LVFC through the Missionaries’ outreach efforts to say ‘good bye’ to their newfound friends. It was also a chance for the missionaries to introduce these friends to the LVFC brothers and sisters and for everyone to get to know each other better. Much of the Missionaries’ investment in Las Vegas had been in outreach efforts together with CARP on the UNLV and CSN campuses, so more than half of those present at the farewell event were CARP members and their student guests.

Combining Divine Principle education, a BBQ picnic and a final farewell meeting, the heartwarming program was a great success!!

The evening began in the Sanctuary where both members and guests were uplifted by a stimulating Divine Principle lecture and Q & A offered by Rev Compton. His words were new to some of the guests and a good review for all.

Then, as the beautiful evening cooled and fresh breezes passed across CHG, everyone collected outside for a delicious picnic dinner. Seated at round tables on the lawn and patio, brothers and sisters, new friends and old lovingly shared the delicious food prepared by Rev. and Mrs. Doo and which was graciously grilled by Akira Ota and his family. Together with an array of potluck side dishes and delicious desserts brought by other LVFC members, there was much joy and love as everyone got together to enjoy this wonderful event. This part of the evening filled stomachs and opened hearts.

Finally, to end the evening, everyone joined together in the Sanctuary for a time of precious farewells.

Led by Rev Doo, members, guests and the missionaries shared heartfelt testimonies about their time together in Las Vegas. After the members and guests offered farewell messages, Rev Doo announced that this farewell was not only for these missionaries, but for the entire missionary program in Las Vegas. He expressed that from this time forward, the Japanese Missionaries will be working in Los Angeles. Then each missionary shared their hearts of gratitude to Heavenly Parent and True Parents for their time in Las Vegas.

It was a time of tears and laughter and open hearts that ended perfectly with a beautiful song offered by James Oberg to the missionaries for their journey to come.