1975 Missionary Testimonies

1975 Missionary Testimonies These testimonies are unedited and mostly unformatted and are not ready for publication. The photos in one testimony are in black and white. These testimonies are compiled for the Missionary Reunion at UTS, May 26 - 28, 2017.

Table of Contents

William Connery - Uganda. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Susan Fefferman - Iran.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Patricia Fleischman - Senegal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Regis Hanna - Ecuador and Chile. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Joy Pople - Mexico. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Jeff Tallakson - Afghanistan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Sara Towe Horsfall – India, Greece, UK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Richard Van Loon - Suriname. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Anita Walters - Chile. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Takashi and Genie Kagawa - Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines - 40 Years. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Takashi Kagawa - Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines - 21 Years. . 80 Genie Kagawa - 21 Year Court Case - Thailand. . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 From Kathy Rigney to the 1975 Missionaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Approaching the Providential Year 2020. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 From Robert Kittle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 From Gloria Frothingham. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 From Mary Johnson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 From Susan Schroeder. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Obituary for Merlinda Skow Fournier. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 HSA-UWC Invitation to the 1975 Missionary Awards Ceremony and Reunion at UTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Genie Kagawa - Religious Harmony in Malaysia. . . . . . . . . . . . 89

1 1975 Missionary Testimonies William Connery - Uganda argue, don’t make enemies. It takes too much time and energy. Tell them ‘you are my big brother or elder sister.’ This is my whole testimony - I did not have the heart Tell them ‘please pray for me.’ If you say, ‘The Principle is to cut it down! this, the Creation is like this, the Fall of Man is like this … My Experiences as a Missionary in Uganda:1975 - 1978 Rev. Moon is the Lord of the Second Advent from Korea, etc.’ they will get upset! You don’t have to tell them all at My own experiences as a missionary actually began once. Use your wisdom. Give them the precious jewel on December 23, 1974. I was working in Los Angeles for gradually … You can say Rev. Moon is a prophet — that’s the last speech in the 1974 Day of Hope campaign for Rev. fine.) Moon. Another brother and I received forms to be filled out concerning the immanent Blessing. Although I was almost Most of our schedule during that period was very 26 and 3 1/2 years in the church, I felt unworthy for this strenuous. We usually got up at 6:00, went outdoors for great step. Still, I filled out the form, leaving everything in exercise, and had breakfast. Most of the day was spent the hands of God. After Rev. Moon’s speech, I returned to listening to Mr. Sudo give lectures on Divine Principle and Salt Lake City with the other brother. On January 7, 1975 Spiritual Guidance. There were also three 30-hour street- we received word concerning the Blessing happening in preaching conditions during that time — two in New York Korea, but no other word was forthcoming. So on January City and one in Washington, D.C.The personal 15 this other brother and myself took off to southwest commitment of each missionary was being challenged. My Colorado for a fund-raising venture for the Center. I called own greatest challenge started on April 5. It was announced the Center January 17 and was told by our director that the that some missions were going to be changed. One brother other brother and I would be going to Seoul for the (Lorenzo Gastanaga), who was originally slated for Blessing! I was both shocked and grateful. The next day we Uganda, was switched to an American mission. And it was returned to Salt Lake City and I applied for my passport on decided that no one would be sent to French Guyana, January 19, which was my 26th birthday. because it was still a French colony. Mr. Salonen took me aside and asked if I would be willing to go to Uganda. We both went to San Francisco, where we spent a Without much hesitation, I said yes. Actually, I knew very week fund-raising. All the American Blessing Candidates little about Uganda but my information soon grew. I congregated in Los Angeles and arrived February 2 in discovered that the nation was under the leadership of Idi Seoul. We were in Korea until February 10; the high point Amin, and was considered one of the most dangerous being the Mass Wedding of 1800 Couples on February 8, countries in all of Africa. I gave my fate to God, praying in 1975. Then we all went on to Tokyo, where we worked on my mind: “Well, if You want to get rid of me, this is Your Rev. Moon’s Budokan Speech. Both Rev. Moon and Neil chance. Anyway, I will go because someone must bring Salonen (president of the American Church) emphasized Your New Word to the Ugandan people and it is better for the importance of the 1800 Blessing for the work of world- me to die than for some worthier brother or sister to go and wide restoration. We had a special meeting on February 12: die.” God had guided me through many difficult situations a list of 95 nations was read out and we were to pick out 3. in the past and I had trust in Him. Rev. Moon had wanted My choices were French Guyana, Rhodesia and Singapore. all the missionaries to leave for their nations by April 30. We left Tokyo February 15 and returned to the States. I This could not be done, due to financial problems. On traveled to Salt Lake City, where I worked until the end of April 24 we had a big dinner at Barrytown as a send-off for the month. Then I went to training at Barrytown, New York 14 missionaries who were being sent out right away. The (I also briefly stopped in Glen Burnie, MD. for a day to see rest of us had fund-raising from April 25 until May 11. my father and aunt — I knew it might be a long time before On May 13 there was a farewell banquet for all I would see them again). The training at Barrytown was foreign missionaries and the next day most of us visited the quite an amazing experience. It lasted from March 3 until new National Headquarters which had just been acquired May 14 (at least for foreign missionary candidates — there on 43rd Street in New York City. Then most of us left were also 7 day, 21 day, 40 day and 120 day workshops either that day or the next day for our nations. I almost taking place). During that period, Rev. Moon came to didn’t leave America. I had two suitcases packed with speak to us at least 10 times. His advice was always strong books, tapes and clothes. I also had my sleeping bag. The and fatherly (in one speech -¬ Directives to Foreign airport personnel wanted me to leave behind the bag but Missionaries – March 20 - he said: they eventually let me go on board. I flew on KLM with a British sister who was going to Tanzania. We flew over the Wherever you go throughout the whole world you will Atlantic on a Jumbo Jet: Elizabeth was in a section with find established Christian churches. Do not try to fight or over one hundred young people who were going to do argue with that mission. Find a way to work together. Don’t Christian missionary work for six weeks in Germany. We

1975 Missionary Testimonies 2

switched to a smaller plane in Amsterdam and flew to Uganda was being on a new planet, a completely different Cairo, where we waited for 3 hours. No one was allowed to world from the one I had lived in for twenty-six years. leave the plane except for those disembarking and also any That first day I spent walking around Kampala. It is taking of photos was forbidden; because the airport was quite an interesting place. The original center of the city is considered a military installation (and actually soldiers built on seven hills (like Rome) and most of the hills are with machine guns could clearly be seen from the windows crowned by churches, mosques or hospitals. The center city of the plane). We took off and headed nearly due south. itself looks fairly modern - with at least seven buildings Elizabeth kept telling me to eat more food on the plane — that were 10 stories or higher (the two tallest were twenty my stomach was turning over like a person awaiting their stories) - but I soon discovered that looks could be execution. I arrived 9:30 P.M. at Entebbe Airport, which is deceiving. There had been no real development since 1972, twenty miles from the capital of Uganda, Kampala. the year that Amin had kicked out the Israeli technicians Rev. Moon told us to make special conditions for our and the Asian merchants. There was a too-sudden attempt nations. My first started as soon as I left the plane - I began to Africanize the economic life of Uganda - Amin called it a seven-day food fast. I felt that God was protecting me Economic War - but the ignorance of many people and the from the very beginning. The few people who were at the greed of others soon proved too harsh for the economy and airport were either half-drunk or so fascinated to see a a once-thriving nation was stopped dead in its tracks. I white person that I easily got through customs (I eventually didn’t believe the mess I had read about in the magazines, found out that usually only three kinds of American white but I saw living proof before my eyes in Kampala. Most people come to Uganda: missionaries, CIA agents or crazy shops had nice show-windows, but a quick step inside people — eventually I would be accused of being all three). usually revealed practically empty shelves. The streets It took me until 2:00 A.M. to get to Kampala and I began to were full of people looking for “essential commodities” (a experience the serious economic situation: the first taxi I term I would become very familiar with) such as salt, took ran out of gas a mile outside Entebbe; luckily sugar, soap, detergent - things that Americans take for someone could stop and take us back and a VW van was granted but they were hard to come by in Uganda. The found which took me in. The first few days were quite a usual means for people to get these goods was through memorable experience.I stayed in the hotel where the “magendo” - the black market — which even the German missionary had stayed: he had come to Uganda on government participated in: two pounds of sugar, officially April 26 but had already moved, but nobody knew to about $.30, could usually only be bought for $1.20 - $1.50 - where. The first day I went out to investigate my new - two pounds of baking flour, officially about $1.20, surroundings. “Culture Shock” is probably a mild term actually sold for $4.00 - $5.00. which I could use to explain my first few days. Weather- In reality, the economic situation didn’t bother me too wise there were very few problems. The weather in Uganda much in the beginning -¬ I was fasting for seven days and was very similar to the mid-May weather of New York. didn’t want to have anything to do with food. Even though Uganda is on the equator (Kampala itself is just thirty miles north of the equator) the altitude is 3000 - My main concern was with people — how to reach 4000 feet: during the day it gets no higher than 85° and them in order to teach them the Divine Principle (D.P.). during the night it drops to 60° and never lower. Two That first day I met two people — Herbert, who worked at important aspects of living on the equator were very the Post Office and Oscar, a high-school student. Oscar noticeable during my first year in Uganda. First, the sun told me someone had stolen his suitcase and he had no always rises at 7:00 A.M. and sets at 7:00 P.M. - this was place to stay. So I brought him to the hotel and he stayed quite unusual for an American used to time variations in overnight in my room. The next day Oscar and I walked the sunset from 5:00 P.M. in the winter to 9:00 P.M. in the around, trying to find the German missionary. We also summer. Also summer, autumn, winter and spring - the spoke to a few people and I treated him to two meals, change of seasons - had to be forgotten in Uganda. It was though I continued my fast. My third day in Uganda was a eternally springtime. And of course it was amazing to be Sunday. I woke Oscar up early and we both said the around so many black people. I’m from Maryland myself, traditional 5:00 Sunday Pledge together. Later on we which had been a slave-owning state. I’ve never felt any attended a service in the local Roman Catholic Church. In hatred towards blacks (I had always been taught that we’re the after¬noon the German missionary came to check on all human beings, equal in the sight of God), but I often felt his mail and found Oscar and myself studying the Divine uncomfortable around blacks because of the racial Principle in our room. I must admit that Ulf was grateful problems in America. Also most of the schools I had and shocked at meeting me. Grateful to know that at least attended were all or predomin¬ately white and I had never one other missionary had made it into the country and developed any real friendships with blacks. So being in shocked at a11 the material I had brought into the country -

3 1975 Missionary Testimonies - several D.P. books, a D.P. teaching outline, a tape people I met were very friendly and were honored to know recorder and over 30 tapes of Mr. Sudo’s lectures, spiritual a person who they could speak English with. guidance and some of Rev. Moon’s speeches. Even one of At the Roman Catholic Church I met Andrew, a my bags still had a Unification Church sticker on it. Ulf student at Gaba National Seminary. On June 1 he took me quickly left: shortly afterwards Oscar and I went to the Seminary, about twenty miles from Kampala. It is downstairs for tea and Oscar was almost arrested by an fairly modern, being run by local priests with help from the army man. It was my first contact with the local authorities: Verona Fathers. Andrew showed me around, I had some the man left us alone when he found out that I was a simple lunch with him and I was able to teach him some tourist-businessman and the young man was just trying to D.P. — he seemed interested and had a very inquisitive help me. mind. I actually became a member of the choir in the The next day Oscar left to return home — I gave him Catholic Church and came to know most of the members: $10 which he said he needed for transport. Then I moved in before the end of May I started teaching two of them D.P. with Ulf, who was staying at the local Scout headquarters. Meanwhile, our finances were being depleted by our The woman there was friendly, but her boss did not want $8.00 a day room and the need for eating (it was forbidden us to stay there; so Ulf and I moved into the cheapest hotel to prepare food in the room). Somehow Ulf met Abdul, we could find for $8.00 a day. I returned to the Catholic who was a Bangladeshi working at a local college. Abdul Church and met Fr. Joseph, a white priest from Malta, who was living by himself in a three-room apartment, renting it said I could see the local Vicar-General in a few days. from the government for a nominal $10 a month. He Both Ulf and I had entered Uganda on three-month offered Ulf and myself one of his rooms, which had its own tourist visas. We knew of the government persecution entrance, for $40 a month. Of course he was making a against the churches, especially newer and smaller ones, profit — but he was still saving us money — one month in like the Seventh-Day Adventists and Jehovah’s Witnesses. our hotel cost $240! So on the morning of May 27, Ulf and We knew we couldn’t operate openly as Unification I moved in with Abdul; later that same day I visited Kibuli missionaries. So we began the search to find the means to Mosque, which is on one of the hills overlooking Kampala. stay legally in Uganda. Ulf had about the equivalent of a On May 29 we began a seven-day condition of praying Masters Degree in Engineering, so he began to search into 3:00 - 4:00 in the morning. On June 3rd we had prayer 3:00 businesses which could use engineering skills. I had a B.A. A.M., had some breakfast and then started walking to the in History, so I decided to find a job as a teacher. (During Catholic Cathedral on Rubaga Hill. About half-way there our training it had been strongly stressed that we should we met a flood of people heading towards Namugongo, stay in our nations as ginseng tea salesmen — but the about eight miles east of Kampala. What were all these government animosity against foreign business in Uganda people doing on this day? On June 3, 1886, over 30 was still so strong that Ulf and I decided to try other Anglican and Catholic converts had been burned to death avenues closer to our own personal training). That is why I for their faith at Namugongo by Kabaka Mwanga (the wanted to meet the Vicar General — possibly he could get kabaka was the king of the local Baganda tribe). In 1964 me into the local Catholic school system. When I met him the 22 Catholic martyrs were canonized by Pope Paul V1 two days later he quickly closed the door on any contact and in 1969 Paul VI became the first Pope to visit Africa. with the Catholic schools. My main purpose in Uganda was He came to visit Uganda, where he dedicated the to teach the Divine Principle and especially show people foundation for the Martyr’s Shrine at Namugongo. When he how it is a fulfillment of their own religious background. I arrived in Uganda, Pope Paul VI had said: “At this blessed come from a strong Roman Catholic tradition myself moment, for the first time in history, the successor of Peter (including seven years in a minor seminary) and have as Vicar of Christ sets foot upon the soil of Africa. We give always felt that the D.P. was the completion of my basic thanks to God for this great favour.” The Martyrs Shrine Christian faith. My own feeling was that God wanted to was not completed until 1975. Its official opening was on reach all people, and having a strong religious faith was June 3 by the Pope’s Special Envoy, Sergio Cardinal sometimes a hindrance to God (just as when Jesus came - Pignedoli, in the presence of President Idi Amin. Several the people who accepted him and the Gospel were not the hundred-thousand Christians gathered that day: we left Pharisees and Sadducees but the fishermen, tax-collectors early because the ceremonies were delayed due to the late and harlots). arrival of Idi Amin. Still it was a stirring testimony to the We were actually very blessed in Uganda. It had been deep faith and love of the people to be willing to walk eight a British protectorate for seventy years and English was the miles (some had walked the whole night from longer official language. And the better educated a person was, the distances). I had made an appointment to meet Oscar in more English they knew. So from the very beginning the Kampala, so I had to rush back to the city. I had missed my

1975 Missionary Testimonies 4

first opportunity of seeing Idi Amin. Christians in Uganda, there is nothing funny about Idi On June 6, Ulf and I attended our second Balokoli Amin. … Like so much of the violence in Africa, the meeting at the Anglican Cathedral on Namirembe Hill. The Ugandan persecutions spring partly from tribal rivalry. Balokoli (Luganda for “saved ones”) were still meeting Amin’s small Kakwa tribe, known for its fierce, warring every Friday evening, as they had since the Revivals first history, is a traditional enemy of the Acholi and Langi swept Uganda in the 1930’s. I soon discovered that they had tribes, which include most of the country’s better educated a mixed effect on other people. Some ridiculed them busi¬ness and professional leaders (including Dr. A. because of their strict life style: no drinking, no dancing, Milton Obote). short hair for men and women, no bell bottom pants; The Acholis and Langis are also predominantly members would often start confessing their sins publicly in Christian; the Kakwas, largely Muslim. … Amin has always a crowded bus and ask people to accept Jesus in their lives. been sensitive to his negative image in the world But when Ulf and I went there, we could see many brothers community, and has reacted violently to criticism of his and sisters, some who were now elderly and had dedicated regime. themselves to the Lord in the original ‘30’s Revival, some And Godfrey Lule, the man who replaced Idi Amin in who were young men and women who had decided to cast April 1979, wrote in 1977: themselves completely on Jesus. There were also three older white women who attended: the meeting consisted of The system Amin has built up reflects his own some members giving testimonies about their lives or background and peculiar talents. He comes from the far asking for spiritual help and guidance from the brothers north-western part of Uganda. He is a member of the and sisters. Each person’s speaking was followed by the Kakwa tribe, which is based only in part in Uganda. There singing of the traditional ‘Takatendaraza’ (Praise the Lord). are Kakwa in far larger numbers in Zaire and in Southern Sudan. The basis of his power lies with the Southern During the month of June, I continued singing at the Sudanese, who are re¬cruited in large numbers to staff his Catholic church on Sunday and attending the Protestant police force and army. Many of these Southern Sudanese Revival meeting on Friday. On June 10 Ulf and I decided have lived in Uganda itself for several generations, forming on three immediate goals: find our own accommodation; a community known as Nubians. … (These people) have no receive definite word about jobs; and witness to at least interest in Uganda’s people or the future of the country. three people a day. Through the Friday Fellowship, I was They owe personal loyalty only to Amin, a loyalty bought able to meet Mr. K., headmaster of Nakasero Secondary with imported luxury goods and the loot of their victims. School (N.S.S.) They exercise a foreign tyranny more vicious than anything I visited him on June 11; he offered me $40 a month to dreamed of by European imperialists or modern white teach at his school (if I was accepted by his Board of minority governments in Africa. Governors). Later that same day I met the headmaster of Finally, Amin’s Minister of Health, Henry Kyemba, another school — he told me to return later in the week. had this to write about his former boss: Also on that day I met Mr. Singh, one of the last members of the Sikh society in Kampala. Amin’s extraordinary sadism and cruelty have often been said to be a direct result of syphilis, which in its final On June 13 a11 meetings were canceled in the stages affects the brain, driving the victim insane. Amin’s afternoon because President Amin was giving a speech in records show that he has indeed suffered from syphilis. … City Square Park. It was my first chance to see the most It is rumored that the disease is pro¬gressive in Amin and hated — and beloved — man in Uganda, depending on your that he will eventually succumb to it. I have seen no tribe and whether your family had prospered under Amin’s medical evidence of this. But even if it is true, in my “Economic War” of kicking out the Asian merchants or judgment it cannot explain his behavior. His extreme some member had been killed by Amin’s Security Forces. brutality is not the result of brain damage but a long-term It is worthwhile here to mention what Brother Andrew phenomenon. His orders are premeditated and consistent. I had written about Idi Amin in 1977: have seen him dangerously angry. I have heard him lash out The architect of this tragic new Uganda is a man who in apparently uncontrollable rage, ordering indiscriminate likes to be addressed as His Excellency A1.-Haji Field arrest and death. But he knows well enough how to stage- Marshall Dr. Idi Amin Dada, V.C., D.S.O., M.C., Life manage his rages. The most telling example of this President of Uganda. To the rest of the world he is Big occurred in mid-1973 when, for the benefit of a French Daddy Amin. To many Americans and Europeans, he is a television crew, he exploded in rage, threatening to shoot cartoon character - a joke. It is easy to laugh at him from all recalcitrant ministers. He behaved like a wild animal. the detached comfort of the Western World. But to The tribal scars on his temple — the three vertical marks which have earned the Kakwa’s the nickname ‘One-Elevens’

5 1975 Missionary Testimonies — stood out sharply, as they always do when he is angry. I couldn’t teach at his school unless I had a teaching permit Yet immediately after the television crew left, he joked from the Ministry of Education (B). The Ministry of about his performance.“How did it come out?” he asked Education refused to give me a Teacher’s Permit unless I me, laughing. gained a Work Permit from the Immigration Dept(C). Then A librarian I had met at the Catholic Church, Mr. M., the Immigration Dept. refused to give me a Work Permit attended the speech and helped translate it for me. unless I had a Teaching Permit and an official letter of President Amin spoke mainly about forming a liberation recommendation from the school. I had to play this game army, to liberate Palestine from the Israelis and South several times in June and July, 1975. Africa from the whites. (In other speeches, Amin had My hope was to become a history teacher, since that applauded the slaughter of Israeli athletes at the 1972 had always been my favorite subject in school. But I had Munich Olympics; praised Hitler’s genocide of the Jews; studied only United States and Western European History: and called for the extinction of Israel as a state. Amin is my knowledge about Africa was next to nothing. So I made sometimes referred to as the Hitler of Africa and he wants time to study African history, with a focus on East Africa to build a statue to the Nazi dictator). Most of the people and Uganda (one headmaster specifically turned me down cheered and applauded, especially where there were because he believed I couldn’t learn and teach history at the soldiers - I also noticed that some people on the fringes same time). On June 24, the Ministry of Education rejected were snickering or sometimes trying to hide their laughter. me for teaching in government schools. This only left the During that speech and on many other occasions I heard few private schools, of which N.S.S. was the most hopeful: many different opinions about Idi Amin. Some people June 25 I visited Mr. K. there and he promised to bring my considered him a great leader who had brought Uganda case before the school Board of Governors. recognition on a world-wide scale. While I was in Uganda, The end of my first full month in Uganda was quite a he had himself proclaimed Field Marshall and people said momentous time for me. On June 30 I was able to finish the he considered adding the title “Son of God” to his list - he D.P. to one high school student, David S. And the next day, himself is a Moslem, but he claimed that one of his I was able to meet John-Patrick M. and his brother, David relatives was a Catholic priest and the man who became K.-M., who became two of our most faithful brothers. On head of the Anglican Church of Uganda, Sylvester Wani, is July 2, I went searching for a young man I had met at the his uncle. Catholic Church. Two other young men served as my To other people he was a clown or buffoon - some guides as I went through a small village beyond Kibuli members of his own tribe jokingly said that the V.C. and Mosque - they said I was extremely lucky because people M.C. in his titles meant Very Confused and Mental Case were often killed around there “like chickens.” (actually they mean Victoria Cross and Military Cross). On July 4 I began a Friday afternoon practice that was But by the time I arrived in 1975, most people had grown to continue for three years. Between 1:00 - 2:00 I visited sick of the bloodshed which kept Amin in power and were Mr. M., the man who had translated for me during just praying for the day that there would be a “change in President Amin’s speech. I stayed in his office in his the wind.” Quite a few people said they would be willing to school’s library for 2½ hrs, sharing the D.P. with him. He admit the British colonialists back into power - at least in was a married man with several children, and a lay-leader those days there was a strict code of law and order. in the Catholic parish in a village outside Kampala. I left Nowadays anyone could just “disappear” at any time. The him about 4:30 in order to attend the Revival meeting at helplessness of Ulf and myself grew each day. As our Namirembe. I would see many people come and go during circle of friends grew, more people told us stories of the my three years, but very few kept such an open, concerned beatings and killings that were taking place. Our hands and keen mind as Mr. M. were tied: if we did anything to help our friends we could be easily kicked out of the country. Our only solace was the July 19 was the fourth anniversary of my joining the word of God we could teach people through the Divine Unification Church. On that day something happened that Principle. Rev. Moon had spoken to us about on March 20, 1975. He had said: I continued my desperate search to stay in Uganda as a high school teacher. I had never taught in any school A real father and mother are willing to risk their lives before, but I’m always willing to try something new for the for their children. Are you ready to die for your children? If sake of God. But most of my contacts were dead-ends. I you reach that stage, you’ll love these people, even risking probably visited every high school in Kampala but with your life. Then you little luck. When I did have a lead, it usually resulted in a are standing on God’s side. … If you maintain the beaurocratic three-ring circus. Headmaster (A) usually said heavenly attitude, the spirit world will mobilize people, and

1975 Missionary Testimonies 6

show them to you in dreams. They will even come to you, trousers and dark glasses. … I have estimated the number of saying ‘I saw you last night in my dream.’ ‘I saw you in a deaths over the past six years as 150,000 plus. This is well vision.’ within the range of killings that Amin’s thugs could have On that day, Leonard, a young man I had been achieved. teaching D.P., visited me and excitedly told me that he had Abdul was also at the apartment and all three of us seen me in a dream and wanted to join the Unification were arrested. All of our belongings were confiscated and Church! I remembered Rev. Moon’s words and felt God we were put in the backseat of a vehicle. We were driven to was working there. what appeared to be a vacant house near All Saints Church. On July 22 I visited N.S.S.: they were somehow losing The driver went in for a few minutes, came back out and two history teachers - I was hopeful that word on my drove on. Next we were driven to the three-story building, appointment would be coming soon. I continued my daily which had the external appearance of a motel, where most schedule of prayer, history study, D.P. teaching, and of the S.R.B. victims were beaten and eventually killed. visiting various schools and also many friends I had made Our driver again went in and again he came out after a few by that time. On July 25 U1f was able to get a three-month minutes and drove us away. He con¬tinued driving us extension on his tourist visa. Little did we realize that the around until it got dark, in an attempt, we felt, of trying to most serious test - to both our mission and our lives - was confuse us. We were finally brought into a 10’x 12’ room just around the corner. which was located on the first floor of the S.R.B. living quarters. The three of us.were left alone for awhile; then July 27 began as a usual Sunday, with Ulf and myself they returned, frisked us, and accused us of working for the holding 5 A.M. Children’s Pledge service (this we held ever CIA - the first young man was sure I was with the CIA Sunday and first day of the month, as is traditional with all because I had a white shirt! - and we were plotting to U.C. members - luckily the apartment where we stayed was overthrow the government. near a street lamp, so we never had to use our own lights and possibly attract attention from Abdul or any passers- All of Amin’s forces were hypersensitive during this by). Ulf left 9:45 for service at the Protestant All Saints period - the Organization of African Unity was meeting at church. I left 10:30 for mass at Christ the King Church. Kampala during that same week - there had been some The two young men I usually spoke with were busy, so I bomb threats against government installations: there was met a new person, Charles, and we went to a small park some method behind the madness of our being arrested. near the City Hall. I began to teach him the Principle of From the very beginning Ulf was demanding contact with Creation, which I had put on 3x5 index cards. While we the West German Embassy (there was nothing either Abdul were talking, a very flashily dressed young man walked by or I could do — there was no Bangladesh Embassy and the us once and quickly returned. He asked what we were American Embassy had closed down in November, 1973). doing, and I said we were studying how religion and Our captors kept telling us that everything had been taken science could be united. He asked for our I.D.’s, where I care of. At one point, Ulf was ready to tell them that we was living, and confiscated some letters I had been writing. were missionaries. But I said no, that we would keep our He left us alone and I quickly returned to the apartment. identities as tourists trying to stay in the country and also Ulf was just finishing teaching Michael, a young man Ulf during our captivity, we would fast from a11 food. It was had met about two months before (Michael was a truly a life and death situation, with Ulf trying to teach the Christian, even though he was of the same tribe and D.P. to Abdul, with both Ulf and myself trying to prepare actually a cousin of President Amin - he eventually became our souls for whatever might happen (possibly expulsion or the first native member to stay with us). Michael quickly death), and all three of us trying to cope with our captors left and I told Ulf what had happened in the park. who came in once in a while to question us. Actually I felt that God was protecting us very much, because we were We were still in the process of wondering what was never physically abused by our captors. We spent Sunday the best course to take, when the young man came with two evening and all of Monday locked up in our small room. fellow members of the Security Forces. We were in the Our captors brought food for Abdul on Monday; they hands of the State Research Bureau (S.R.B.) Henry seemed quite shocked that neither Ulf nor I were eating. Kyemba has written: Ulf mentioned to me early on Tuesday that we would The State Research Bureau - the secret police - was set probably be released with apologies. I had no idea what up as a mili¬tary intelligence agency to replace Obote’s would happen. About 11:00 A.M. we were taken to the bodyguard … they steal money from their victims; they are Crested Towers to check on someone, but they were not in paid lavish funds by Amin as a reward for gathering (Crested Towers is the headquarters for the Ministry of information. … They do not wear uniforms. Typically, they Education). We were returned to the room, and then taken dress flamboyantly in flowered shirts, bellbottomed out again 1:30. We were driven back to our own apartment,

7 1975 Missionary Testimonies where we could clean-up and shave. Then we were taken revival which swept Uganda before Amin came to power, again to Crested Towers, where we met the Permanent and rose rapidly through the ranks of the church, becoming Secretary for Education. He gave us our official the archbishop in 1974 at a ceremony in Kampala’s government apology and hoped that nothing had happened Namirembe Cathedral. A photograph of the ceremony still to us. Ulf and I were grateful to God that we were unhurt hangs in the conference room of the Church of Uganda, and able to remain in the country. (We never figured out showing Luwum … with a smiling Idi Amin offering the full details of our arrest and release - any white men congratulations. were suspect at that time, especially those having contact But that was in earlier and better days. As the pattern with the native people. Also we felt that Abdul’s being a of vio¬lence against Christians developed in the time since lecturer at a local college was the reason that all three of us then, rela¬tionships between Amin and the country’s were released through the good grace of the Ministry of spiritual leader became increasingly strained. The plight of Education.) Luwum and other church leaders was a familiar one in Immediately after our release Ulf and I checked at the countries where the Church is suffering: to speak out West German Embassy: they had never received any word against the persecution was to incur greater hostility, and about us! They told us to check all our belongings, submit a even personal danger to Luwum himself. list of missing articles to them, and check with them at Although he was the Archbishop, I felt that Janani least every other day. We did get most of our belongings wanted himself to be treated like just another “brother in back, although most of our more valuable things and all of the Lord.” our foreign currency were gone. (Ulf’s had been in cash and was lost forever — mine was in traveler’s checks, which I August 10 I attended 11:00 Mass and sang in the eventually got refunded through a local bank). That choir. Afterwards one of the members, whom I had been Wednesday (July 30) I returned to my usual schedule of teaching for two months, said that my presence was no meeting with friends and attending choir rehearsal - no one longer needed in the choir. I felt immediately that people seemed too curious about my absence. On Friday (Aug. 1) I knew about my arrest and feared for their lives. I could not went to N.S.S and met the headmaster: he promised to get really blame them - still I felt hurt inside. Later that day I my tourist visa extended. Later that day I attended the visited a friend and his family: I did not return to the Revival Fellowship at Nambarembe, where I again met the apartment until 8:15 in the evening, really upsetting Ulf. headmaster and Sepia K., who was the actual owner of Because of the desperation of the situation, I decided to N.S.S. (The school had originally been an Asian school - make a 400-hour no-food fast (that is over 16 days without Pilai’s - but it had been taken away from the Asians in 1972 food). Before leaving America, someone had asked Rev. as a result of the ‘Economic War’ and the Expulsion of the Moon — “Father, I was wondering if there are any special Asians). Later that evening Ulf and I saw Yasir Arafat pass spiritual conditions which we can set in our country?” He us in a car. had answered: “Fasting or some kind of a concentrated special prayer, in conjunction with deep concentration of On August 4 I revisited the Permanent Secretary at your thought will be good. “There’s no necessarily uniform Crested Towers; he sent me over to the Chief Education condition, but what¬ever individually feels good to you; Officer. He told me I needed a form from the Ministry of there’s no right pattern.” Ulf decided to join me in this Internal Affairs. The next day I got a Special Form from endeavor. The beginning was not too bad: I had the Immigration Board. They then needed a copy of my accomplished three-day and seven-day fasts before.On the University Diploma (luckily in our Barrytown Training we tenth day Ulf had to give up – he began passing blood in were told to bring a copy of any college diplomas we might his stool. I kept on going, even though my energy level was have. Also another missionary in New York told us that we decreasing and I felt like I had a fist of fire in my stomach. should keep 80 percent of our money in traveler’s checks). On Aug. 19 I went to N.B.S, and received a letter from the I recontacted the I. B. on Aug. 7 and I was at last granted a Immigration Board, requesting a teaching license and a three-month extension on my tourist visa (Uganda was a letter of recommendation from the Permanent Secretary. I place to learn patience - or else go crazy!). later visited him: he was away but his replacement seemed On August 8 I met one of the great modern saints and very responsive and ordered me to return with a copy of my eventual martyrs of Uganda, Archbishop Janani Luwum of diploma and a list of subjects I would like to teach. When I the Anglican Church of Uganda (officially the Church of tried to sleep that night, my stomach felt like it was burning Uganda). He was attending the Friday Revival Fellowship up. So I drank some water and prayed that God could give at Namirembe. Brother Andrew said this about the me some rest so I could do His Will. The next day I Archbishop: returned to the Crested Towers and the temporary Luwum became a minister during the East African Permanent Secretary wrote me a letter; he also said that if

1975 Missionary Testimonies 8

things did not work out at N.S.S., he would find me a place charge of all the property which the Asians had been forced in another school. to leave behind after their expulsion in 1972. By 1975 there I went to Immigration: they sent me back to Crested was no new building in Kampala and the population Towers because I still needed a teaching permit. I returned continued to increase. Some of the young men I visited and received another form to be filled out by N.S.S. The were living in rooms that had formerly been servants following day I went to N.S.S. - the headmaster was late quarters; sometimes whole families were living in because he had been beaten and robbed the night before. converted garages. On September 23 I first contacted the He told me that he was leaving N.S.S. to work at Makerere D.A.C.B, and went there at least two or three times a week University in Kampala (M.U.K.) and I should work with until they found me an apartment in March, 1976. the owner from then on. On August 22 I received my I had my first day at N.S.S. September 25. I sat in on a teacher’s license and submitted all my papers to the few classes and spoke to the headmaster; he needed two Immigration Board - the man there said the I.B. would photos and two copies of my work permit. Also sat in on decide on my case within a week. Later that day Ulf told classes the next day and received my first pay-check ($200 me that the Secret Police had visited the apartment twice. a month). On September 26 we established the first Holy At 4:00 on August 28 I broke my fast (403 hours) with a Ground on Old Kampala Hill (by this time Ulf and I had cup of ginseng tea. September 1 I returned to the I.B. to discovered Hideaki, the Japanese U.C, missionary who had check on my work permit. The man said it was still being entered Uganda on May 26 – I had seen Hideaki on the processed and I should return in a week. I returned to the street before our formal introduction). On September 29 1 Immigration Board on September 8; they now said that my taught my first history classes - I felt like a prisoner case would not be coming up until September 19. awaiting execution. Somehow I (and the students) survived September 10 I visited Sepi K. at M.U.K.: he called the I.B. that first day. I also volunteered my services to help direct but still no definite response. On September 12 a the school’s Bible Society. policeman came to our apartment. He asked Abdu1 some October 9 was the celebration of Uganda’s thirteenth questions.Then he asked me about my job and looked at my year of independence. Hideaki and I invited some of our passport; he said it was a normal investigation and would friends to see “Diamonds Are Forever” at one of the local return later to see Ulf. theatres — there are five cinemas in Kampala, plus one A cold and sore throat had been working on me for a drive-in on the outskirts. We usually went to the movies few days: on September 18 I began coughing up blood, so I about once a month: most of them were Hong Kong Kung- went up to Mulago Hospital (formerly one of the best in Fu specials and Spaghetti Westerns, though some high East Africa — now fallen on hard times due to Amin’s quality films were pre¬sented once in a while. regime). I was taken to a doctor, who gave me four kinds of On Oct. 21 our first Holy Ground was destroyed and pills and cough medicine. Later that day I met Ulf back at we moved it a short distance to a small (now vacant) the apartment: he had been rejected by the Immigration building which had served as the first Uganda Museum. Board and would have to leave by October 24. He started a Every day for many months I went to that spot and prayed, three-day fast to set a condition. I met Sepi K. the next day: overlooking the whole city. About this time final exams he seemed confident and gave me the name of the Chief were starting at N.S.S.: I was lucky that the Uganda school Immigration Officer and told me to contact him in three system began in January and not September - this gave me days. On Sunday September 21 I visited a friend’s family in more time to study my African history. And on October 26, a village outside Kampala. His parents were very under the direction of one of my students, I visited the hospitable people, showing me around their shamba (farm) Gospel Assembly Church, which had been established by and preparing me lunch. When I left later they gave me a an American in 1963; by 1975 it was a locally run large bunch of matoke (plantains) and a hen. The next day I institution. went to the I.B. and finally received my Work Permit, valid from September 10, 1975 until September 9, 1978! I On November 3 (Children’s Day), Ulf and I went to quickly returned to the apartment and had a prayer of Jinja, 40 miles east of Kampala. Jinja is the second largest thanksgiving with Ulf; we were confident that through faith city in Uganda; it is also the industrial center and home of and prayer his situation would improve. the Owens Falls Dam, which is the main producer of hydroelectric power in Uganda. But Jinja is most The next day began another chapter to test my importantly the Source of the Nile River; the actual place toleration level. Now that I had a work permit, Ulf and I where that River begins from Lake Victoria and starts on also felt confident that we could get our own its 4,000 mile journey through Uganda, Sudan and Egypt. accom¬modations. Thus began my relationship with the Unlike many rivers, which start from small creeks or from Departed Asian Custodian Board (D.A.C.B.), which was in the run-offs of mountain snows, the Nile is a full-fledged

9 1975 Missionary Testimonies river from its very beginning. We also visited the spot Gaquandi away. Ulf and I were thankful and grateful that across from which John Speke had been the first white man we could keep our positions in the nation: also we were to see the Source in 1862. angry to see how Satan used people, especially in relation November 6 was the start of the East African to money. Certificate of Education Exams (E.A.C.E.). The school Ulf -was able to submit his papers for a work permit system in Uganda is composed of seven years of Primary on November 18. He had tried using his engineering skills Education, four years of ordinary-level high school (0- to get a job at various places, including a car-repair agency, level), two years of advanced-level high school (A-level) the University, and even UNESCO. He finally could get a and three years of University at the only University in position with Dr. A. who ran a firm of consulting engineers Uganda, Makerere. A student did not get a diploma simply right across the street from the West German Embassy. His by graduating from a school: he or she had to take special office was in the same building with the South Korean exams which tested their accumulated knowledge. Where I Embassy (which had been the Israeli Embassy). Ulf could was teaching was a four-year ordinary-level high school establish good friendship with both embassies. December l and a11 of November was devoted to the fourth year was Ulf’s first full day at his job. students taking their E.A.C.E. exams. I proctored some of On December 8 I received a ration card from Fresh the exams, while I also corrected the exams I had given to Foods, Ltd. As I have mentioned, it was very difficult to the lower classes. Our school was co-ed, with students get what we consider the bare essentials of life (salt, sugar, usually between 13 and 18 years old. The students were soap, cooking oil). Ulf and I had been sharing some of the there for various reasons: some had too¬-low scores to commodities that Abdul could get with his card. And every enter government schools; some were the children of once in a while we got lucky and happened to be at a shop ‘nouveau riche’ parents (mafuta mingi in Swahili) who when sugar or baking flour would be distributed. But you either wanted their children to get the education they never had to be quick - once put on sale, most essential received or to get the kids out of the house; and some commodities would be sold out in an hour or less. people were actually interested in education! Space Ulf returned to the Immigration Board on December was another problem; my smallest class had 40 pupils - one 15 and discovered that his appli¬cation for a work permit of my classes had 80! And of course discipline was a had been turned down. He brought his case to the West problem - growing up in the ruthless environment of German Ambassador: he met with the Minister of Internal Amin’s regime had hardened some of them and I was Affairs on December 22. The next day found Ulf forced to strike a few students. But I do have to admit that overjoyed: he had received a work permit good for two the majority of my students were attentive and responsible years. young men and women: I hope to be able to meet them again some day. 1976 November 8, 1975 was a day of trial and testing for School had ended for me on November 28 and the both U1f and myself. Oscar, the high school boy whom I new year began December 29. Both Ulf and I were now had met on my first day in Kampala, came to pay me a seriously looking for our own place. We had also been visit. He had visited me intermittently since May 15, but he informed that after six months we should seek separate was always requesting money from me, even though I dwellings or even go to a different city. Ulf and I just kept always focused our meetings on the study of Divine pestering housing organizations; the D.A.C.B., National Principle and the Bible. He showed his true colors on this Housing Corp. (N.H.C.), the Uganda Muslim Supreme day, threatening to turn both Ulf and myself over to the Council (U.M.S.C.) and others. I was promised many police unless he was given a bribe. I pleaded with him and apartments - usually they were occupied by the time I got reminded him that any turn against us would involve to them. On January 22, I was given an apartment - it himself. I finally gave him $15 and he promised never to looked like a disaster area. But while I waited for it to be see us again -¬ and actually I never did see him after that painted, someone else had put their padlock on it and had day. Later that day, Gaquandi, a young man from Zaire broken mine off. On February 2 I discovered three men at whom Ulf had met, also came. He began talking all kinds “my” apartment - ¬one of them claimed to be an army of nonsense and seemed either mentally unbalanced or sergeant. We all went to the D.A.C.B. - the Housing spiritually possessed. When he refused to leave, Ulf called Officer had not been informed of my moving in so the the police. When the police came, Gaquandi told them how army man had been given papers and moved in. Everyone he was involved with us in a gold-smuggling scheme. We agreed that he had no right to be there, but he refused to told the police his situation and said they could search our move until given another accommodation. I could make apartment if they liked. Somehow they trusted us and took friends with the Lieutenant in charge of security at the D.A.C.B. and he tried to help me on my case. Various

1975 Missionary Testimonies 10

people dilly-dallied on my case for over two weeks - it was revived, refreshed and renewed by the time he left. not settled until March 2 when it was decided that a On May 2 we switched our Holy Ground from Old Captain would be placed in the apartment, the sergeant Kampala Hill to Namirembe Hill, near the cathedral. And would be kicked out, and I would be promised another May 4th I attended my first meeting of the Kampala place! Businessmen’s Lunch Meeting at the Speke Hotel: Finally on March 15 I moved into a small apartment Archbishop Luwum was the guest speaker; his topic just a block from the school. Shortly afterwards Ulf could focused on a recent Anglican Conference held in Trinidad. also move into an apartment near the open-¬air market. On I had been introduced to this group by Mr. K., a former March 28 Ulf could borrow his bosses VW bug and seven seminarian whom I had first met in January and had met of us piled in. First we drove east to Jinja and established a many times since, speaking about religion and other topics. Holy Ground near the source of the Nile. Then we went He had studied in England and was now an asst. manager through Kampala and south to Entebbe, where we in an insurance firm.Thus began one of my most fruitful established a Holy Ground near Entebbe Airport. March 31 contacts in Uganda — I attended that Tuesday meeting from we celebrated the first church holiday at our own place (my then on, meeting many of the Christian leaders of Uganda; apartment). We established a tradition which we generally eventually Ulf, Hideaki and I could speak there several followed in the future: food preparation in the morning times over the next two years. Also what was left of the (after 7:00 Pledge Service); a feast about noon; games, British community usually attended the Tuesday singing or testimonies in the afternoon; and going to a luncheons; through this I started attending Bible Study at movie in the evening. one of the homes of an expatriate. May 29 we celebrated On April 4 I attended the Gospel Church; I had Day of All Things by driving up to the Baha’i Temple, already visited there a number of times, had sung some about a mile from downtown Kampala. The Baha’i faith songs and given testimony. Now they asked me to give a has a temple located on each continent: so this Kampala sermon on April 25. The next day my new neighbor, Mr. Temple was the Baha’i center for all of Africa. It is located Y., promised to make blackboards for me (he was in charge on top of a hill, with flower gardens and manicured lawns. of a large bookstore in Kampala). A few days later John- We had a prayer inside and also visited the Visitor’s Patrick could move into the apartment with me: about the Center. And this year we took a taxi to attend services at same time Michael moved in with Ulf. On April 19 John- the Namugongo Martyr’s Shrine on June 3. (I had written Patrick took me to Kasubi (a few miles outside Kampala) down the names of the twenty-two Catholic martyrs and to visit the Kabakas’ Tombs: Kabakas Mutesa I, Muranga, reminded them daily to help their physical and spiritual Daudi-Chwa and Mutesa II are all buried in a native-style descendants give their support to the modern dispensation). mausoleum. On June 11 we heard about an assassination attempt April 20 we received a message about a visitor coming on Idi Amin.(He had been attending a police review. He from New York City. And April 23 he had arrived. It was left early, driving away with his own driver in the Mr. Song; he was one of Rev. Moon’s earliest disciples - he passengers’ seat. Two grenades were thrown at his vehicle, had joined when he was 12 and had been a member for 25 exploding next to it and behind it. One seriously wounded years. His visit was a real revival and a breath of fresh air. I his driver, who died two days later. Amin had amazing luck met him near my apart¬ment and walked him over to see - or premonition - at this and other times - if he had been Ulf; on the way he bought many fruits and vegetables. where he was meant to be he would be dead.76) The next John-Patrick and I had just finished a three-day fast while day we began going through any of our belongings that Ulf, Hideaki and Michael were starting one. Mr. Song told could be used against us if we were arrested again. On June us to forget about fasting - we needed to eat so that we 26 Amin had himself declared “Life President” (or as one could work harder. He said that we should not be friend of ours said “President until he dies”). An event of separated: since Ulf had the largest apartment, Mr. Song international proportions began on June 28. An Air France said we should all stay together there. So I quickly moved jet had been hijacked from Lebanon and flown to Entebbe out of my place and Hideaki made plans to move away Airport. Idi Amin immediately stepped in as a “neutral from the lecturer he had been staying with at the negotiator” -¬ although everyone knew of Amin’s hatred of University. Mr. Song told us about the situations in other the Jews and his support for the Palestinian guerillas - the African missions - some nations he had been unable to hijackers had Palestinian connections while eighty enter and others he had only stayed three hours or one day. passengers were Israelis. On July 4 we heard of the daring He could stay with us almost five days. During that time I Israeli Raid on Entebbe - although-people had to publicly gave my sermon at the Gospel Church. He also bought us condemn the raid, most of our friends admired the courage much food and took us to the movies several times. We felt and forcefulness shown by the Israelis and how President Amin had been made to look like a fool. July 6 and 7 were

11 1975 Missionary Testimonies public holidays to mourn for the twenty-three Ugandans strange and interesting. This was due to our own position and seven hijackers killed in the raid. July 22 I -was and most of the foreigners in Uganda were strange and stopped about two blocks from school by two secret police. interesting. I don’t mean this in a bad sense. Especially if They asked what I was doing and what was in my bag.I you were British or American you had to be dedicated to said I was a teacher and my bag contained books. They had stay. But everyone had to walk a tightrope (we knew of one a look and quickly left. West German who came to teach in a local college — he Hideaki had been able to start classes at the University took pic¬tures all over the place - got picked up and beaten on July 1. He had been able to overcome the language by the Secret Police and left Uganda within a week.) One problems and been able to stay in Uganda on his wits and American couple came during the Entebbe Crisis - and left the grace of God. Because of his experience as a center after he finished a year of teaching chemistry at the leader in Japan, he was the unofficial central figure, even University. I usually met foreigners when I went shopping; though my own thoughts were that the three of us were this included Russians, Red Chinese and North Koreans - equals and each one had something important to all of whom I avoided as much as possible. I’m glad that contri¬bute. (Someone had asked Rev. Moon during God had given Ulf, Hideaki and I enough common sense to training “I’d like to know if there are special roles for pick our friends carefully and keep our mission foremost in Germans, Japanese and Americans. For example, Cain- our mind. Abel, Adam & Eve, etc.?” He replied: “Father does not The first week of November, 1976, was devoted to an think that way. The application of the Cain-Abel Ecumenical Revival at the University. We heard Bishop relationship is often misused or misinterpreted.There is no Festo Kivengere, an internationally known Ugandan Cain and Abel. ‘You are three brothers and sisters.Natural Evangelist speak. Archbishop Luwum also spoke at that leaders periodically emerge, of course. Then you pray time. There was even a film — Billy Graham expounding on centering on Father, and everything is going to be O.K.”) the Ten Commandments (many of the students were angry On Aug. 24 John-Patrick returned from Nairobi where because the film had been billed simply as “The Ten he had been working since the beginning of May.Many Commandments” and were expecting the epic with pages could be written about the people Ulf, Hideaki and I Charlton Hesston.) November 13 was closing ceremonies, met over the three or more years we spent in Uganda. Some with speeches from the Greek Orthodox Bishop, the were seekers after God and moved into our center for Anglican Archbishop and the Catholic Cardinal. One of our various periods of time. Some just saw us as rich white friends -was a teacher at a local grammar school. On Nov. men (for many people white = rich). After being “burned” a 24 I could speak to his 7th grade class on the Purpose of few times during our first months, we established a strict Life and the Process of Creation. The children were very policy of no financial or physical hand-outs. We often had responsive and I was hoping that this would lead to a new to make difficult decisions and constantly prayed that God avenue in our work. But my friend visited me five days would guide us in the proper care of our new members. later and said I couldn’t speak there again - he had probably September 4th found Hideaki and me at the University, gotten some bad reactions, either from other members of listening to an ecumenical talk. Dr. A. Lugira (who later his faculty or possibly from the Secret Police. At least on fled the country with his family) spoke on “Aspects of December 12 I was able to speak again at the Gospel Prayer and Worship”; his main point was that things went Church. slowly between churches because of lack of approval from My first full year of school ended November 30. the higher centers. December I spent studying, teaching the Divine Principle to Letters were always an important part of our lives. our friends and attending the Tuesday Luncheons. We Especially we were trying to keep abreast of the Yankee could attend a Christmas party at one of the British homes Stadium rally in June 1976 and the Washington Monument (complete with a little fake snow, made out of cotton) and rally of September 18, 1976, which was the second had a Christmas party for our friends on December 25. anniversary of Rev. Moon’s first major breakthrough at January lst we celebrated God’s Day. I started teaching Madison Square Garden. Finally on September 28 we again on the 10th. Ulf also could take his first “vacation” re¬ceived word (from Japan) that W.M. had been a great (Dec. 31 - Jan. 16). John-Patrick suddenly returned on success. It was also during this time that Rev. Moon’s February 8. He had gotten a job as a steward on East picture appeared on the cover of the international African Airlines. But the Airlines was now defunct due to Newsweek magazine. Somehow we received five copies the breakdown in relations between Uganda, Kenya and through the mail; it broke our hearts but we had to destroy Tanzania. them by fire in order to keep our cover. 1977 Our relationship with the foreign community was Another major crisis started on February 14. It was

1975 Missionary Testimonies 12

announced on the radio that Archbishop Luwum was On April 22 we had a robbery attempt at our new implicated in a plot to overthrow the government. On house. (Someone had actually robbed our other apartment February 16 a statement was read, reportedly written by shortly after Mr. Song had visited us). Hideaki had been Milton Obote, concerning the overthrow of Amin’s home and gone out 11:00 to do some shopping. He returned government. within an hour, to find the main door of the house broken Archbishop Luwum and two cabinet ministers had in and a man waiting inside. The man quickly excused been arrested. The next day Hideaki told me the news himself, saying he had just stepped in because he saw the about the “car accident” in which a11 three men had been robbery taking place. He went back out the door, whistled killed, even though their driver had been only slightly (probably to warn his accomplices) and ran away. Hideaki injured. found that our radio and other valuables were neatly tied in bundles - we actually were only missing a clock and some (The truth was reported in Christianity Today (March cash. Shortly afterwards we hired an askari (guard) to take 18, 1977) : “Amin ordered all three shot and the two care of the house during the day while we were at work or government officials were promptly killed.When the school. president learned that his troops were reluctant to shoot the archbishop he is reported to have shot Luwum himself. Hideaki’s academic year also ended in April and the Soldiers were also reported to have been reluctant to follow University refused to renew his application: he had been Amin’s order to run trucks over the bodies of the three; they attending the school under a “special student” status. finally agreed to crush the corpses of the cabinet ministers During May he came with me to N.S.S. and began teaching but not the archbishop’s.” Math in the afternoon; shortly afterwards he had to stop because the Ministry of Education refused to give him a We all felt deep sorrow at the loss of our brother and teaching permit - he had no University degree. After that he dear friend - a modern Uganda Martyr. could get his entry permit extended for three-month periods February 19 we moved to a new home, a three- at a time while trying to open an import-export company. bedroom house close to the University. Ulf had been able May 26 we established a new Holy Ground on Kololo to rent the place through one of his business contacts. On Hill, which is the highest hill in Kampala, about two miles February 25 there was a radio announcement requesting from the center of the city. We had established our Holy that all Americans were to meet with President Amin on Ground on Namirembe Hill where we thought it would be the following Monday, February 28. His Excellency said he safe. But there had been some sort of Archdiocesan wanted to make awards to the Americans who were meeting where it was decided that a new congre¬gation devoting themselves to Uganda (we weren’t sure if they hall was needed: and the only place suitable for it was were going to be .38 or .45 rewards!) February 27 it was where we had placed our Holy Ground! Our new Holy announced that he President’s meeting was being postponed Ground we felt would be safe: it was near a house used by until March 2 and was being shifted to Entebbe: later that the Secret Police (and later we were almost arrested when day there was news of American forces being landed in we went up there to pray: luckily one of our members (the Mombasa, Kenya. Finally February 28 there was news that President’s cousin) could speak their language and they just the meeting with the Americans was being indefinitely let us go). postponed because of March 2 being Mohammed’s birthday (later one of my friends in the telephone bureau told me Two important national events happened at the end of that President Carter had actually called Idi Amin and told June. On the 29th President Amin conferred on himself the him to leave the Americans alone). title “Conqueror of the British Empire in General and Africa in Particular” (C.B.E.), another ridiculous boost to We were able to stay in our new house for over a year. his ego. The next day was the 100th anniversary During that time four of our Ugandan brothers were able to (Centenary) of the arrival of the first Christian missionaries stay with us. Our daily and weekly schedules became more in Uganda - there was a large ceremony at Namirembe solidified, with prayer meetings at the beginning and end of Cathedral with the President attending. each day: lectures usually two or three evenings a week on Divine Principle, Unification Thought and Victory Over Also at the end of June I was elected Chairman of the Communism. And Sunday we had our 5 A.M. Pledge Scripture Union at school. Up to that point I had not done service, a (more or less) public service at 10:30 A.M. and a too much concerning religion at school. But now I was in Sunday afternoon D.P. lecture after lunch. All these charge of the weekly meetings. Eventually I tried to split services were on a rotational system: especially we wanted the meetings: half the time the speaker would be from the to train our native members because we were never Anglican or Catholic Church; the other half they would absolutely sure of our position. come from our native members or Ulf, Hideaki and me. The meetings were not compulsory and anywhere from 2 to

13 1975 Missionary Testimonies 30 students attended at various times. teachers. Eventually I even got my own small office. On September 21 there was news in the paper about February was quite a momentous month for a11 three all religious sects being banned except for the Muslims, of us. The owner of our house suddenly stopped by on the Catholics, Anglicans and Greek Orthodox. Even the Baha’i 5th and announced that he had sold the house and we Temple was to be shut down. We were glad that we were would have to move out by March lst. Just as we were not a recognized “religious sect” so we could not be shut beginning to contact our friends and the various housing down! agencies, we received word on the llth that we should be in When I attended the Tuesday Luncheon Fellowship on Kinshasa, Zaire as soon as possible. Lady Dr. Kim, an early October 11 I met Dr. R., one of the few remaining follower of Rev. Moon, was visiting various regions in Professors at the University - earlier that day I had met his Africa. We were actually supposed to meet her in Nairobi brother-in-law at N.S.S. Dr. R. had received his doctorate at the beginning of February, but we had gotten the in America and one of his children had even been born in message too late. We left on the 16th, after getting tickets the U.S.A. He was a scholar yet a true African: warm- and the necessary documents to leave and return. We spent hearted, generous and a brother in the Lord. At least once a almost a week in Kinshasa, with missionaries from five or week, from then on, I would visit him, his wife and darling six nations. Also the center there had 30 or 40 members four children. October 18 was an exciting day at school. and they were in the process of being recognized by the Students were preparing for the final exams and one government. teacher discovered that a student had his final Biology Dr. Kim spoke to everyone together several times and exam - he discovered that another student had the saw each person individually. She thanked everyone for Literature, Physics and Math finals. The school typist was their hard work and sacrifice during the three years. It was implicated - he had been selling copies of the exams to the a time of revival and renewal for all of us. We were back in students for $5. The typist was fired and we were to keep Kampala late on the 22nd. our eyes open for too high scores - it was too late to redo March 1 came and went without us being kicked out the exams. About the same time Hideaki was knocked off a of the house. Our search for a new dwelling continued. It bicycle by a Mercedes car - he sprained his foot yet still seemed that either no one knew of any vacancies anywhere kept working - he could also receive a special entry permit or people would tell us of vacant houses - that had been and business registration. Also I began to teach some occupied the day before. On the 19th we started a seven- Muslim students in N.S.S. from Rwanda - they were a minute nightly prayer for housing. mixture of Omani and African blood. I myself had been reading the Holy Koran that year and felt real hope in During March and April I had a breakthrough at a reaching Muslims, presenting D.P. as a new revelation and local high school. It was the school where I had been Rev. Moon as a modern prophet. visiting the librarian almost every week for the past 2 years. On March 30 he told me that I could speak to about In December we were taught a hard lesson by one of 100 students the following week on the Principle of our best home members. He came to visit in the morning. Creation. April 6th I spoke for over an hour and answered One of our native members was home and let him listen to questions from between 80 and 100 students; they were some lecture tapes while he continued washing clothes. very curious and open-minded. April 20th I returned for a About an hour later he came back to the room, to find our final lecture on the Purpose of Life and the Fall of Man. tape recorder missing. Some time later we had to have one My lecture series ended there and in some ways I was glad: of our members leave the house because we found him the price of fame in Uganda was usually fatal. stealing some essential commodities in his trunk. This member later repented and continued to visit us, although At the end of March we had contacted the Church of he couldn’t move back in. Various members, we Uganda at Namirembe - ¬they owned some housing but discovered, had girl friends or dabbled in the black market. none of it was available. April we continued searching and It was extremely difficult keeping a high moral standard yet in the first week of May we could get an empty apartment knowing the chaotic environment of Uganda. near Namirembe. We rented a truck, loaded it up and moved to our new home, a small, two-bedroom apartment 1978 (about half the size of our house). Also ever since our trip In January I started my third full year of school on the to Kinshasa (or even before), we had often spoken about 16th. During the previous year, besides being Scripture touring the country. Ulf had gone several times to Nairobi Union Chairman, I was head of the History Department and had gone to different parts of the nation for his (two of us), and Senior Study Master (a position similar to engineering firm. But except for brief trips to Entebbe and asst. headmaster). I was also secretary for staff meetings Jinja, Hideaki and I had never seen the rest of the country. and in charge of distri¬buting paper and pens to the other We contacted several travel agencies and finally settled on

1975 Missionary Testimonies 14

one. Hideaki and I tried to leave on the 15th, but there were I was appointed treasurer of the Tuesday Luncheon.I began no vehicles available (it -was also my third anniversary in visiting more people at the University, including Dr. R. and Uganda). We made connections the next day and headed Dr. 0hin, a West African surgeon who had spent over 15 north from Kampala. The area around Kampala is hilly; as years in America. we traveled north the land became flatter and more arid. At August was a busy month for us. Ulf was able to get 1:30 P.M. we arrived at Paraa Lodge, not far from the both a printing machine and an electric typewriter. I was Kabalega (Murchison) Falls, the largest falls on the Nile. able to get my work permit extended until August, 1981. The operators wanted to charge us $85 for a boat trip on Ulf, Hideaki and I had been discussing for some time what the Nile, but we refused. About 4:00 we recrossed the Nile type of business could support the church in the future. A in our van and the driver took us up the back way to the friend of ours at the University said we could get land from Falls. (The Falls are actually only 20 feet across and 130 the government about 80 miles west of Kampala. We were feet high; but the whole pent up volume of the river dashes considering raising cows and opening a cheese factory. I out of a ravine - it is more of an explosion of water than a began writing and drafting letters, especially to cheese- fall).It was truly a powerful, inspiring sight. On the way making companies in West Germany. There were also back to the Lodge we outran a storm and saw a beautiful various reports and rumors about a talking tortoise and a rainbow. The next day we visited another place along the cow giving birth to a baby boy. And August 15 was the Nile (Chobe Lodge). In the afternoon we went on a game second time I had seen a news article about Rev. Moon in ride and saw giraffe, hartebeest, warthog, waterbuck, and a the local English paper (Voice of Uganda): it dealt with the herd of elephants. The lodge is famous for its baboons New York newspaper strike and News World being the which will even come into rooms and steal things if only paper published (the first article had appeared when windows are left open. We saw them and Hideaki wanted the church had bought the New Yorker Hotel.) to become friendly with them - one man warned us that they were known to bite through a rifle! September 9 was the third anniversary of my work permit. On that day Hideaki and I went to Namirembe The next morning Hideaki and I tried our hands at Cathedral, where we met Bishop Watanabe, visiting from fishing in the Nile; we were near a pool of hippos. One of Hokkaido. Later that day the sister-in-law of my school’s our guides caught a perch; Hideaki and I struck out. Our owner was married, also at Namirembe. About 6:10 I was driver took us to Lira, a small town nearby. Hideaki and I back in our apartment and I received a phone call. It was wanted to see the eastern part of the country, but we felt it Nancy Neiland calling me from Church Headquarters in could be too expensive to use our van and driver. We used New York City! She told me that “Your Dad wants you to public transport from then on. We stayed overnight at the come to the Seminary” - in other words, Rev. Moon wanted Lira Hotel. The next day we traveled down to Mbale, the me to start a new mission as a student at the Unification largest town in eastern Uganda. It is reputed to be the most Theological Seminary! I was truly shocked - I had never beautiful town in the country, at the foot of Mt. Elgon, applied to the Seminary and never thought I would ever go which is 11,000 feet high. We just stayed overnight there there. Ulf, Hideaki and I had a good cry together - we were and returned to Kampala the next day. We could see why glad at my good fortune of being picked for the Seminary Uganda was nicknamed “Pearl of Africa.” Once the and sad about my having to leave the mission-field. The political climate improved, Uganda could become a tourist next day we went to Entebbe, where we prayed at the Holy Mecca, due to the mild climate, game parks and Ground, visited the Botanical Gardens and had lunch at magnificent scenery. Lake Victoria Hotel. Before returning to the apartment, we During this time the first International 40-day training visited the Namugongo Shrine, the Baha’i Temple and the session took place at the New Yorker Hotel. 41 nations Kabakas’ Tombs. The next morning we discovered that an were represented, including Uganda. John-Patrick, whom I Air France flight for Paris, which usually only came had met three years before in the Post Office, had been able through on Thursday and Saturday, was coming through to sneak out of the country (he still had a passport from his that very evening. We could get a ticket and take care of previous job in East African Airways -¬ he hid it when he legal matters for leaving the country -¬ I told everyone that crossed the border into Kenya). Two months later he my father had died and I had to leave suddenly in order to returned to Uganda on the train. He could bring many attend his funeral. Ulf and Hideaki later that day took me to books and tapes back with him - there was no border check Entebbe, where we had a final prayer and cup of tea and I and he took his things off in Jinja, before they could be left 8:40 P.M., vowing, like General MacArthur that “I checked in Kampala! shall return.” We gradually settled into our new home in May and Postscript and Conclusion June. June 6 we could celebrate Creation Day there.June 13 This paper, dealing with my missionary years, was

15 1975 Missionary Testimonies taken from the daily diaries I kept (except of course for relevant quotes I included in various sections). Some parts of my diaries are difficult for me to decipher, especially concerning the many people I met during my stay in Uganda. Since most of them are still alive and the present situation is still volatile in Uganda (there have been 4 governments since Amin’s overthrow in April 1979) I decided to use either initials or first names. Also some events I was not sure of their exact dates ( e.g. when I first met Hideaki) because I had to write in somewhat cryptic style in case my books were captured by the government. Also I just tried to present the main events that happened to all of us. Our personal dynamics I just glossed over - Ulf, Hideaki and I generally got along well together, although our ragged edges did grate once in a while. It is also probably noticeable that I don’t mention women at all in my paper. This is not because I am a chauvinist. I met quite a few beautiful, loving and caring women in Uganda — and actually my attraction to some of them was very physical, although I was always able to keep myself within the strict confines of God’s Will. From May 1975 I kept written contact with my American fiancée - wife until she left the church in 1977 -¬ that dealt quite a blow to me which Hideaki helped me greatly to overcome. I hope in the future to give some fuller account of all the events which took place during my missionary years. I like to thank Ulf and Hideaki, who sacrificed more than I ever could and helped me get through many difficult situations. Especially I would want to thank Rev. and Mrs. Moon, whom I believe are Very Special People in this present age. And thank you to my precious brothers and sisters in Uganda, who have undergone ten years of trials and whose suffering still continues. Rev. Moon has said: This dispensation is for everybody - three races and five colors. Since this is the time for the black people to receive the truth you have to give them equal treatment - the problem is for the three blood lineages to be united into one, to have unity among the three races. We have to train ourselves to live together with three races, even in the family, under one roof. So we cannot under any circumstances abandon Africa. God’s will is to save all mankind. William Connery, The History Guy Author of Civil War Northern Virginia 1861 and Mosby’s Raids in Civil War Northern Virginia

1975 Missionary Testimonies 16

Susan Fefferman - Iran We had heard rumors of people attacking those whom they thought to be former secret police (Savak) with the This testimony is part of a larger document that is still small fruit knives people carried. ‘A messy puddle of a work in progress, but in the spirit of celebrating forty human being was left on the sidewalk afterward,’ I was years I chose to answer the questions put out by Nanette told, but Iranians like a well-embellished tale. But these Doroski, an indefatigable spirit of remembering what is were just ‘rumors.’ My experience was that Iranians were good, while using some of the writings I have put to paper loving, yet emotional people, not used to violence. I thus far. couldn’t imagine these rumors to be true, but in every My escape from the danger of imprisonment barrel there are a few bad apples. And the strikes, during the revolution in Iran: especially in Tehran, had been increasing in violence and fervency. So I had to leave. It was time for me to leave Iran, I didn’t want to but the government was about to fall and my visa was soon to I had visited the American Embassy at one point and expire putting me in a dangerous situation. The members ended up talking to the CIA representative. He didn’t say and I arrived at the airport amid snow flurries on January that he was CIA but he let me understand his job by what 29, 1979. The city had been nearly shutdown due to the he told me. There had been demonstrations in front of the strikes against the Shah’s regime fomented by Ayatollah University not very far from the Embassy every day. He Khomeini, (who had been exiled to Iraq after his son had told me people would gather and wait for the TV cameras tried but failed to assassinate the previous Shah years and when they arrived they would make a lot of noise and before. Khomeini’s son and others were killed in the shake their anti-American signs. When it was discovered attempt.) It was a desolate drive to the airport with much they were being paid to do this, the embassy suggested to less traffic than the usual chaos. My heart was heavy the Iranian government that someone hire the same people thinking to leave the nation True Parents had given me to to do a pro-Shah demonstration! It worked, the cameras love. There was a sadness underlying everything people showed up, they shouted and waved their signs. The did, due to the division within the nation among the pro- members and I had seen that oddity on the news one night and anti-Shah elements. The struggle had been going on for and wondered why suddenly, and only for one day, there at least six months and was building to a head. A few days was a pro-Shah demonstration. The man at the embassy prior to my departure I had listened to a speech by the Shah said that the government wasn’t interested in doing it again on the radio, where he had confessed he had not realized and he thought that was a mistake. The airport was still not until now how much he had been kept in ignorance by open, but a few planes had tried to land just to get people those around him about the extent of corruption in his out without the usual support of the tower in wintry government. From my imperfect Farsi (Persian language) I overcast conditions. The previous day a Pan Am flight understood that he was expressing regret and sadness and skidded off the runway onto a soggy, snowy field and the hoped for a restoration of peace in the land. people at the airport had to hire locals in trucks to push the huge plane back onto the runway so it could take off. The The airport had been closed due to the strikes against turn-around was speedy for fear of retribution by angry the government. I had been to the airport two days before, crowds. I don’t know how many people got out on that but there was no way to get out of the country. We returned plane. home defeated and the more than 40 members worried I might get hurt or arrested when my visa expired. Beate, the The only reason I could get a ticket was because of my German missionary, had already left and Ryuji, as a wonderful “brothers.” Ryuji Kuranaga, the Japanese Japanese man, wasn’t really in danger. They were all missionary, who rode on the back of spiritual son, Nasser deeply concerned for my protection. They would never Zomorrodian’s motorbike, a few days before. They went to forgive themselves if I suffered, was jailed or was seriously every airline office in Tehran looking for a ticket - a ticket hurt; and I didn’t want them to suffer because of my to anywhere safe, but just out of Iran for me. The other presence. Foreigners were beginning to panic as the anti- brothers, Essi Zahedi, Hossein Temorijam, Shahrokh Shah elements became more bold and aggressive against Namiranian and others, had stockpiled gasoline in the Westerners, especially the newly ‘hated’ Americans. It corner of the backyard after hours and hours of standing in reminded me of a gang of children seeing no adult in sight, line at gas stations just in case they might have to drive me jumping up and down in abandoned frenzy, not unlike the to the Turkish border. Finally, Ryuji and Nasser found a children in Lord of the Flies. But this was only some of the lone ticket — thank God for Lufthansa — a one way, first people; there were still many more good people in Iran. class ticket for $880 – more than $3,000 in today’s dollars. Nonetheless, we never knew who was a friend or who To pay for the ticket everyone pitched in with whatever might fly into a fury if they realized I was a khareji money they had, including Jose Lim from the Philippines, (foreigner, an increasingly pejorative term in Iran). just to pay for the possibility that I might get out and be

17 1975 Missionary Testimonies safe. Our German sister, Beate Wilhelm (Lauer-Schmaltz) announced to me that he was from Transcendental had gone on ahead to Germany and safety, and when Ryuji Meditation and would I like to hear about their ideas? and Nasser discovered I could go to Frankfort too, they felt (Funny, witnessing on the way out of the country.) I told their prayers had been answered. I was amazed at their him I had my own group, “the Unification Church.” “The inventiveness and stick-to-itiveness, but a first class ticket? Moonies?” “Yes,” I said, “and I just left 40 wonderful I’d never flown first class anywhere before, and the thought Iranian members here to fend for themselves. I hope they of leaving my beloved Iran in comfort went against will be alright.” He was more than just impressed, he said, everything in me. “Wow.” I arrived at the airport with a van full of earnest, With no help from the empty tower, the plane took off. young Iranian men determined that I was going to get on The visibility began to weaken due to a mist forming over that plane to safety, no matter what. (The women needed to the field and everyone held their breath until we stay out of sight for their own protection.) When we successfully rose from the ground and up into the air. After arrived, we could see that the area inside the simple airport some moments the passengers gave a loud, collective sigh was wall to wall squirming bodies, like a can full of of relief and enthusiastically applauded the captain and worms. People weren’t panicking – yet – but they were crew. They sighed and applauded again as the pushing and shouting and trying to get through to the gate announcement came that we had left Iranian airspace. As I and board the only plane on the ground, whether they had a looked out my first class window I ached from the rushed ticket on Lufthansa or not. People wanted out. departure. Did I say goodbye enough? I really had not My wonderful brothers naturally formed a ‘V’ expected to leave that day and I certainly thought I would formation with me in the middle and literally pushed their return soon. What about the people I couldn’t see before I way into the mass of struggling bodies; shoving all shapes, left? I hoped they would forgive me. sizes and nationalities aside. Their precious sister was I did not want to go. I had determined I would live in getting on the plane ‘come hell or high water.’ Iran for the rest of my life if that is what God wanted me to Amazing to me was that it worked. They protected me do. But God cannot always control an angry mob who felt with such determination that I found myself staring at the the power and freedom of dissent for the first time in many, very stressed-out Lufthansa agent, who told me my ticket many years. The Iranian people seemed “drunk” with the was good for this flight but that the way to the gate was new freedom to march, shout and express their pent up completely blocked by the roiling crowd. He asked me, anger and resentment at everything in their lives: lack of “Can you jump?” I looked at the place he was pointing to good jobs, stupid neighbors, the congested traffic at every and it seemed far, to the other side of the conveyor belt. corner and angry wives – they were not just angry at the Hossein, said, “Yes, she can!” I stepped up and he and Shah and the imperfect government. But the Shah was an whoever else propelled me up and out from the area as I easy target much like a red flag to an angry bull. jumped. It seemed as if I was flying through the air to the The government did need to change and I had felt that agent’s waiting hands on the other side. I was shaking but the Shah was beginning to get the message, but in reality amazed that I sailed over the barrier to the offices behind. I good change is revolutionary. The Shah had done a great turned to look at my wonderful brothers, and others who job in the 1963 “White Revolution,” but most people had their faces pressed against the windows in the back of hadn’t understood or forgot what he had liberated. He had the room with such downcast looks. I hadn’t said a proper taken back the land from the wealthy Mullahs and given it goodbye and hadn’t hugged them or given them my last to the tenant farmers to own. In one blow he had weakened ‘words of wisdom.’ Because of the circumstance I felt the overly-powerful clergy and ended serfdom. And whose ripped out of their embrace and love. I waved goodbye family lost the most land? — Ayatollah Khomeini’s. I was knowing that I might never see some of them again. All my friends with one of his very-Westernized cousins and she investment of nearly four years was being offered up told me how the entire family was angry at the Shah because I was no longer safe in my adopted homeland. because all of them had to work for a living once the clergy Because I had that precious first-class ticket, the agent had lost their lands to the serfs to own for the first time. It made sure I could get to the gate by guiding me through the was considered a holy act to leave one’s land to the offices to the tarmac. What a send off. mosque. That made for a lot of land being owned by the I joined the throng of other passengers who were religious leaders. She told me she was even willing to wear rushing to the plane, often worriedly looking back over a veil (chador) to get her family’s land back. I heard later their shoulders. Some were running while looking behind that she left the country in fear due to the oppression of “just in case.” I hoped that no one would fall while they women. I wonder if she ended up in the USA. turned around to look as they ran. I bumped into a man who Most people didn’t understand that it’s the culture that

1975 Missionary Testimonies 18

takes much longer to change than the people in power. The others chose a variety of dress, mostly Western, some, so treatment of women and the attitudes about the family and skin tight that I wondered how they could breathe. Young girls’ education needed to be upgraded and democratic men too often wore shirts opened to the third button and so principles learned and practiced for it to take hold. tight that every ripple from every muscle could be seen. Freedom wasn’t something the populace knew how to But few men ever went bare-chested. handle or even what it looked like in everyday life. True Good grief, I was persecuted as a female, merely for freedom actually means that you have to respect all riding a bike one day. Women had some rights since the dissenting opinions, even those of people you don’t like! Shah’s reforms but they were giving them up and putting Taking responsibility for that freedom was farther behind. the veil back on for the sake of the ‘revolution.’ Their And the negative thinkers already had a well-thought out excitement and euphoria lasted less than six months. plan to control the populace. It quickly went into effect Anyone not wearing a veil was persecuted, beaten and even after the Shah left, three days after me. And much worse some uncovered women would have acid thrown in their oppression descended on formerly free Iran. faces by fundamental vigilantes by the following summer. Within months after I left, vigilantes would roam the Hell was descending on formerly forward looking Iran. The streets punishing women and girls who didn’t “properly” Shah would definitely roll over in his grave, as would his cover themselves. Businesses disappeared if they sold father, once the Islamists fully gained control. And forget “Western” goods that were thought to undermine the religious freedom, it was a concept no one cared about and religious life of devout Muslims. The Jews were badly didn’t learn about in any school. Islam doesn’t teach persecuted and driven out, until Ayatollah Khomeini spoke religious freedom and if you change from being a Muslim with the Chief Rabbi on TV and said that Iran needed the to some other religion you can lose your life and your Jews to stay. In the years following, the Jewish community children will be given to a faithful Muslim family. would eventually be asked to deny the Holocaust and other Without the practice, wisdom, and experience of “Jewish truths” in order to continue to live safely in Iran, democratic principles, people didn’t know what to do with their ancient homeland. But the Baha’is left, nearly en their new found freedom. An immature system of mass. Their prophet, Baha’u’llah, came after the Prophet domination set in to soothe the fears of those who saw what Mohammad, who, according to Islam, was the last and was going on, and the hated secret police, Savak, would be greatest prophet. So the Baha’is were persona non grata replaced by the new Islamic police, “protectors of the religiously and feared for their lives. Many found their way faith,” and the elitist Revolutionary Guard. to the US, Europe or other parts of the Middle East. Those who remain are denied many rights of education, On the plane as I left my beloved Iran, I opened the employment and security just for being Baha’i. first class gift bag and found not only slippers and an eye mask to block out the light, but a toothbrush, toothpaste The Shah had tried to import democracy and reforms and socks. Then the stewardess offered me champagne and into his nation. Telephones and technology had increased chocolate. I was stunned and couldn’t eat anything. How greatly, there were better roads into the villages, and a could I celebrate and eat well when Iran and my precious social security system was beginning to be set up so the brothers and sisters were suffering so much? I turned my beggars would have no excuse to clog up the streets with head to the window and my tears dripped down my cheeks their children. (Many of them had been thought deformed in silence. I felt such guilt and sadness at being separated by their own parents (I was told) to gain sympathy from from my efforts to love the people of Iran since I arrived in passersby.) And widows without families wouldn’t have to May of 1975. resort to questionable work to support themselves. Clear as a bell, I head God’s voice say to me. “I But the education of democracy had not begun in wanted to send you off from Iran with a joyous band earnest, except for those who could study abroad. The playing loudly in the airport, flags waving and Madrassas still taught fundamentalist Islamic principles grandmothers and children crying and cheering for you, and passed on the narrow male-chauvinistic culture and but I couldn’t. The best I could do for you is to give you a thought of the past in strictly gender-based schools, which first class ticket to Germany where you will be safe and had markedly different curricula for girls and boys. The loved. I will still be here in Iran loving and looking out for Shah’s father had tried to outlaw the veil, but poor women your spiritual children. They will survive.” didn’t have the money for good clothes and many women suffered from the leering looks, comments and affronts of I was so surprised. I could actually see the flags the men who were unused to seeing women without their waving and the happy faces of those grandmothers, kids entire bodies covered. The Shah relented and allowed and all those people I had loved and served in Iran, sending women to use the veil again if they chose. Many did but me off victoriously - in my mind’s eye. The grateful crowd held many faces I had known and loved, especially the

19 1975 Missionary Testimonies mothers of my members, Mama Zahedi (the mother of he wondered if they weren’t Palestinian. He saw how they Hossein, Mariyam, Essi, Foozie, Abbass, Hassan, Maliheh, manipulated the crowd until panic broke out. That day a Khosrow and Manijeh) and other Muslim, Jewish and photograph was taken by a Pakistani photographer in the Zoroastrian mothers standing in the center of the crowd. morgue; I believe I saw the number written in Farsi on the So I ate the chocolate, but I still couldn’t celebrate last body in the row as ‘3,124.’ (This photographer was the with champagne. I did somehow find hope rising inside of brother of the local UPI representative, who was my me once again from God’s words and wondered what the friend.) My memory may not be reliable, but I do know that future would bring. Would I ever return to Iran again? it had four digits. The newspapers reported less than a Would our members be able to continue teaching about the hundred had died that day. I could see that things were principles of peace? going to get much worse.

Reflections on the revolution: I thought back on That same friend and others including myself saw what I had seen during the months of turmoil that led up to other things as well. One day coming from the public bath, this fateful, parting day. The first image was a beautiful I saw a group of middle school boy students, led by two demonstration on a Friday in 1978, the Islamic religious male teachers, who rushed into a bank and begin to empty day, of people marching south down Shahreza street; it of papers, desks, chairs, etc. They then set fire to all of it women and children carrying flowers, offering them to the in the street. When the soldiers arrived some of the boys soldiers on guard along their path, singing and enjoying the were still there and got arrested, but their teachers were new situation in Iran. It was like one huge picnic. This was nowhere to be found. The bank was owned by Baha’is, I the first ever of this kind of demonstration and it seemed think. I ran home just as the soldiers arrived, and decided to that the people were saying, “Give peace a chance.” bathe at home from then on.

Yet, I also remembered “Black Friday” soon after Other friends reported seeing a Citroen car speeding where, when the demonstrating people gathered at the along a main road with a passenger standing up in the Medon-e-Shahr, the city government center, the point at sunroof opening, lobbing Molotov cocktails into banks. I which several streets emptied into a large circle, where cars was told they hit about 20 banks that day all in a straight would drive around seeking another avenue exit. The line, but it made it look like a lot more people were doing it center had a huge flag pole, some flowers and a huge chain but it was just one driver and the expert pitcher. around the center reminding me of the pictures of the place Many nights the electricity went out around 8 or 8:30 of torture in front of the palace in Esfahan, during the pm. The water was shut off too. Our group stayed indoors ancient kingdom of Persia. I wondered if this place had due to the curfew and prayed, slept or read by candle light. been a place of torture in the past too. Bad karma. It was so depressing. Sometimes we could hear a The crowds became congested and young men with demonstration nearby and wondered how they got away bullhorns shouting at the people, pushed the crowds with it under curfew. It lasted for half an hour then forward toward the young soldiers (from the villages) stopped. What had happened there? No gun shots were guarding the government buildings until --in fear of being heard, why had they suddenly stopped? Several days later, crushed by the confused mob, they began to shoot at the one of my younger students told us that he lived in an legs of the people to make them move back. But when the apartment house on the circle where one of the crowds moved back they were repelled by those same demonstrations took place. When he looked out of the angry, shouting men to move forward for whatever reason window on those nights he saw no one gathered there but people use to force a confused crowd to do as they want. he could hear them. He and his mother climbed to the roof Panic and chaos ensued and many were trampled. Many to see what was going on. On a nearby roof was a loud were eventually shot. speaker from which the sounds of a demonstration came. It lasted a few nights until the police figured out where the How can I say this when I wasn’t there? Because up in sound came from. The man running the recording was a tree was one of my friends who was a serious student of arrested, of course. But few people really knew what had the Koran. He had been watching from the sidelines in actually happened. It stimulated some to be bold enough to amazement, and when the shouting and pushing began he leave home during the curfew and try to join the wisely climbed the nearest tree. Good for him, because demonstration. I imagine that a number were arrested for around him people began to trample one another in a being out after curfew. stampede to get out, but due to the “Arabic-speaking men dressed in black shirts,” the people couldn’t escape. My I also remembered when I first realized that something friend had been in support of the demonstrations until then, was going on ‘underground.’ I was standing in line waiting but due to his good Arabic study, he realized that these men to use the public pay phone. I was afraid that our house weren’t from Tehran, and maybe not even from Iran, in fact phone was bugged, so when I called our members I had to

1975 Missionary Testimonies 20

use a pay phone to protect their anonymity. I had on my presence, through that carpet, is a constant in my home. usual dark sun glasses that were darker on the top to hide So when I landed in Tehran 12 hours later than I my hazel-colored eyes. I got into a conversation with a expected, in May of 1975, it was the middle of the night. I young man, 14 or 15 years of age. During our conversation, didn’t have anywhere to go, no idea of a hotel to stay in he asked me when I had become a Muslim, I explained that overnight and the airport was just too small for an I was actually just studying Islam and had not converted. American girl to spend the night in. So the Persian He said I should change my name when I did to Maryam boyfriend of my fellow-traveler got on the phone and found (Mary, the mother of Jesus who is considered a godly the phone number of the Asgar family business. The woman in the Koran) or something to show that I had caretaker answered and gave the phone number of the converted. (Susan could be pronounced as Suzan, an Asgar family (Asgarzadeh) home. inward burning desire, or Sussan, a needle. Not a very good name for a Muslim.) He then began to tell me that for many And who should answer the phone in the middle of the months at his mosque they were listening to cassette tapes night? That awful boy who used to throw acorns at me sent from Ayatollah Khomeini in Iraq. He was teaching (with alarming accuracy) when I was a kid, Kambiz. them about how to create a revolution. This boy was very Obviously, he had grown up and in fact had just come excited and trusted me I guess, because he told me that they home from nightclubbing with his wife and was still awake were beginning to gather sort of defense at the mosque. I when the call came through to his family building. He came realized that some Muslims don’t have any theological to the airport to pick me up and over tea interrogated me quandaries about stockpiling weapons in a house of about “Why in the world did you choose to come to Iran?” worship. I don’t know if I ever made that phone call, I was He finally took me home to sleep on his couch until the too stunned. This was sometime in September, 1978. morning. The Lufthanza plane droned on and my body began to I was awaken first by the birds flying around outside unwind. I had wanted to do a campaign in Iran with my sunlit room, and then by voices in the hallway where I banners saying, “Forgive, Love and Unite” for Iran to stop found my parent’s best friends (who were visiting from the the violence, just like our Unification movement had done US) talking to Grandma Mina who lived across the hall on in the US during the Watergate crisis. Our American the third floor. They knew I was coming but didn’t know members became experts at demonstrating and public when to expect me. I had in fact not planned on staying speaking about uniting behind the principles of democracy with them but just wanted to visit them after I had found and protecting the dignity of the office of the President of some place to stay. I actually spent 42 days with them the United States. But Nixon eventually resigned in shame. living on the first floor with Safieh’s sister and her Someone suspected he did so after his wife threatened to husband, who was also Kamal’s brother and Kambiz’ leave him. parents. The feeling of family and Persian hospitality welcomed me and helped me get settled on my own. When I presented this idea to our Iranian members, they convinced me that we were not protected by the same They fed me, kept me safe and worried about me just laws of freedom and public respect for the views of others. like surrogate parents. I was welcomed by an Iran filled They expected me to be arrested or beaten senseless by with love. I also got to see my former dentist, Jamal angry crowds if I held such a demonstration. Asgarzadeh and his wife, Ferri. Jamal was another brother of Kamal. And then there was Soheila, daughter of my Wonderful Iranian hospitality: All these terrible hostess. She was a few years older than me and a puzzle to memories floated unbidden into my mind during that long her parents. We had known each other in Ann Arbor and flight to Germany. Yet, so many good memories pushed she drove to school with my cousin, Carole, who lived with them aside and reminded me of the beauty of the Iranian us while she went to high school. Soheila was unusual to heart. The people welcomed me into their homes and say the least, awkward and not really connected to the treated me like family more times than I could remember. world around her as a child. In Teheran, she welcomed In Ann Arbor, Michigan where I grew up, the Asgar both Beate and me into her world for awhile and Beate family had two sons, and a grandmother who visited stayed with her until we found an apartment we could rent regularly, and numerous relatives studying in the US over together. But Soheila lived separate from her parents which the time we lived near each other. They were a loving was unusual. She did live in an apartment owned by the family, and we enjoyed many wonderful times together. family and a caretaker lived in the building, but in the They became a second family to mine. I even learned a few middle of the night she would pound out music on her words of Farsi from them and ate some Persian food. My piano and sing at the top of her lungs. She loved a home still has a huge red Persian carpet that they bought bohemian style of life, she said. But I couldn’t figure out for my parents and has stayed with us all these years. Their what that meant. We visited her often after we got our own

21 1975 Missionary Testimonies apartment but something changed in her life and she man had made a pass at me and I brushed him off with an became so upset saying she didn’t want to meet with us angry look. Later that day I saw that same man in the park anymore. with his baby daughter walking along so proudly. He didn’t Yet Beate and I stayed friends with her until our recognize me and just paraded by in the evening with a presence in Iran became a police matter. We had to stop happy heart. I realized that family is the key, and was visiting the entire family to keep them safe. My “second convinced again and again of this truth. Men alone could family” had helped me get safely settled and I will be be awful, but men with (even) their daughters were loving forever grateful to them for their unconditional love and and admirable. They love family and are generous always. care. There are also free water cans on the street with a metal hand on top so anyone can get a drink in the warm summer I was invited to lunch one day at the home of a girl months as an example of their generosity. Seeing the love student early in 1975. The mother made their favorite dish, of family was the beginning of the trust I followed in kal-ay-paw-che. Her mother was very proud of her “stew” finding the people God had prepared for me to witness to. because it is a national treasure. I didn’t know what it was until my tongue grated against another piece of tongue in Iranians love God and they love their families. They my mouth. Then my student told me that I could find the also love their nation, although there is still tension greatest delicacy in the bowl, “brain.” Kal means “head” between the various tribes that make up the population. and paw means “foot” of the sheep. I did my best to eat that There are also obvious differences in some people due to delicious stew but I couldn’t finish my bowl. After lunch dress, accents, and attitudes. In the far northwest you will my student’s little sister came and sat by me. I told her find Turkomen, Turkish people who long ago traveled from (through translation) that she had on a lovely skirt. Her face the Russian steppes. Most ended up in what is now Turkey, fell and she got up and went into another room. She came and in northern Iraq, but a good number occupy the area in back and handed me her skirt as a gift. I asked my student Iran next to Turkey. They have their own dress, language what this meant, and she told me that when you and Persian accents. Some are Sunni, but most are Shi’ite. compliment something someone has, good manners require There are also darker skinned Iranians in the southwest, that they must give it to you as a gift. Quick thinking made who look much more Arabic than most Iranians and they me say that I loved the skirt ON her and her face lit up like are seen as ‘lower’ than the normal person because their the Fourth of July and she gladly took her skirt back. On skin is darker, racism exists everywhere. that day I learned two lessons: I should compliment very carefully and always say, Bay shomah miyad --“It becomes And of course there are many jokes about different you,” (or it goes to you).” I didn’t want to get any gifts that areas or cities, they are reminiscent of ‘Polack’ jokes in the weren’t really meant for me and break the heart of a sweet, US about Polish people being simple or stupid. There is dutiful girl. also a beloved national fool: Mullah Nassrudine. He carries I also remembered a visit to the home of Essi’s sister, his donkey in one story in order to be fair when his donkey Maryam, in the north. She and her husband slept with their complains of being tired. Humor is enjoyed everywhere in kids and gave me their bedroom no matter how hard I tried Iran, crossing over all barriers. to dissuade them. Actually in retrospect, I realized that not only were they honoring their guest, they gave me the only I understood that to be normal and maintain one’s room with real privacy except for the toilet! To add to her sanity in such a different land “one should be able to laugh generous spirit she had her children call me Khalleh Suzan, at oneself.” I heard Papasan Choi say this in San Francisco which meant that I was her ‘sister’ and should be called when I was a young member. This led the otherwise stern ‘aunt’ out of respect. I was always treated with such love Mike Warder to play the fool in a skit on God’s Day 1972! and kindness. [Maryam and her husband brought her So at times I remembered to laugh at myself. One day on a mother to the US one time in 1989 and they visited my busy street in Teheran, I got a flat tire in our Japanese van. home and met my family. It was so wonderful but my heart I was alone and so I pulled over to figure out how to was so heavy from all the memories flooding back and my change the tire. As I worked a small crowd of peasant men Farsi had begun to deteriorate from lack of use so I sat down on the curb near me to watch. I struggled and couldn’t communicate as I wished. I hope they understood struggled and wished I had some help. I looked at those the source of my sadness and still understand my gratitude humble peasants and said in Farsi, “Well, instead of just and love.] watching, why don’t you help me?” They got up and left. I was shocked. I said to myself, “Why did they leave instead The heart of the people of the nation: I struggled to of helping me? Is it because I am a woman or a understand the people of Iran as their lives, language and foreigner?” Then it dawned on me that they probably culture was so very different from mine. One day a young

1975 Missionary Testimonies 22

didn’t know how; they didn’t own a car and had probably American church building. I asked our members to spread never changed a tire in their lives. Maybe they were out and sit quietly in the audience until I had a chance to watching me to learn how to do it! So I laughed at myself hear what was being said. An American, Dr. Goodman, and somehow that van made it home. I hope they forgave spoke about how “this sect” didn’t believe in Jesus and that rude khareji, it certainly gave them a good story to tell at home. thought that their leader was the messiah instead. He said a few other incorrect things. Finally, he asked for questions. I On Fridays (Sabbath) you will see so many Iranians stood up and told him that in fact Unificationists believe in enjoying a picnic with family and friends on a spare piece and honor Jesus as the son of God, love him and follow his of grass or even just dirt under a shade tree. I have been tenets. There was an audible gasp from the audience welcomed numerous times to share in their food even comprised of mostly sweet looking grandmother types. But though they didn’t know me. They are friendly, welcoming people who make very good friends. Only extreme religion, one very agitated young man jumped up shouting, ignorance or politics get in the way. Most of the time, any “Blasphemer!” I smiled at him as I had dealt with blind suspicious nature can be overcome with a sincere smile, prejudice by ignorant Christians in the US before. I stated but to really win them over I had to be unchanging in my that I was a missionary in the country, sent personally by love and consistent in my actions. Rev. Moon since May of 1975. Then in a grand gesture I Above the entrance to many homes you will see a sign raised my arms and opened them wide and said, “Let me in Arabic saying that ‘a guest is a friend of God.’ This is present our members in Tehran.” They were beautiful the source, perhaps, of their unchanging open hospitality. young men and women who proudly stood for the first time Another aspect of their hospitable nature is the practice of as Unificationists. They were Muslim, Zoroastrian, Jews giving you food and drink until you explode. This is called and we three missionaries, American, Japanese and tarrof meaning the practice of being a good host by giving German, former enemies in World War II. Dr. Goodman unconditionally. So often I heard and used the expression, was flabbergasted and couldn’t say much after that. We no tarrof--meaning I or another isn’t doing this out of required hospitality. But I did learn to leave a little food on skipped on our way home, such a wonderful feeling to be my plate, or a bit of tea in a glass just to send the message able to openly declare our faith instead of the usual that I had no more room. My mother would be horrified if underground fear of being discovered. she heard about this, I was trained to absolutely clean my plate to be in the “clean plate club” as a child. And I The First Chicken: Beate and I found a simple learned to always be aware of the amount of food the apartment finally after weeks of looking in the beginning of Iranian family had and eat only a portion that doesn’t take our mission. It was on the third floor next to a ‘busybody away from anyone in the family. neighbor.’ As a celebration Beate went out and bought a whole, small chicken at a local store. She brought it home Most nationalities have pride. For Iranians this is just and prepared it to be cooked whole. We didn’t have an a part of the culture and finding out the results of that pride oven but we had bought a gas stove top with a propane gas can be most challenging. One of my early spiritual children tank and two burners and a big pan to cook it in. We used came from a poor family yet he won a scholarship to go to this burner for a year until we moved to a better home with college. He always insisted on paying for tea or food, until a real stove. After the chicken was done we sat down to eat we didn’t see him for a while. My worst fears rose up and I it and after one bite we both spit it out. “What on earth had sought him out. Finally we discovered that he had used up happened to our chicken?” Beate cut deep into the chicken all his money buying food for us and decided to wait until and found 3 soft eggs inside and all the innards! Iranian his family sent him more before returning to our home. chickens are not cleaned at the butchers! What a shocking Under much pressure he agreed to let us pay for ourselves lesson. They are only plucked and beheaded. We laughed at least. I thought we had lost him, but it was his pride that at our ignorance, Beate went out again and bought another kept him away because he couldn’t be generous anymore. chicken and from then on we cleaned out everything before He is still in our movement but living in the US with his we cooked it. faithful family. A source of pride for our members came one day Spiritual experiences or ‘miracles’: The only way I when Beate brought home a flier that talked about a could survive and succeed was by God’s support and meeting in a church “revealing the dangerous Moon sect.” guidance, so this section could go on for many pages. I About 12 of us attended that meeting in the basement of the should begin with how I came to be chosen to go to Iran.

23 1975 Missionary Testimonies After our 1800 couple blessing in Korea, we were housed and reach God. The second 40 days was easier but it was in the Hajimanyama bowling alley in Tokyo, Japan still a battle. Each time thereafter when we started a new witnessing for the Budokan New Hope Festival speaking condition or campaign trying to move forward, the members would have to hold me up by my arms as I event by Dr. Bo Hi Pak. We were told that those who swayed doing the pledge. From this I knew I had to be very didn’t have a very important mission to return to, should disciplined and careful in what I did and said, no excuses choose three countries as a possible missionary nation. In would be tolerated by the Islamic spirit world. I couldn’t my typical matter-of-fact way I thought for a moment and relax nor be comfortable any more. began to write down Nicaragua, Hong Kong and….. then it I had a spiritual experience connected to the Imam Ali hit me like a brick wall… Iran. My parents’ best friends (the first imam), the nephew and son-in-law of the great were from Iran, as were their many relatives whom I had prophet, Mohammad, and his true successor, according to known my entire life. I suddenly heard my mother relating Shi’ism. He was the fourth leader of the young Islam, and to me how she felt “pushed” to impose herself on this shy Shi’ism comes from him. Many times I was told of his Iranian woman down the street. It was against her nature to superior character, of how he stayed in his home for 22 do so, as she usually only went where she was invited. Yet years to avoid bloodshed until he could assume power over over the years she and ‘Sofie’ Asgar (Safieh Asgarzadeh) the faithful. His reign was short-lived. His sons Hossein and then Hassan each took a turn but died quickly in the together with her husband Kamal, who taught dentistry at violent struggle for control. In the Shi’a tradition there the U. of Michigan, became the very best of friends, more were 12 Imams, the final one being the “hidden messiah” like sisters really. who will return in the Last Days when the judgment of the evil will occur and the resurrection of the good will I suddenly realized that God had ‘set me up.’ This had complete the age. In the first year, I witnessed to Essi been His plan all my life since my mother found her best Zahedi, and while I was talking to him in our first center I friend. It was like God had dug this hidden ditch and I just saw Imam Ali standing behind him, as if giving him a fell into it and He rolled me down it to where I stood that blessing. day. The nations on the list didn’t matter, I was going to Iran. This had always been my destiny. When the roster On an eight city prayer tour, we visited Imam Reza’s was announced, by then president of the US church Neil (the eighth imam) mausoleum which is in northeast Iran, in Salonen, he made a mistake and announced someone else Mashad. Beate and I wore chadors and held them over our going to Iran. The sister sitting next to me said, “Oh Susan faces to hide our ‘foreignness.’ While we were inside the I am so sorry.” I held up my hand and said, “Wait,” and tomb it was so crowded and a bit scary with people sure enough, Neil corrected himself saying that “Susan bowing, wailing and praying, placing a stone on the floor to Fefferman would be going to Iran.” That sister (wish I which they touched their foreheads. The brothers had let us could remember who it was) was surprised both at my go on ahead, and they followed close behind. We couldn’t confidence and that I was actually going to Iran. From that move around inside and couldn’t feel anything holy (it was day on I knew that God was in the driver’s seat. This began on the special holiday in remembrance of Imam Reza). my ever deeper and intimate relationship with God as my When we got outside and walked away I heard his voice, “I mentor, protector, very best friend and parent. am sorry that I couldn’t welcome you properly inside my remembrance place; I am sorry that it does not have such a My next spiritual experience was while I stayed with good atmosphere.” Suddenly, as one of us shifted our Sofie’s sister in her big, safe house in Teheran, where I chador to make it hang better, a man in the crowd said out started a 40 day prayer condition. I recited the pledge and loud, “These are foreigners, they must get out!” The prayed every single day. And every day I ended up in a brothers stayed to the side, not wanting to get into a fight heap on the floor. I have a strong constitution so this was and they knew we usually had novel ways to get out of quite surprising. Near the end of each pledge I either trouble. But we were really nervous. One man stepped up fainted, threw up, got so dizzy that I couldn’t stand or was and said to the crowd, “Wait, they must be studying to knocked over by ‘something.’ I struggled on with a become Muslims. Let us question them.” And so they did. croaked, “This I pledge and swear” each day. My knees “Who is buried here?” “Imam Reza, the eighth Imam.” worked well usually, but not during this early time of each “And who is his son?” “The ninth Imam.” He turned to the day. On the fortieth day I heard a squeaky door hinge open crowd and said, “We must let them pass, they wish to above me and ‘felt’ that if I prayed in a strongly vertical become Muslim.” Needless to say, we got out of there manner my prayers could pass through the Muslim ceiling quickly.

1975 Missionary Testimonies 24

First members: We worked so hard to bring new A beautiful experience during that same time occurred members. When Hossein Teimorijam (known as ‘Dr. during a dream. I awoke in my dream to being a baby Mohammad Jam’ in Los Angeles) finally joined us we sleeping between my parents who happened to be my True gathered in our empty prayer room (our altar was a Parents, Father and Mother Moon. They were asleep but as cardboard box with a scarf over it) in our first center. When I moved in shock at where I was, they turned toward me Hossein prayed for the first time he offered a simple prayer and both held me. I began to grow and grow until I reached in English. In my mind I suddenly saw God doing my true adult size. I was worried because a ‘baby’ me in cartwheels around the prayer room in glee. It was so funny their bed wasn’t so bad but a ‘big’ me was not appropriate. and joyful. God did the same thing when the first sister Yet they both hugged me and comforted me so that I fell joined and prayed in a different prayer room two years asleep again and awoke in reality renewed to deal with later. Maliheh Zahedi, was “given to me” by her mother to another day of Iran falling apart. Another day in tears I saw raise in Teheran at 16 because she wanted Maliheh to be the image of True Parents move in their picture frame and with us and learn all she could. Perhaps her mother also they nodded their heads to me as if to let me know they understood how Maliheh suffered at the hand of Abbas, her were ‘watching’ me. older brother, who seemed to hate her, or some of her rather cruel male cousins. She thrived living with us and I My greatest spiritual experience in Iran I wish to share was so grateful to have another woman in our center. with everyone in the world. It involves the ‘secret’ I discovered about God’s nature and the nature of His love. During the revolution my Jewish spiritual daughter, This happened in 1977 before I was exiled to Turkey. I had Mahvash Saberan, spoke some very angry words to me on been going through a rough patch. I had been receiving the phone and let me know she didn’t want to continue our threatening phone calls from a radical group and had seen relationship anymore. I said little, and after I hung up I the same car following me around town. I also had a looked out the window where a heavy rain dripped down strained relationship with Ryuji and Beate and felt isolated the panes. I wept and wept and my heart ached. God spoke and a bit lonely which told me my relationship with God to me and said that His heart had been broken into tiny was not what it should be. I hadn’t lost faith in God, but I chards thousands upon thousands of times, yet He had no energy and little faith in myself. I couldn’t pray continued. I regained my determination and pledged to love anymore and feel heard. I was alone at home and I tried to her and the others no matter what and to carry on against pray again and again to no avail. any odds even if my heart would be smashed to pieces. My busy mind wandered to the “what if” section of Another experience happened during the revolution, at horrible scenarios and I saw myself giving up and just night while I studied alone in my room by candle light. I wandering alone in Iran (too much drama in my mind). I either fell asleep or fell into a spiritual state. I ‘awoke’ to saw myself in rags wandering the streets and I imagined find myself naked and tied to four corners of a bed. Above that various men could just grab me, use me for their dirty me stood a handsome but terrifying man, laughing in an desires, and then I would just lay in the gutter waiting for a awful manner. I knew that he was going to rape me and he truck to run me over. I tried to call God once more and was really enjoying the idea of it. He knelt down between finally tried the word, “Papa” which I never used for my legs and just before he penetrated me he threw back his anyone before. I saw Him far off, He was very busy but my head and laughed a horrible laugh. At that desperate call made Him turn toward me and look over His shoulder moment I stretched up my neck and took hold of his throat to see who had called him, “Papa.” I cried out again louder with my teeth, clamped down and shook my head hard, left with all of my heart. He had to come to me! He couldn’t and right until I felt the blood trickle down into my mouth resist the love that I had for Him and was propelled toward and nostrils. I never let go, nothing else mattered. He me even in my ugly, dirty state. He couldn’t resist no would not win in this battle. I sudden awoke shaking in my matter what condition I was in! I understood that He is normal room, appalled at what I had done. I could still feel controlled by love, and unable to resist love even in the the sticky, salty blood in my mouth. I wiped at my tongue worst person. I was liberated and wiped my tears away and but found nothing. I realized I had ripped out the throat of determined to start anew. Later Ryuji told me that he and Satan. I then heard the members outside my door talking Beate both felt like I didn’t need them and so they also felt about why all the noise from the demonstrations stopped isolated and alone. My nature as a loner had pushed them and perfect silence filled the air. After that I humbly away and I apologized for that and determined to be a realized that I could harm another person if it was required better sister to them. for me to save myself or someone I loved. Prophet Jacob move over, I beat the devil!

25 1975 Missionary Testimonies

The greatest loneliness I felt was when I couldn’t wouldn’t “get caught.” This went on day after day with us experience God. I often felt lonely when my spiritual getting up a little earlier to foil discovery. We totally children pulled away from me and of course all of us felt shocked the foozool and kept everyone wondering, we lonely missing the foods and the comforts of home. But I could feel the questioning energy as that building had never tried to be happy just where I was with only a few Kitkat been cleaned so well. Jeff Tallakson, our tall missionary chocolate bars eaten along the way. As long as I had God from Afghanistan, decided to come visit just at the exact with me I was “home.” Only once did I eat Iranian pizza, it time we needed a taller person to wash the upper walls didn’t satisfy. Iranian ice cream is made with rose water so standing on a chair, and so he did. We even cleaned the it never satisfied my homesickness either. I did buy a Betty windows above people’s doors! Eventually the lady next Crocker cookbook in 1978 and introduced our members to door would run from meeting me, her conscience was some familiar and new recipes. Their favorite was getting to her, maybe. The merchants began to smile at us homemade mayonnaise which they put on everything, and again and treat us with respect, the word got out about the three-bean salad. One other funny thing was that I ‘wonderful’ foreigners living in our building. Finally, the introduced buttered popcorn to the members who laughed neighbor across the hall, a nice Armenian Christian so hard they nearly fell down. No one puts butter on woman, caught us about 3:30 am one morning and tried to “Elephant farts” (their name for popcorn). tell Beate that we all should take turns, not just us. We knew we had ‘won the heart of Esau’ and when we turned Conditions I made: When I first landed in Teheran I in our quit notice and the residents, including the foozool, stepped with my right foot on the ground and claimed the didn’t want us to move away! But we did move to a much land as my elder sister, Barbara Buroughs, told me to do in more private area with lots more room, cleaner and no 120 day training at Barrytown, NY. I was her team leader stairs! and she was the most humble and best team member and For our first workshop in the mountains we held a always supported me. prayer vigil all night in a leaky tent on a mountainside The foozool taming condition: In our first center, we across the valley from the house we stayed in. Maman three missionaries lived in a third storey apartment building (Mother), Essi’s mother and hostess, was worried about in a busy neighborhood. We began to get to know our snakes biting us so we had to place garlic all around our neighbors and the local merchants. Our immediate camp. In the morning the sun shone brightly and we could neighbor with whom we shared a party phone line (she teach the lectures. This was soon after True Father’s would listen to our conversations sometimes so we had to Yankee Stadium rally. I remember because a boy who be careful in what we said), invited Beate and me over in nearly died on the day of the speech in New York, was in a hopes her sons would get interested in us, marry us and weird near death motorcycle accident was still bruised but move the US, achieving a coveted status. Of course when able to join us. Each time we held a workshop in that our guests, which were all young men, began to arrive to mountainous retreat, Maman Zahedi would offer conditions “study English” she was incensed. After awhile I began to of absolute service with a grateful heart. She never really notice that the local merchants treated me different, as if I heard the Principle through, and never talked about it much was a ‘fallen’ woman. I realized probably that the foozool with her children; but she grew in heart and understanding [busybody] next door was bad-mouthing us. An inspiration each year. She became my close friend and helper. came to me for us to clean the hallways in the building Together we got both spiritual and physical things done before anyone got up in the morning, making an offering in and she gave me a scolding when we didn’t come for a secret. workshop as she had expected! She asked me how can she serve God if we don’t come to her home? -Wonderful, So we arose early before we heard people rising for spiritual lady. early morning prayers. One of us swept the hallways from the roof down three floors to the front door, another began Maman made dough, had her grumbly husband knead washing the floors from top to bottom, the third one did it and then baked the bread outdoors in the adobe oven no door stops, walls, etc. Obviously we were terribly dirty matter the weather. She or her husband went down the when we finished so we each took a shower before we mountain to barter for milk and honey, and she grew or headed out to work or witnessing. As the 40 days moved raised the rest of the food; all of it prepared over a kerosene on, we noticed people opening their doors just as we stove or an open fire in the yard. She had the biggest heart quietly closed ours and heard a hushed gasp as they of all. I will love her forever. She trusted me completely. discovered yet another mysterious clean hallway. So the One afternoon in Teheran when I was struggling from an next day I said we should get up 15 minutes earlier so we over-active thyroid, she found me resting. I awoke to her

1975 Missionary Testimonies 26

pounding on my chest in tears saying, “You shouldn’t be from Aja Jan, just as True Father had predicted: “I love ill! I should be ill so you can do your important work.” you more than my children.” When True Father asked me if Needless to say I got up and didn’t rest again. I wondered if I had been successful in 1979 in New York City, I True Father hadn’t miraculously taken over her body to answered ‘yes’ in part to this experience. ‘Little Hitler’ had give me an important message! I eventually got the correct been naturally subdued by love. medical treatment and could continue working. But from that encounter I asked myself: “what is it I am supposed to How to deal with other religions: Iran has five be doing?” I realized that I could do all the physical things religions, in historical order: Zoroastrianism, Judaism, but I had to leave a legacy about True Parents to our Christianity, Islam and Baha’ism. In the parliament of the members. So I began telling more and more stories about government, one seat is allocated each for the Zoroastrians, True Parents to a hungry group but I am sure I left out a Jews and Christians. The rest are for Muslims: Shi’ite only. few. I never thought about leaving Iran, or even of Father Baha’is are not a recognized religion. Every non-Muslim going to the spirit world. I am grateful that at least I gave suffers denigration and persecution to some degree something to those wonderful people who loved me. Muslims are considered higher or more worthy due to their religion. Anyone who claims to be a Muslim but is actually One story I must share is about Agha Jan. Agha means something else risks bad treatment, and their family will ‘sir’ and Jan means dear. So Maman’s 20-years-older, suffer the same plight. Under the Shah all the religious grumpy husband was carefully called Agha Jan. He minorities were treated better and Baha’is owned many complained and grumbled and threatened his children on a businesses and the biggest bank, but now it is a struggle for regular basis. They called him “Little Hitler” behind his the Baha’is and many non-Muslim people have left the back! True Father told us at Barrytown that as we won over country. Many moderate Muslims have also left the the people they would love us even more than their own country. It is always important to understand the practices children. I never imagined that from Agha Jan! At first he of each religion and how they fit into the culture of a complained about the foreigners and having to share his country. It is important to study each religion to learn the food, but as the years went by even he mellowed as he got particular important practices so we can show respect and to know us better and the brothers in our group could not offend. always make him laugh. One weekend we arrived to find that Maman had gone north to a funeral so we had no one There are also several Sufi orders that practice various to cook for us. Maliheh, the eldest of his daughters who philosophies. I met a few of them but wasn’t impressed as lived with us in Teheran, said she would do it. I assented they were more a personality cult or a “special knowledge” sorry she wouldn’t be able to participate. A few minutes cult that excluded those who didn’t “receive” the later she came running out of the kitchen saying, “We’re information appropriately. They weren’t open to new ideas going to be poisoned!” Her father had forcefully kicked her and wanted me to feel ‘awe’ at meeting their leader; so no out of the kitchen and said that he would do all the cooking witnessing success there. and everything instead of Maman, and Maliheh had better Betrayal: Although there were a number of instances stay out his way. Needless to say we weren’t poisoned and where I really felt betrayed, only one is the official we ate well. It was amazing to say the least. “betrayal.” There was a student of mine, Hassan, who Some of the braver boys had to do the chicken studied the Principle with us for a while. He was a tall slaughtering one time too, as women weren’t allowed and young man with a tense look in his eyes. He didn’t instill Agha Jan was not at home. That led to me telling them how trust in us but we tried to love him. He even reported to me to do it from my mother’s tales as a child. It was quite that his mother was grateful to me because he had started to funny with that dull blade on those poor unsuspecting pray again. Sometime along the way he asked if he could chickens being sacrificed in the name of God. The final pray in our prayer room alone. We let him but I realized experience was one weekend when the Hossein, the dentist that all of our materials were in that room. I don’t know didn’t come and couldn’t give Agha Jan his vitamin B shot. what he did, but soon I began to receive threatening phone Agha Jan asked me if I could do it! I have never given a calls about my religious work in Iran. I went out and shot before but my father taught me how to do it for a high bought a device to stick on the earpiece of the phone so I school project. So seeing the hand of God in this intimate could tape the calls. I had to have the brothers translate exchange, I said, “Yes, of course.” I did it correctly, even them to me because it was fast, angry talking. I also noticed aspirating to make sure I wasn’t in a vein, but it didn’t a Citroen car following me a lot and wrote down the tag quite go in far enough so a little of the serum came out as I number. At the time, I was working for the office of the injected it. After this I actually heard those precious words Prime Minister as an English teacher for the staff. One

27 1975 Missionary Testimonies woman was kind and I asked her what to do if I was being words. During a later attack on the American Embassy, the threatened. I eventually turned over a copy of the car group was professionally trained and it was taken over until license tag and the tape. Unfortunately this led to the police the moment of the inauguration of President Ronald escorting Beate and me out of the country, and we landed Reagan. How they hated Jimmy Carter for the failed rescue in Turkey for the first time. [Ryuji was out of official sight attempt that killed the American rescuers outside of Tehran and mind at the time.] The policeman said his government (actually they burned to death in their helicopter crash). couldn’t handle an American woman being hurt in Iran, There’s a saying that camels not only never forget, they especially after the murder of several American military never forgive until their resentment is satisfied. contractors just before I came to Iran. We knew who the betrayer was, and he no longer came to our house. While Robert and I were both dressed so clearly Western, Beate and I were in Turkey the members moved to a new and I didn’t have my usual dark sunglasses to hide my home and severed ties with anyone who might be a traitor. Western blue eyes. I told Robert under my breath, “Don’t run, but let’s walk real fast toward the car. I don’t want to Years later after the three missionaries had gone our get stuck on the wrong side of the street.” Just then a man group had to split up and some were jailed for awhile, came running towards us with his fist in the air. He nearly someone from the government took over our house. The hit me in the face. But another arm, from a young man who brothers had to kick them out to return home but the people had been walking behind me in the crowd, reached out and took everything that wasn’t tied down. Later several interrupted the line of his punch with a strong hand. He members felt they had to leave the country for their own said in Farsi, “We don’t hit women in Iran.” The attacker safety. My gentle brother, Shahrokh was imprisoned and grunted and ran off. ‘Phew.’ I was so grateful. Then I tortured repeatedly, some of it unspeakable. His hands realized that I had been absently listening to the young men became so swollen that he couldn’t feed himself or wash and women walking behind me talking about “teaching the himself after the toilet. Thank goodness an old man took foreigners a lesson.” That is what had made me pinch care of him until he was released. Why did they torture the Robert’s arm in desperation to move faster and get to the gentlest of souls? Shahrokh told me he just kept thinking of car parked a few blocks north. I took a deep breath and True Father being tortured in jail. This dear, kind brother is turned around to face the voices grumbling behind with a a saint in the history of the movement of Iran. He lives in smile before they found the courage to confront us. I spoke upstate New York with his wife and two boys, near his to them in my best Farsi, saying that I lived in Iran with my brother in law, Essi Zahedi and his extended family. I saw family and that I loved Iran. I also said that I was grateful him when he first came to the US and still meet him every that Iran was a Muslim country that would protect its now and then. I am so grateful to him for his unchanging guests. Their mouths fell open and I thanked them, smiling faith. He was one of twelve Zoroastrian members when I at the young man who had saved me, turned on my heel, left Iran, and the only one I gave my own DP book to, he is grabbed Robert’s arm again and headed for the car trying to safe in the US and I don’t know about the other Zoroastrian look relaxed while doing the speed walk. Those young members, only one has connected to our brothers through Iranian people realized that I knew what their culture and Facebook. the religion practiced. It gave their conscience pause and The first attack on the American Embassy in allowed their spirit to change enough for us to flee to Tehran: I remember the angry crowd in Tehran that day. safety. Our brother from the US, Robert Morton, who worked at Robert went on to work at the Washington Times the New York Tribune in New York City at the time, had newspaper for a long time and lives in Virginia, with his come to visit us in Iran and I was taking him to interview wife, Choon Boon, and daughter and my family, and I now Dr. Seyed Hossein Nasr, who was then head of the live in Maryland. We see each other sometimes and smile Ministry of Education at that time. His office was across that smile that always takes us back to that exciting day. the street from the American Embassy on Shahreza Street. (Robert had also visited the American Embassy and had Cultural differences I had to work with: The met some of the staff who later would become hostages for hardest challenge was the way women were treated, 444 days.) We had had a reasonably good interview with especially as ‘sexual objects.’ I always dressed modestly, Dr. Nasr who was a philosopher, and when we left his yet often when I walked alone on the street (or even with office we crossed the street in front of the American my brothers a couple of times) I suffered abuse. Embassy. Mid-street a group of angry young people attacked the American Embassy. They weren’t successful I called this the: “How I fell in love with Iran despite in gaining access and the soldiers pushed them back that the constant attacks on my behind” situation. I was 24 time but there was a lot of milling about and angry, shouted years old, average build, 5’7”, medium brown hair, not bad

1975 Missionary Testimonies 28

looking and definitely American. It took me awhile to will put a bounce in your step as you drool your way to eat. understand that certain kinds of colors were wrong for Iran Butter or oil is put into the pot most of the time so that the and that meant most of what was in my suitcase: reds, rice on the bottom forms a crispy layer called, tah-deeg, or yellows and other bright colors. I even had a red, white and ‘bottom of the pot’ which all the children and some adults blue striped dress made for me by mother! Black, gray, fight over! Then there are the sauces which take hours of brown and dull colors are best if you don’t want to draw cooking and disappear in eager waiting mouths in less than attention to yourself. For a while I stood out like a neon three minutes. Many are made with finely chopped spinach sign saying, “Here is the idiot American girl waiting for and greens of a variety only found in the Middle East. you to do your worst to her.” Chopped and then fried dry until browned and then added to beef, lamb, chicken, or camel and onions with other I often saw a young man cross the street or move over veggies, tomatoes sometimes; and of course the unique toward me as he walked, planning on pinching my rear or spices we never used in the US. My American family has bumping into my chest. In an effort to digest this annoying long been exposed to turmeric and anything else I can find practice I referred to this as “the national sport in Iran” to with a Middle Eastern flavor. my friends and acquaintances, and yes, to my students as well. I wanted everyone to know just how awful this Then there is mosst-O-khriar--plain yoghurt, salt, practice was. I quickly learned to carry a big purse or bag shredded cucumber (no seeds) and various other things. over my shoulder and in sync with the perpetrator I would You put it on your rice, dip your bread in it, or add water swing my bag just as his hand reached out for me. and ice and really satisfy your thirst in the summer-- Disappointedly, he found my heavy bag in his way. I Absolute heaven. And, yes, my family calls it mosst and eventually developed “radar” in noticing when a man/boy tries to pronounce the khriar part sometimes without was preparing to attempt this rude behavior and got very spitting the words. There is another dish to die for. It is good at defeating my attackers. One time a young man made of crushed walnuts made into a sauce with tomato came right toward me and I prepared to push him aside as paste and spread over rice. Then of course, there is the he walked in front of me, instead of an outreached hand I kebab which I would eat anywhere, anytime, anyplace. heard him whisper that “a beautiful flower doesn’t need In the winter there are amazing things to eat on the flowers.” Clever guy, I was carrying a bunch of Narcissus street. On a small heated cart you can buy a piece of or nargile that I just bought. This memory causes me to steaming, hot beet wrapped in newspaper. I know it doesn’t smile at his poetry and the fact that he didn’t touch me. sound so inviting but you just have to be there. It was Another incident was when Beate and I were on a bus heaven. Even more of a favorite to me were the huge and two teenage boys sitting behind us were making brown, spicy Fava beans. I think you can find them in the insinuations about our morality, when a mother and baby Hispanic food section in the US. In Iran their spicy smell is got on the bus and sat in front of us. Beate and I focused on absolutely irresistible. You get them in a wrapping of talking to the baby and when I turned around to look at the newspaper and eat them by biting off one end (but not boys I was shocked to find that they had sweet faces separating it) and then squeeze the insides into your looking at the baby. They were transformed by the baby waiting mouth. In the end you just throw away all the bean and mother. Another funny incident was when I was casings in the newspaper into the trash. walking down a main street when the boys’ high school In the summers you hear vendors call out abb-e-talebi across the street was letting out. We all know the pent up or abb-hendevaneh, cantaloupe juice or watermelon juice. energy seen at the doorway of any school. I groaned and In fact abb-e-talebi was my first taste of Iran the day after I began to hear whistles and anticipated the insulting words arrived. I will never forget the flavor which told me I could when a young voice raised above the ruckus called out to be very happy in Iran. But unfortunately, skip the ice cream me, Salam, Khanum-e-Fefferman-- ‘hello Mrs. Fefferman.’ unless you really like rosewater, which flavors almost any The crowd quieted and a feeling of respect overcame the kind of ice cream. But there are dozens of other sweet group. Maybe this student of mine was showing off things to eat including my favorite bakhlava dripping with because he knew such a woman, again I felt how precious honey and many fresh fruits. And of course, everybody eats is the respect that all ages give to a teacher in Iran. toasted seeds all the time. Just be careful who you sit in I have to say something about Iranian food. It is just front of in the movie theater. Beate and I once came away so delicious and even now I miss it terribly and run to any with a pile of shells on our shoulders! Iranian/Middle Eastern restaurant I find in eager anticipation. Rice is the very best, like Basmati. Its aroma But two things stand out in my mind. The raw cut greens, lettuce, radishes and feta cheese that you can wrap

29 1975 Missionary Testimonies in warm baked bread, which are served with lunch and haggled. Bartering is also necessary as part of the entire dinner, so very fresh and healthy. And of course, the bread. culture of exchange. People need to get to know each other It is baked fresh from five o’clock in the morning, until the to actually buy something so that both sides can feel happy afternoon. I ate four or five different kinds while I was in the end. Satisfaction of both is essential so that when the there, but my favorite looked like a long pizza with ridges two meet again, they meet as friends not as people who that fingers had created in the dough. The smell just makes have battled to rip each other off in selfish advantage- you eat some right away before you even get home. I made taking. Give and take is essential in the business world, a discipline for the brothers in our group to determine not creating a personal relationship is what commerce is all to take even one bite before they got home and offered it about and a source of joy for everyone. That is why so first to the “family” instead. This philosophy comes from many business people have hated the practice of outlawing belief that the highest ideal is to “live for the sake of bartering. The customer and the seller often never get to others.” Needless to say, many of the them didn’t succeed. know each other and the impersonal atmosphere adds to the I wonder if I would have succeeded everyday myself. But feeling of alienation and estrangement that supports the they did run really fast back to our home to lessen the feeling of separation into “them” and “us.” temptation. Getting around: Iran has a unique system of shared Tea power: Everywhere and nearly at every hour it is taxis. It also exists in Turkey and probably other Middle served. In many cultures tea represents a bonding of friends Eastern countries. You lift your arm at passing taxis and and a time to carefully talk business. Quite often it is made yell out your destination. The driver has one or two in a steaming samovar with the tea leaves in a teapot seconds to decide whether he can take you there while heating on top as the water boils. The tea is concentrated in taking the rest of his riders. Taxis were compact Peikan the teapot and the boiling water is then added to the thick cars that can hold six people squished together. It starter in a cup or small glass which you must carefully sometimes meant running half a block if the driver took hold with one finger and your thumb on the lip and bottom. longer to decide to pick you up. Sitting in a crowded back It is always piping hot and you can easily burn your fingers seat or in front with the driver and another can make for a and your tongue, but it is rich, dark and delicious. A jagged too-close encounter with strangers. Sometimes it is just you piece of sugar is placed in the cheek so that the sugar melts or one other rider. You never know what will occur. Once as the tea goes past your teeth. I imagine cavities are more a man sitting in the back seat next to me casually opened often found on the outside of the molars than other places his wallet and showed me his money. At first I ignored him in Iran and from Israel to India too. And if you visit several but he kept nudging me and showed the money. I finally homes in a day, you end up drinking 6-12 glasses of tea! realized that he wanted to “buy” my favors. I pulled my Some people read tea leaves left in the bottom of the cup, tight fist up close to his face and shook it. Suddenly, I had or even coffee grounds to entertain. more room to relax in. Another time the driver tried to cheat me about the fare thinking I didn’t know what he was “Coffee” is so thick and sweet that the spoon can doing and probably couldn’t speak the language. I used the nearly stand on its own. One small cup a day is more than I most terrible insult: “Are you a Muslim?” When he can handle intestinally. Once I tried to read the coffee answered in the affirmative, I asked him if his actions grounds of our busybody neighbor to impress her. I spoke represented how a good Muslim should act. He quietly from some inspiration in my mind, but she said I spoke returned my money and we parted company. correctly. I don’t remember if I was speaking some “truth,” complimenting her or just doing polite taroff. In the same vein, one night I was walking home and realized I was being followed. I had been there for three A carpet seller offers tea to customers he feels are a years and knew what to do. I was never really afraid and by good investment for him. Not just someone who will buy a then knew the foolish man was just having romantic ideas. carpet but someone who will respect his business and even But I was tired and had no patience. I looked around me for come back, or recommend his shop to others. Someone he a weapon and found a brick. I began to throw it up and can actually call “friend.” One does not just jump into price catch that brick with flourish, until I heard a gasp and he discussion at first, but asks about family, the weather and disappeared. Iranians at that time for the most part were other things not related to business. It is a cultural practice lovers not fighters. that goes back centuries. This shows respect for the people and the value of the goods involved not just as a means to The tisk of a ‘no’: It took me awhile to understand an end and then as the tea is drunk, compliments about the that when someone pushed up their chin and tisked their rugs can be made and only then can prices be discussed and tongue against their teeth they were saying “no.” Until

1975 Missionary Testimonies 30

Beate and I figured that unusual cultural oddity, we really Muslim men. The anger and arrogance are so thick you can were confused. When we figured it out, we had many cut it with a knife. How can Islam be the last and final laughter-filled experiences and could tisk and nod up like religion when it is so evil in its practice? I know that the natives. history of most religions is filled with blood and conquest but this is the modern age. Shouldn’t all religions have Camel culture, or Resentment with a capitol ‘R’: I evolved closer to the ideal of their makers? Shouldn’t we am not big on keeping resentment if I can help it. It just realize that the blood that runs in my veins is the very same clutters up my heart and confuses my mind. I thought I that runs in yours? Every mother suffers to bring children knew what resentment was until I went to the Middle East. into this world, every mother cries when their child dies. I came to realize I was a novice at resentment. Middle We are all of the same human family. Eastern resentment is a totally different sentiment than in most American households. It is huge and passionate and When I look at the struggles and wars from the deadly and is passed on from generation to generation and Mediterranean to India I see a lot of expressed passionate any slight can make it rise up like a cobra snake and strike resentment that defies diplomacy and wisdom. Suicide a person in the heart. Some people don’t even remember bombers being the most filled with resentment. I have the reason for their ancestral resentment, some even get the known resentment in my life. I believe each person story skewed. “It doesn’t matter what the truth is, we just beginning in babyhood knows those feelings of being have these feelings and they are true,” one energized young treated unfairly and wanting to hurt the one who treated man told me. I met a camel driver one summer selling bags you badly. Of course, our Western Judeo-Christian culture of extremely smelly fertilizer near our apartment. The teaches us to “turn the other check” and “forgive your camel was very testy that day and the driver had to stay enemy seven times seven.” And every kid learns that a away from his mouth for fear of being bitten. One of my good person must learn to “love your enemy as you do friends told me about an Iranian joke, though I bet yourself.” everyone from Israel to India knows this story. Everyone suffers from the inner struggle to overcome A camel driver had made his camel very angry and resentment and even the desire for revenge. My poor nothing he did could get his camel to move. After some younger brother suffered from my unkindness as we were thought, the driver removed his clothes and laid them in growing up and I discovered his resentment and revenge front of the angry camel. The camel smelled the clothes, when he finally grew big enough to look me in the eye, and then began to stomp on them, spit on them, and even luckily I called our Iranian neighbors to come and rescue us urinate on them in frenzy, until he was emptied of his before we cut each other up. resentment. The camel driver shook out his clothes and put them back on and they went off peacefully together. This same picture I found in Iran and in the region, but now it was between adults from differing views or different I was told this is the nature of Middle Eastern people. religions. It was savage and ugly and some people were I began to see this aspect of resentment as the Revolution damaged, some even lost their lives. The power to forgive unfolded. In this situation no apology would work, only the was not respected or desired by many people, especially full expression of the hatred and anger could “empty” the during the early Iranian revolution. When I saw the tidal person of his or her resentment. Yet they still remember as wave of anger and resentment and the failure to ever forget, the emotion attached to it has powerful historical patterns. even generations later, I called this the “Big R resentment.” When I counsel or teach about relationships, I always This was historical resentment, added to generation after emphasize that an apology is only good if it is accepted. generation. It is based on fear and ethnocentrism. It seems a Sometimes we need to keep apologizing in different ways sort of tradition in the region. until we move the heart of the person who is angry at us. I wonder about the Middle East, what will it take to heal? But it doesn’t just occur in Iran. I saw the angry demonstrations at my university by the SDS which Now as I watch the nightly news I see images of angry disrupted the class schedule and brought the police to our people during the “Arab Spring” and read the mounting campus at the University of Michigan in the late 60’s. But numbers of deaths, rapes, burnings and beatings. Christians no one lost their lives. It took the Klu Klux Klan to shed and their churches are being destroyed in Egypt with no innocent blood on American soil in overt resentment to punishment, no recourse for the cruelty and damage done make people want to stop racism in America. And then to Christians whose only crime is being the ancient there were the Weathermen, ugly stuff. It is a shame to minority in an old land. Christian and Mandean girls are have this kind of action in a nation that opens its doors to kidnapped in many countries and forced into marriage with all those who suffer and seek freedom, honoring each

31 1975 Missionary Testimonies religion and giving the immigrants the freedom to live and But usually boys and girls weren’t allowed to mix except as practice their religion or enjoy freedom from fear because cousins or with a chaperone. In the classrooms where I of the color of their skin. So naively I thought that this was taught English they could mix but did not sit together. At the worst I would see in my short life growing up in our center they did mix and talk freely but always with the America. guidance that we were all “brothers and sisters” not boyfriend and girlfriend. Never were any boy and girl left As I have matured I have seen more and more ugly alone, we were very careful and practiced the familial actions of one fanatical group against another, where life relations carefully. Another point was that girls’ school and property are destroyed because the one group thinks curriculum was different from that of boys and they never that they are ‘right’ and the other are ‘wrong’ and deserve had physical education or experienced an emphasis on to be punished. Or one group has been “wronged” and sports. So we went to the mountains where everyone was revenge needs to be extracted. In each case, the attackers equal and free to try their best and challenge themselves feel that they have the “right” to seek revenge and the physically. We climbed the mountains during the good destruction of the other. Didn’t Hitler feel he had a “divine weather on Fridays (Sabbath) in a group and ate our simple right” to create the Sonnenkinder? (He wanted to create a lunch at the top or bought tea at the little hut on the way pure race with no flaw that was superior to all others and up. We spent time talking and most of the time it was me thus more capable to rule others.) This is Big R resentment. educating again about the principles of self-control, I didn’t fully realize it until I was in Iran and Turkey. I saw bringing God to the center of oneself and one’s decisions, people with no thought of conscience or the divine concept maintaining our purity until marriage, loyalty to one’s of the preciousness of life. I was suitably shocked at the country and family, and creating a family of true love – one fervor of the hatred and the violence in both Iran and in man and one woman loyally loving forever, raising Turkey during the May Day riots in 1977. I wondered if children who would be responsible, good citizens and good they ever woke up in the middle of night in regret. parents to their own children beyond the barriers of race, nationality, social status, and even encouraging I suspect that this anger was fed again and again, just international marriage to reduce prejudice and encourage as it is being done around the world in so many Mosques respect for others who were “different.” with outrageous vitriol where in the past only the loving words of devotion to God and respect for all the “people of We tried to keep our mingling modest and out of the the book” were taught. (Jews, Christians and Muslims are public eye. But at the workshops in the mountains we felt all ‘people of the book’). more free. We even did the Virginia Reel square dance on a mountainside one time. Beate would play her guitar or we I know so many wonderful Muslim people from many just sang the wordless tune as I called out the moves in different countries who just don’t feel they have a ‘divine Farsi, (I kept ‘do-si-do).’It was a joyous time where we all right’ to kill or dominate another human being. These treated each other with sincere respect and felt God’s love people also love their wives and children not as property to just be brothers and sisters, beyond being Muslims, but with natural kindness and respect for their feelings and Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians and Baha’is. ideas. In my ‘book’, a good Muslim is no different than a good Jew, Christian, Buddhist, Confucian, Sikh, Hindu, Still, some parents may not have liked this Native American, or even an Animist or atheist. I believe fraternization if they knew the details. One boy in that it is natural to treat every other human being with the particular suffered greatly. He was one of the many same respect and care that we long to have given to ‘Mohammad’ guests we had. He was young, gentle and full ourselves. I am talking about “normal” human beings, not of curiosity. He had light hair so he was probably from those whose hearts and minds are burdened by fear and some Northern tribe. I don’t remember how he came to our ignorance, or who have been “trained in hatred.” center but he just fit in with the rest of the group. He attended workshops in the North and took notes about what Needless to say my experience of the Big R he learned and what he saw. He was especially moved to resentment made me realize how much more of a burden get to know girls in a ‘nice’ way, his newfound ‘sisters’ does our God have in trying to heal this world back to made him so happy. He would just show up at our center “normal” true love and human family? So I continue each and sit through a lecture or go with us when we went out. day of my life to try and decrease His burden and never add One day after not seeing him for awhile he came in quietly. to it. When I looked at him, he had bruises all over his face (and Don’t talk to members of the opposite sex: As a under his clothes too, I was told). His father and older teacher of English I was always respected and treated well. brothers were mullahs and very strict. One of them had

1975 Missionary Testimonies 32

found his notebook from attending the workshops. When store, or in line at the bank, bumping into each other in K- they read that he was fraternizing with girls not in his Mart or on the street, chatting with whom ever happened to family, they beat him within an inch of his life and told him be next to me, even swapping stories of our friends or never to see us again. But after he was able to get out of families. I just didn’t realize how much I missed them until bed again he came to us and with tears and told us if they I saw a very tall man walking down the street in Teheran found out he was seeing us again his family might actually one day. He was so obviously an American, an African kill him, the youngest son in a long line of Mullahs. We American. Without thinking, I ran up to him impulsively didn’t see much of him after that. and said with much enthusiasm, “Hi there” grinning ear to ear as if I had run into a long-lost friend. He stepped back There were also news stories that told of girls being in surprise and asked me, “Do I know you?” It was then I killed by fathers or brothers or uncles because they had realized how much I had been missing people of color, fraternized too closely with a male not of their family. One people of the American landscape that I was homesick for. story in particular made me rage inside. A girl had been So I said, “It’s been so long since I saw a black person!” He sent by her father to study Islam with a mullah. The man looked puzzled and managed to get around me and had eventually seduced the girl and had sex with her. When continue on his way, probably wondering who that crazy her father found out, he took her to a field and tried to kill ‘white girl’ was. You never realize how much you miss her by driving back and forth over her body in his car. He something or someone until they are gone. On that day I did so several times. Somehow she survived and crawled realized something about myself. I love all kinds of people for help. Her father was being questioned by police. What naturally, unless they do something terrible to frighten me happened to the mullah her father had sent her to, who had or hurt me. I came to know something about my insides, I seduced her? Nothing. Now, I understand that “honor was a lover of all flavors of people and I believed that they killing” is a practice found in many Muslim countries, even are my brothers and sisters in the human family. I had in the US by some Muslim families. The crime the girl grown up to be a person who could love anyone. commits? It can be as simple as being seen talking with a non-relative male in public. I discovered the hard way that people didn’t always trust me or what I was saying. Maybe it was because I was “I am so happy to see a black person”: I didn’t an American, or a woman or an American woman or realize that I missed seeing and relating to black people, because my ideas were too idealistic. Maybe it is just good ole African American, slave descendant or not, human nature. But to me I felt that I had to invest again and people that I grew up with, fought and made peace with, again, with tears and much disappointment but investing gossiped and laughed with; people in shades of mocha and yet again, forgetting the pain and keep investing until chocolate of every warmth and glow. Arabs were dark and somehow the person could believe in my words and trust had wavy or kinky hair but their internal selves and the me. Maybe I was too idealistic, too full of hopeful look in their eye weren’t the same familiar “home” to me. I expectations. Whatever it was my heart was trampled on am not saying the trite, “Some of my close friends are again and again just when I thought I had been successful. black.” But WE are Americans together, used to each other Every person did it in a different way. I wonder if I and most of the time comfortable in each other’s company. trampled their hearts sometimes too. The melting pot of America has so many beautiful shades and ‘flavors.’ African Americans are part of my favorite Not everyone disappointed me, the mothers of my landscape, especially since I discovered God. members somehow didn’t. Maybe my expectation of them was not as high. I suspect they – being mothers – just We kids grew up together barely noticing skin color understood me better. And they were proud of me as a girl unless there was obvious hurt or violence interjected. The doing the impossible. They were proud of me because I first day in my new second grade I brought home several was a vivacious young woman who treated their sons and new girlfriends. When my mom saw them she said daughters as family without any sexual undertones. something about the “United Nations delegation.” I fought with and made up with numerous black girls in middle Prison or exile: I didn’t go to prison but both Beate school, one in particular was Delores Middleton, I heard and I had to leave Iran for awhile in 1977, because we had she became a Playboy Bunny after high school! We were received threatening phone calls and the police wanted us just a couple of ignorant kids who didn’t always hear about to leave so we wouldn’t be hurt. The police told me that how the races were part of the same family. At least I was their government couldn’t handle an American woman lucky enough to finally learn that. “In God there is no black being injured and asked me why I thought I should talk or white…” I missed seeing people of color in the grocery about religion when I was an English teacher. We went to

33 1975 Missionary Testimonies Turkey for four months and worked there. Then we was either ‘crazy’ or ‘very special.’ returned with different passports and worked more quietly and no longer had legal jobs. We let the members be the Evans Johnson, a missionary who couldn’t stay in his public face for us. Ryuji somehow didn’t have the same country, also had an apartment down in the city and we problems as we two and supported the members while we visited there all the time. We met and talked to the people were away. He had to renew his visa regularly by going to he witnessed to. Istanbul is full of history and sights and Turkey every three months as he never held an official job smells that are so different. We often would take a ship out in Iran. Plus, the Japanese people were never considered to the islands to swim in the Marmara. We collected someone to worry about, there were so few of them and as mussels and built a fire then threw the shells in. They a small nation they didn’t have many enemies. would open up and we picked out the meat and dipped it into some butter I warmed in the largest shell. I cringe at While in Turkey, Beate and I first lived with Harald the sight of a mussel now; free food has its limits. and Ellie Unger. He had been an earlier missionary from our church from Austria and found Ellie who had been a Turkish men always tried to get Beate and me alone, missionary for the American Congregational Church, when and they were always disappointed! But I loved the simple the 1800 blessing came he asked to be blessed to her even things about these people, I especially liked the way the though her total experience had been only with him. He bus driver’s helper would so kindly move us back so he was a quiet and unassuming man, she was a noisy could pack a dozen more people into a crowded bus! American, a great match! They never had children until the “Kardeshim, please move back.” Kardeshim means family 1980’s for some reason, so it was hard on them waiting for members, so his words were warm. But I always had to the fulfillment of love. Harald drove a VW bug and was an watch the hands of the men around me. Sometimes I would avid gardener. He once filled his car with bat dung because just chant my husband’s name to make a vibration around it was great fertilizer for his vegetables. Elizabeth, or me that protected me, it worked! Another time a man ‘Ellie’ reported that the car smelled for months! Growing fondled my rear and I had just had enough. I turned around food saved them lots of money when it was hard for them in a very crowded space and yelled at him in English, “You to make money in Turkey, I think he taught somewhere. creep, stop that!” and pushed him away even though it was There were many Japanese missionaries who found refuge so crowded. He was very embarrassed and the women on in Turkey and needed a place to stay and the Ungers the bus gave him the “evil eye” they all knew what was always took them in, no matter the number. going on even if no one spoke a word of English.

Beate and I didn’t want to burden them and rented the On May first, 1977 there was a May Day basement apartment two floors down to give them more demonstration and 33 (or so) people were trampled to room, Beate bought some yellow paint for our little death. Everywhere you could see the Maoists and Marxists, apartment but it turned out to be so loud that we actually they all wore fatigues; one with the pants tucked into the had to repaint our bedroom just so we could sleep! top of their boots, the other with the pant legs left out, that was their only difference in dress. A bus driver told me Once I dove down in the Black Sea and collected kelp, that one day a passenger on his bus shot at a passenger on a brought it home then laid it all over the Unger’s house to bus across the street. The two drivers just drove away dry so the Japanese brothers would have a taste of home. quickly to remove the threat. A famous saying in Turkey is: Needless to say, I was only popular with one group! Allahin day-deo-lur meaning something like ‘all that happens is the will of God.’ So when someone on the street We witnessed while we were there and I found Hassan dies a driver just goes around. I felt fear in Turkey because Ali Dehmen who sold leather jackets in the Istanbul of this cavalier attitude toward life and death, especially in Bazaar, when he asked me “What are you looking for?” I a bus on a narrow mountain road in the middle of the night answered, “God.” He sputtered and we went to his shop where I could look out over a precipice and see way down and I began to teach him. He fell asleep in every lecture so the hillside just below my window in the moonlight. I don’t know what he learned but when Lady Dr. Kim visited Turkey she just loved him and said he had such After I returned to Iran with a new passport (I used my wonderful ancestors! I also found a Turkish-Iranian man, married name now, but got harassed sometimes because I Mahmood who had married a Turkish girl. I taught him too was “Jewish.”) I had to make ‘visa trips’ every three but it was so difficult for him to change. We met on one of months to Turkey to renew my visa. I sometimes had to those long bus rides between Iran and Turkey and he stay in a motel at the border when the driver needed to rest watched me take care of the people around me, especially for the night. I was always on guard. One night I was in my mothers with several children. He later told me he thought I hotel room when a young man said I had to move to

1975 Missionary Testimonies 34

another room as my room was a double and he wanted to Maman’s home that the members would build themselves. give me a single. I stupidly followed him to a smaller room It was a two mile walk up into the woods. He also helped on a higher level. All night long those boys knocked on my teach a young Korean man with little English, whose name door saying, Khanum, khanum… “Mrs., Mrs….” I just was “Haywan.” In Farsi, hayvan means animal or wild. So ignored them realizing my mistake and tried to sleep. In the the members joked a lot at the young struggling Korean morning I met the friendly government official, Mehmet man trying to find his way in the world. We had several Bey, who was traveling to the next town, sitting next to me wonderful Japanese brothers too, from Iraq, Egypt and on the bus, and he asked me how I slept. I told him, other Middle East nations. When we were going to do our “Terribly because of (pointing to) those two boys who first workshop in the mountains, Kanno arrived just in time banged on my door all night long.” Parroting what they had from Egypt. I met and asked, “Can you be the brothers’ said and done allowed everyone a clear picture of my night team leader?” He answered, “Yes.” “Oh yeah, what is your in the hotel. The hotel manager got an earful from Mehmet name?” He was that kind of brother, always saying ‘yes.’ Bey and I will always remember him kindly. Another time His first wife had been European and had left him and the I was crossing Lake Van on the route to Turkey from Iran movement. Later, at his re-matching in New York in 1982 I when two teenage boys approached me in a cheeky manner saw him struggle with being matched to another Western and asked my name. I answered, “Teaze Suzan”, meaning sister. I went to his side and said, “Kanno, look at her face, aunt Susan and they straightened up right away realizing I she can love anyone. And she is kind and thoughtful.” I knew what was expected from them and wouldn’t allow didn’t say that I had never seen her before but when the their bad behavior. Knowing the cultural practices of a heart is motivated by love we can see the “truth.” Shirley country can help in many situations. Kanno was indeed a woman who could love anyone with kindness and gentleness. They had many happy years My time in Turkey was only four months and then for together. They have three children, two girls and a boy and a few days every three months. On a return by train to Iran gave an offering child to a childless couple. He suffered one time I met William Kittich and his Japanese brother in deeply from stomach cancer years ago and passed on. law. Bill had met his Japanese wife studying Islamic Shirley now lives in Italy with a second husband, a comfort Jurisprudence in Iran, fell in love and married. They spoke blessing. I often see her eldest daughter in New York and Farsi together as she didn’t learn much English. The always let her know how much I love her parents. Japanese brother in law spoke only Japanese and a little English. I witnessed to them and they came over to our The heart we had to have to achieve winning apartment in Tehran. His Farsi was so over the head of our spiritual children: ‘Desperation’ and ‘never give up’ are members they didn’t know what to do with what he was key words. In Iran, we prayed and prayed and we went out saying. He was already full up so he didn’t receive much again and again. My spiritual children were constantly on from us. He used his superior Farsi as a tennis racket my mind, more than food, sleep and thoughts of home. I hitting away any ideas we put forth. I later found out he was so focused I sometimes forgot where I was and only worked for Dr. Sayed Hossein Nasr (former Minister of looked for them. As foreigners, we were interesting to most Education under the Shah whom Robert Morton had met in people we met, so they wanted to talk to us. Being Iran) in the US and both of them attended an ICUS spiritually guided and finding spiritually guided or open conference in Miami one year. I was there with my then, people was key to our success. In a session in Barrytown four year old Donsu, Bill wasn’t so happy to see me, but Training center, NY just before going out to our mission Dr. Nasr has always been gracious. countries, we were allowed to ask True Father questions. I asked him how to witness to a Muslim, he said, “Good I also wish to add that in addition to Jeff Tallakson question …witness to spiritually open people.” It was coming to help with our “foozool cleaning condition,” invaluable advice. He meant the ones who could hear or Evans Johnson visited us and was well known to our feel God guiding them. Also, the ones who had an open members. They laughed a lot with Evans, he is a great mind helped a lot in witnessing in a Muslim country. And, brother. He visited, after we three missionaries left, to it was dangerous to change one’s religion, especially for a check on our Iranian family. He wrote me that the members Muslim. I never denied Islam but tried to fit the beliefs into were praying in a rather unique way: “In the name of the context of what we were teaching, after all there is only Susan, Beate, Ryuji and True Parents.” I wrote a letter to one God. them asking them to just stick with True Parents; how wonderfully funny. John Boles also visited us and helped Talking about God is not so strange in a country like me draw up an architectural plan for a new workshop Iran, but getting to the deeper beliefs was dicey. I taught center in the mountains at a higher elevation from the Divine Principle with Jesus being a prophet in an

35 1975 Missionary Testimonies historical line of all prophets and then added more of the at some point and is expected to return at the Last Days. Prophet Mohammad and his contributions to following Jesus is also expected to return at the same time. The God. Restoration was focused on the concept of Zoroastrian teachings that Jews and Christians adopted reestablishing True Parents as the universal example for all long ago are shared by the Shi’ites: Last Judgment, people. No one thought about True Parents before, but this cataclysm, near magical happenings, angels, and the idea had some attraction. The Prophet Mohammad had one believers going up to Heaven. especially precious wife, Khadijah, and a daughter, Fatimah. He married others, especially widows “so they But one thing that helped bring success was wouldn’t be alone, and tempted to sin.” But he treasured constancy. If I had acted badly they wouldn’t have trusted his primary wife, who was older than he, and she is me and thus they wouldn’t have believed. We three honored by Muslims worldwide. Also, people had parents missionaries actually lived like brothers and sisters, and each family had a certain dynamic between husband laughed together without any sexual vibes, served each and wife. Usually the wife/mother would be the boss at other in any way, and according to our members let no home, yet humble to the husband, and the husband was the cultural bias block our relationship. So I actually can say, boss outside the house. For women, especially daughters, we always checked our fallen nature, always tried to be fair could have no relationships with men not of their and practice the love that True Parents gave us. This moved immediate family. Though restrictive, it protected girls and our guests to become members. It was nearly impossible to reinforced the idea of “True Parents.” True meant to them leave their families and their way of thinking but somehow remaining pure until marriage. The family members and many did. We had no more than a dozen living together at cousins were very close, and many people married their one time, but we had at least 30 plus at every workshop in first cousins because they knew them. But that practice is the mountains, three hours by rickety train to the north. changing to follow the scientific view that inbreeding is And we always made extra food for the guests that would dangerous. just show up. Thank goodness Beate, Essi and I, made good money. Ryuji luckily continued to receive his $300 a I cried bucket full of tears for my spiritual children, I month stipend from Japan. ached, I struggled, I walked on and on alone or with my I finally landed in Frankfurt, Germany from Iran. two missionary partners, but I never gave up. I ate, drank, At the airport in Frankfort I saw a young man with the and slept for my spiritual children, I was obsessed. Once “look of a brother” looking at me expectantly. Yes, he was after much heartache over a certain person, Ryuji told me a member of our movement sent to pick me up by my dear to ‘forget him if he causes you so much pain.’ He only friends, Reiner and Barbara Vincenz, who were the leaders meant to comfort me because he couldn’t stand for me to in Germany at that time of the “Vereinigenskirche.” suffer so, but I could do nothing but ache and pray. This (Unification church in German) We had gotten to know person, Eshagh Zahedi , became the leader of our each other in 1974 in Cincinnati and Chicago and I loved movement after I left. He translated the DP carefully and them dearly. They put me up and let me sleep in if I wanted many other things so the members would have “spiritual and allowed me to heal from the rigors of revolution and food” to live by. He translated the book of True Father’s separation. I jumped into the climate of the movement there speeches entitled: Twelve Talks: Rev. Sun Myung Moon. after a few days and even witnessed to someone I saw in an Then, he even won the trust of the imam who gave old church! I also reunited with Beate. We called Iran permission for printing so that the members could publish together one time and spent the weekly food budget for the thousands of copies, and the members fundraised with the center on the phone call! But our ‘children’ were safe and little books! The members had no concepts. If I had been surviving without us. there I might have fainted at their fundraising during the revolution and difficult time that followed, and then they Overall I spent two weeks in Germany where I was would have lost their confidence. This new experience able to attend a workshop with guests who spoke English challenged them all but provided some of the best and did some site seeing in several cities. I also worked on testimonies and escape stories possible and they raised my autobiography that Father Moon had asked all money! missionaries to write. It was called “The First Thirty Years.” It was extremely naïve and will remain I taught that True Parentism was the ideal of the unpublished, but I have used it in the writing of my work in messiah. It worked pretty well. The Shi’ite people expect progress, Mission to Iran: Underground and Inspired. their messiah, Mehdi, to be married. Mehdi is the 12th Unfortunately, it was the only time I ever visited Germany. Imam in a line from Prophet Mohammad’s daughter and But I met many wonderful sisters and brothers who I have nephew, Ali, the first Imam in Shi’ism. Mehdi disappeared seen again in other venues over the years, one in particular

1975 Missionary Testimonies 36

would become my dear sister in Bowie, Maryland later on. to check on him. I realized he needed to go to the hospital Angelika Selle, who at this writing, is now the national immediately. Luckily one of our guests had a car and we president of Women’s Federation for World Peace, USA, put him in the car and instead of taking the long way an organization I dedicated heart and soul to for over 20 around on one way streets he backed into the ‘short way’ years. WFWP is another great love of my life which against the one way streets and drove the six blocks demanded and received total dedication and sacrifice from backward. This is a unique driving phenomena in Iran, go me. backward on a one way street as if no one would notice! We arrived at the hospital in the very nick of time and they I felt safe in Germany, despite the language and very removed part of his bleeding liver. The doctor said he only long vocabulary words. I saw “peaceful demonstrations” by had minutes to live. After this trauma, Ryuji began to Turks there and realized that a struggle would come to witness. A fear block had been removed. He brought two Germany as well. But my real sigh of relief came as a unique members, both from Esfahan, both very precious. surprise to me when I finally landed in New York on Albors was executed by the government years after we left, January 29, 1979. (Even though I had hoped to turn right for running guns to the Kurds in Iraq. Nasser is well known around, and head back to Iran again). It was not a just a in Southern California as a hard working brother and visits sense of “home” or “safety” it was also a realization that Iran regularly to witness to new people and to comfort the my roots, my ancestors, who had lived and died for a members. He still drives me crazy with all his antics but he greater good and had sacrificed to build this great nation is irreplaceable. dwelled. I actually believe that so many blessings in my life have somehow come from their exemplary lives somehow. Beate Wilhelm Lauer-Smaltz married young and one They came before me, paving the way, and they somehow day found her husband in bed with her best friend. Her supported me in my work for a better world. The Shah, or broken heart led her to join the movement in Germany. She Shahanshah of Iran (King of kings) would follow me was four months in the church when she was sent to Iran. several days later and eventually die in New York, away She was an inexperienced self-starter who played her guitar from his beloved home, I too had lost my beloved ‘home.’ at all gatherings. We all loved her even though she never brought any new members. But she worked hard to be a A note on my fellow missionaries, Ryuji and Beate. I loving ‘aunt’ to all who came to our center. She taught have been told that they are no longer active in our German until we were kicked out of the country. During movement. I love them and couldn’t have done it without her time she made a lot of conditions. She fasted seven them, they are a casualty of the war between the forces of days three times, and did a 40 day liquid-only diet to light and dark; and to find the strength to overcome all the comfort the boy who had his jaw wired shut after his difficulties we faced is superhuman. They protected me and motorcycle accident on the day of the Yankee stadium helped me when I needed it the most. My love for them and speech in NY. Before she did any fasting I had trouble especially for all our members came directly from God. His sitting next to her when we ate. I felt anger coming from love flowed through me to all of them. It was only my own her and a glutton spirit. I met other German sisters in time criticalness and fallen nature that blocked Him giving them and felt that same spirit. Their ancestors ate until they were more. I wish I could have given them much, much more. full and then threw it all up and ate again, while my Irish ancestors starved to death. But Beate changed from her Ryuji Kuranaga joined our church around the same fasting. Not only did she lose some weight but she began to time I did in Japan. He was an 1800 couple with a strong look more feminine, even beautiful. But she couldn’t break wife I suspect. He was a gentle soul. He didn’t come to Iran through in witnessing. During the last year Ryuji and Beate for six months after Beate and I did, he said, because he became intimate against our teachings, while in Turkey was afraid, and because he heard that “a strong American getting new visas. They hid their secret relationship and sister was in Iran.” I later found out that his father had had tried to support me in the last year we worked in Iran. I a stroke on the right side of his body and was partially heard that they left our movement after I went to the US paralyzed. While we were in Iran one of his brothers died, and later married in Germany. They lived in Germany then the eldest son of another brother died and then his where they had one child. I also heard that they divorced father died. Ryuji didn’t abandon his mission. I don’t know and Beate married an Iranian man. They put up with how he did it. Then one day I was giving a lecture and headstrong and bossy me, loved me despite my “Yuj” staggered in the door. He had been hit by a imperfections and kept their secret until I was safely back motorcycle. A young man helped him home. I asked him if in the US. I know they never wanted to disappoint me but he was ‘OK’ he said, “Don’t worry about me continue we all face terrible temptations. I don’t know where Ryuji teaching.” So I did, but something nagged at me and I went is but I wish them both well.

37 1975 Missionary Testimonies

Back in the USA: To finish this testimony I wish to for several years.. Both of Essi and Hossein had to flee Iran share two deep experiences. The first came when I visited because of persecution of our movement. We were known Belvedere after I had returned to the US and prayed at the by the government and persecution could have become holy rock. I had a clear vision of the connection of the holy deadly. They now live in the US. Hossein returned to Iran grounds all over the world being connected by ‘tentacles’ with his family for a while, but it became too difficult. His reaching through the earth. Just before I left Iran I visited presence there helped the members though, and others our humble holy ground that True Parents established in followed him to the US. Yet, there is a healthy remnant of 1965 to pray for the safety of our members, our movement our members in Iran keeping the faith. Most have never and God’s Will for the nation. At Belvedere I felt drawn seen True Parents physically, but I hope the internet gives through the holy ground to the one in Iran, and ‘received’ them a chance. Essi’s spiritual great grandson led the that whenever I prayed at a holy ground my prayers would movement from exile in Turkey for several years where the be passed through the earth to Iran and my members. members would come for workshops. He now resides in Korea with his family and continues to translate True The other experience was quite wonderful. As soon as Parent’s words for the members scattered far and wide. I arrived in New York (the future Katie Zahedi picked me And Nasser Zommorodian (Zomorod), who lives in Los up, and I told her tales of my members including Essi, who Angeles, goes back nearly every year to encourage and unbeknownst to us would become her husband in 1982!) I teach the members. Our members hang on in faith and love. was given a room in the New Yorker. I showered and The little seed I planted has grown deep roots regardless of changed into clean clothes and then went on the ‘hunt’ to the fanatical politics in Iran. Again, religious freedom does explore the New Yorker. Very soon I found out that True not exist and people who change their religion may die but Parents were in the building. I figured I couldn’t just go up our members continue to believe and practice living for the to the 30th floor and announce myself, even though True sake of others. Parents had called me back, but I quietly snuck up the stairs to their floor. When I opened the stairway door I saw a But the best was yet to come when I was with True brother named Randy, whom I had know years before. I Parents. While we were talking I began to see True told him I had just come back from Iran because Dr. Pak Father’s face change. His eyes seemed to open wider and said True Parents wanted to see me. So I hung out in the wider until I was drawn into his heart and I felt that his hallway sharing my experiences to an enthralled security heart opened to me. He was saying something about how guard, and as luck would have it Dr. Pak walked by the he had lost his nation like me, but internally I felt that I had door and saw me. He said, “Susan, come in True Parents been drawn into a deep part of his heart where only a few will want to see you.” people can go. Our shared suffering and loss had given us a unique connection. I felt two things: first I said to him in This was the moment I had waited four long years and my mind, “I am willing to go to the most difficult country many tears for to finally be reunited with my True Parents, now!” Djibouti was the most difficult place I heard of. The the ones I loved and happily represented in Iran. When I report I read was that there were 300,000 men and 600,000 walked into the room where they were sitting together I goats in a Muslim nation left behind in modern times. froze. All my emotions came rushing up into my throat and I had to use all my energy to not break down sobbing. True The second thing I felt was that this experience is not Mother came to my rescue and whispered, “Korean bow.” I just for me. I represent all of the foreign missionaries from thanked her with my eyes and did a fairly steady bow. all the countries who couldn’t be there with True Parents Father waved and said, “Sit down.” In relief I did. I had and me. I offered up this experience to all those who had always been happy to see them, to be with them, to listen to sacrificed and suffered to be True Parents’ representatives. them, no matter how long; but seeing them after such a I sent my gratitude on behalf of all of them to True Father long time was so overwhelmingly wonderful. Father asked at that moment. Afterwards, Father gave Mother some me about the mission and I told them about how many money to go shopping for me so I wouldn’t have such a members we had, (40) the religions, and even Maman tattered look. In the store she looked at a fur coat for me, I Zahedi and how she supported me. Then he asked me if my spoke to her in my heart and said, “Mother, I need to be members could be trained and become leaders in Iran. At humble and practical not rich.” Somehow she felt my that moment in time I realized with a start, that I had been words and stepped over to a winter raincoat. I still have successful. I said, “Yes” and knew that both Essi and that practical gray, imitation fleece-lined coat. She also Hossein would make good leaders. Essi did lead the bought me a gray, wool suit, two blouses, shoes and a movement for several years before escaping through purse. I still have all but the shoes. But I understood that Pakistan to his new bride, Katie. They lived in the region True Parents wanted to give all the missionaries the very

1975 Missionary Testimonies 38

best things in thanks for our service, I was but their demonstrative in public. But he was my rock and I knew representative. being blessed to him protected me in so many ways, not only using his name to ‘chant’ on buses in Turkey to keep My experience as a missionary made me a much the men away from me but also I could feel his prayers for stronger, self-reliant and spiritual person. I am deeply me and my protection. He was really with me most of the grateful for all the good and bad experiences. In the end, time - meaning when I let him - as I was slowly getting the suffering settles into gentle memories and the goodness used to being married! I hoped that those members who rises to an overpowering feeling of gratitude and a strong went out without a spouse to support them could find sense of being uniquely blessed by God. Most of all I am protection in some other way. I know True Parents prayed grateful for the trust True Parents placed in me and the love strongly for each one of us. of my brothers and sisters. The members named me the “mother of Iran.” Today there are others who love and take One day in Teheran there was a small report on the care of this important nation. I hope that one day soon all Washington Monument rally in Washington, DC. They nations can realize that we are actually brothers and sisters said 10,000 people had attended, I didn’t believe the report. and must take care of one another. Another time a short paragraph said that “Dan Fefferman was charged with contempt during the Frazier Hearings” on Finally, one of the most terrible questions Father Capitol Hill! I worried a little and wondered what it really Moon asked me years after returning from Iran was: “What meant. Those articles were in the English Kayhan is the great missionary to Iran doing now?” I could not newspaper because a reporter had interviewed me after a answer anything great but told him I was supporting several front page article on True Father was published. My organizations like WFWP, ACC, New Hope Academy and interview put me on the front page after a few days saying, the church. But I knew I disappointed him, because he still “Special Representative of Rev. Moon in Teheran.” But my needs extraordinary, brave heroes to finish the work of photo was on the lower half of the page and Father’s had True Parents. been on the top part of the front page. I was in great company! Was this stupid of me to be interviewed? Who I know there must be some errors in my memory, for knows? True Father was a bold man, and as his daughter I those who remember differently please forgive me and let wanted to be brave and bold too. Working underground me know what your different memories are. Thank you. was not easy for me. I don’t know if this article was in a susanfeff@aol.com. file that was later used by the police to exile me when I was ******** being threatened by a radical group of angry young men, but I think True Father was proud of me. My dear husband, Dan, was busy fighting for victory over communism during my time in Iran and Turkey. He My children: was always working for God and True Parents in many Donsu Finnegan Fefferman Spratt, 7.26.1982, ways. We wrote letters regularly to one another and even currently divorced. She is a specialist in autism (Masters in still have a few of them. We were always “principled” in Special Education from Johns Hopkins U) and is an autism what we said and used no soppy romantic words. We didn’t supervisor in Florida, a ‘coach’ for eight classes of autistic really know each other except as members of the same children. She is well respected in her field and well loved family. On my birthday in the second year he called me by staff, parents and kids alike, she just ‘gets’ those kids from the US. Neither of us knew what to say, so we just and loves them. She also has a special love for people of listened to each other breathe. It wasn’t romantic but I felt color beginning with Taj Hamad, as she helped her daddy close to him nonetheless, just being in the same space was and Taj do the garbage run at UTS when she was three wonderful. I kept him close to me in Iran by playing the years old. She gave herself the middle name ‘Finnegan’ songs he wrote, sang and recorded for me. Ninety minutes while Dan and I were attending UTS. She stood up on a of him singing those well-loved songs did two things: it chair at the lunch table one day and announced her middle kept him ‘alive’ for me and gave the members a chance to name. I surmised she understood that we have two families hear those precious songs and get a feel for how to sing behind us and wanted to give them both representation. It them (singing doesn’t happen much in Iran except with stuck and we love her for it. very horizontal popular Iranian singers). This was a fantastic tool and all of us could sing together. Beate could Kaeleigh June Fefferman Moffitt 11.6.1988, blessed use the tape to learn the chords so we had musical to David Moffitt in 2008 in MD (Larry and Taeko’s oldest accompaniment. Even when I returned to the US and first son); our first granddaughter, June Sonoda Moffitt was met Dan we only shook hands not wanting to be born May 17, 2014 - on their anniversary and is the apple

39 1975 Missionary Testimonies of all of our eyes. [“June” comes from Persian, or ‘Jahn’ from poetry meaning, “my soul” or “my darling.” In Teheran’s pronunciation, Jahn becomes “June” and is added to a loved one’s name like “chan” in Japanese or in answer to a question, “Jahn” meaning ‘my dear please say it again.’] I called my daughter ‘Kaeleigh June’ in affection without thinking, and my husband said we should keep it as Kaeleigh’s middle name. The kids chose it for their daughter to honor this grandmother, and ‘Sonoda’ to honor the other grandmother, Taeko Moffitt. Kaeleigh has a degree in business and family, and is currently the National Youth Pastor Advisor for our church in the US, and David has a doctor of physical therapy degree and works in a nearby clinic, his kid patients especially like him and he now takes care of all the kids that come into the office. We are not only proud of them but grateful for all they do for our community. We are awaiting grandchild number two.

1975 Missionary Testimonies 40

Patricia Fleischman - Senegal I remember the first year of our mission as being very special – very intense. I feel that we were specially guided On May 2, 1975 at 3:00 a.m., I landed at the airport in and protected by God. We were getting to know a new Dakar, Senegal, West Africa, as a missionary sent out by country and culture that was so different from our own. We True Parents. At that time I was 24 and I had no idea how were trying to figure out how to live there; what to eat, how long I would be staying and what situations I would face to live our daily lives, how to support ourselves, how to there. I also didn’t know much about Senegal – just that it relate to the people, etc. At first, it was all so strange I was a predominately Moslem country and that its president missed America terribly. Whenever I saw a gas station I was a poet. I also knew that I would be joining a German would get tears in my eyes because that was the one thing and Japanese missionary whom I had never met though I in Senegal that most resembled America. Gradually, as I knew their names. Reflecting back on that time I realize became more accustomed to Senegal and as we started that I wasn’t really thinking or analyzing things but just getting to know some people and developing friendships, I went totally on faith in God and True Parents. I ended up began to feel such a great love for the country. I loved staying in Senegal 17 years thanks to God’s grace and walking the streets and taking the old “cars rapides” - a protection. I am eternally grateful to our Heavenly Parents very old kind of minibus that held about 15 people sitting for giving me the opportunity to go to Senegal as a in benches in the back and that had floors that were rusted missionary even though I was not qualified for such a through in many places so you could see the pavement responsibility. I feel my real life began in Senegal. below. Because I had come to Senegal with only a one-way Being a predominately Moslem country, there were ticket, I wasn’t able to enter until I bought a return ticket to Mosques everywhere including one just two blocks from Germany, which had been my last stop before arriving in our apartment. Five times a day the call to prayer would Senegal. So I had to use half of the money given to me to explode out through the loud speaker of the Mosque. start my mission to buy that ticket. Then I spent the rest of Every Mosque sends out the call to prayer 5 times a day. It the night at a hotel near the airport. In the morning, is a chant in Arabic saying something like “Hasten to knowing that the Germany missionary was already in Prayer”. My bedroom in our 3rd floor apartment had a Senegal, I took a taxi and went straight to the German narrow balcony that faced the Mosque, so in the beginning embassy hoping to get his address. To my surprise, he was I found the calls to prayer disruptive but I eventually sitting there in the Embassy. That morning he had had the became accustomed to them and could appreciate their inspiration to go to the Embassy. He was staying in a beauty. Senegal officially has freedom of religion, though small, very simple old hotel in the center of Dakar and had over 90% of the population is Moslem with only a small reserved a room there for me. It was a great relief to have portion of Christians and others. Because of the high met him in such a way that was clearly guided by God. percentage of Moslems, there was some social pressure to be Moslem. There is a Moslem sect native to Senegal, the After a couple of weeks we were able to find an Mourides, that is very popular and powerful, as well as apartment in the center of town near the French Cultural other branches of Islam. Center and a couple of weeks after that the Japanese One day during our first few months in Dakar, we had missionary arrived. The German missionary was 21 years an interesting experience. Our apartment was on the 3rd old and had only been a church member for about 9 months floor and had a balcony overlooking the street. It suddenly before being sent to Africa. The Japanese missionary had became kind of dark outside and then we heard a lot of been a CARP member in Japan and was clearly the one noise in the street. We went out on the balcony to see what who had the most spiritual training and wisdom among the was going on and found there was a solar eclipse taking three of us. The German missionary spoke English and place. Looking down we saw that the street was full of French (the main common language in Senegal) pretty men bowing towards the sun and praying to Allah in loud well. The Japanese only spoke Japanese so it was very voices. We found out that they were praying to Allah to difficult for him. I had studied French through high school give back the sun. They continued praying until the eclipse and college so I could read it pretty well but had trouble was over. speaking it so I borrowed books in French from the French There was also a large Catholic church not far from Cultural Center library which was near our apartment and our apartment where many of the French people who lived after reading many books I started thinking in French and in Senegal worshiped. In the first few months, the then, could speak it. Both the German and Japanese Japanese missionary and I would often go there to pray missionaries were kind and gentle by nature. Still, because because we found it very difficult to pray in our apartment of the providential importance of our unity it wasn’t easy. and, in general, in Senegal. Gradually we could build the The First Year strength to pray well in our center.

41 1975 Missionary Testimonies It was difficult at first to figure what to eat. For most and stopped coming to see us. It was a hard lesson for us. of our first year we lived on bread, Laughing Cow cheese, We realized that our mission wasn’t going to be as easy as and tomatoes or mangos or something like that. The food we hoped it would be. in the French super markets was way too expensive for us The German brother got the inspiration that we should and the conditions in the open air African markets seemed meet the president, Leopold Senghor, so he requested a so unhygienic I had a hard time buying anything but fruits meeting. To our surprise we were granted an audience. I and vegetables. The areas where they sold meat and fish went with the German brother and the President seemed were so different from anything I’d experienced it was a very surprised when he saw us. I think he expected older very long time before I could actually buy something there. more mature people. We talked a little with him and gave One day I received a large package from my mother of him a Divine Principle book as we left. We believed it was dried food that needed cooking so we finally bought a little a good condition for the country. burner and pot and started cooking. It felt like Christmas to receive all that food! Later, the Japanese brother from As missionaries, one of the most important aspects of Mali came to Dakar so he could renew his visa. He bought our responsibility was to unite together – Japanese, some meat at the market and prepared it. It was delicious German, and American. Naturally, we had to overcome and we didn’t get sick so I learned to overcome myself and many things in ourselves to be able to do this. It was fairly buy meat at the African market. easy for the Japanese brother and I to get along after we got to know each other a little. When I went to Senegal I was Through our friends we were introduced to the painfully aware of how little I understood about how to live Senegalese national dish, “Tiebou Dien” which means rice a principled life and I had never had a real experience of and fish. It is a very spicy dish that many Senegalese eat God’s presence through prayer, etc. He seemed much every day for the noon meal. It consists of fried fish with wiser and more spiritual so I was often grateful to receive vegetables and rice cooked in an oily, spicy tomato sauce. guidance from him though sometimes it was hard to take. It’s served on a large platter with the rice on the bottom The German brother was quiet and gentle but also rather and the fish and vegetables piled up in the middle. stubborn and independent. We sometimes had Traditionally, the people eat with their hands and each disagreements but most of the time we got along pretty person eats from the spot just in front of him. The host or well though we weren’t completely united. The thing I hostess puts morsels of fish and vegetables in front of each remember most about the German brother is how much he person. People not accustomed to eating with their hands loved Senegal and the people. He was so dedicated. are given a spoon. It is very delicious and satisfying. However, after some months, the two brothers, who were From the beginning, we were witnessing and inviting both very sensitive spiritually, began to have spiritual people to our apartment. Looking back, it may not have problems that became quite serious and led to strange been the wisest thing to do as we knew so little about the behaviors. That was scary for me because I needed to be people and the country but we were very young and naïve. able to help them and take care of them but I had never had After a couple of months we had two young men, Jean direct experience with such things. So we just kind of Pierre and Charles, coming over almost every day. They endured and persevered and little by little they got better. would come share our simple meals and study Principle During that period we still had some people coming over to with us. We were so happy and inspired to have them study but it was very awkward with what was going on so coming but it was very difficult to figure out how to raise gradually they stopped coming. It was difficult to keep my them. Though we studied every day, they didn’t seem to spirit up when I was in the center but when I went out to do understand very much. We did many conditions for them errands or just get out I felt so much love for the country and really had hope for them. Charles worked as a tour and people and my spirit would be renewed. guide and one day he brought a set of beautiful travel As the two brothers got better our unity also improved books and asked us to keep them for him because he and I felt so hopeful that we really could unite and work thought they would be safer with us. As days and weeks happily together. Unfortunately, another problem came up. went by, Jean Pierre asked to borrow the books one by one. Months earlier, without consulting the Japanese missionary He told us he was a student. We naively totally trusted or me, the German missionary had naively written a letter these two brothers. Jean Pierre told us a story about to the prime minister to ask for a job for the Japanese knowing a good friend of President Senghor and that he brother and himself. I guess he was just desperate to find a would be going to Europe. In the end, he disappeared with way to stay in Senegal permanently. When he told us what all of the beautiful books that Charles had left with us. I he had done we were extremely upset and I think that was took us quite a while to comprehend what had happened. our biggest argument. It turned out that that letter led to a We were completely shocked and realized we had been so police investigation of the three of us. We were all called foolish to believe his stories. Charles became discouraged to the police station but they were asking me questions

1975 Missionary Testimonies 42

about the two brothers. The German brother had also, describe how intense the situation felt at the time and why later, applied for a visa as a businessman so the police were it was so difficult. I can only understand it based on the very confused and suspicious. So in December of 1975, pressure created by the providential importance of our just when things seemed to be going much better, the unity and, and, of course, our fallen natures that rose Japanese and German missionaries were told to leave the strongly to the surface. For many months we were country. Many years later when I was applying for a spiritually paralyzed by this struggle and couldn’t witness permanent residence visa I found out that my file said I was or do anything meaningful for the mission. At times, other expulsed at that time though actually I hadn’t been. Japanese missionaries came for visa reasons and they just A new start kind of shook their heads at us. One of them once gave me some good advice how to handle my relationship with the So January 1, 1976, my first God’s Day in Senegal, I Japanese missionary and things improved a bit after that. I was alone. I remember how I felt that day very clearly. On remember us all going fishing together and actually having one hand I felt completely overwhelmed knowing that I had a good time. During that time it was so hard to pray and to absolutely no idea how to achieve the mission in front of feel close to God. me, or ability to do it. On the other hand I had this blind determination to stay and somehow be successful. All During that time we moved from our apartment in the along since coming to Senegal, I had been praying center of town out to the residential area. We were still fervently most nights on the balcony outside my bedroom, trying to overcome our difficult unity situation when a desperately trying to make a relationship with God and Japanese missionary who hadn’t come before came for a receive His guidance. Now, I could hardly pray or think. while. He really tried to help us and things got a bit better. We moved to a new location and started doing some I actually wasn’t alone for very long. Soon a Japanese witnessing and people started coming to study Principle. missionary from a neighboring country came to renew his The prospect of having new members seemed to intensify visa to his own country. Senegal was a central point for the again the discussion about the central figure. There were surrounding countries and often the missionaries from four of us then in Senegal – two Japanese missionaries, a those countries came to Dakar to renew their visas. It was German missionary and myself. The original Japanese nice to have visitors but sometimes it made it more difficult missionary had come back to Senegal around that time. for us Senegalese missionaries to unite and focus on our mission. At that time, though, I was so grateful to have After struggling so much for what seemed like ages, someone else there. all West African missionaries were called to Ivory Coast for a conference with Dr. Lady Kim. We were so excited! A few weeks later Kathy Harting who had been We had been in the mission field for almost 3 years and expulsed from Dahomey (later called Benin), came to many people were thinking there would be changes after Senegal. Her stay in Senegal was a wonderful vacation the three years were up. Especially since we had been from unity struggles and loneliness. We became good struggling so much the past 2 years we were eager for friends and could really share our hearts with each other. I something new. learned so much from her. One unusual thing happened during that time while we were doing the prayer condition The conference in Ivory Coast was such a good for Yankee Stadium. At that time Gary Fleischman, my experience. Senegal is a very dry, desert-like country brother-in-law, was also visiting from Mali. The three of whereas Ivory Coast is green and lush. I’ll never forget us prayed together for this prayer condition and we had the buying small sweet pineapples on the street. They were cut strange experience of being attacked by uncontrollable so you can hold them like a Popsicle and eat them. We laughter during our prayer. One of us would inadvertently didn’t have pineapples in Senegal. It was so wonderful to pray something strange like praying for the vegetables in see other missionaries and feel the deep bond that we had the kitchen and that would start us laughing so that we together because of our common experience. I spent a lot couldn’t do our prayer. It was a strange kind of spiritual of time with my friend Kathy and felt really renewed attack. spiritually.

After a few months a new German missionary was Dr. Kim talked to us strongly about the importance of assigned to Senegal and shortly after, a new Japanese unity and also did a kind of ancestor liberation, which was missionary came and Kathy was sent to Ivory Coast. This a very new and strange experience for me. She also met began a very difficult period in my time in Senegal, which I with the Senegalese missionaries and spoke very strongly am not proud of. These two missionaries had strong to us about unity. I felt so ashamed of our situation. At personalities and unity became extremely difficult for us. that time she told us we should not have any central figure Looking back I can’t believe we spent so much time and just work together as brothers and sisters. arguing about who should be central figure. It’s hard to

43 1975 Missionary Testimonies So we went back to Senegal with a new resolve to misunderstandings and difficulties. But gradually a good move forward with the mission. We witnessed and started number of wonderful and faithful members joined. They holding workshops. Because I was the only one who spoke were all young men as it was difficult to bring women French well enough I taught the workshops. Just working because of the way they were viewed and treated in the together as brothers and sisters without having to worry Moslem society. We did regular witnessing activities and about the central figure issue was quite easy and pleasant. held workshops on the weekends. Many young people It was amazing how well we got along. Then, one day we came to our workshops though most of them couldn’t received a letter from headquarters saying that I should be understand the Divine Principle. I think some came the central figure. Suddenly everything changed. Our nice because we served them food. harmony was gone. The German missionary could unite Following the direction given by True Parents, we with the direction pretty quickly but one Japanese initiated Home Church activities. Through Home Church I missionary especially could absolutely not accept it. He could see directly how polygamy was practiced and how it would invite me out to talk somewhere and then insist that affected the people. Being predominately a Moslem I write headquarters and tell them that I can’t do it. His country, polygamy was accepted and widely practiced in attitude became very extreme and he started making plans Senegal. Our members told me that a man was allowed to to move out and live separately with his spiritual son. Just have four wives though I heard of cases where they had at that moment, True Father called all the missionaries who many more. One of our associate members told us that his weren’t in their original countries to go to England to do father had had 35 wives and 107 children. In my Home Home Church. So the German and one Japanese Church there was a woman whose husband had 4 wives. In missionary left for England. And the original Japanese her case, her husband had the financial means to provide missionary and I stayed in Senegal. This situation was an each wife with her own house. He spent two nights at a unforgettable lesson for me on the power and importance time with each wife continually going from house to house. of the Cain and Able relationship. Without it, life seems Though the people saw this as normal I could see that there easier because we can ignore or not be aware of our fallen was a sadness with this woman. I can imagine how difficult nature. However, though it makes relationships very it must be, knowing that your husband is with other women challenging, it is necessary for spiritual growth and as a when he’s not with you and only being able to see him two foundation for God to work. days out of every eight. What kind of relationship could a So 1978 was the time of a significant change in the man and woman have in this situation? Men see women as focus of our mission in Senegal. Before that we were a possession and sexual object instead of an equal partner primarily focused on the issue of unity among the in life. And the father could not be so involved with the missionaries. But from that time we were focused on children or have much of a relationship with them. witnessing, teaching and raising members. After our first There was another home where a rather young man three members moved in and began witnessing, more and lived with two wives. One wife put on nice clothes every more people began coming, all of them young men,. The day and went to work while the other wife stayed home and original Japanese missionary worked for a Japanese did the housework and cared for the children. One day I company for a while but because he was nervous about his learned that the wife who stayed home had seriously hurt visa situation, he was sent to another country and another the baby of the other wife out of jealousy. From the many, Japanese missionary came. I can’t say that he and I were many stories I heard about family situations in polygamy I totally united in heart but we didn’t fight and tried our best realized that it destroys love and trust in the family and to work together. among the people in general. Sometimes, there are extreme Educating the new guests and members was such a situations where one wife will do something terrible to the big challenge for us. All we knew was the way we had child of another wife out of jealousy even to the point of been educated in the movement but the situation in Senegal trying to kill the child. But even when it is not so extreme was so different than in our countries. We prayed so much there is a lot of distrust and jealousy among the different for Heavenly Father’s guidance but still made many wives. And children of the same father but different mistakes. I was acutely aware of lacking the heart and mother can feel very competitive with each other or not wisdom that was needed. But there was nowhere to turn have any relationship at all. I noticed, even with our except pray and do our best. It was so exciting when the members, when we taught them that we are all brothers and first members moved in. They were Theodore, Joachim and sisters, it didn’t seem to mean much to some of them. Souleyman. Now, many years later, I can’t remember the Jealousy is a big problem among the people. When I exact order of how we did things and when each member understood polygamy better I could understand why. Of moved in. I do remember that I often had a hard time to course there are some families that somehow get along really understand their hearts and that caused many fairly well, but in general it is very evil. I came to

1975 Missionary Testimonies 44

theconclusion that one of the main causes of the suffering Dakar with the intention of teaching handicapped people to in Africa is polygamy. sew so they could give up their life of begging and make a One time, some years later, we were invited to visit a living for themselves. In Dakar there were so many beggars well-known marabou (Arabic for Moslem cleric) who had a on the streets everywhere many of whom were victims of ranch far out in the countryside. When we arrived we were polio. Our idea was to work with such people. My led to a place a little distant from his compound where his husband, Justin, went to America to buy some simple men had just slaughtered a camel. He and his men were sewing machines and we found some tailors who could eating the liver of the camel raw, which they offered to us teach. Our members took the principle responsibilities for but we declined. They explained that they also eat the fat this center. We started with about a dozen students but of the hump raw. It seemed like it was kind of a after a time they all gave up and went back to the life of celebration. The marabou then took us into his house and begging that they were used to. We had so many gave us some time tea. Because I was a foreigner I, as a difficulties trying to work with those people because of woman, was received along with the men. He showed us their mentality so we changed our idea and decided to around his house and I could see that he had quite a few teach young people. We found a house in a better wives who took care of the house and children. Then he neighborhood that we rented and set up our teaching opened one door and proudly showed us a wife who was center. We experienced many difficulties in the process of just lying on a mat on the floor. She was very big, didn’t setting up and running this center because of our lack of smile and had an empty look in her eyes. I was told that training and experience. It was truly “on the job training.” her sole purpose was to lie there and be available to her One day we had the great honor to be visited by the wife of husband for conjugal relations any time of night or day the President of Senegal, Madame Diouf. It was a very whenever he wished. It was truly heartbreaking to see her. exciting day for us and for the students. She spent quite a bit of time with us learning about the center and looking at Over the years, a number of different missionaries the items created by the students. came to Senegal for some periods of time and then were sent to other countries. I no longer remember exactly when After the students finished their training we gave them each one came or how long they stayed but I remember a sewing machine and helped them set up their own shop. how great it was to have each person there. There were The FISA continued until early 1990s. Today, one of the two German missionaries, Werner and his French wife, students from FISA is a blessed member of the Unification Lorette who gave birth to their first child in Senegal, and Church in Senegal. Annerose who stayed for a couple of years, I think. Kevin Financial Activities Winter was with us for some time and several Japanese During our first couple of years in the mission we missionaries, Kuniosan, Kanadanisan, and Mistunorisan. received a monthly allowance from our home countries of Though the struggle for unity was never as intense as in the $300 each. In the beginning we could just manage to first years, I remember that it still wasn’t easy to be really survive by pooling our money. I remember just one time united in heart. I attribute that especially to my own fallen during the first 4 months that we completely ran out of nature and willfulness. money and food for a day but the next day some money During our years in Senegal, one thing that meant so arrived. After some months, I was able to get a job as a much to me was the Today’s World magazine. It secretary at the English Language Institute of the American connected us to True Parents and what was going on Cultural Center. I could barely type but I managed to do around them. I remember that whenever it would arrive, I what they wanted. They had a large book there full of was like a starving person who was suddenly presented beautiful pictures of America and as I was still feeling very with food. I rushed into my room and read the whole thing homesick, looking at that book would always bring me to in one sitting. Seeing pictures of True Parents holding tears. celebrations in New York with members made me feel such Later, I was able to get a job teaching English at the a longing to be there. I wondered if the members who center. At that time, the only criteria to be able to teach, attended those gatherings knew how lucky they were to be was to be American. I had no experience or training but able to see True Parents like that. I felt so envious of them they had books we followed so I managed. The teaching – and still do today. job paid very well so it was a big source of income for our Foundation Internationale de Secours and mission. I taught for many years until they instituted the d’Amitie (International Foundation for Help and policy that you had to have a college degree to teach there Friendship) - which I didn’t have. I was very grateful for that job which In 1983 we decided to do a service project and started enabled me to support our mission but didn’t take up huge FISA. We set up a small center in a very poor area of amounts of my time.

45 1975 Missionary Testimonies I think it was around 1979 that we started our first give birth to our children. It wasn’t as good or expensive fundraising activities. My husband, Justin, who was still in as the French clinics but was better than the local hospitals. America, furnished us with two or three Polaroid cameras At that time, I was still the central figure. The night before and film and the members went out offering to take our son was born, I had been up late meeting with leaders. pictures of people for a small fee. It took them some time I remember waking up many times during the night with a to master the technique of taking the pictures and stomachache and thinking that I better get rid of this approaching people but then it was fairly successful as a stomachache before I go into labor. In the morning I way to make money for our center. The main problem was discovered it was labor. Shortly after our son was born, keeping a supply of film. Realizing that we needed a Heung Jin Nim had his accident and passed into the spirit product that we could make or buy locally, we tried many world. It was such a difficult time. We never imagined that different things including candles. The members worked something like that would happen to a member of True very hard going out all day in the hot sun and the Family. It was so painful and at the same time we were missionaries also went out fundraising. Missionary sisters feeling the joy of our first child. It was very difficult to could make a lot of money going to Lebanese shop owners reconcile the two kinds of feelings. with items and asking for donations. We had four sons while we were in Senegal. Our fifth Then the German missionary from Mali who was an son was born here in America. Compared to giving birth in artist came to Senegal. He produced beautiful artwork by America, in some ways it was nicer and more personal in spraying paint through stencils that he made. We sold his Senegal. However, I had no one to look to for advice artwork very successfully for many years. concerning childbirth and raising children so it was rather In 1986, my husband, who was then in Senegal, took a lonely. Since we had no women members I had to hire loan on a family trust and we opened an American someone to take care of the children while I did the restaurant following the model set up in Abidjan. It was mission. After our third child I focused mainly on taking call Hamburger House. It was in downtown Dakar in a nice care of the children. We lived in the center all the time we neighborhood. Though I had no experience, I had the were there so our children received a lot of love from the mission of managing the restaurant. We received a lot of members. We left Senegal in February 1992 to return to help and support from Kathy Rigney and Dee Yakpore who America following the direction given to us by Rev. Kwak. came a little later from Ivory Coast to help. It was certainly This is a brief summary of my experiences. It would a great adventure! Looking back, I realize my lack of take a longer time than I have now to write about experience really affected the restaurant but somehow it everything! And I have forgotten some things and also was pretty successful and was still running when we left in often the time sequence of things. But what remains is the 1992. We served typical American food like hamburgers, feeling of deep love for the members and for Senegal. French fries, chicken soup, tuna salad sandwiches, apple This year, 2015, in June we had the great blessing of pie, etc. It was so gratifying when Peace Corps volunteers visiting Senegal with most of our family. It was a deeply came in after spending time in the villages because they got moving and joyful experience! Though the country has so excited about the food. We had a TV where we played changed a great deal since we left, it was still Senegal. I Looney Tune cartoons. Even though we had the restaurant, felt absolutely at home there and it was so wonderful to see the income wasn’t enough to completely support our the old members again and meet their wives and children! mission so we also continued with fundraising activities. When we were there all of the members were young men My Family Life in Senegal so having the wives there has made a huge difference. It My husband and I were blessed in 1975 and shortly was also so meaningful for our children to visit the country after the blessing I was sent to Senegal as a missionary. I of their birth. I felt a deep bond of heart with the members always expected that my husband would come join me but – as if we had not been separated at all. They are doing so it wasn’t easy for him to make that decision. Finally, well, persevering through may difficulties with strong faith in1982 he came to Senegal. He immediately went to a and commitment. We all experienced a kind of rebirth town in southern Senegal to do a 40-day pioneer condition, experience in finally being able to meet again. For me, I which was quite amazing. When he came back to Dakar he felt that Senegal is my true home country. supported our mission for a while by fundraising. Though my husband couldn’t speak French before he came to Senegal, he picked it up very quickly and in a year or so could speak very well. Our first son was born on December 13, 1983. I had the good fortune to be able to go to a Lebanese clinic to

1975 Missionary Testimonies 46

Regis Hanna - Ecuador and Chile expressions on their faces. Only later did I realize on my own that I was going into septic shock, a potentially fatal 1975, after my blessing in the 1800 Blessing to Nancy condition. Callahan, Father appointed me as the original missionary to Ecuador. After 7 months, I returned to the USA for health However, it seems that Heavenly Parents had another reasons. In 1980, I joined my wife in Chile. plan for me. Slowly my condition improved. After 21 days in the hospital, only the last 3 of which I was finally given At that time, the only members in the center were the food to eat (the rest of the time I was “fed” through IVs, I Japanese missionaries, Wolf Osterheld and our couple. It looked like a skeleton. was a wonderful time of strong witnessing conditions, much fasting and fundraising. Bit by bit, we were able to I couldn’t walk more than 1 block without resting. A make a foundation of Chilean members. few weeks after my release from the hospital, True Father appointed me Regional Leader of Brazil, Chile, Argentina, In July, 1980, it was the middle of winter when I Paraguay, and Uruguay. I guess this was “a providence for arrived after a 40 Day Training in New York’s World the start.” Mission Center. One of the common diseases in Chile at that time was typhus, which we got by drinking dirty water. Since we had just invited our first member to live in Although we washed our vegetables and boiled the water, the center, it was very interesting, and humbling to visit we still got it. Brazil, which was quite developed and I learned a great deal visiting Sao Paolo, Rio Di Janeiro and Brasilia. It was A few days before Christmas I was sick and assumed also very inspiring to visit Paraguay and Argentina which it was typhus. Despite having diarrhea, there were students were accomplishing their missions despite great challenges. to lecture and nobody could do it but me, so I was interrupting my lectures with trips to the bathroom. That Towards the end of those 2 years, Nancy and I decided night, I had the most severe stomach pains I’ve ever had. to have a “honeymoon” because we had not really seen the The next morning, a young doctor who had heard DP came country. When we returned, the handful of members living by the center to examine me. He quickly diagnosed in the center had all left with the exception of 1 member. appendicitis. Since we had no health insurance, I went to He explained that a man had visited them and told them the Catholic Hospital as a social welfare case. that he was the Lord of the Second Advent and they had become confused and gone back to their families. We Although admitted around noon, surgery did not take phoned them all, one by one and talked with them to calm place until around 6 PM and by that time, my appendix had them down. Soon, everything returned to normal. burst and I had a massive infection all through my abdomen. After surgery, with 2 drainage tubes coming out A few weeks later, 3 men came to our front gate and of my abdomen, I was parked in a bed in a ward with one one insisted that we give him a Divine Principle book. This elderly man who was dying and 4 other men, right near a was highly unusual in 1982. Since he seemed intelligent window. It was a long night as I prayed to see the first and very charismatic, I invited him to come into the center lights of morning. to talk. As we spoke, a voice in my head told me, “This is the person who thinks he is the Lord of the Second The vocabulary that I knew in Spanish was to teach Advent.” I could not ask the members to verify this, so I DP, so, although I had a dictionary, the vocabulary I just asked him directly, and he confirmed it. needed to use in a hospital was quite different. This resulted in more then one hilarious miscommunications. I remembered that Father had taught us how to deal After a few frustrating days of what I thought was called with this kind of person during one of our leader’s for a bedpan, I learned that “sillon” the word I thought was meetings at Belvedere. As a way to teach the members for bedpan actually meant “overstuffed chair” which about this kind of spiritual phenomena, I questioned him explained why nobody ever brought me a bedpan! They about the origin of evil and mission of the Lord of the thought I was delirious! Second Advent. He really had no idea of how to answer, so I challenged him, “How can you say that you are the Lord Christmas eve, the nurse discovered that my wound of the Second Advent when you don’t even know these was infected …quite common with a ruptured appendix but basic things? How do you plan to save the world if you very dangerous. Because it was holiday time, however, don’t even know what the fundamental problem is? You they just bandaged me up and when they came back 24 clearly are NOT the Lord of the Second Advent.” He kept hours later, it was very much more serious. I was given no insisting that he was and we finally got him to leave, giving food for weeks, and at one point I remember lying in my him a 2 hour lecture. A valuable lesson was learned by all. bed and shaking violently with chills while 3 doctors consulted at the foot of my bed with very serious

47 1975 Missionary Testimonies In 1982, after Nancy became pregnant, I was asked to Guadalajara where the German Missionary and her attend 120 days training at the World Mission Center. American husband were living. The Japanese missionary’s Following my training and a few additional months in NY New Zealand wife was soon to arrive and after 6 months, helping the Science Conference, Nancy and I were asked to our plan was to divide the members, with half remaining move to Mexico and become Regional Leaders for Central with the Mr. Sato and the other half moving with my wife America. and I to another area of this vast city. On my return trip from New York to Chile, I visited However, circumstances changed and most of the the Mexico City Center to familiarize myself with their members came to live with Nancy and I in a large house we situation. Although I sent the members there the details were fortunate to find in Colonia Cuahtemoc, a very about my arrival, when I arrived in Mexico around 11 PM centrally located area right in front of the Zona Rosa. We nobody from the church was there at the airport to meet were one block from Paseo La Reforma, the principle and me. most famous street in Mexico City, near Chapultepec Park I had the center’s address, but when I asked the taxi where the Holy Ground is located. It was a perfect area to drivers to take me to “Colonia Piloto,” none of the taxi witness. drivers at the taxi stand in the airport had ever heard of that I made an agreement with the members: since I was neighborhood! I knew Mexico City was big, but it was very receiving $600 a month as a Regional Director from WMD unsettling that not even one taxi driver knew how to get to in New York, I would be responsible to pay all rental it! Finally one taxi driver said he knew, but it was after expenses, but they had to pay all food expenses. They midnight when we left the airport, and close to 1 AM when agreed. This arrangement continued for years and all the we arrived in a dark and very humble neighborhood of older members were aware of it. Mexico City, out on the edge of the city. Mexico City has a wonderful subway system and With 2 suitcases and a guitar, I paid the taxi and went thousands of students passed through this area on their way to the door of what I thought was the apartment building to and from classes at the more than 25 colleges and where the Center was. There was no doorbell! I knocked on universities in Mexico City. At that time, Mexico required the door, but it was the door to an apartment building, so a foreigner to have a missionary visa to be able to witness nobody answered. I had no money to telephone, and there and do missionary work. It is almost impossible for an was no payphone in that area. Finally, all I could do was American to get a Missionary Visa. So I just witnessed and yell from the street like a crazy man and hope that did my work in faith that we would not be interfered with somebody heard me! But I didn’t have any idea where to by the authorities. For awhile, we were protected. yell from! Which side of that apartment building with 4 Under Mexico’s Constitution, all buildings used as stories was the one with the church Center? Maybe churches automatically became the property of the somebody would call the police about a strange Gringo government. Another worry was that if somebody yelling in the street in that neighborhood! complained to the government about our rental house being Several taxis passed, I was sure I was going to be used as a church, then we would have to abandon the robbed or killed by some muggers out in the street at that building within a few days or the owner would find that he hour, looking for money! Just when I was about to give up had lost his house to the government! (This was exactly and return to the airport, I heard a wee, high pitched voice what had happened to the previous church leader and was from high up calling, “Is that you, Mr. Hanna? (in why with a handful of members they had to move in the English).” I was saved! night to a new apartment in Colonia Piloto, to throw the After 40 days in Mexico City, I returned to Chile in government off their trail!) time for the birth of our twins after which we moved with A wonderful Mexican teacher had become a member them to a new, Mexico City Center that was rented in a when her brother joined in the USA. Gregorio Villafana much more central location in Mexico City. When we left taught all his family, including Rebecca and they had all Chile, there were 12 members. With 2 newborn baby girls, accepted True Parents. Rebecca lived in the Atlantic Coast who moved when they were just 21 days old. The city of Tampico and gradually she became more active, stewardeses on Panam airlines were very kind and seemed eventually setting up a center and bringing many student to really enjoy caring for our twins during the 9 hour flight. members from that city. For 6 months, we lived with all the members and Mr. After my wife returned from 120 training in 1985, our Sato, the Japanese missionary, in a house in Tlalpan, family lived outside of Mexico City, in Cuernavaca, in the Colonia Taj Majal. There was another center in the state of state of Morelos. Soon my wife had the inspiration that

1975 Missionary Testimonies 48

with some money I had inherited we could purchase a winner of the highest award that the Mexican government house there that the church could use as a training center awards to foreigners, the Order of the Aztec. Dr. Tibon and where we could live with our family. The plan was that personally welcomed True Father to Mexico, soon after our we would all fundraise and pay back the money that I was departure in 1992 during his World Tour. His home turned loaning to them to buy the house. My wife has incredible out to be a mere 10 minute walk from the Commonfort good fortune with real estate, as I had learned from her House, where we lived in Cuernavaca for 2 years with our stories about when she was a pioneer in Louisiana, so I did family. not doubt her. Our timing was extraordinary. Within 2 My father passed away in 1988, during the Seoul years, the value of the house tripled! Olympics. I went to see him in June and we knew it was Together with our members buying handcrafted the final time to see each other on earth. In September, in jewelry in Taxco, Guerrero, I travel with them in car from Seoul, I received the news that he had died and my family Mexico City to Los Angeles, where we sold the jewelry in wanted me home for the funeral. All I could think of was Hispanic neighborhoods there. It took 3 days and nights to “leave the dead to bury the dead.” I was determined to not drive up to the border in our car, and we would spend 3 go home and to continue to attend True Parents in Korea at weeks in the Los Angeles Center, fundraising. We did this this most important historical moment. Somehow I twice a year for about 3 years, and paid back all the money. explained to them that I would visit them later, but that This is how our early members paid in full for the plane reservations were just not available to return due to “Comonfort House” where many 7 day workshops were such heavy traffic. It was very hard for them to understand held as well as several 21 day workshops also. and they resented me a lot for it.

As a result of the World Media Conferences during With money inherited from my father, we purchased the ‘80s, we met very interesting Mexican journalist, who another house where we moved and began to renovate the came from a very poor background. He didn’t look at all house with the idea to eventually sell it at a profit, as a special, but he knew and could open the doors to family business. The members continued to send money everybody who was an important writer in Mexico. His which we could use for our food expenses, but whenever name was Juan Picasso. He was an Evangelical Christian money became short, I would go fundraising with the and turned out to be an outstanding John the Baptist. members in Los Angeles. In 1988, during the tour of the Zimbabwe member who channeled Heung Jin Nim, he At that time, Octavio Paz, later winner of the Nobel connected me to the National Leader of Israel and our Prize in literature, was already quite famous. Juan Picasso fundraising team leaders in Europe. We began a wholesale looked at me after we had met several times and told me to export business of Mexico Jewelry to them which also put my glasses on. Then he said, “You look like you should provided income for our family and for our mission. be a doctor. From now on, I am going to introduce you as Dr. Hanna.” At this time, I was not even studying to be a Soon afterwards, Rebecca Villafana took a team of doctor and felt uncomfortable doing it, but he was the members around all the states of Mexico, to witness and expert and so I went along with it. He knew Mexico and lecture for at least one time in every capital city of every Mexican journalists and I knew nothing! In this way, he state. We felt strongly the need to make some connection to opened all kinds of doors. It was all very spiritual. all the people living in the far flung corners of this large nation. She was an amazing soldier and faithfully One day not long after he said, let’s visit Octavio Paz. accomplished everything. I would have gone personally, I asked if we chould just walk in on him and he replied, but after an illness my wife suffered during her 120 day “Well, let’s see what happens.” We went to the door and training, it took her years to recover and I needed to be rang the doorbell and next thing I knew we were in the close to home in case she or one of our 6 children needed living room of the most famous author in Mexico! Being me. introduced as a doctor, Octavio Paz thought that I actually knew something about his work, the intellectual world of By the time that we left Mexico in 1992, there were Mexico, etc. Quickly he discerned that this was not the centers in Ciudad Juarez, Tampico, Guadalajara, Taxco, case. We invited him to our World Media Conference and Monterrey, and Queretero, with more than 30 members. he said he would consider it and then he signed one of his The last of our 7 children (5 born during our 10 years in books for me and gave it to me. I was amazed at it all. Mexico) was born in 1990 shortly before Christmas. In 1989, our Regional Leader made the decision to change my Another journalists introduced to us by Juan Picasso, mission and we began to research how to return to the USA one who became quite a close family friend, was Dr. as our growing children had educational needs that could Gutierre Tibon, an author of 50 books on Mexico, and not be met in Mexico were we were.

49 1975 Missionary Testimonies However, it was not our decision or our choice to hours travel in the New York area. It was a very painful leave Mexico, and we would have much preferred to have separation. stayed. It took about 2 years to finish the renovation of our In 1998, I attended the required 40 day training at CP house in Mexico and to be able to sell it at a modest profit. before joining her and the children in Panama. I totally fell The money was used to purchase a much, much smaller in love with CP. It was a wonderful experience. Although home in my home town of Bronxville, New York. things were much less developed, DMN sometimes came to After 4 years living in my home town of Bronxville, our CY sessions and I was able to personally experience N.Y., when True Parents announced that people could her ansoo on several occasions. I was also encouraged to volunteer to be National Messiahs, we leaped at the chance become a drummer and during several 2 day workshops, I to return to our first love, missionary work. Of course, this was able to drum for 2000 workshop participants. An time would be much more challenging since we had 7 unforgettable experience. When I moved to Panama, I children and there would be no financial support offered by encouraged Nancy to go to CP to pray for what to do about the church. our financial situation. She went for 2 weeks and began to Nancy went to the first workshop in Cheongpyung for receive revelations. Her ideas about tourism promotion National Messiahs in July 1996, and I joined her there for 2 resulted in the birth of panamainfo.com, her first business! weeks only, since I had a full time job. During the lottery to (see her testimony for the details about that). decide our countries, Nancy insisted that although I had When I arrived in Panama, David Kanagy, a only been there 2 weeks, I should be the person picking our wonderful American brother was working as a translator. “starting point” for the lottery. All were amazed that the He sacrificed himself and his family by introducing me to country chosen was Panama, my wife’s original Foreign all of his contacts so that very soon I had plenty of work Missionary country in 1975. Reverend Kwak called it “a translating from Spanish to English. My business Cheongpyung miracle.” Although there were other background proved invaluable as the complexities of missionaries there from the original 1975 missionary Spanish legal and financial documents were not easily group, we were the only couple to return to Nancy’s rendered into the precise vocabulary demanded by English original country. speakers. It was a niche and I frequently had to work late While my wife began visiting Panama for long periods into the night to finish urgent work. As Nancy’s business of time, I continued with my job. In the beginning, we hired took off, our joint efforts enabled us to be able to keep our various housekeepers, often church members. However it large family going, but we had some exciting moments was not easy for any of them to deal with 7 children! When when we kept going on faith alone! the 120 Japanese were assigned to Panama, one of them The $5000 initial investment we had made in would come for 40 days or a few months to help with my panamainfo.com started was completely paid back in 3 children. months, something unheard of in the “dot.com” world! For After TP’s visit to Panamain 1996, Rev. Kwak the next 3 years, Nancy ran her business using a laptop strongly guided my wife to move our family to Panama. computer that my mother had given me, from a small desk One night, we sat on our bed and brainstormed about what in our bedroom. Her customers would have been shocked we could do to make money in Panama. Ideas such as to know where her “office” was located! “sales”and “promoting things” were among the talents that In 2001, I was offered the position of General we could exploit, but we had no specific ideas. Due to Rev. Manager for the weekly newspaper True Father had started Kwak’s push, we put our house on the market and my wife here in Panama. This was a wonderful way to meet all moved with 7 children to Panama in August, 1997. The kinds of important people. Editors understood this and soon house eventually sold at a modest profit and for a time, I was hosting a parade of the movers and shakers in Nancy and the children lived off that. I continued with my Panama, coming through the office to “pay their respects” job and lived with the Pobanz family in New Jersey. to this gringo! Sending free subscriptions to key people My mother and my brother were totally convinced that also won us many friends among key intellectuals, who I was crazy, resigning from a good job as a Municipal appreciated the tolerance and responsibility with which Bond trader and moving my family of 7 children to a 3rd TDM approached the news. world country where I had no job, and no kind of financial This dovetailed with my wife’s work, which was to support whatsoever! They pressured me in all kinds of invite VIPs to go to various conferences. Her dynamism ways to try to get me not to go. It had been a wonderful and excitement were instrumental in several dozen time for my elderly mother and my brother and sister to get Senators and other VIPs attending international to know our children, since all of us lived within a few conferences. This was of tremendous help in rebuilding our

1975 Missionary Testimonies 50

reputation as a movement, which had been damaged due to early that members were quietly going by his room at 4:30 a severe persecution directed by the Catholic Archbishop am, and he sent his member to investigate where they were shortly after True Father sent the 120 Japanese going, dressed up so nicely at that early hour. Then he missionaries to Latinamerican and Caribbean countries. heard God’s voice and God said, “Don’t touch these Our 7 Forums on Marriage, which my wife writes about in people! These are MY people!!” He had thought he had the her testimony also helped a great deal. best members in the world, but then he realized that True However, the biggest breakthrough came with the Father’s members were better. He accepted True Parents. Hisao Lee providence. It has been a high honor and great As my wife has written, although we knew Master privilege for me to know and work closely with Master Fabio and were trying to figure out how to work with him, Fabio Perez since 2006. Meeting with him weekly for many once Dr. Byeong Moon Lee came in 2007, everything years, sharing deeply with him, studying Divine Principle, changed. Step by step, Master Fabio began to understand praying for him and his members has been without a doubt our sincere interest in serving and helping his organization. the highlight of my spiritual outreach. I never imagined that Prior to meeting us, he was very centered on individuals, I could work with such a person. but afterward, he quickly grasped that he had to emphasize His moment of destiny came when Shin Mi Nim families in everything Hisao Lee was doing. visited Panama during the 3 generations world tour of True He brought all of his top leaders, including the pastor Family in 2006. Originally, she was scheduled to go from of their Evangelical Church, to hear Divine Principle Brazil to Peru, but she missed her flight due to a bridge that lectures. In 2007, he received the Blessing along with a collapsed in Brazil, so she decided to “catch up” with the small group of his top leaders. As a result of that tour by coming directly to Panama. Little did she know, but experience, he could strongly recommend to his members the flight from Peru to Panama, with True Mother and True to study DP and to receive the Blessing. This caused children was canceled and so they never arrived in divisions in his organization. At first, he didn’t understand Panama! In the end, she was the only True Family member that this was purification and that these were people who who arrived! were never sincerely following his vision, but were people Our members were amazing! Not one word of who had a private agenda. Now he understands clearly that complaint was uttered. They acted totally thrilled with Shin Satan attacks and afterwards, we harvest even more than Mi Nim and she gave a wonderful speech. ever before.

M. Fabio had heard of our movement before and even One of his 15 schools of Martial Arts was lead by a was accused of being a “moonie” before he even knew genius who understood that students at the national public what a moonie was! One of our members enrolled her universities struggle a lot with college level math, physics, children to learn karate from one of his students and he and chemistry. He designed courses to help them through noticed that she always served people a lot. Later, he these university courses which often are not well taught. learned that our movement taught abstinence. Up until Students found they simply could not graduate without then, he had believed he was the only person in Panama taking his courses and then he would encourage them to teaching abstinence! After sending “spies” to find out more practice Martial Arts. Through this, many professional about us, he decided to attend the Shin Mi Nim event. At level people were coming into contact with HSL and that time, he was the Vice-Mayor of the largest suburb Master Fabio strongly encouraged them all to study Divine outside of Panama City, San Miguelito. It has over 300,000 Principle. Quite a few, including the genius, received the residents. Blessing.

After the event, he was invited to a small dinner for The main geographical area where Master Fabio has VIPs and he gave a testimony that for him, this event “rose his base of operations is San Miguelito, a poor suburb of to heaven as an offering like a beautiful perfume.” It was Panama City. There is great deal of crime and corruption clear that he had had a spiritual experience. As a result, we there. He has to get along with many unsavory characters decided to pay for him to participate in the Tong Il Moo Do and yet be absolutely clear about his own values and never tournament in the Philippines a few months later. compromise them. In the process, he has been through many persecutions, including being blamed for being a While in the Philippines, Gustavo Giuliano taught “moonie” before he even knew what a “moonie” was Fabio. Being an Evangelical Christian, he found Divine because teaching Martial Arts and being an Evangelical Principle to be hard to accept, but every night when he was Christian were incompatible in the minds of some narrow struggling, somehow he came to the conclusion that he was minded ministers who were attacking him. wrong and DP was right. One morning, he noticed very HSL saves money by teaching in borrowed facilities.

51 1975 Missionary Testimonies They teach in school hallways, school playgrounds, Dr. Lee continued to visit us until 2012; he would abandoned lots, soccer fields, basketball courts, wherever come for 3 months and then go back to England for 3 they can gather young people. When he was 15, the months. Although there was not a lot for him to do in military government of panama at that time, told the Panama, he would study Spanish and gave us tremendous minister of Education to allow Master Fabio and his guidance about how to develop Hisao Lee and the church teachers access to the gymnasiums of all the public schools in Panama. in the country because they understood that teaching In 2013, we received the news that True Mother was martial arts would reduce violence in schools, by getting going to be sending a group of Japanese Missionary sisters the violent people to learn how to control themselves to Panama. We were so grateful to be able to welcome 5 through the discipline of Martial Arts. wonderful missionaries in September of 2013. They Master Fabio understood that if you are making a worked very hard witnessing to university students for the difference in the world, you will be attacked and so he next 9 months. Every Friday night, they would go to the always through that Rev. Moon must be a great man HSL church service, so I began going also. This must have because he was being attacked by so many people, just like been quite a challenge for them, speaking little Spanish, he knew that he was being unjustly personally attacked. and the cultural difference between a Pentacostal, Praise For 40 years, he had kept his organization separate service, with dancing, speaking in tongues and healing and isolated from any other influence in Martial Arts or in services and the more ritualized religious services theory. He never allowed any other instructor outside his customary in Japan. Very quickly I realized how important organization to teach his students, but he allowed Master it was that I continue with this tradition once they left. Don Harbor and Master Gustavo Giuliano to do so. He The type of Martial Arts practiced by HSL is closed to would not even allow his students to watch Martial Arts the Japanese Martial Art known as Shotokan, and Shotokan videos from any other group. But they study Tongil Moon even acknowledges HSL by accepting their ranks as the Do. same as Shotokan. Because of this love of Japan, the The way he introduced DP was by having his top presence of the Japanese sisters at the church service was leaders, each study one chapter of DP and then have them even more appreciated. present it to all the others. They would discuss it and Our strategy from the beginning has been to follow analyze it. Even the pastor of the church, being a HSL True Father’s example when Ambassador Phillip Sanchez, instructor, had to be present and was invited to make publisher of Tiempos del Mundo, went to meet True comments. The right hand man for Master Fabio is a Father, he told him he was a strong Catholic. True Father licensed evangelist in 3 different denominations and told him that he wanted him to become an even better regularly travels to Central and South America to preach in Catholic! This has been our goal with HSL. Not one different churches. member has joined our church. That is not our goal. Our Master Fabio has been unshakeable in his commitment goal is for them to become the number 1 Evangelical and very clear in his constant testimony that he is a church in Panama and by their good example to be able to “member of UPF” and that his organization respects all lead and change all the other churches to become like them, different religions and does not discriminate. He seldom living for others, tolerant and open to dialogue with all sleeps at night, since he is worried that one of his young other denominations and religions. people will be making a mistake and be out on the streets Recently, after 5 years of having a very corrupt mayor, and getting arrested by the police. If that happens, he San Miguelito elected an Evangelical Pastor as the Mayor. immediately goes to the police and gets that person He has cleaned house in the mayor’s office. As a result, he released into his custody. It is this kind of loyalty that has asked the Ministry of Education to please pay 1 HSL enabled him to change the lives of many young people. instructor in each of the public schools in San Miguelito a He is also very sensitive to where other ministers get salary for them to teach Martial Arts in that school. Then their information from and he understands Panamanian the Minister of Education got excited and said they should psychology and culture so he guides us how to present expand that program to the entire country. ourselves to ministers by showing by example how to work A recent TV program reported about the work of HSL with them. He has many friends who are ministers and one and gave the telephone number. How hundreds of parents close friend/associate who is a professor in the Bible are calling their office to find out where they can send their Institute which trains all the pastors for the Assemblies of children to participate in HSL activities! God, the largest denomination in Panama. In this way, he is The HSL method is very simple. They first teach the a key center of influence among Evangelicals.

1975 Missionary Testimonies 52

student to respect his teacher, and then teach him to respect whoever it is who takes care of him: his parent, his uncle, aunt, grand-=parent, neighbor, whoever. “Go home, hug them, thank them for taking care of you, make them a cup of coffee or tea and serve it to them.” Thomas Likona teaches that the main axis of values education is respect for parents. Master Fabio understood this without ever learning it in school. He always says, “The parents are the problem, not the child. So we have to use the child to reach into the home and change the parents.” Dr. Lee also inspired Master Fabio to found a Martial Arts Asociation to be able to teach values. Just today, that dream was fulfilled as the Martial Arts Associacion was recognized as a “federation” by the Panama Sports Authority, enabling it to receive funding from the government. Thus, through our unity with HSL, the Panama government has unwittingly become more and more united with True Parents. The Ministry of Education has asked that Hisao Lee send one instructor to all the public schools in San Miguelito, to teach Martial Arts and Values. There are over 100 public schools in San Miguelito. When schools in Panama City heard about this program, they asked Hisao Lee to include their schools in this program. Some of the schools also pay a salary to the Hisao Lee teacher. At present they are in nearly 200 public schools and additional schools in the interior of the country are asking how they can be a part of this excellent program. We believe that it is because of the work of Dr. Byeong Moon Lee and Maestro Fabio Perez, that True Mother designated Panama to be included in the list of 43 providential nations. We are very humbled by this responsibility. From 2006 until 2010, I was privileged to be able to attend the Cheongshim Graduate School of Theology, during a very special time in God’s Providence, and earned by Doctorate in Ministry there in 2010. My dissertation was on Maestro Fabio Perez and Hisao Lee as an example of True Parent, True Teacher, True Owner philosophy. Mine was the first dissertation ever approved to receive a doctorate in ministry as well as the first Western Member to earn a doctorate in ministry. Sincerely, Regis Hanna, D. M. Cheongshim Graduate School of Theology, Cheongpyung, class of 2010

53 1975 Missionary Testimonies Joy Pople - Mexico with no window. The adjacent bathroom had a toilet stool with a shower head immediately above it. No sink. I guess Growing in Heart in Mexico it was designed so you could take care of all your personal When my dad would get out the photos of himself necessities at once. Whole families lived in rooms like ours driving a twelve-ox team dragging huge logs through the that lined the narrow courtyard. The children stared at us. rough land of northern Paraguay to clear roads, I used to The women found us amusing. feel a bit envious. Why did I have to be born after my Sylvia had bought some lovely-looking green peppers parents returned from Paraguay, where they were on at the market and decided to cook them for me to eat along assignment from the Mennonite Central Committee, with some fresh tortillas, to celebrate my arrival. A helping East European refugees begin a new life in a neighbor let us use her charcoal brazier. Our faces turned remote corner of South America. My parents would talk red and sweat poured down our forehead as we chewed. German to each other when they didn’t want us children to Later we learned that the veins of the chili peppers contain understand what they were saying. I resolved to study most of the aromatic oils, and if you clean out the veins German. before you cook them, they don’t burn your mouth and Well, I studied French and Spanish in high school stomach quite as much. We learned a lot of things the hard before I had a chance to take any German classes, and I still way, by experience. We were willing to go almost haven’t paid a visit to Paraguay. I did jump at a chance anywhere and try almost any kind of food. when in 1974 Rev. Sun Myung Moon started talking about The women in the markets were delighted to tell us sending out representatives overseas. I told Neil Salonen, the names of exotic fruits and vegetables, give us samples, the American Unification Church president, to remember and tell us how to cook or serve them. It takes an entire me when it came time to assign missionaries and that I year to experience the whole array of Mexico’s bounty. Of wanted to go to Africa. He did remember me, but I was on all the fruits, mangos were my favorite. Fresh off the tree the list to go to Mexico. out in a village. Lush piles of yellow, orange or reddish- It wasn’t until the airplane started descending that I green fruits in the market. Juice dripping down your chin. began to get cold feet. Mexico isn’t that far away from the Cool in the hottest of days. United States. Hey, a flight from New York to Mexico City We stayed for a while with a Japanese family, and I takes less time than a flight to California. Our countries gave the children English lessons to help pay rent. Our share a border and a river. I had studied Spanish. I wasn’t third companion in mission was a Japanese man named going that far away. Or was I? Sato. If people from three formerly enemy nations can get I arrived in Mexico in the spring of 1975 with a along, there is hope for world unity. The three of us had thousand dollars in my pocket, to be used sparingly. I our ups and downs. would need to work to meet most living expenses. And in We lived in an apartment building where washing is Mexico, as I guess in many non-English speaking countries done at corrugated sinks lined up on the roof and hung up in the world, if you can speak English, you can earn enough on clotheslines. Being an American, I like to do things money to survive by giving English classes. efficiently. Therefore, I would fill buckets with water and You cannot go to Mexico without being assaulted by put my clothes in them, on the theory that it is less difficult many new sights, sounds, smells and tastes. About one fifth to get the dirt out if you pre-soak the clothes. However, all of the 60 million inhabitants of Mexico live in the capital, the other women would wet each piece, rub soap on it, and that was my destination. Since I assumed I would be scrub it, and then rinse it before going on to the next piece. there for several years, if not the rest of my life, I wanted to One old woman constantly criticized me. “Didn’t your plunge in. mother teach you how to wash?” she would nag me. Well, It seemed like a plunge. In mid-May the weather is hot we did have a wringer washing machine when I was and dry, and the atmosphere is polluted. At 7,000 feet growing up, and I could probably still use one. However, above sea level, oxygen is sparse. Nestled in a mountain Americans do as little hand washing as possible. After basin, where little air circulates, and being home to an oil observing things for a while, I learned that people paid this refinery and untold thousands of cars with no emission woman to do their wash. When I started paying her to wash controls, Mexico City has few equals around the world in clothes for me on occasion, she stopped criticizing me. poor air quality. I love music. Mexicans love music. Their traditional My German companion, Sylvia, had arrived a few ranchero music is similar to American country music in its days earlier. She had rented a room a few blocks from the rhythms and tales of lost or betrayed love. Sylvia plays tourist area, the Zona Rosa. It was a ground-floor room guitar, and she kept talking about wanting a guitar. Our

1975 Missionary Testimonies 54

simple prayers were answered, and at one point, we had Mexico is a land of abundance. Its geographic shape five—none of them much good—and she taught me some has been likened to a horn of plenty. It has bountiful basic chord cycles. We learned to play Mexican music, and resources of food, minerals, climate, and people. Mexicans with my guitar and repertoire I was welcome at any party. blame their economic woes on the United States, but when People kept asking for Beatles music, which I thought had a recent Mexican president left office after his six-year gone out of style, so I learned to play a couple of their term, he was the sixth richest person in the world. simpler songs. I couldn’t make up for all the wrongs committed by We went to high mass on Christmas Eve in the my country. All I could do was offer a listening ear, a Metropolitan Cathedral in Mexico City. Those who don’t caring heart, and a hand of service. You meet a lot of have a car have to walk home, because public beggars in Mexico. I gave people food. I collected clothes transportation ceases at midnight, in expectation of and bedding for people who came knocking at our door. Christmas. We were an international conglomerate of But I seldom handed out money. A friend wanted me to young people living 7,000 feet above sea in the high central meet his sister, who was in need of some guidance or plateau of Mexico. Foreigners and native-born belted out counseling. We showed up at her house, much to her carols and folk songs in Spanish, English, German, Korean, surprise, around mealtime. She fed us the stuffed chili French, and Japanese, and maybe Italian. We surely sang peppers she had prepared for her children’s meal, much to “Silent Night” in at least four languages, each system of my dismay. phonology overlaying its special vibration. Even the When an American or European tries to give advice in guttural German of “Stille nacht, heilige nacht” softens in Mexico it is often dismissed with the comment, “Oh, that the universal awe at the emergence of divinity into our works in an advanced country such as yours, but it world! wouldn’t work here.” However, Mexicans do admire the On festive occasions Mexicans hire mariachi bands to Japanese. Japan never invaded Mexico and at that point did serenade a beloved one in the wee hours of the morning, not exert a major economic influence on the country, so the and neighbors snuggle under their covers to the sweet roots of resentment are not so strong. When Japan wanted baritone voices booming out: “’Qué linda está la mañana to end its centuries-old isolation it sent emissaries around en que vengo a saludarte; venimos todos con gusto, y the world to observe the best aspects of each culture, which placer a felicitarte…!” could then be adapted by the Japanese. Japan rose out of We sang for free. We serenaded and raised up the the destruction of war to become a major world power. spirits of the living and the dead as we stretched the radius Mexico could also. of the Eucharistic peace from the metropolitan cathedral to We visited churches and schools. We talked to people our humble house near the Chapultepec Park holy ground, on the streets and in the parks, asking them if they were sanctifying each block and every kilometer. If the stars and interested in talking about God. Some were. Some weren’t. angels that heralded the Christ-child’s birth at the turning of We gave lectures and held seminars on the Divine the age didn’t find resonance on earth then, we provided the Principle, a systematic study of the nature of God and the echo that was 19 long centuries in the coming. universe that encompasses three main topics: the way God An American in Mexico runs into puzzling situations. envisioned the world, how things went wrong, and how There seems to be a mixture of admiration, envy and God has been working throughout history to restore the lost resentment for Americans. I remember in high school ideal. reading about the Mexican-American war of 1948 as a kind Few young people knew very much about the Bible. of interlude between our westward expansion and the Civil They were interested in learning to know us, and they War, our heroes the valiant men who defended the Alamo invited us to their home villages to meet their families. against hopeless odds. Mexicans learn about the various However, the idea of applying spiritual principles in daily times the United States military invaded Mexico. life seemed pretty foreign to many young people. I would get so frustrated when I saw Mexicans Some of the most serious-minded young people we adopting some of the worst aspects of our popular culture. met were martial arts practitioners, and Sylvia and I Visible evidence was the emulation of Saturday Night enrolled at a taekwon-do school. We engaged in spiritual Fever styles of dress and talking. I would think of the and physical training and discipline. Among the students American proverb: “You cannot keep the birds from flying and professors we found people who could grasp the vision over your head, but you can keep them from building nests of a life of sacrificial love and service for God, for the in your hair.” Translations of that proverb were not very nation, and for humankind. favorably received.

55 1975 Missionary Testimonies We reached out to both Catholics and Protestants in a I met Emilio’s mother and several of her children, as country there is little communication between the two well as his sister and her children. The children were pale, versions of Christianity. I became close friends with a thin and listless. In contrast, Emilio’s three children were Jesuit priest, Padre Carlos. He had spent years of chubby, bright and energetic. Emilio’s wife bought food at missionary work with the Tarahuamara Indians in northern the market and prepared it for her children, who ate while Mexico His experiences there were the high point of his their cousins stood with empty eyes in a circle around spiritual life, and it broke his heart to be reassigned to the them. capital. Padre Carlos asked me to help with a project in a I had nothing to offer the people but my efforts and poor section of the capital, where he and several families heart. Each morning I made tortillas for the day. It would who were involved in the Catholic charismatic movement take a couple of hours to shape the tortillas, pound them hoped to spark a difference in the lives of the people. I was flat and even between the palms of my hands, and cook asked to offer some English conversation classes and lead them just so on the round tin sheet balanced over a wood and lead an evening song and prayer service. With some of fire. A properly cooked tortilla has a thin skin on top and the women, I went door to door explaining about the school bottom, with a thicker core. The women and children and inviting children and families to participate. Sylvia and watched me shape and cook one tortilla after another. If it I had collected various simple songs and choruses, some of wasn’t exactly round, I had to re-shape it. Catholic origin and others from Protestant churches, which I taught those who came. We would read Bible passages On Easter Sunday, someone bought a scrawny and pray, both recited prayers and spontaneous prayers. I chicken, cut it up into nineteen pieces, and cooked it in a was so moved by the earnestness of the people. watery broth. I will never forget the eyes of the village children as they looked at the one precious cube of meat Sometimes I stayed with one of the families who were and bone that was their holiday treat. As the honored guest, spearheading the community efforts. I offered to cook an I was served two pieces of meat. American-style dinner for one family. They were delighted. I realized I had nearly forgotten how to cook American The drive back to Mexico City took about 16 hours. food. The first year I was in Mexico I ate whatever was Emilio was exhausted, so I did most of the driving. Three available and got sick about once a week, until my body adults, three children, a teenager returning to school in the was able to adjust. However, after four years a bout with city, and a puppy filled the medium-sized car. hepatitis seemed to indicate that it was time to return to the As midnight approached, our road wound up the United States. escarpment from the semi-tropical seacoast of Mexico to One of my most vivid memories is a trip with a Baptist the dry central highlands. Perched on the border between evangelist to Chiapas, a state in southern Mexico. Emilio the two climates is Mexico’s highest mountain, the Pico de traveled from village to village selling Bibles and showing Orizaba. An extinct volcano capped with eternal snow, the filmstrips of the life of Jesus. He invited me to join him Pico de Orizaba is usually shrouded in fog and clouds. I and his family on a trip over the Easter break. Having a was at the wheel, the only person awake in the car, when gringa along would be a drawing card for getting people to suddenly, rounding a bend, I saw the shimmering splendor attend the gatherings. I had my guitar, as usual, and taught of the Pico de Orizaba emerge in the moonlight. I pulled people the simple choruses. Sometimes, as we were the car off the road and walked over to the edge of the walking towards the meeting place, Emilio would say, “It’s lookout, to absorb the awesome sight. It was as if I was your turn to speak tonight.” I would look at the roomful of alone, facing God, the Creator and eternal loving Parent. faces lit up by the single electric light bulb hanging from Clouds and fog, often of our own making, obstruct our the ceiling and talk in a simple way about our Heavenly view of Him many times. Still God is always near, Father, who created the world out of love and who sent His watching, waiting, longing to embrace all His children. son Jesus out of love for us. The audiences were attentive, but I wondered how many of the people understood my American-accented Spanish. Traveling with people offers an unequaled opportunity to learn to know them more deeply. Emilio and his family took me to villages not found on any map. At Emilio’s home village, where we spent Easter, people lived in mud- brick houses. We sat on sections of tree trunks and slept on woven cord mats suspended from four posts.

1975 Missionary Testimonies 56

Jeff Tallakson - Afghanistan peace, to join in Father Moon’s worldwide projects for peace, and to protect Afghanistan from Communism. The 1975-1978 - Missionary Activities in Kabul- Unification Principle, which had inspired us and changed written by missionary, Jeff Tallakson our lives, which had made us teachers of True Love, was Makoto Shigehiro, Wilhelm Lichner, and Jeff taught in the West as a set of profound logical principles Tallakson arrived in Afghanistan in April and May of which took weeks to teach fully. Only 5% of Afghans then 1975. They were part of the worldwide missionary advent, could read, although our friends were literate and most which our suffering world had long awaited, when Rev. knew either English or German as well. Still there were Sun Myung Moon sent his emissaries to 120 nations. cultural humps to reach over to communicate our Father Moon said that he chose these young men and teachings. Our new Afghan friends could not easily women from the three nations of Japan, Germany and the comprehend our English lectures, until we ourselves had United States because 30 years earlier these nations had come to comprehend their mindset; their language, culture, been enemies deadlocked in the devastating Second World and religion. So we immediately began our study, War. eventually studying at Kabul University, from which Each of us arrived separately in Kabul. We were Makoto Shigehiro graduated. From the beginning we were young, in our 20s. We were immature; the average time we very respectful of Muslim and Afghan customs. We fasted had been committed to a life of spiritual discipline and when our friends fasted. We practiced the many native service to others was a mere 4 years. Yet we were full of manners, which encouraged social interactions of kindness zeal, proud to represent the new spiritual movement, which and hospitality. We respected the attitude toward women has continued since to do so much to encourage world which encouraged modesty and purity, so nearly all our peace, inter-religious harmony and the strengthening of contacts were young men, and when our friendships had nations through healthy families. This was a time of peace matured, they introduced us to their mothers and sisters. in Afghanistan, before the horrible wars, which began We did not think of ourselves as missionaries who when that scourge of the 20th century, Communism, came to make Muslims into Christians. Not at all! We were destabilized Afghanistan. emissaries of True Parents, and we came to share the love We were certainly inexperienced about teaching in a of God with fellow believers who already believed deeply foreign land, with no experience of working in an in God, and were happy to learn the good news about how undeveloped nation, no experience of Islamic culture. The God was working on the earth in our time to bring the only thing really that helped and guided us was what Rev. world of Peace and True Love. From 1975 to 1978 we Moon had taught us — we had absolute faith and love, so made steady progress. In 1978 we took a dozen brothers for we faced it all, new and uncharted, as a daily revealing a retreat in Peshawar. This Divine Principle Seminar was adventure, guided by our Father/Mother God as Father the first time we could discuss Father Moon’s vision and Moon also began his mission as a young man in the plan in its entirety with a so many young Afghan men. In suffering land of Korea. When we arrived we searched for those days of rule by President Daoud there were, of each other. The nation’s phone system was primitive. course, many problems with healthcare, corruption, Phoning outside the country required a special poverty, ethnic conflict in this quite preindustrial nation, appointment. That spring we took our first steps and but there was less crime than in any American town, very wandered in wonderment the dusty streets and alleyways of minor problems with alcohol and substance abuse, better Kabul. We had no culture shock, because Father Moon had family culture than in Russia (this writer would later spend taught us to love that land before we had come, yet it took 15 years in Russia). Up until Communism, the Afghan time to take in what was so very different. Donkeys and nation had successfully held the countervailing ethnic camels carried goods on the streets. Private cars were few, interests in balance. Communism destroyed that balance old taxis in disrepair were driven by men who dressed just irreparably. What the nation needed was Unificationism, like the camel drivers. No foods were we used to; we had and the clear understanding f the falsehoods of no refrigerator. Yet Afghans were the most wonderful Communism which Unification Philosophy provided. One people we had ever met. We felt at home and made many reason for the great pride we took in our band of young friends. Kabul was the only town in the country with brothers was they were from nearly all the main ethic constant electricity. Television had not yet come to the groups that made up the nation of Afghanistan - Pashtu, country. In 1976, Young Nam Tallakson, the new bride of Tajik, Farsiwan, Hazara, Turkomen, Uzbek and they loved Jeff Tallakson, arrived from Korea to help us. each other. They loved God. And they wanted to help Rev and Mrs Moon bring peace to the world. Our purpose was to teach the Unification Principle, and to train Afghans to be leaders in the coming world of

57 1975 Missionary Testimonies During these 3 years there were many challenges. Germany. However Makoto Shigehiro stayed for many Legally we were not allowed to live in the country, but years in Kabul. His wife joined him. They raised their Heavenly Father always made a way. The policeman in children in Kabul and took care of the members in secret. charge of visas became our friend. Unlike the present Makoto graduated from Kabul University. problems in the world, we never ever felt threatened by any Rev. Moon’s movement, always in the forefront to Muslim. Rather we visited mullahs and respectfully asked stop the evil of atheistic materialist imperialism, did much them questions. We purposely did not associate with non- to free the Afghans from Communism. In 1987 Lee Shapiro Afghans, Westerners and the like. We had to be wary of was killed by a Soviet Helicopter while making a some Westerners, who we understood were secretly documentary film of the Afghan people’s struggle. We and Christian missionaries, as we learned the hard way that every missionary who served in Afghanistan mourned for they would be happy to disrupt our work and try to get us the suffering of her peoples, and went through difficulties in trouble with the authorities. This was because of the as we left. It was impossible for the suffering of the Afghan climate of persecution of Rev. Moon during the 1970s, people to leave hearts and psyches. Impossible. We had a when our increasingly successful movement, with its feeling of unresolved resentment against injustices central head-wing ideology, met with intense persecution in suffered, a sense of helplessness because of the the United States from rightwing fundamentalist Christians overwhelming odds against Afghans, feelings of acute pain and leftwing pro-Communists. We were also threatened by in our guts, because we could not still be in Afghanistan. Russian and Afghan Communists, who we could clearly We nurtured an obstinate yearning to right the wrong. see had completed their infiltration the government and Russian Communism fell in 1989, and since Rev. Moon military, readying for the day to stage a violent imperialist had been the central force to cause that downfall, he (Russian) takeover of the land. Our neighbors were immediately reached out to President Gorbachev, and a few Russians. (A few of them let us know they were secretly years later to Kim Il Sung, in order to foster worldwide against their government.) Afghan communists spied on us. peace. Rev. Moon sent emissaries to the USSR in 1989, to We realized Russia posed an immediate dire threat. We work with those who had been underground since the wished we had a way to warn President Daoud, but before 1970s. In 1991 Jeff and Young Tallakson went to Russia as we could, the military and Communist parties attacked in Rev. Moon’s emissaries. Upon arriving in Crimea I met April 1978. From the roof of our house we watched the Tajiks and spoke with them in their Farsi language in the Russian pilots dive-bomb and strafe the people of Kabul Afghan idiom. We were near the Afghan border, now night and day, rocketing the homes of the cabinet members, Russians in huge multiple workshops and seminars, about murdering their leaders. They targeted any person who by unification through True Love, rather than through the their and broad-mindedness had the leadership qualities to Marxist dialectic. Our feelings of the pain of our long unite Afghans against Communism. (This is why the rebel unresolved resentment against Communism was lifted as leaders who later did rise up were themselves sectarian we realized Rev. Moon had moved God’s restoration full with tendencies to fight with each other; ethnic warlords circle to bring peace to the USSR and eventually the world. rather than unifiers.) Bullets hit our home and our neighborhood was bombed. The next day fear spread out over Kabul. One by one the young men who were our members visited furtively to sorrowfully inform us that they could no longer safely come to our house. In the days that followed the Communists tightened their death-grip. In those first few weeks there was no sign that the Muslim people would rebel against the Communists. People held out hope the nice words of the new rulers could be believed. But within the year the words promising change and forward progress showed themselves as lies. And valiant Afghan people rebellion began against their Soviet overlords. Especially because of Mrs. Tallakson we had good friends in the south-Korean embassy. All south-Koreans had to leave, as north-Koreans took over their embassy. Shortly after that Jeff and Young Tallakson returned to the United States and later Wilhelm Lichner returned to

1975 Missionary Testimonies 58

Sara Towe Horsfall – India, Greece, UK personal connections to all four Korean missionaries. I learned Principle from Col. Pak at S Street. As a diplomat, Missionary Experiences in India, Greece and other he was intelligent, patient and practical; each chapter of the experiences in UK Principle that he translated was printed separately. I came Its hard to know where to start when telling the story to know Mr. Choi while a student in Montana - I visited of my time overseas, which began in India, in 1975. To put him and his family in California. He was a maverick; his it in perspective, I need to begin with my first experience of thinking extended into every nook and cranny of life and God, which occurred when I was in high school. One his translation of the Principle was expansive, and afternoon in the woods I was thinking about my life - who I philosophic. Miss Kim was in charge when I returned to was at home, who I was at school, and the meaning of it all. DC. Her commonly used translation, the red book, was I looked up at the sun shining in the trees and suddenly very Christian leading to surprisingly touching moments there was something more. There was a living, vibrating with God. David Kim was generally considered nuts by something that filled me with wonder and awe, and brought many of us on the bus team. His behavior was impossible tears to my eyes. This experience started me on a journey to understand. But he inspired deep loyalty in his members. that continues to this day. Sometime later, I attended a talk Galen Brooks, for instance, took time off from work to at our church by missionaries to Africa. They showed drive from Oregon to California to take me to Idaho. pictures of village people living in grass houses. They said Being a State Leader in those early days meant how much they loved these very different people, and how struggles with loneliness, financial worries, and they couldn’t wait to get back. I was touched, and told God persecution. A visiting bus team brought welcome I wanted to be a missionary – but not one who ignorantly companionship, but left increased debts. In time there were destroyed indigenous culture as happened in Mitchener’s state and regional speaking tours. And then there was fund- Hawaii. raising. I will never forget the first shipment of ugly lime I first learned of Divine Principle through Barbara Ten green candles that we were to sell! Somehow it all Wolde, a high school classmate. She met Jhoon Rhee in happened. We grew from 4 to 8 members, met our fund- D.C. in 1965, and moved into 1907 S Street. I stayed there raising goals, and helped purchase Belvedere. I thought I for a few months, as well, and witnessed at Dupont Circle. was in Heaven when I first visited the New York property. My parents then insisted I return to Montana to complete So beautiful. And it belonged to us – I helped purchase it! my education, which I did. When I came back in January of Then we got the Seminary. Incredible! 1970, the center had moved to Upshur Street. I was part of When I got the call telling me I was to be a foreign the 1972 speaking tour, and the bus trip across the country missionary, I couldn’t believe it. I expected my husband, with Perry Cordell and Joseph Sheftick at the helm. It was Lokesh, who was from India and a state leader in Nebraska, an amazing time for all of us for many reasons, one of to be the one to go to India. But no, it was me. So off I which was because members of the four groups were went to stay at the Seminary for the 120 days of working together for the first time. Miss Kim, David Kim, preparation. During our training, Father announced that Col. Pak, and Mr. Choi (Nishikawa) had each worked Mother had successfully completed her training, and Mrs. independently, and very differently. Each group was Choi would return to Korea. He gave long talks, telling us convinced they were Abel. But all of us heard deep lectures to imagine being cradled in the womb and being reborn. from gentle Mr Kim, sang potent but roughly translated Listening to Mr. Sudo’s exciting lectures, we developed holy songs, and felt the excitement of new horizons. “skin touch” with God – the tapes of which were later sent Father’s reaction to the different groups became clear at the to us. We did 24 hour marathon teaching on the streets of end of the tour. Someone asked which group was Abel. We New York City. We did prayer conditions, and took a all watched, wide-eyed, as Father kicked the chair out from group picture on the Barrytown steps. Finally it was time to under David Kim, who calmly picked himself up from the go. floor, straightened the chair and sat back down. There was only one group. India – HOT and a Different Culture At the end of the tour we drew lots to see who would I arrived in India at 6 a.m. It was hot. I knew it would be pioneers in the states that had no centers. I drew Idaho, be, but it still surprised me. I stayed with the German David Kim’s territory! I am one of the few persons with a missionary, Manfred, who had been in New Delhi for several months and had a small apartment in a very

59 1975 Missionary Testimonies crowded area of the city. We slept on rope beds, heard always unwanted groping. What a disappointment when neighbors’ early morning ablutions, and drank what passed after several months we woke to find Andy gone – along for tea – hot water poured repeatedly over tea leaves in a with our money and my jewelry. One of the difficulties of small strainer. I argued that we should go to Mumbai, working in such a poor country is that being friends with a where Lokesh’s folks lived. They could help us get “wealthy” foreigner is attractive. It makes it hard to know a established. It was decided I would go to see what the person’s real motives. Going out to eat with someone can situation was, and maybe they would follow. present problems. If you pay repeatedly, the relationship In Mumbai1, we lived in Mankhurd – the very end of becomes unbalanced and ends. The honorable people we the train line. Lokesh’s parents had a chicken farm with an met took pride in the fact that we were guests in their unfinished section of the house they let us use. We had our country, and would insist on paying for us. But this, too, own entrance, an Indian style bathroom (hole-in-the-floor could be a show to get something more from you later. toilet, bucket and cup for shower), and a kitchen consisting There was one Indian man, a church minister, who of a black stone countertop on top of a bookshelf, and a somehow traveled to the Seminary in NY, and had told single burner kerosene stove. The windows, with opaque everyone that there were 100 Unification members at his glass and no screens, were always open – except during the church in India. I was skeptical. Soon after I arrived in rainy season. I found the usual mosquito netting India, he came to the YMCA in New Delhi, where I was cumbersome, so I pulled a thin, loose weave sheet over my staying. The church could be registered, he said, for $100. head at night to avoid bites. For $300 it could be registered nationally. I decided to give The first time I went out to witness in India, I stopped him the benefit of the doubt – and let his true motivation be two young girls on the street. They were shocked that a revealed. Nothing came of the $100 I gave him. But it was memsahib (white woman) would stop them, and ran away a positive experience, because it saved me future time and before I could tell them anything. So I went to the park. A heart ache. He also got money from Kazuhiro, who was man was sitting on a park bench, with a bundle beside him. bitter about being tricked. Some months later I spent a day At least he couldn’t run away. As I talked, he grinned, and I with him at his village. He gave no sign of understanding could see teeth missing. Then I realized the bundle was Principle nor did he mention the money. He was poor, but clothes, and that he was a dhobi (clothes washer). He spoke educated and hospitable. English, but had no education. It would be hard for him to I ran into Andy by chance, one day on a train to Delhi. understand. I realized I had to find another way to find My heart pounded, and I wanted to confront him. Instead, I people! So much of what we take for religion is actually very calmly said “Oh, hello! Where are you these days?” just culture and tradition. A Billy Graham associate (that I He looked very uncomfortable. In my mind I heard the interviewed) on a Crusade in Calcutta put it this way. How words he had said so many times, “No one can take my much of a Fourth of July church service in Chicago is (spiritual) treasures away.” It was a blessing – I was free of relevant to people in India? Indeed! my accusation, and he was now the suffering one. Ashwin, an intense college age young man, was the Meeting Indian Leaders first person to hear all of the Principle. He listened, and Shortly after arriving in India I had a dream. I pondered deeply as we traveled around Mumbai. He nearly remember only the last part – there were strings through joined, but in the end, couldn’t. Not too much later, another my hands – not nails, but strings. Another time, as I woke I young man seemed to accept easily, and came to live with heard a voice saying, “Aren’t you going to visit us. He was a tall Punjabi, who took the name of my Vivikenanda?” By chance I went to the Ram Krishna brother, Andy. He stayed in Kazuhiro’s room and was very Mission that day. I did not know he was the founder. When protective of me when we went by train. Trains in India are I realized, I felt I had been led to one of India’s spiritual uncomfortable for women. In the crush of people there is leaders. Father had told us to find them. At the turn of the last century (1900) Vivikenanda traveled to the World’s Fair in Chicago to share Hindu wisdom. “Brothers and 1 After 1978, there was an move to adopt Hindi as the national Sisters,” his speech began – he was received language to Hindi, but people in South India refused, so it remained Hindi and English. However, some city names were enthusiastically. An intense person, he was sometimes changed. Bombay, Calcutta and Madras became Mumbai, different. When he went to visit his teacher Ram Krishna Kolkata, and Chennai in rural India, he did not prepare himself by fasting and

1975 Missionary Testimonies 60

prayer like the other disciples. This led to complaints. Ram India. To protest Mrs. Gandhi’s policies, JP had urged non- Krishna replied that his intensity burned up all the compliance by the army. Earlier in his life JP was a impurities – not unlike the guru himself, who had Naxalite – violent Marxist Communists in Bengal. I asked repeatedly asked God where his disciples were – and how him why he changed, and he told me he couldn’t deny that they would find him? They will come, God replied. And where Gandhi went, the people went. JP didn’t fully adopt they did. Vivikenanda honored his teacher by naming the satyagraha. His method was pure means – you can’t mission after him. achieve peace with violent means. In the 1970s, he An important Indian leader on the other side of the captured the popular imagination like no one else in India. country, was Rabindranath Tagore, who won a Nobel Prize An erroneous announcement of his death caused schools, for his poetry in 1913. His vision for India was a return to shops and Parliament to close. Every day the newspapers the simple life where people could love and trust each had at least one news article about him. During Emergency other. He started a school, Santiniketan (Village of Peace) he was under house arrest. His health became fragile, and near Kolkata, based on the premise that when immersed in he was on dialysis. nature students would learn more easily and enjoy it more. Despite his popularity, few people outside of India The school is now a university and still adheres to Tagore’s know JP. But almost everyone knows Mrs. Gandhi (no philosophy. The village still has dirt paths and is, indeed relation to the Mahatma). I interviewed her when she was peaceful. out of power, and was surprised at her small stature. She Perhaps the most well-known of India’s leaders was was proper, courteous and spoke flawless English. She kept Mahatma Gandhi, although many Indians see him as a saying the current government didn’t understand how politician, not a spiritual leader. He was not Brahmin, like “these people” think. It could not last. It was true that she Tagore, but Vaisha (merchant class). While studying in came back to power later, but then was assassinated. As a London, he nearly became Christian. Quaker pacifism and female leader in a patriarchal culture, she inspired me. She the discrimination he experienced in South Africa both and her family were very dedicated to India, and made profoundly affected his thinking. He developed his method great sacrifices. Her father, Jawaharlal Nehru, was India’s of passive resistance. Satyagraha, he explains, is being first Prime Minister – somewhat equivalent to George willing to suffer (at the hands of your opponent) until your Washington. Her son Sanjay, went into politics and may opponent realizes their error - a method he learned from his have become Prime Minister, but died in a plane crash. Her wife! He wanted everyone to understand that spiritual force older son Rajiv, a commercial pilot, married an Italian was stronger than physical force. His resistance movement woman wanted nothing to do with politics. After Mrs. led to India’s freedom from British rule. He dressed simply Gandhi was killed, he was pressed into politics, became because that was how the people he led dressed. He was Prime Minister and was assassinated. spiritual, but practical – my hero. When someone pooh Another well-known spiritual leader in India, Mother poohed what I said, insisting that spiritual practices were Teresa3, inspires everyone. She was touched by the not important to “real” life, I could point to India’s suffering of the poor and destitute – the desperately poor, independence. I visited the Gandhi Ashram in Kolkata and the crippled people and the lepers who lay on the street, in Gurajat. At one national celebration of Gandhi’s birth, covered in dirt, begging passersby with pitifully sad eyes. heard a speech by a well-known follower. Given in English No one wants to touch them; she took them in. I visited her (because I asked), the speech was mesmerizing – about mission briefly in Kolkata, and was struck that the building how Gandhi’s vision was being lost, and the country losing had no ceiling fans. That may seem like a small thing, but its direction. An hour was like 5 minutes. India is hot, and to be inside without a fan is like living in Jayaprakash Narayan, or simply JP, was a the cold without heat. I was also impressed that the nuns contemporary leader, alive when I was in India. His2 wore Indian saris. It is not the most practical dress, nor the resistance movement was a major cause of Mrs. Gandhi’s coolest, but it respects the Indian culture. State of Emergency – a 2 year suspension of civil liberties These outstanding persons influenced my life in India, that went into effect within a month or two of my arrival in and their lives continue to inspire me.

2 3 He died in 1979. She died in 1997.

61 1975 Missionary Testimonies Patna – the Alice in Wonderland City the manager of a new hotel and a Nepalese travel agent. I wanted to interview JP, and thus embarked on a My bag was in the trunk of his car, I couldn’t easily refuse. wondrous journey to Patna – his home. My story begins At the hotel, the lunch party grew to 7 or 8. After lunch, I with the accordion I brought to India, to add to our music was to go with the travel agent to get my bags, still in the making. The customs officer insisted it was brand new, and trunk of the car. The travel agent had other things on his assessed a duty of $1000. – probably more than my dad mind - we ended up at his room. Realizing there was a paid for it 10 years before. There was a lot of arguing and price for getting my bags, I left him and went to the hotel discussion; I refused to move for about ½ hour. Finally he manager. His secretary called him out of a meeting. “I am stamped it on my passport and allowed me to enter. But I very sorry,” I said, “but my bags are in that man’s car, and I would have to have it with me when I left the country. can’t seem to get them.” He was a kind, moral person, and After some time, I concluded that might be inconvenient if was somewhat embarrassed about the situation. He would I had to leave suddenly for a short trip. Better not to have it get my bags, and I should be a guest of the hotel! on my passport. So I planned a short trip to Nepal, from One member of the lunch party was an investigative Patna, where border controls were less strict. reporter from Patna. From him I got the contact info for JP, My plan was to leave the accordion in the airport so IF and a tip about something else. Once settled in my room, I I was asked about it by passport control, I could run and get arranged an interview with JP for the next day, and went to it. At the Patna train station, I asked a man for directions to investigate the something else. It was a wild goose chase. the airport. I met him later, as you will learn. At the airport, The rickshaw driver took me to the ends of Patna, and I asked the manager at the Nepal Airlines ticket counter if I could not find the address. I told him to ask someone, but could leave my bag there until I came back from Nepal, he wouldn’t. Finally, I ordered him to stop at a house. I since I didn’t need it. The accordion case looked like a jumped out, and went to the door. To my surprise, the suitcase, and I continued that impression. Further, it was resident who answered the door was the same man who tied with string and tape to look old and valueless. He gave me directions at the train station. He didn’t know the asked if it was locked (it wasn’t), which I assured him it address, so I gave up my search and went back to the hotel. was. He hesitated, then asked if I could get some Johnny The next morning the interview with JP took place as he Walker from the duty free shop. I was delighted. This was having dialysis. I handed him my written questions. He would be my insurance policy! No one asked about the read one question – looked up and answered. Read the next accordion when I left India. – looked up and answered. I sang him the song Guantanamera (in Spanish) – which he liked, and that was In Nepal I discovered I didn’t have Steve Conlon’s it. (the missionary to Nepal) address. I had used his card as a sample when getting cards printed in Delhi, and apparently Back at the train station, with my accordion in hand, hadn’t gotten it back. What to do? After a moment of but NOT on my passport, I was stopped by a young man panic, I concluded he might stand out as a foreigner living who said three days ago I had promised we’d have tea if we in Katmandu. So I started asking people if they knew him. met again. I didn’t remember – but we had tea. The train No luck. Finally I remembered that he wrote for a came, I got on. Enroute to Kolkata, I felt like Alice in newspaper. I called the paper, but the editor wouldn’t be in Wonderland. Where had I been? Such an interesting set of until later. So, I did some sightseeing. It was late afternoon events - so many coincidental events. What did it mean? by the time I arrived at the center. Steve, Reiner and I had a Ordinary life seemed rather dull compared to the magic I wonderful visit. The Japanese missionary and a companion had experienced. Patna is one of India’s oldest cities, I (introduced as his sister4) were illusive. The next day, back learned later, magically created by an ancient king at the in Patna, waiting in the customs line, I heard my name on birth of a son. During the Mauryan Empire it was thought the loud speaker! The Nepalese manager greeted me, then to be the greatest place on earth. It was also the birthplace ushered me through immigration and customs. He wanted of Guru Gobind Singh, thus is one of the most sacred his Johnny Walker. He asked me to join him for lunch with pilgrimage sites for Sikhs. It was and is a special place for me. Indian Society 4 Reiner told me later that they had discovered she was not his After a few months in Mankhurd, we needed a more sister but a romantic partner. centrally located place to meet people. I found a room in a

1975 Missionary Testimonies 62

cottage industry area. The building was cement, somewhat the village to work. Jobs were at a premium in India, so a dirty and unimpressive, but there was an elevator, job offer would receive a hundred calls in the first hour. electricity, and plumbing. The room we had was part of a Why not capitalize on that, and advertise for someone to two room suite – with no window. It was not a successful work in a village? It wouldn’t pay like a regular job, but for place for us, but exposed us to an amazing sector of Indian the right person it could provide purpose. Kazuhiro and life. The building was 6 or 7 stories high, with Wolfgang didn’t think much of the idea, but I reasoned that approximately 20 suites on each floor. Each suite, and in the big picture, we were not THAT much more sometimes each room, held a different small business. In spiritually advanced than someone willing to take on such a one room women were sewing, in another there was a small mission. Father trusted us, why shouldn’t we trust someone table and lots of papers, in another there were baskets of else? I forged ahead, placing an ad – one ad – in the paper. merchandize. There were few phones, and no spit and The phone rang nonstop for a week. At the end, I had a polish. Yet it was teaming with life. It reminded me of an perfect Indian accent - because that was the only way I anthill – with everyone going every direction. Everyone could be understood by phone. We didn’t find the right wanted to make money, and set up their own enterprise. person, however. Next, we found a room in someone’s flat, with a Another time, In Kolkata, I placed an ad for a separate entrance. It had no furniture, but was clean (more correspondence course. I noted that people liked learning, or less), and had a ceiling fan. We went there every day, to and responded well to educational opportunities. The give lectures and have discussions. One of the ladies who response was terrific. I worked very hard to divide up came was a Muslim named Miriam. She was a dear, sweet Chapter One into single sections, edited slightly and added person who I loved a lot. She brought a mat with her, and at study questions, which I read and responded to. The appropriate times - after washing her hands, feet and face, sections were printed by a Kolkata printer, week by week, she went out to the balcony to pray. We shared deeply but and sent out. There responses declined each week, but after she never joined, and somehow I lost track of her. But I 7 weeks, there were still a sizeable number. At that point I remember her fondly many times. ran out of time, money and enthusiasm, and was faced with As missionaries, we each – the German, Japanese and other urgent matters. American – received a stipend from our home country. For About a year after I arrived in India, the directive me, that was $300 a month. It was adequate for our came from headquarters one of us should send stories to lifestyle, but not enough for a flat downtown. At one point the newly formed Newsworld newspaper in New York. I decided to try my hand at fund-raising, to see how we That turned out to be right up my alley. I loved it. There might increase our income. We lived on a chicken farm, so were soooo many stories to tell. I remember looking down I made a deal with the chicken owner to get a percentage of from the 2nd story bus window on the busy street, with the chickens I sold. Off I went to the prosperous looking people going every which way, and huge containers neighborhood not far away. The reception was similar to balanced on sturdy wooden carts, being pushed by very witnessing. If they opened the door at all, people were thin, but very strong, dark men dressed in white cloth and wide-eyed. Their homes, while clean, were not prosperous. sandals. There were things one couldn’t imagine in the Many had van car seats as a main living room couch. west. As it turned out, however, the Newsworld editors Selling chickens door to door (in a vegetarian country!) were not as fascinated by my stories as I had hoped. Still I was not be the way to make money! Not long afterwards, a sent many, writing them out by hand, and going to the fence was put up around the neighborhood. I hadn’t telegraph office to send them. Sometimes I had to copy realized it was a support community for the nearby nuclear, them again by hand onto the telegram. Sending them by military facility. Someone got nervous about a foreigner phone was impossible. International calls, known as trunk visiting such a sensitive place! calls, were very expensive, and had to be booked a few After about a year of working in Mumbai, I became hours to a day ahead. When the call came through, you had aware that only a small portion of India’s population lives to be ready. Another problem was that the infrastructure in cities. It seemed we should reach out to the majority in was old. It had all been set up under the British 50-100 the villages, like Gandhi and Mother Teresa had done. But years earlier, and badly needed updating and replacing. The villagers are even poorer than those in the city and few phones worked, sort of. But you had to shout to be heard. speak English. I developed a plan to find an Indian to go to There was no such thing as a private phone conversation!

63 1975 Missionary Testimonies This was before the days of the internet. Because of unattended for 5 seconds would disappear. Homes all had the difficulties with telephone (not everyone had a phone bars on the windows, and you never put anything too close anyway), mail was the most reliable way to communicate. to the window. Some children even took my little kitten Before long, I learned another way to communicate – use from my front porch, and left another bug infested one! your spiritual senses. If I had a meeting and really, really Imagine my surprise when I returned to find different kitten didn’t want to go, it probably meant the person wouldn’t be snuggled inside the bed I had made. there. On the other hand, if you were ready to go to the Prevention is the best protection. Carry your bag in meeting way before time, it probably meant you should go front, hold on to it at all times. Don’t set anything down early. I came to trust this sense, and it saved me a lot of without watching it. Don’t keep a wallet in your back hassle and aggravation. pocket. And above all, don’t carry a lot of money with you India was a poor country, and this was brought home where pick pockets can get it. We all had body slings to us in many ways. Around the train station and the big tucked under our clothes, where we kept our passports and hotels downtown, there were always a lot of beggars. Many stash of cash. Lokesh’s mother had an interesting way to of them were small children. I was told never to give a avoid thieves. She kept all her valuables in plain sight, but begging child anything, or you’d have a hundred more in in containers that didn’t look like they would hold anything the blink of an eye. They had cute, dirty faces, and big valuable. Anything shiny and new is a target. eyes, so sometimes I couldn’t keep from giving them a few In addition to thievery, there was the problem of coins, and always, in a second there were so many children corruption and bureaucracy. We had help setting up a surrounding me that I couldn’t walk. I also learned that house In Calcutta, trying to get all the necessary hook ups - most of them worked for an adult – Oliver Twist fashion, like gas and phone. There are long waiting lists for every who took the earnings. Sometimes children were maimed necessity. Nothing was available for several months, unless to arouse sympathy and earn more money. In addition to you paid a bribe. Even if you paid, you couldn’t necessarily children, there were often lepers at the train station, their get what you wanted. There were just too many people. arms or legs wrapped in bandages. I had never seen a leper The lady we lived with in Calcutta used to say, treat before. It was repulsive, but also made me feel sympathy. everyone well, because you never know when you’ll need What kind of life do they have? As it turns out, the someone again. And it was true. Make enemies at an office, government has provided for them, to some extent. and you’ll end up at the bottom of the list. When it came to Every morning as I rode by in the bus, I saw poor train journeys across country, foreigners had some people washing themselves, washing clothes, doing their advantage. The government reserved a certain number of morning toilet in whatever body of water was nearby. The seats for foreigners who didn’t have time to wait several saddest ones were the group that lived in the center of the months to travel. But when it came to the Post Office, we city. They were dark, their clothes were dark (from soot all fared the same. You had to have your foreign letter and dirt), their cooking pans were black from soot. I cancelled officially, or someone would steal the expensive watched as a mother cradled her child between her legs, stamp. So, you stood in line to buy the stamp, and then in searching through the child’s hair for lice. Other children another line to get it cancelled. Just to mail one letter might were playing around her. So sad. take most of the afternoon. At one point, after arguing with Sympathy can quickly change to anger, however, if some small minded official about a ridiculous regulation you are the target of clever pickpockets. Every foreign and procedure (there were procedures for everything), I visitor I met was pick pocketed at least once. The first time concluded that the reason India was known for its holy men was always a shocker! In the crowd one person works to was because the general life in India was so frustrating. distract you, while the other gets your valuables. Kathy You either rose above it, or you sank into a pit. Erickson, a missionary to Ethiopia who visited us for a few But too many people, and a lack of resources didn’t weeks, had her cloth purse slit at the bottom. A coin purse always spell inefficiency. When I went to the passport was taken from my handbag on the bus. My dad, who was office to renew my visa, I was ushered into a hallway to visiting, had his wallet stolen. I even had a garnet stolen wait. There were bundles of paper everywhere, each from my ring! I felt something, but it was so crowded I carefully tied. I mistakenly assumed they would never find couldn’t let go of the pole. When I got off the bus, it was my previous application for a visa. I was wrong. Within a gone. It was not just money that was stolen. Anything left few minutes, someone came back, told me when I had

1975 Missionary Testimonies 64

applied before, what had happened, what the address was. predominantly Christian and remote. While brief, these All my information was there! And they had found it in travels helped us understand the great diversity of the short order. Indian people, and some of the political turmoil. Travels to the Rest of India Kolkata India was a big and very diverse country, and we had After some time in Mumbai, we decided to move to seen very little of it. Kazuhiro and I decided to take Kolkata. We stayed with Lokesh’s Aunt, Chaya. She lived advantage of the Indian Airlines special – unlimited travels in a small two room flat in central Kolkata. Jhuno, her within India for a week.5 Combining that with bus and train small servant girl, was more like a daughter. She brought allowed us to travel to all the corners of the country. We us tea and something to eat when we came home. Chaya first went south on a bus to the beautiful, seaside state of was a telephone operator for a big company. From an Goa, originally an area dominated by Christians, and now important Brahmin family, she had divorced her first frequented by hippies. Next further south to a village in husband because he wanted her to sleep with his friends, Kerala and then to Kanyakumari at the very tip of India, essentially. She then married a Muslim man, at a difficult where you can see 3 large bodies of water - the Indian time in India politically. He subsequently died of TB, at Ocean, the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Ocean. We which point she had three children. She gave her son to her stayed in what had been a private residence during British older, childless sister to raise, and provided for the two rule – now a hotel – with huge rooms – a bathroom as large girls. One of the daughters had become a Unification as most bedrooms, and a bedroom as large as a whole flat. member in Canada. So Chaya was very interested, and All throughout South India we had coffee instead of tea, finally decided to live with us. She arranged for a nice and rice 3 times a day. house in a nice section of the city, moved all of her Our next stop was on the eastern coast. Pondicherry furniture (via the hand carts, pushed by the thin, strong (now Puducherry) was under French rule until mid-1900s, men), and we were ready to begin a new, and exciting and is now the home of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram – period. We had several people ready to attend a workshop, making it a favorite site for westerners seeking Indian and possibly stay with us. spiritualism. Further north to Chennai (formerly Madras), Then we learned that Wolfgang had TB. He had been and then west to Bangalore. Now called Bengaluru, it is the coughing a lot, and coughed up blood. The doctor Silicon Valley of India and surprisingly clean and pleasant. prescribed medicine, and told him what to do so others It was the first place to have electricity and running water, didn’t get the disease. Chaya and Jhuno immediately left. thanks to the Maharaja of Bangalore, who sent someone to Kazuhiro and I, and two other visiting missionaries, Kathy bring back the technology to improve life for the people. In and Mark Erickson, argued that Wolfgang should go to a contrast, the Nizaam of Hyderabad, a city not too far away, sanitarium until he was better, both for his benefit and was known for his stinginess – although he was said to be because it would be difficult to have guests. He refused. the wealthiest man in the world! These were dark days. One night, after an intense Next we flew north to Gujarat, to see Gandhi’s argument, I decided to stay in a hotel just to get away from ashram, and then to Jaipur in Rajasthan, the magical city of the confusion. As it turned out, that was the very night that red sandstone and rajas. On to Srinagar in Jammu and the soccer great, Pele, was in town, and there were no Kashmir, territory claimed by Pakistan and one of the rooms anywhere, for any price! northern most cities in India. It is a well-known summer Visit to Bangladesh retreat (because it is cooler) with picturesque houseboats. Around this time, for some reason I can’t remember, I The last place we visited was clear across the country - the decided to go to Bangladesh. We all knew that you can state of Mizoram, east of Bangladesh, next to Burma. In a make a little extra money buying things cheap in one state of heightened security, there were forms to fill out country, and selling them at a premium in another – and curfews to comply with. But I was amazed at how including items from the duty-free shop. I bought a bottle different it felt – like a different country. It was of Johnny Walker and a carton of cigarettes. The American missionary in Dacca, John Thomas (he changed his name later) was upset that I would bring proscribed items into the 5 The distances are so great, it would take a month or more to travel to all the places we went to by land.

65 1975 Missionary Testimonies country. But the German missionary, Ottmar, said he’d be his family, so we traveled by car from Europe to India happy to sell the cigarettes at the German embassy. (another story). We returned to Canada where we stayed I had no idea what to buy with the money from the for nearly a year before coming back to DC. From 1970 we Johnny Walker and the cigarettes, so I wandered the market lived as brother and sister, and were blessed in 1976. Now place to find something. The dacca (Bangladesh currency) in Kolkata, he said we could start family life. But it didn’t was worthless, so cash was not an option. Nothing struck feel right. It turns out he had had a romantic liaison, and me, and I started home. Out of curiosity, I stopped at a fallen out with nearly every church leader in the US. He guitar shop. Most guitars I had seen made in India were wanted me to dislike them the way he did, but they were lousy. So not bothering with the cheap ones, I asked to see my friends, so I couldn’t – which made him angry. After the most expensive guitar in the shop. As I was playing it, I some time, he went to Mumbai to see his family. realized how much fun we could have with it at the center. I was in crisis. My marriage was falling apart. I didn’t So I told the shop keeper that I was interested, but it was know where to turn. I couldn’t go to his family – they too noisy to hear. Could I take it home and bring it back would side with him, regardless of how much they tomorrow? “Send your man to see where I stay,” I said – respected and loved me. The other missionary sisters from knowing full well that this trust would ONLY be offered to Ceylon were far away. After much soul searching, I sent all a foreigner. He agreed. His man walked with me to the the family things back to Lokesh’s mother – a wedding center – a block away. We had a great fellowship night. I sari, a gold bangle (like a wedding ring), and other started thinking the guitar wasn’t too bad. Maybe I could (expensive) jewelry. It had been a deep relationship and it buy it. The price was almost the same as the black market was painful. To help the healing, I vowed not to say his value of the Johnny Walker and the cigarettes. The next name for one year. I decided to return to the US – I was not day I took the whiskey in a discrete shoulder bag, and strong enough to remain in India in such an isolated asked to see the owner. In Dacca, as in India, a crowd will situation. gather very quickly. So I was low key. “I like the guitar - I Greece have something to trade,” I told the owner. He wanted to see, so I went inside the shop (rather than stand at the I was sent to Athens almost immediately, where I counter on the street), and very inconspicuously showed mostly worked as a journalist. My stories were sent out of him. He liked it. “That’s not enough,” he told me. “I know the UPI office. People spoke English, but Greek script was – how about 350 dacca more?” He agreed – I gave him the a problem. I picked up the phone book to call the Foreign cigarette money and the whiskey, and the guitar was mine! Ministry and realized I didn’t know the word, and wouldn’t I played it a lot in the dark days of Kolkata. I remember know where to look even if I did. So I called the American locking myself in my room, and playing and playing all day Embassy - they had an English phone book! Other people and all night. couldn’t read Greek either! From then on, my information came from the American Embassy or the UPI office. After I The Last Months in India had studied Greek, on a visit to the French Embassy, I Finally, I decided to get a separate place. No one was discovered I could make out the words on the French side going to visit us in a house where someone had TB, so it of the directory, but not the Greek. was pointless to stay there. I found a small place nearby Peter Ellis, from England, was the European where we could have visitors. They somewhat reluctantly missionary. His 2 room flat was too small for Yoshinori agreed. It was a cute place – the bottom floor of a small (Japanese missionary) and me to stay. So we got an house, with a small office/bedroom upstairs. Very clean apartment in Exarchia, near the University. From time to and new. I loved it. I wrote a lot of poetry and recorded my time George Lambros joined us. He was a quiet and serious songs there. Abeer, a cousin of Lokesh who lived not far young man, unlike most Greeks who are fun-loving, away, became a frequent visitor. Anita, Chaya’s daughter gregarious, and generous – and sometimes rough. To returned, and she and Abeer started a school for the understand the Greek character, it is important to know children in the nearby squatter area in our garage. We how they suffered during WWII. But the change was a called it Anandaloy. shock for me. I was used to India, where people help each About that time Lokesh came for awhile. We had met other when it rains, crowding together under whatever during our college years in Montana. He too came to D.C. shelter they can find, squeezing to make room for the next and became a member in 1970. But then he wanted to visit person. In Athens, people run in every direction, bumping,

1975 Missionary Testimonies 66

pushing, knocking thing out of your hands – with no church services daily. Stores close for each service, so we apology. The first time it happened to me, I cried. bought extra food, because we never knew when they Soon after I came Peter showed me his emergency would be open. In the village, festivities begin with a fund – sent from headquarters in England. It was a tangled Friday procession through town led by the priest. A huge glob of chain necklaces. He laughed, and said I could do overflow crowd waits during the service so they can file whatever I wanted with them. I decided to try fund raising, inside to light a candle. Early morning on Easter Sunday painstakingly sorted them out, and managed to sell quite a lamb roasting begins, turned round and round slowly over few. Seeing my success, Yoshinori and Peter were soon the fire. By noon, there is wine, music and dancing. doing the same. I was pleased they followed my example, When it comes to cuisine, Greeks are like vegans: they but disappointed that the fund raising money I had plans for will only eat what they eat. One time I invited half a dozen was slowly disappearing! people for dinner. I woke up in a panic. What if they didn’t Witnessing in Athens was problematic as an American like my food? I fussed all day to get everything right, and it female. I was a target for the gigolos, and there were few went pretty well. BUT, I didn’t serve wine – because I Greek women in public. So, I put an ad in the paper: didn’t drink it. Without the traditional beverage, the “Wanted – people who love God.” Two wonderful people evening fell flat. It was my only Greek dinner party. But as answered - a young man from Africa, and a young man much as they like wine, I never saw anyone drunk. They from Pakistan, but no Greeks. Mushtaq Suleri was a cook drink at mealtime, in company. The whole family is part of on a ship, although his tall, slender frame made him seem the sharing – young and old alike. more like an academic. He wasn’t so interested in the Greece is the birthplace of democracy, and this Principle, but he did truly love God, and came to the center heritage is reflected in the Greek character. They are a lot, as did Joseph, the man from Africa. Mushtaq went outspoken and argue a lot. But a Greek friend is something back to Pakistan, and we kept in touch for quite awhile. I special. I had several Greek friends, whom I think of often. have often wondered how he is faring with all the activity Ioannies (John) Tsortsis was a student, who eventually there. went to New York when he completed his studies. Luly Greeks are vigorous in general. They get up early, Kaya was a sometime radio announcer, who invited us all work hard, eat a hearty lunch, sleep, return to finish the to her village house in northern Greece. She and I became day’s work, and then spend the evening with family and good friends, and hers was 1 of only 4 homes I was invited friends at a taverna. The people in the office across the into while in Greece. (As I said, Greeks are private.) I spent street were at work before we woke up. We rushed to get to a lot of time with Maria and Ioannis (not John Tsortsis) in government offices before they closed at 1 pm, then their small two room flat. Maria was from South America, wandered the empty streets as people slept during the and may have been the daughter of an Ambassador, or afternoon. But it was the evenings that are most some such – she was always vague, but specific enough to memorable. Tavernas were everywhere. Plaka, where know there was a connection. The two of them sang and music from one place competes with music from another, is played with a band. Vasilis worked for the local paper. I for tourists. Greek residents go to more humble, remote met him as a journalist, doing a story on Greek gypsies. gardens where the music is a quieter. A soft breeze, nice When he found out my affiliation, he wanted me to get an music, good company - I came to enjoy the Greek lifestyle. interview with Rev Moon. Didn’t happen! Music and dance is as much a part of Greece as the Throughout my life, my motto was to have no regrets. beautiful blue sky and whitewashed buildings that show off But when my marriage broke, I wondered how I could not bright, red flowers. regret that. Then one day, talking with a Greek man who Church is not a big part of Greek lifestyle, except at was divorced, I realized I had more sympathy than before. Easter. The Orthodox Church is Christian, but different. There are many divorced people in the world who need There are no chairs or benches to sit on during service, for sympathy and understanding. I also felt humbled. My instance. One time I went into a church to pray, lit a candle imperfect life meant I could not claim to be better than and put my money in the box. A few minutes later, an anyone else. I recognized that I had been somewhat attendant blew out my candle and put it in the recycle bin. arrogant. We humans are so foolish, making tiny But during Easter week, everything else stops. There are differences into big distinctions. Before God, we are all preparations including special breads and new clothes, and about the same.

67 1975 Missionary Testimonies When missionaries Thomas Cromwell and Kanu were Press Club didn’t recognize the paper as being legitimate. kicked out of Egypt, they came to stay with us. Thomas So they would not give me press credentials – which meant arranged a most interesting trip for four of us through no admittance to government press briefings. The reason Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Yugoslavia. All had wasn’t specified; it took me a few months to find out. Once Communist governments. We drove Peter’s car, although I did, I asked for the issue with a front page picture of he didn’t come with us. Bulgaria was similar to Greece, in Mayor Koch holding our paper – predicting his landslide many ways, but everyone kept to themselves. We did see re-election. What could be more legit than that? The paper men playing soccer while riding motorcycles! In Romania, was sent, and I got Foreign Press credentials. the atmosphere was more fearful. At the border, every inch My small efficiency flat was across the street from of the car was searched. The guard found one pamphlet MI6. I rode a bike everywhere in London – including to the under the back seat. “What is this?” he demanded. “I don’t press briefings at Downing Street (Prime Minister’s know – keep it.” I replied. After he finished searching, I residence). I asked the guard if I could lock my bike up on waited for the others a very long time. Thomas and Kanu the fence, and he agreed! During the Falklands war I had recently come from Egypt, so needed inoculation. But became a war correspondent – albeit without going to the then they found Yoshinori’s journalist card (communist scene of battle. I reported the initial incident that started it countries don’t like journalists). There was much all. I argued strongly with my editor that it was significant, discussion. In the end, Yoshinori received the inoculation! and prevailed. Briefings during the war were held all over It made no sense, but at least we could continue. Bucharest London at all hours of the day and night. Journalists were reminded me of WWII movies – dim lighting and bullet on call 24/7. It was sometimes tough to figure out what it holes in the building walls. It was night when we drove to a all meant. mountain overlook and got out to pray. Almost instantly we all felt we had to leave. I’m certain we were being watched. After the war, Robert wanted me to do a story on In the city, people were hesitant to talk with us except at a Friedman versus Keynesian economics. Another time he busy cafeteria, where they could not be watched so easily. had a theory about Soviet policy and wanted some In Hungary, we met a young lady who showed us all information from their embassy. I went, somewhat around. Yugoslavia was the most free of all. hesitantly, and asked to see the press officer. I was ushered into a small room with a man who didn’t seem to One place I was unable to visit, however, was Albania, understand anything I asked him. The answers he gave had where Mother Teresa grew up. I was curious to know about nothing to do with the questions I asked. But I persisted. life there – a very closed Communist country. Mushtaq After a very long time, he finally said, “Oh, that’s what you pointed out that ships dock there, so I toyed with the idea want to know. Well, I’m not able to talk about that.” He of becoming a stowaway. Another place I was not able to knew all along, but just didn’t want to answer! visit was Mount Athos. The oldest monastic community in the world did not allow women to enter. Again, I After writing daily stories for some time, I became contemplated entering clandestinely, but never did. But I dissatisfied by the deadlines. No matter what the deeper did interview the Dalai Lama, on his visit to Greece. causes of an event, or who else was involved, when the end of the day came, the story was done. When Thomas The New York City Tribune and London Cromwell started the Middle East Times, I started doing My goal was become to be a correspondent for the features and interviews. Soon that became my main focus. New York City Tribune, instead of a stringer6. So I went The Foreign Office official learned of the change, and back to New York to convince the International Editor, suggested I come to a Middle East briefings. Jews and Robert Morton. I lived at the New Yorker, naturally, and Arabs reporters were briefed separately. I went to the wrote some stories for the Culture Section of the paper. former. The Jewish reporters raked me over the coals – Finally, after about a year, I was sent to London, as the who was I, what was the paper, who published it, etc? They Bureau Chief (bureau of 1). Problem was, the Foreign refused to let the briefing continue as long as I was in the room! A Jewish reporter told me later they would have approved me, they just didn’t know. 6 A correspondent in hired by the paper – thus MUST send stories regularly, and can be asked to go somewhere, or write about a There were many opportunities for a correspondent in certain subject. A stringer sends stories of their own selection London. I rubbed shoulders with journalists from all the which may or may not be printed. US publications – TIME Magazine, all the newspapers

1975 Missionary Testimonies 68

(except the NYTimes reporter, who apparently had Fort Worth. Unfortunately, John and I separated in 2007. I sufficient status to be briefed privately!), UPI, AP. I retired in 2013 and moved to Maryland. attended two Economic Summits - one in Paris and one in I hope my contributions to the various situations Switzerland. There were press briefings with all the leaders were valuable. There were no church congregations when I of Western Europe and Japan. I saw George Bush Sr., left, either in India or Greece, but it wasn’t for lack of before he became President. (Most of the journalists trying. Over the years I have met former members who brushed him off as a light weight!) There was a very complain about things in the church. I always find those complaints surprising on two counts. First, life is what you interesting foreign press luncheon with Mrs. Thatcher, in make it. Second, my church experiences were a wonderful London. She was amazing! She used her aggressive opportunity to see the world, to grow, to understand life. I Parliament style and outdebated the usually outspoken and would not have become a correspondent, and I would not liberal American journalists, hands down. I visited have met the people I did. Likely I would not have gone the Parliament, and the House of Lords. places I did, either. I have made many dear friends, and my time in India, Greece and London made me a bigger and One day at the Foreign Press Club, I was told it was better person. I understand people and cultures more, and my turn to go to the Queen’s Annual Garden Party, if I feel I belong to the world, not just to one country. wanted to. I did! Had to get a hat. A knighting inside Buckingham Palace preceded the event, at which the Queen’s band played royal music. In the Palace garden, tea and cakes were served on long tables. There was a huge crowd - everyone dressed in their finest, and on their best behavior, waiting in long lines to shake hands with the Queen, Prince Charles, and other royals. When a UC sponsored conference was held in London, Robert called all the correspondents from Europe to attend. At one point during the conference all 6 or 7 of us met with a church leader for a pep talk. He said we should get our credentials, and go to all the government briefings like other reporters. I was taken aback. He obviously didn’t realize we HAD been doing exactly that. Further, it seemed like he thought we were less competent than non-member correspondents. I may not have been the best writer, but I certainly wasn’t the worst. I regularly compared my lead (the first sentence of a story) with the best London papers, and concluded it was usually on par with the Guardian and The Times. Only The Financial Times was consistently better. Whatever the regard for journalists in the church was, I felt a calling to get more education, and dig into things more deeply. I left London in December of 1985. Sara, Kazuhiro, Wolfgang in India George, Yoshinori, Mushtaq, Sara, Peter in Greece

Conclusion While in London, I was blessed with John Horsfall, from New Zealand. He came to London, and a year or two later we moved to Texas, where son Nathan was born. I supported us as a family by teaching guitar, and directing the choir at a Catholic Church while he went to school. Since we lived in a college town, I found a way to go back and get my PhD in Sociology. After graduation I became a Professor of Sociology at Texas Wesleyan University in

69 1975 Missionary Testimonies

Children from Anandaloy and their parents & families Anandaloy School in Kolkata

Some foreign correspondents with Sara interviewing the Dalai Lama in Greece Robert & Chun Boon Morton

Abeer, Anita and Sara in the Anandaloy Schoolroom

Strings Through My Hands (song) 1. There were strings through my hands, when I woke they were gone. What did I dream, what does it mean? He had nails in his hands when he died on the cross, He had hope in his heart he had love. Chorus: Go and die (live) in my place, bring the world a new light. Don’t open the door to fear. Give my love to your brothers (sisters, all others), for I don’t have time. And I’m sorry it couldn’t be another way.

2. He gave hope to my life, in a world filled with hate, He dared to speak of more than just his own. He would give what he had so that others may know, There’s more to this world than what is known.

3. There is death at the door unless you fight to find more, And travel the desert alone.

1975 Missionary Testimonies 70

At the end of the road you’ll find children of heart, On Living Next Door to a Calcutta Slum And you’ll know you have life because he lives. Do you know what I miss? India 1975 The gentle folk I knew. All My Friends not the ones who knew How can I possibly be lonely? my name All I need do is look beside me – and brought me sweets, there are moles who enter my door but the silent ones who padded by late at night, and scurry here and there. and again early in the morning. Sometimes they even find my bed attractive. They lives next to me, How nice to have such good friends. across the field, And on the walls are innumerable moths. in their huts all squashed They are so patient. They alight and sit for hours. together – I’m sure they must be praying with me. carefully arranged around the And the corners of the room are the homes of many multiple tributaries of nameless creatures. dirty water. Occasionally some larger variety appears. They bathed and washed their clothes They love my clothes so much. It’s really together A pleasure to have such admirers. in the lake nearby. There are several families of lizards. Their beautiful, black bodies So entertaining they are! There is no height glistened in the sun too great for them to climb. Their walk is so as they chatted busily, funny to see – more like a waddle. They mindless of passersby. used to frighten me, but now I’ve learned Their fires characteristically thickened the Calcutta air morning they are truly dependable creatures. and evening No night passes without their appearance. even as their presence swells my memories. And of course, I couldn’t forget the most I met them in the streets, ambitious of al my friends – the flies sat next to them in the bus, and mosquitoes. Sometimes they bring all their and spoke to them wordlessly friends and families and relatives. They have so in my home. much to do, I never see them still for a minute – except I admired their frugality, when they see me. They are so fond of me. their good cheer, They stop everything else to be close to me. and their strength. There is one more variety of friend who comes There were two ladies who slapped cowdung and likes my house so much he immediately paddies all day beneath builds his home – wonderful, cottony-lacey my window. home all over. He just can’t bear to leave. There was an old, toothless man, And sometimes, I find him, or her, I’m not lowest of the low, sure which, so startled by the things I say who came every morning to brush he is suspended in mid-air. Such my porch and clean my toilets; every morning, that is, except the mornings depth of heart! There are those who can’t he didn’t come. even listen to my words. But not this one! He would then unashamedly, and without apology, Truly I am fortunate to have so many friends, appear the next day. with such dedication and tenderness toward me. But he was a reliable fellow, God must have given me friends to learn from. and never tried to get more India 1975 than his due.

71 1975 Missionary Testimonies There were the children, that I might not full of pranks, be torn limb from limb, who took the tiny kitten I had befriended each piece going to and replaced it with a dirty, my debtors. bug infested one of their own. If you have pity – There was the bread wallah, a small drop of it to spare, who sat in his little stall I beseech you from early morning until late at night, from your great treasure and the rickshaw drivers throw a few sheckles who lived together in one to my hounding wolves garage, that I might be free. and who worked long past sunset, But I have nothing to and double that during the rainy season, give you in return. to earn the money to send back home to their villages. My life will be yours – And there was the shy lady but it may cause you who washed my floors more suffering. everyday, And again I implore of you and left with my discarded paper if you are truly the God of Love, carefully bundled to burn let me rest my head and cook her family’s meal. for a moment on your shoulder They had their own noises, that I might know the joy but they were peaceful sounds, of peace and security. and I was happy when they were I fear my hands are too ugly my neighbors. to win your praise, I wish I had windows and I seek not the place to watch them now. of a princess. Here I am all closed in Let one who is worthy with dos and don’ts; sit by your side. people with no time But keep me in the folds and no smiles. of your garment I miss the gentle folk that I might feel the warmth who give much of your love in their simplicity. and my wounds be healed. London 1983 Don’t seek my past Cover my soul I come from a war torn and desolate land. Oh you who are more my heart Even now I can smell than my own – the charcoal embers of death cover my soul, and destruction. for I am in great need I have no home of thee. and no one. With thy strength I beg thee But if it pleases you to fight the battle I have you. I cannot win. You are my home. Those who would claim me You are my love crowd round about me You are everything to me – and I stand helpless. Only cover my soul Fold me in your safe keeping and keep me

1975 Missionary Testimonies 72

for I am burning with the fires that destroy the soul and I long for your comforting hands to rescue me. You are the only one and my last hope – Cover my soul and keep me, for in this world I cannot stand, I lost my shield in loving you, and now men with sharp swords pierce me through. My days and my nights are filled with the bitterness of battle. The world sees still the fortress of my former strength. But now the armor is paper thin, And even then it has more weight than my arms can bear. My heart is like a turtle that has lost its shell and stand prey to any. Cover my soul and keep it, lest it be lost. I have no will of my own, and I fear I shall go as the spoils of battle to the strongest warrior. Fight for me, oh my love – I am lost but for you. Cover my soul if you can and keep me. And hurry, lest in my weakness the battle should be lost. Bombay January 1977

73 1975 Missionary Testimonies Richard Van Loon - Suriname was charged with making the new country’s constitution. As the various parties vied for power, there was much In 1975, as an American foreign missionary I was sent tension, both within Parliament and in the country at large. to Suriname to work with a Japanese brother and a German sister. Suriname is a South American country with a When Mikuni and I arrived in Paramaribo late one tropical rain forest climate and a small diverse population evening, we went directly to the main hotel. The German of beautiful, racially mixed people. During my time there I missionary, a young sister named Barbara Joosten, had had deep experiences with God and our True Parents. arrived several weeks ahead of us. We had not been in Through this testimony I hope to share some of those contact with her and didn’t know where she was, but experiences. luckily she had left a note for us at the hotel. She was staying in a rented room several blocks away so instead of After receiving the blessing and attending a 120 day checking into the hotel, we carried our luggage through the training program in Barrytown, New York where we hot, dusty streets of Paramaribo to where Barbara Joosten studied the Divine Principle, Unification Thought and was staying. There we rented another room from the Victory over Communism and where True Father came and Christian woman with large-framed, thick-lensed glasses poured out his heart to us almost every other day, I was who had taken Barbara under her wing. When we awoke deeply inspired. Father was sending missionaries to some the next morning we learned that the hotel where we had 120 countries throughout the world, one each from originally planned to stay had been engulfed in flames. It America, Japan and Germany, and I had been selected to was allegedly the victim of politically motivated arson, but go to Suriname. One evening as the workshop was we missionaries couldn’t help but see it as an assault aimed drawing to a close I went to the dining room to pray for my at us as well. Invisible spiritual forces were not happy that assigned nation. As soon as I began, I was overwhelmed we were here, it seemed, and we felt this clearly. (That with a feeling of utter grief. I wept profusely and experience set the tone for me and for all of the time I inconsolably for a while and when I was done, I noticed would work in Suriname, I would feel and see clearly the that my tears and mucous had formed a small pool on the many ways in which both God and Satan worked.) table. How could I feel this way for a country to which I’d never been? I wondered. The answer was obvious: God A few days later, we moved into an apartment on the exists and is the Heavenly Parent of mankind; as such He is second floor above a busy street in downtown Paramaribo. grieved to see His children suffer; He was sending me to There we faced our first challenge: how to work together. Suriname on His behalf to help end that suffering. That Father had clearly said there was to be no Cain-Abel profound experience formed the basis of my understanding relationship among the missionaries, yet a core structure of of why I was being sent. our church life was based on the importance of unity between leader and follower in just such a Cain-Abel On his way to Suriname, the Japanese missionary, relationship. Without this, it was hard to imagine, Shinichiro (Mike) Mikuni, flew to New York to meet up according to our understanding of the Principle, how God with me. As we set out to Suriname together, a small could work through us. Being Japanese, this was country on the Atlantic coast of South America bordering especially true for Mikuni. Guyana to the west, French Cayenne to the east and Brazil to the south, I felt he was truly my brother. Suriname has a At issue was the fact that we each had a different idea population of around 350,000 people made up of various of how to accomplish our mission. Mikuni, who had come races living mostly in the capitol city of Paramaribo and as a journalist, wanted to do research for the first six another smaller city, Nickerie, both on the Atlantic coast. months or so while I was under the belief that, if we really The rest of the inhabitants, descendants of run-away-slaves had strong faith, we could accomplish our mission within known as Bush Negroes and native Indians, live in small the first 21 days. Both Barbara and I believed our main villages in the interior, a thick jungle of which the rest of focus should be witnessing, so I began meeting people on the country is comprised. the street below our apartment while she focused on developing her network of contacts. (Officially, as I At that time Suriname was transitioning from a colony remember, she represented herself as a student. I applied of Holland to an independent nation and the entire country for a visa as a businessman with IL HWA Ginseng from was in turmoil. To work the land, slaves had been brought Korea and Mikuni applied for a visa as a journalist for our from Africa. After slavery was abolished, indent workers church’s newspaper in Japan.) were imported from countries such as India and Indonesia. Consequently, the population became quite diverse. To The climate in Suriname is hot and rainy and people represent these various peoples, separate political parties tend to move about slowly. For example, they go home were created. Suriname was also the home to an American from work from 2 till 5 in the afternoon to have lunch and Aluminum mining company named Suralco through which take a nap then return to work in the cool evening. It is not it had strong ties to America. It also had ties to South important to arrive at an appointment on time and many Korea through a shrimp company that fished off things can be put off till the morrow. Filled with zeal and Suriname’s coast. But Suriname had a communist party, being from industrialized countries, in stark contrast we too and Guyana, together with their embassies from Cuba, were quite busy, bustling about there in the nation’s capital Mainland China, Russia and North Korea, was also seeking within walking distance of the presidential palace and a foothold in the newly emerging country. All of these national government buildings. During such a critical parties and their varied interests were represented in a moment in the country’s history, we must’ve stood out like Parliament with a President. It was this political body that apples in a basket of oranges. (I know the government was

1975 Missionary Testimonies 74

aware of our presence and at least once we were called in and coming to see the country as a kind of mini world, he for questioning. By the time I left, I had yet to be granted a would eventually start a monthly publication called “The visa.) Mini-World News”. It was in English and I would help The first thing we did together was to set up a holy him to write it. It was the only such publication in English ground. One day we were out walking through the city and as more foreign journalists began to arrive in the when we came to a palm tree garden behind the country to follow its development towards independence, Presidential Palace. In the garden was a large rock about the government would make Mikuni’s newsletter available six or seven feet tall and three or four feet in diameter. We to them as a news source. decided to make this our holy ground. The rock is Christ As the impending day of independence drew nearer, and the tall, straight palm trees were like righteous political tensions increased. Most of it was focused on the believers; it was a wonderful place to pray and we would wording of the new constitution. At one point there was a often go there. proposal made by the party representing blacks that Through street witnessing I met a young man, a Bush frightened and alarmed some of the other parties. Although Negro who had come to Paramaribo for school. After they were opposed, this party had just enough votes to push learning The Divine Principle (mostly with Barbara it through. When the day came to vote, however, the because the official language in Suriname is Dutch and nation was shocked to learn that one of the Parliament being German she could communicate much better than members had left the black’s party to side with the Mikuni and I), he accepted our teachings and decided to opposition, tipping the balance in their favor and blocking join us. He was living with his Aunt at the time. Shortly her own party. The woman’s name was Albertine after joining, he would move in with us and we would treat Liesdek/Clark. A school teacher before being elected to him like a son, buying his clothes and books, helping him public office, she was a brave, powerful outspoken with his studies and teaching him Divine Principle. Not representative of the people. Some considered her a traitor long afterward he would introduce another young Bush and her life was threatened. To others, though, she was a Negro man who would join and move in too. hero. Either way, the whole country was talking about her. In the meantime, Barbara had been busy cultivating Mikuni was inspired by Albertine and wanted to meet her friendships. The lady who had rented a room to her her. One day he called her. When she asked who he was, and whom Barbara felt had been prepared by God to take he said “Mikuni from Japan”. There was a well-known care of her when she had first arrived (the woman had been politician in Guyana named Jagan. Thinking Mikuni had like a mother to her) was a member of a prominent Baptist said “Jagan” and not “Japan” and that he was the Guyanese church. Barbara attended their services at times and politician’s representative, Albertine told him to come eventually Mikuni and I would go too. The minister--a over. We went together and when we met with her in her warm, round-faced black man with a large, racially diverse house, somehow Albertine was deeply moved. When we congregation, was very outspoken about the dangers of introduced our church and the Divine Principle to her, communism. Besides preaching about this in his church, Albertine began to have dreams and spiritual experiences. he would often warn the country at large of its dangers These would convince her that indeed this teaching was the through pamphlets and newspaper articles. True Father new truth that God had sent to mankind through Rev. had told us that when we went to our countries God would Moon. In this way Albertine became the third Surinamese prepare a John the Baptist figure for us beforehand. Seeing to join our church. this man as our possible John the Baptist, we began to One day, I believe it was through our minister friend, cultivate a relationship with him and his elders. Because we met a Baptist missionary who had come to Suriname our church was being persecuted worldwide, we decided from America. I don’t know how he happened to come, or that we should focus on developing close personal ties with why, but he seemed to be keeping an eye on how the the minister first before letting him know of our affiliation independence was unfolding. We had yet to inform our with Rev. Moon. Hopefully this would help us to minister friend about our affiliation with Rev. Moon. We overcome controversies and doctrinal differences that were had also moved from the apartment to a flat where we lived sure to arise. together with our first two members. Albertine was a His was a spirit-filled evangelical church. The public figure and her relationship with us was known to congregants sang and prayed fervently, the minister gave only a few. Mikuni was busy with the Mini-World News. fiery sermons, some members spoke in tongues, the I was helping him and also developing a ginseng business. minister and his aids laid hands on people to cast out Barbara was keeping up with her network of friends and demons and effect healings and performed full-immersion translating for us. (While Dutch was the official language, baptisms which they would conduct in a small, glass-lined Surinamese also spoke a pidgin-English type of language pool behind the altar. Attending their services, I would called “Taki-taki” and many also spoke English, not to often have a curious feeling: it was as if I was a disciple of mention the languages of the countries from which Jesus visiting a Jewish temple two thousand years ago. people’s forbears had come. Gradually Mikuni and I would learn Dutch.) There was a lot going on in the country politically and as a journalist, Mikuni was attending press briefings, Things were going smoothly for a while but then our keeping abreast of the latest developments and writing first member seemed to have a change of heart. I don’t articles for his newspaper in Japan. Fascinated with the know if he became jealous of our second member or diversity of peoples, cultures and languages in Suriname exactly what, but he started acting strangely. Eventually he

75 1975 Missionary Testimonies left us and went over to the Baptist church. When he told them of our affiliation with Rev. Moon and the Unification Church, the minister became negative towards us, warning us strongly not to follow Rev. Moon. Meanwhile, learning of our affiliation with Rev. Moon, the American Baptist missionary acquired pamphlets from Holland where our church was heavily persecuted by Christians. He then distributed these pamphlets, which were in Dutch and which condemned our church in the strongest of terms, to all of the religious leaders in Suriname and told them about us. Through these leaders, practically the entire nation came against us and based on these pamphlets, negative articles were written about our church in the newspapers. (I believe it was at this time that the government brought us in for questioning.) Things were looking dark. We thought we might be expelled. The matter even came up in Parliament. I don’t remember the details but when it did, unexpectedly Albertine spoke up on the floor in our defense. The nation was shocked. She was so popular, no one could come against her and our opponents didn’t know what to do. It was an amazing turn of events. Through Albertine, it seemed, God was shielding us and there was nothing anyone could do. Our minister friend stayed adamantly opposed to us but through Barbara’s contacts we were able to meet some of the other top religious leaders in the country and mollify their fears. It would even happen that, through Albertine, a close aide and representative of Rev. Moon, Col. Pak, would be officially invited to Suriname to meet with the president. It was an amazing, total turnaround to be sure. We were able to stay in Suriname and would eventually establish an official Unification Church. More members would join and at one point we would air a Sunday morning program on a national radio station teaching a simple version of the Divine Principle in “Taki taki”. This is but an outline of my time in Suriname. There were many challenges we missionaries faced--internally with ourselves, with each of the other missionaries, with our circumstances—challenges that would bring us to our knees in desperate prayer in the prayer room or have us pouring our hearts out at the rock at our Holy Ground. In this way I believe each of us forged a deep connection with our Heavenly Parent and with our True Parents with whom, through our experiences, we could feel very close, even though they were physically far away. I will never forget my time in Suriname where God allowed such an unworthy representative as myself to taste something of the depth and power of His love. Those experiences, which are treasures I will always keep in my heart, remind me of these words of Jesus: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

1975 Missionary Testimonies 76

Anita Walters - Chile hear that Russ had got married. So I received a warm welcome. I was born in Germany, but I met the Church while I was studying medicine in Vienna, Austria. I joined on After that visit, we went to New York. The Children’s Day 1969 and stayed in the Austrian Church foreign missionaries went to a training workshop in Family until the end of 1970 when the leader Peter Koch Barrytown, N.Y. True Father told me to attend as well. assigned me as missionary to Belgium where I worked as a After my husband went to Chile as a missionary, I went pioneer. Upon arrival in Belgium, I didn’t speak the back to Belgium and worked there for another year. By the language, so when I invited people I met to come to the time I joined my husband in Chile, we had about 40 center, I asked them to read the Divine Principle in French members in Belgium. to me. That was a win-win situation. The guests learned My husband had not received the telegram I had sent about the Principle, and I was on a fast track learning to let him know when I would be arriving in French. Santiago. With the help of a skilled taxi driver, I got to the In the beginning, I did many prayer conditions at the center safely and surprised my husband. He had been in Holy Ground. Chile for a year together with Wolf from Germany and Hiroshi from Japan. We made efforts to strengthen our At one point, a missionary brother who had worked in unity through “prayer conditions” and frequent walks to the Russia came to visit me for a while. Holy Ground. Together we set “prayer walk” conditions, visited Russell was teaching English at the American Institute many churches and established a number of friendships. in Santiago. I got the chance to take Spanish classes at that One young lady was very intrigued by the new explanation Institute for free. I learned the language quickly, since we of the Mission of Jesus, which inspired her to visit the also spoke Spanish at the Church center. center to study the Divine Principle with me. She became a member. At that time, Chile was ruled by a military government after the overthrow of communism which had been brought Later on, Peter Koch sent 2 sisters from Austria to to the country by foreigners. help me in my mission. We did “street witnessing,” invited potential members to the center and gave lectures. We Before my husband joined the Unification Church, he brought our first members to workshops in France, so that had served in the Peace Corps in Chile. At that time, they could experience a more established Church people were very friendly and open to foreigners. But then family/community and deepen their knowledge of the communism invaded the country. As a result, there was a Principle. lot of mistrust of foreigners. By the time we arrived in Chile as missionaries, communism had been Erika from Austria, missionary in Denmark, had met overthrown. Nevertheless, people were still quite Renee Robinet, mother of 4 children, in an English class. I suspicious of foreigners. This created quite a challenge for was invited to come and teach the family the Divine us. We made great efforts to build friendships with people Principle in French. The entire family joined our before introducing them to the Divine Principle. We Church. After they returned to Belgium, they moved into continued with our prayer conditions and also did several our center. We found a bigger center and continued our 40-day “street preaching” conditions. “street witnessing” in Brussels. We met many people from other European countries. At that time, a substantial After starting our married life, I became pregnant and number of young women worked in Belgium as “au gave birth to our daughter Teresa on September 6, 1977. pair’s”. We became a very international family. Teresa was born with “spina bifida”. During this difficult time, the missionaries from Argentina came to assist us. In February 1975, I participated in the 1800 couples Before she could be transported to the USA to receive Blessing in Korea. I was blessed with Russell Walters adequate treatment, Teresa had to undergo surgery in from the USA. While in Korea, we had a deep Chile. Father explained that her condition was indemnity experience: while praying, we saw a vision. In this vision to prevent communism from returning to Chile and then the children of Chile came and asked us to come to them spreading to South American countries. Father said that as missionaries. We approached Mrs. Choi with the request Teresa must survive at all costs. True Parents even went so to let True Father know that we wanted to be sent far as to pay for Teresa’s surgery. Because of this situation, as missionaries to Chile. we had to leave our beloved Chile and return to the United After the Blessing, the new couples went to Japan to States. support True Father’s speech in Tokyo. Father told me in Later Regis Hanna and his wife took over Japan that my husband should go first. I was ready to go to the mission work in Chile. the airport to travel back to Belgium when President Salonen offered me a ticket for a flight to the USA. He Today Chile is a democratic country, very developed suggested that we get married legally and meet Russell’s and prosperous compared to other countries in South family in Michigan. We did that. The family was happy to America.

77 1975 Missionary Testimonies Takashi and Genie Kagawa - Malaysia, and confronting him with the words: “Make your appearance!”. Later, when my spiritual father was Thailand, Philippines - 40 Years describing the arrogance and rebellious attitude of the Jewish people towards Jesus, I deeply repented. “Yes, Forty Year Testimony that’s me. I’m one of them”. The moment I felt this great remorse, miniscule gold sparks filled the tiny room, and We are humbled by this unexpected and extraordinary there was spiritual fire and heat, as if from a scorching blessing of having received the ‘True Parents’ Award for furnace. I was embraced in a strong Father’s love, and was 40 Years of Meritorious Service”, bestowed upon us by sobbing uncontrollably. I had found my God. True Parents. As part of the 1800 couples blessed who were sent out as foreign missionaries, we share this I had little expectation when I met True Father for incredible journey we spent with True Parents, and the first time in Germany in 1972, but I was again swept realizations that were our privilege to experience because away by an experience I was unprepared to digest. Father of our challenging course. entered the hall of 500 people and turned, opening his arms wide to greet everyone. Radiating from his face and Discovering the Living God in Pioneer Days spiraling in all directions was some kind of invisible energy, filling the entire hall. True Father’s mind was My husband, Takashi Kagawa, was a student studying universal, and he was enormous. I felt so small, like a grain at a Christian University, Doshisha University in Kyoto, of sand in the ocean. Being so young spiritually, where he was introduced to the Christian life and the Bible, unfortunately, Satan used this magnificent experience to a rarity in Japan. He was searching for the meaning of life drag me down into unredeemable unworthiness. My and purpose of human beings, and coming from a Buddhist spiritual life was in a chaos, and I was wasting away, both background, it was the Restoration Principles and history physically and spiritually. that convinced him about the truth of the DP. After the workshop, he often visited the small UC center in Kyoto Later, I was part of the European team called to which attracted him like a magnet. It was in September of America in 1973 for IOWC. At a 10-day workshop at 1967 that he joined the Kyoto-Carp center. It was a poor Belvedere, I was seated in the front when True Father came family, with 15 fulltime members. They carried out to speak on Cain and Abel. He was explosively enraged fundraising in Kyoto and other nearby cities by collecting and banged the microphone. Dark waves of fear engulfed old newspapers from the homes and then selling them to me. I was afraid to look at Father in his eyes. One inner recycling shops, and used the money for their activity. voice was saying: “He’s your Father. You must not be After collecting old newspapers, they sold flowers house- afraid of your Father. You must look at him straight in the to-house. Another way to support themselves was by going eyes.” Another voice condemned me: “You are nothing. to the market and shops for food-raising of old vegetables You are a small speck in the vast universe”.. It took all of and fish free-of-charge or for a cheaper price. Then, they my strength to raise my head and look at Father right in his would go to the bakery for free bread. They restored new eyes. All of a sudden, our eyes met, and a powerful impact members slowly. hit me, lunging me forward from my chair. Shocked, with my eyes opened wide, I saw Father’s blushing expression. I His most memorable experience was attending the was swept up in the resurrecting power of Father’s love, first God’s Day in Osaka, Japan on January 1st, 1968, and and my spirit wanted to fly with wings spread wide. When meeting True Parents for the first time in Osaka, Japan. He we are filled with such intoxication of love, there is recognized that True Father was a very strong and nothing to envy in this world. That moment, Father charismatic leader, while True Mother was so young and liberated me from months of internal imprisonment. beautiful and sang Korean songs. Father gave very strong messages, and everyone was extremely inspired by the Both my husband and I were assigned to IOWC and truth. After that, spiritual phenomenon was prevalent the Global Team, a heavenly army travelling together with nationwide, and even in Kyoto. Whenever they prayed, the 70 to 300-600 persons, working for the True Parents’ Day members were speaking in tongues. Sometimes, Biblical of Hope Tours in America, Japan and Korea. Were plunged figures, such as Moses, would give messages. During the into severe circumstances of the IOWC and Global Team early days, they felt like real brothers and sisters and life. The schedule was from 4 a.m. to midnight, spending experienced the deepest gratitude. all day on the streets, with poor food, and little personal attention. We thought we were working hard, and it was Across the ocean, in Paris in 1969, I met the easy to feel a lot of deprivation. However, no one could say Unification Church, as a disillusioned and disappointed they suffered or sacrificed more that True Parents during person despite 16 years of strong Christian education. I was their tours. During the 70’s, Father guided leaders’ blaming God for all evils in the world and abandoned him. meetings at the New Yorker, and spoke for 10 to 17 hours But, one day, I saw a huge red symbol on the street, and straight. There are no words to describe the atmosphere followed my spiritual father Henri to study about God. He that emanates from his body when he stands in close then guaranteed me the unfathomable, that if I studied the proximity. I perceived the same burning fire that I felt Divine Principle, I would actually have an experience of when I had my first encounter with God when I was God. After studying about indemnity, I was stimulated to spiritually reborn. The warmth emanating from True make a big“ showdown” with God by fasting for three days

1975 Missionary Testimonies 78

Mother was extraordinary as well. With agony, Father belongs to Cesar” and “My Kingdom is not of this world”. educated us about Communism and the impending tortures The 1980’s was a suffering period for our entire movement, that would befall humankind. We were always on the edge as True Parents had to carry the cross by offering their son of our seats and feeling tense and witnessed with a sense of and Father spent time in prison, due to evil sovereignty. desperation, even teaching DP all through the night. In the God has allowed missionaries to experience the agony of 1980’s, True Parents met Kim Il Sung and Gorbachev and True Parents in America over sovereignty as well in our announced that conditions were set for the downfall of the mission countries. In 1983, a former member in Malaysia Soviet Union. Later on, history will know that True Parents betrayed the church and spread rumors to the local were instrumental for the world to know peace. newspapers, turning the Christians against the Unification Church. As missionaries, we had to leave the center and go Pioneer Missionary’s Lonely Life underground. The media came to our center for interviews and an under-cover-detective came to investigate. All of After the 1800 blessing, True Father appointed our our telephones were tapped. We realized True Parents couple as a missionaries of Malaysia. This mission was a course of paying indemnity as our main mission in order to very shocking thing for my husband who thought he would liberate people. Sometimes, it was impossible to move continue to work on the Global Team after the Blessing, forward, but based on our forgiveness and unconditional but Japanese missionaries were asked to join a 120-day giving, God had a chance to work. While True Father was workshop and proceed to their mission countries. Takashi in prison and attacked by sovereignty in America, we were arrived in the tropical country of Malaysia on May 30, underground in Malaysia, pursued by police. 1975. True Father assigned 3 missionaries representing America, Germany and Japan. The American was a When Father got out of prison, we were out of the blessed sister. The other sister was a young German. My spiritual jail, and eventually met a wonderful Sikh leader husband found their messages at the Japanese Embassy and who had met Father in 1959 during the early days in Seoul. quickly proceeded to their living place. They rented a small He lifted us out of our trials through interfaith work. After house and started their mission with prayer and fasting the persecution period, we could hold many workshops in conditions. They went to the university campus and different areas, and sent pioneers to other cities from the downtown for witnessing. The composition of races in Capitol, Kuala Lumpur. Our couple visited the new centers Malaysia are Malays, Chinese, Indians and Eurasians. and taught them and guided them. When we saw many Malaysia is multi-national country, and they restored a few young members in the centers, it was a great joy for us. We members, but they also had unity problems among set up a language school to teach various languages in missionaries. It was very difficult. My husband could unite Kuala Lumpur. We had worked in Malaysia for 13 years, with the German missionary, but with the American, who and we had gained over 120 members before going to was Chinese-American, he felt very much that they had a Thailand. It will be a small result, but we felt how much difficult spiritual background from the past. They tried to God had guided our family and Malaysian members resolve this problem many times. The Japanese army through our mission. Now, many Malaysia members have occupied China before, and they fought against each other been blessed and are working in many nations around the in the war. The American missionary’s relatives suffered world. tremendously through the war in China. He felt the indemnity of Japan’s past. After 3 and a half years, the In 1990, the Asian Continental Director reassigned American and German missionaries returned to their our couple to Thailand, where our movement was thriving, different nations, and my husband remained in Malaysia. with tens of thousands of students visiting our video center during a 3-year period. But, the sovereignty was threatened In September 1979, I went to Malaysia from America by the rapid growth. 8 of our Thai leaders were arrested to do missionary work. We started our family and and put in prison, charged with treason to the monarchy. continued to do witnessing, as well as opened a company to What an un-imaginable shock to see True Parents’ and our sell health products. It was an important and historical leaders’ names associated with this kind of accusation! event when we could register our church in this Muslim Imagine the repeated phrases in the media, newspapers, TV country. A few Chinese Malaysian members who were stations calling out for life imprisonment and execution of witnessed to in England as students, came back to 8 of our very own Church leaders. Those phrases were Malaysia. They had passion to serve their country and ringing in our ears daily, as the Crime Suppression Police started to work together with the local members for kept pounding at our centers nationwide, day after day for witnessing and fundraising. When core members grew up, three solid months. Not ordinary police, they were like a they pioneered in rural areas. My husband especially was crack team used to raid prostitute dens or drug lords. They able to work together with Chinese Malaysians who were carried no sense of accountability. They were rough and enemies to Japan in past history and became close due to crude and bullied our pure, harmless members. They True Parents love. invaded our HQ prayer room, and took away the holy chairs, slippers, and holy salt, and set up an entire floor at Evil Sovereignty Tried to Crush Jesus the police headquarters to display our traitorous activities. We were even accused of intoxicating youth with “white Jesus was so wrongly pushed down, humiliated and powder” (heroin). But, they couldn’t find any evidence, so executed, even though he taught “ Render to Cesar what just kept invading our centers repeatedly day after day.

79 1975 Missionary Testimonies Thai jails were like medieval prisons – dirty, dark, by one until the case could be dropped two years later. The overcrowded and scary., and in Thailand, you were arrested Philippine leaders were also brave and courageous and first, and had to prove your innocence from the jail. continued to witness and teach the Divine Principle in the During the first three months, our Thai leaders were in a centers. Many members joined during that time, as well as very small jail cell with wall to wall prisoners. The hot air Ambassadors for Peace, who studied the teaching and was stifling, as there was just one tiny window. Our clean- received the blessing. 8 of our Philippine leaders had one cut innocent leaders were surrounded by prisoners covered foot in the jail, but were rescued at the last minute by one with tattoos. Some of them were hardened criminals who righteous Senator. Especially, it was through the efforts of committed serious crimes. Hon. Jose de Venecia, Jr.,the Speaker of the House of Representatives, that the legal case was finally dropped in There were 500 fulltime members, dispersed due to the Congress, in the Senate and finally in the Presidential the center raids, who were called in for questioning by the Palace. The victory was won through the unity of the police one by one. They tried to trick them into saying Ambassadors for Peace and Filipino leaders. something derogatory against the monarchy, but not one member could be enticed to say anything negative. After True Parents Are Victorious one month, slowly, the fulltime students and members began to regroup themselves in small apartments of 10-12 Since 2007, I have been assigned to the UPF persons each, and stayed together to pray, make conditions headquarters in New York, in administration and with and maintain their life of faith. Within one year, the church focused work at the UN. My work is of a different nature in foundation mysteriously remained intact, due to the supporting the different Summits, and conference, but it courageous and brave attitude of the Thai leaders outside brings me tremendous joy because of my strong passion for the prison. solving the issue of sovereignty that I was burdened with in my missionary work. Compared to previous years, as True After three months, a case was filed without bail, and Mother has said, we are living in a miraculous time. It is all of our leaders were transferred to a larger prison truly a time of harvesting and a time of restoring facility. One of the difficulties of living in that prison was sovereignty. And, True Mother, with strong faith, has that during the night, our members could hear the loud and declared Vision2020 for nations to be restored. Through terrifying shouts of prisoners being whipped by the guards UPF, heads of state, government officials and entire groups for not cooperating. Visiting the prison was such a painful, are able to link to True Parents. Based on the spiritual inhumane experience. The prisoners stood behind bars in foundation that True Parents have laid through all these one area, while visitors could only shout at them from a suffering circumstances, like fishermen, we only need to be long distance, many feet away. It was our Thai ready to cast the large net very wide and high. My husband Ambassadors for Peace who stood up and worked for the is also working for the Leda Providence in Paraguay, and is bail of our members, who could finally be out of prison devoting himself to True Parents vision for the restoration after 2 years and 8 months. We shed a lot of joyful tears the of that country. We are blessed to still be continuing in this day the Thai leaders could leave the jail. It took 20 more work. years for the entire case to be dropped by the government. Our Blessed Family In 1991, our couple was once again reassigned to the Philippines to work for the VIP providence, another Of the 1800 couples, we were also pioneers for the providentially thriving country. But, again the evil international and interracial marriages in our Church. We sovereignty felt threatened and stood up against True were separated for 5 years before starting our family life, Parents and our movement. Many Filipino members joined and for another 3 years, there were tremendous language the Church, and almost 2,000 were blessed in international barriers, which prevented deep discussions beyond the marriage between Korean men and Filipino women. daily schedule. In addition, we faced cultural differences, Christian groups influenced the sovereignty, and the not only in our marriage, but in our mission field. Four of government filed a case against our movement for mail- our children were born in Malaysia, 3 daughters and one order-bride violations. We were falsely being charged with son. They are internally and externally beautiful, so much mass trafficking of women and even accused in the media so that some people who met us did not recognize that we with prostitution. And again, the penalty was execution or were the parents. When True Father matches extremes, the life imprisonment!! The Presidential Palace, the Cabinet, 9 second generation products are so much better than the 1st government agencies, 9 Committees of Congress, and the generation. This is what we felt. We feel tremendously Senate all united to put 8 leaders in jail and close down our blessed, with 3 daughters having received the blessing and Church. the 3rd generation being far superior than their parents. We cannot express enough our gratitude to True Parents for In the Philippines, our Continental Director this blessing. It is our eternal treasure. emphasized the VIP Providence in tandem with the witnessing efforts, in order to make an environment for good relations with the sovereignty. Even though we faced so many challenges, it was the Ambassadors for Peace who stood up to clarify with each government department one

1975 Missionary Testimonies 80

Takashi Kagawa - Malaysia, Thailand, Chinese people who lived in Malaysia protested a lot. So they received lot of persecution from the Japanese military. Philippines - 21 Years With that kind of background, we had to live together 21 Year Testimony in the same house and work for the providence. 1975 I was blessed in Seoul, Korea as one of 1800 Beverly and I had many struggles with each other and blessed couples and as a pioneer of couples with our hearts were down. One day, she struggled a lot and left international marriage on a severe, cold winter day. our house and started to live in some other place. Through those things, I experienced that to love our enemy is so My spouse is American and her name is Genie. difficult to practice and not simple at all. After the blessing, I went back to Japan as a member True parents and Jesus said: “love your enemy” and of Global Team and worked with brothers and sisters, and they practiced and got victory over the enemy but for us my wife, with desire of sincere heart to unite with my fallen people, it is such a difficult thing to overcome. central figure and contribute to the victory of God’s providence. The German missionary Heidi was genuine and had a good conscious and I did not have so many problems with At that time surprisingly, the Church HQ in Japan her, but with Beverly, I continuously struggled. Although called me to be an international missionary and my mission we made prayer and fasting conditions and made effort to country was Malaysia in the SouthEast Asia region. unite, we couldn’t witness to people well because of the It was very sudden, so I was surprised but because I struggle between Beverly and myself. had experienced “Day of Hope” campaigns with brothers Through this incident, I learned that even if we have and sisters from abroad, I was not so afraid. However, people who come to us, we can’t raise them up when we when I just about was leaving to my mission country, I felt have disunity between the missionaries. With those I was like a soldier who had been given the mission to go to struggles, my perseverance reached its limitation, but I the war, leaving my loving wife or fiancé alone. tried to be patient as much as possible with the motto “ On the other hand, I felt the spirt of a missionary who even being disappointed, do not be disheartened”. is going to a foreign country with the heart of faith in God [My wife came Malaysia and started family] and service for the people. I felt a little nervous from being given this important mission. Five years later, we received an announcement from the World Mission Department that Beverly received During the 40-day workshop for missionaries, we permission to go back to America to start her family. Then researched the situation of our countries or went to the my wife came to Malaysia from America to start our family beach for all night prayer to prepare for the mission life. internally and externally. The German missionary Heidi already went to Hong On 1975 May 30th early in the morning, I departed Kong. In September of1979, I welcomed my wife with a from Haneda airport in Japan, stopped by Singapore then few members and had a new start. arrived in the capital city of Malaysia. I met the American missionary and German missionary at Kuala Lumpur. We After the 1800 blessing, my wife worked in Japan and then rented a small house in Lucky Garden and started Korea as a missionary. During those days, I wrote a letter pioneer witnessing. The three of us decided to use English to her once a month in English with help of a dictionary as for our communication. Malaysia was formerly a colony of a condition. During this separation time when I received the British Empire, so in those days, they used to speak the letters or photos from my wife, I was very happy and English more than their own language of Malay. My encouraged and got power for my mission work. English was broken English and the German sister Heidi also couldn’t speak English so well. So, we managed to We could start family smoothly probably because we learn English during our missionary work and gradually, lived publicly as much as possible with those conditions. we could speak English for prayer, lectures and sermons little by little. She served members as a mother figure, so the atmosphere of the church became brighter and more active. [Struggle among Missionaries] In 1980 August, our eldest daughter was born and she From the beginning of our missionary work, there was was named Set Pyul, which means morning star in Korean. a big problem. The American missionary Beverly was Chinese American and her parents were Chinese. Her She was the first blessed child born in Malaysia. grandmother committed suicide when the Japanese Army After my wife gave birth to our daughter, a few Chinese invaded China. Also Japan ruled Malaysia for 3 years and Malaysian members who were witnessed to in England 8th months in the past. In those days, the Malay people during their study there, came back to Malaysia. They had didn’t protest so much against the Japanese military but the

81 1975 Missionary Testimonies passion to serve their country and started to work together when I went around to the local churches and workshops with the local members for witnessing or fundraising. I there. appointed some of those excellent members as leaders of our headquarters or local churches. [Persecution from Media]

[Development of the Malaysia church] In 1983, a former member betrayed the church and spread rumors to the local newspapers, and the Christians I focused on Sunday service, events and workshops. turned against the Unification Church. As a result, the Near Kuala Lumpur, there is resort area called Port “Malay Mail”, an English daily newspaper, had editorials Dickson. I rented a bungalow there and had 3-day or 7-day about us. Other newspapers came to our HQ for interviews workshops and strived to raise up the young people and and an under-cover detective came to investigate. The students. In Malaysia as in Japan, many people determined Christian churches in Malaysia were very much influenced to devote their life to God but I advised the students to by European churches and believed whatever they were graduate from college first. told. At that time, we were so nervous and urgently discussed about this situation. When core members grew up, I sent them pioneering in rural areas. First, I sent them alone but later on, I sent However, this situation calmed down very soon. After groups of 3 to important cities in Malaysia, such as, this incident, we received persecution from the media twice Penang, Ipoh, Malacca and Johor Bahru. They opened but we could overcome well because of unity between witnessing centers there and registered them at the city hall ourselves and the local leaders. When we received as a church. In that way, church centers were established. persecution from the media, I was called by the Special Later on, each local church had workshops, and my wife Investigative Officer and the person in charge harassed me and I went around giving lectures and sermons to guide the in various ways, as well as our local leaders. members. With that system, many working adults and high school students joined the church because of members’ During that time, we made a lot of prayer and fasting hard work. conditions and worked very seriously. Even under this difficult situation, the local leaders testified about True [Malaysia and Its History] Parents and the Divine Principle. Because of that condition and unity between the members, we could overcome that Malaysia is unique country and there is a monarchy. critical situation. Alternately, one of the Islamic chief Sultans becomes the King. Each state has one Sultan, and once every 5 years, Even though we received this persecution, almost no they have a conference to elect the King with a secret one left the church. Through this persecution, we were ballot. After the King’s 5-year term, a Sultan from another grateful that we could experience a little part of True state becomes King. Parents suffering course. And also, I could understand a little of Father’s words “receive persecution and gain Malaysia’s ethnic groups are represented by Malay, ownership” . Chinese and Indian people. The members who joined the church were mostly from Chinese background and a few [Assignment to Thailand, Georgia and Philippines] were Indian. The Malay people are all Muslims so converting to another religion is almost impossible. I On 1989 January, I received a new assignment to worked for God’s providence with Chinese Malaysians, Thailand and moved to Bangkok with my family. Thailand who were enemies to Japan in past history and gradually is the country built with 3 pillars - the King, Buddhism and became closer in heart. They were mostly moved by True the nation. When I went there, there was already a Parents life course. foundation made which was pioneered by the hard work of Jack( American), Eva(Germany) and Mr. Katsuda. On their Buddhists who are not Christian don’t know the foundation, Rev. and Mrs. Byung Wooh Kim came from content of the Bible but their ancestors suffered a lot. And, Korea and set up a video center system at Ramkhamhaeng as children of immigrants, Chinese people suffered, so University where members greatly increased. Later, Rev. when they studied True Parents’ course, they could Byung Wooh Kim became Regional Leader of Southeast understand the deep shimjong of True Parents to some Asia and led the countries of ASEAN. degree. Especially, sisters are a little more emotional, so some of them, shedding tears, were inspired by True On 1991 June in Thailand, there was severe Parents and determined to work for God. persecution against the Unification Church and 8 core leaders of Thailand were imprisoned for more than 2 years. In the beginning, many sisters joined the church, and Actually, before that incident there was military coup, and then brothers increased. I will never forget that I was so the civil government changed to a government controlled moved and inspired when I met with the leaders and by the military. Despite this difficult situation, Thai members whom I raised up during my travels around to the members overcame this severe persecution with strong local churches. I was so moved when I saw young members faith. In1992 December, I got new assignment to the CIS work so hard for God’s providence with sincere heart. and I went to Moscow with other missionaries of Southeast During my life as a missionary, it was most memorable Asia, leaving my family behind in Thailand.

1975 Missionary Testimonies 82

After the meeting in Moscow, I got the assignment to Georgia. Georgia is the country that always suffered from invasion from other strong neighboring countries. Stalin was born there, in a quiet small town, and I couldn’t believe that this dictator was born there. Georgia is the country which has beautiful mountains and agriculture with a unique tradition. The Current President was Mr. Shewarunaze who was the right hand of Mr. Gorbachev and was Foreign Minister. In the beginning, I was with an American brother, but later I was alone and continued to pioneer. I became a Japanese language teacher at the university and continued missionary work. After 2 years, I endorsed the mission to a Korean missionary and went to the Philippines. On 1995 November, True Parents came to Manila. Philippines members were packed into the Philippine Cultural Center and welcomed True Parents passionately. True Father went down from the stage and talked very closely to the members with gestures like parents do to their children. These were very delightful moments, truly with love and joy. The VIPs who attended the banquet enjoyed the familial atmosphere. I was very impressed that one of the lady guests took the lead to sing songs and pray together hand in hand with the audience. The atmosphere was really like one family under God.

On 1996 January 1st(God’s Day) I could meet world missionaries in New York. Looking back at myself, I don’t think I did make a great result, however True Parents accepted just my condition that I worked as a missionary 21 years. They gave me a commemorative plaque and watch for honorable achievement. I really appreciated it and was grateful to be able to attend this ceremony with my wife. [Looking back at 21 years of Missionary Life] The countries in Southeast Asia have a history in which Japan previously occupied their countries, and the people who opposed the Japanese sovereignty were persecuted by force. Through my 21 years of missionary work in Southeast Asia, I really came to understand that Japanese missionaries who worked in Southeast Asia were offerings to pay indemnity through service for the people who suffered in past history.

83 1975 Missionary Testimonies Genie Kagawa - 21 Year Court Case - powder,” or heroin. But, they couldn’t find any evidence, so they just kept invading our centers repeatedly, day after Thailand day. September 12 2011 Thai law is based on German law, so one is arrested first, and then has to prove his innocence in jail. The first In December 1989, my husband, Takashi Kagawa, and three months, during which a preliminary investigation was I were transferred as missionaries from Malaysia to taking place, the National Leader and his wife, Dr. Lek and Thailand by the Continental Directors, Drs. Christopher Vipa Thaveetermsakul, and six other members of the and Julia Kim. While my husband taught Japanese to Thai Executive Committee of the Church were jailed in a very people, I oversaw the public relations area and small cell with many other prisoners. They had no room to development of the Thai federations under the Church. Dr. move around, and the hot air was stifling, as there was just Lek Thaveetermsakul was the Church National Leader in one tiny window. When prisoners get heavy sentences and charge of all activities in Thailand. We had been in feel that they will not get out of jail easily, their pastime is Thailand for one and a half years before the 21-year case tattooing each other. Our clean-cut, innocent church leaders exploded. were surrounded by heavily tattooed prisoners, some of whom were hardened criminals who had committed serious Although I was raised a Christian all my life, I never crimes. The military junta meant to terrorize us into fear, realized why it was so important for the Romans to put the desperation, and helplessness. Unlike American jails, the placard “King of the Jews” on top of the cross of Jesus conditions were dirty, primitive, overcrowded, and when he was crucified. Now, I know that treason was the degrading. banner that they were flaunting. That signboard cried out with this message: “Don’t sympathize with this man, We had 300 fulltime members who were dispersed otherwise you will face the same fate. This man committed because of the center raids. However, the police got a hold treason. He subverted the ruler and is setting himself as a of their names at our Headquarters, and called them in for supreme ruler.” Jesus was so wrongly pushed down, questioning one by one. They tried to trick our members humiliated, and executed, even though he taught people to into saying something derogatory against the monarchy, but “Render to Cesar what belongs to Cesar” and that “My not one member could be enticed to say anything negative. Kingdom is not of this world.” Associate members and parents were then called in one by one for questioning. They were looking for disloyal and Absolute power can be such a dangerous thing. One treasonous statements, but again, they found none. After morning, as I watched television, five Thai army generals one month, slowly, the fulltime students and members were making announcements every 15 minutes on TV began to regroup themselves in small apartments of 10-12 stations that they had taken over, declaring martial law and persons each, and stayed together to pray, make conditions, their rule. Even the Prime Minister had disappeared and and maintain their life of faith. Within one year, the church was being held in an undisclosed place. The generals foundation mysteriously remained intact, due to the claimed that they were loyal to the king and were going to courageous and brave attitude of the Thai leaders outside straighten out the country. These were the same generals the prison. who were influenced by the newspaper that was attacking us, and they used their extreme power. They accused us of Even though there was no evidence of treason found treason. On June 26, 1991, eight of our Thai church leaders after three months, a case was filed and no bail was were arrested. Little did we know that it would be more allowed. All of our leaders were transferred to a larger than twenty years before they’d be cleared of all charges. prison facility. A leader shared with me that one of the difficulties of living in that prison was that during the According to Thai law, treason is subversion against night, they could hear the loud and terrifying shouts of the monarchy and the nation, and its penalty is life prisoners being whipped by the guards for not cooperating. imprisonment or execution. What an unimaginable shock it In Southeast Asia, whipping is inflicted most effectively was to see our names associated with this kind of with flexible, long bamboo sticks, covered at the end with accusation. Imagine the phrases repeated in the media, rubber bands formed into a ball. We could visit that prison, newspapers, and TV stations, calling out for life but it was such a painful experience. The prisoners were imprisonment and execution of eight of our very own brought to one area and stood behind bars, while visitors Unification Church leaders. Day after day for three months, could only shout at them from a long distance, many feet these phrases were ringing in our ears as the Crime away. It was such an inhumane system. I was told that once Suppression Police invaded our centers nationwide. The someone enters the prison in Thailand, they lose their Crime Suppression Police were not ordinary police. They spouse, children, family members, and friends. Gradually, carried no sense of accountability. They were rough and people don’t visit them less and less, then not at all. The crude and bullied our members. They invaded our prison guards grew to admire our leaders and the Headquarters’ prayer room, and took away the holy chairs, relationships they saw in them with our church members holy salt, and our slippers, and set up an entire floor at the greatly. Luckily, our members suffered no physical harm. police headquarters to display our traitorous activities. We There was extreme discomfort in the jail, but they executed were even accused of intoxicating youth with “white

1975 Missionary Testimonies 84

their work assignments and cooperated with the prison officials and therefore, they were not treated badly. We saw the light when the King of Thailand took unprecedented action to relieve the top dictatorial general of his duties as head of Thailand and replaced him with a Prime Minister who would formulate a constitutional system for the country. The era of tyranny had ended, and our precious Ambassadors for Peace stood up to demand bail for our eight leaders. The President of the Foundation for Development and Peace (FDP), an organization formed by Ambassadors for Peace to raise money, was the head of the Commission on Human Rights, and together, with university presidents, a Minister in the office of the Prime Minister, academicians, and NGO leaders, submitted a petition for bail to the court, which was finally granted. I cannot forget the day that Dr. Lek Thaveetermsakul, the secretary-general of the Universal Peace Federation in Thailand, and the others were released from prison. Jack Hart, the first American missionary of Thailand, and I went to the jail at the appointed time, and the first person I saw, standing alone in the outside court, was Dr. Lek. After almost two long years, I saw him standing there like a bird released from its cage and ready to take flight. He was free, and it was so liberating. We shed a lot of joyful tears together with the Thai church leaders that day. There are a lot of hidden stories woven into history that are played out by women, as in this case. After the release of Thai leaders, Mrs. Julia Kim, wife of Dr. Christopher Kim, entered Thailand discreetly and met a very distinguished Thai woman, Mrs. Khamontip Phayakvichien, who played an important role in the resolution of this case. For years, she reached out unceasingly to the media, government leaders, judges, lawyers, commissioners, and human rights activists. She came to the center almost every day and gave her sincere, motherly heart to all the leaders and members. Parallel to the legal initiatives, she laid important foundation stones in the public relations until we could witness victory in the lower and intermediary legal courts. Despite all the lobbying efforts, the Supreme Court had delayed issuing a final resolution until the recent conclusion on September 1st, 2011. September 1st is a day of liberation, not only for our members, but for God himself, True Parents, and for humanity as a whole. True Father is someone who had personally tasted the terrifying tyranny of evil power, and he knows well what kind of world awaits mankind if we cannot succeed in our mission to build God’s Kingdom. We see his tremendous passion. We see his inexplicable energy and drive. We see his magnificent love. We are baffled by the arduous conditions that True Parents are laying even at the age of 93. He cherishes the words “complete liberation” and “freedom” more than any of us, and there is the true meaning of power.

85 1975 Missionary Testimonies From Kathy Rigney to the 1975 Missionaries With the passage of time, day by day, my heart grew more worried. Which nation will be restored, time is short, May 19, 2017 we are in a hurry, what can we do, what kind of plan can we make that will bring this important victory. Sometimes, I am really really busy, today alone I had to send 4 in the middle of night, I cannot sleep just thinking about different detailed reports to HQ in Korea!. My heart is the way in which we can bring this victory. During really with you all for this meeting and if there is any way meetings with members and meeting with other leaders, we that I can escape I will do it. discuss this and try to find the formula that can be successful. Time is short. I have attached an article I just wrote, I wonder if this would be something appropriate to be read at your meeting Suddenly, in March, 2017, we received very there. If not, please let me know and I’ll try and find time promising information from our International Headquarters to do something else. in Korea informing us that our True Mother was sending her precious staff from Korea to meet with ALL African God bless you! leaders - Regional Presidents, National Leaders, UPF Leaders, Special Envoys and Special Emissaries to discuss Kathy substantial plans to restore Africa and to be victorious for Vision 2020! We were all so excited and grateful to think that we can have this special time, guided by our leaders May 12, 2017 who live day to day with our True Mother, to discuss practical methods of restoring nations! I am sorry to say that it looks as though I cannot attend. I am in Senegal at the moment working on a very True Mother organized everything and finally in important event that True Mother is hoping to organise Lusaka, Zambia, on the 31st of March, we went to the here later on this year. Also, I have been asked to go to airport to receive Rev. Cho Sung Il Director General of Nigeria in a few days to start preparations on a 100,000 World Missions, Dr. Yun Young Ho, Deputy Director of youth rally being prepared in Nigeria for November. True Mother’s Secretariat and Secretary General of World Missions, Dr. Thomas Walsh, President of UPF Personally, I would love to be able to attend even just International and Mr. Hyunook Suh, Manager of World to be able to see everyone again but I’m afraid this mission Missions Department Korea. Our hearts were beating with is too urgent to leave right now. I surely appreciate both of excitement and anticipation. When we finally saw this your efforts to make this successful and if there is any way important delegation, walking from the Emirates airplane I can get away, I will surely come. towards the Lusaka airport terminal, it was possible to Thanks so much. imagine that, perhaps True Mother is just behind them, perhaps, she is somewhere in the crowd, perhaps if we look Kathy more carefully, we will find her because with these important brothers came the spirit and the heart of Cheon Approaching the Providential Year 2020 Cheong Gun, the spirit and the heart of the only begotten and amazingly precious daughter of God. Since that fateful day in September of that fateful year Our leaders from all over Africa, more than 210 2012 when our precious, loving and victorious True Father leaders, for the very first time ever since our mission began ascended from this physical world to join our Heavenly in 1975, gathered together, nation by nation, city by city Parent in Heaven, my heart, like so many other members, scurrying to be on time to meet our True Mother’s went through so many emotions. Of course, I know we representatives, sent to educate us, guide us, raise us up to will see our True Father again. Of course, I know how meet the expectations of Heaven towards the victory of victorious his life on earth was. Of course, I know all of Vision 2020. Everyone was full of hope, serious more than these things, but my heart was heavy, sad and full of ever, knowing that this was an historical moment. repentance. I knew that sending our True Father to Heaven should have happened from the nation that belonged to our From the opening ceremony, till we brought our Heavenly Parent! I knew that I should be repenting! brothers back to the airport of Lusaka, every moment was filled with the heart of Heaven. Rev. Cho Sung Il guided Some time later, our amazing True Mother spoke to all us with deep heart, conveying True Mother’s directives, of us. She, more than any of us, she knew God’s True Mother’s heart of love for each of us and True Providence and knew that we should have restored at least Mother’s desperate desire for us to feel the urgency of the one nation before True Father departed. Then, our Mother, providential time we are living in to bring about national out of her love for us, her children, gave us a special grace. restoration. True Mother announced that by offering all our heart and devotion, we have a grace period to restore God’s nation Dr. Yun Young Ho, with certain clarity, never losing before the year 2020, the year of our True Father’s 100th focus on our important objectives but with a humble and birthday! And so it began, the work towards the victorious loving heart taught us strategies and methods that can work realization of Vision 2020.

1975 Missionary Testimonies 86

to restore our nations before 2020. He explained the practices that can bring results and overcome obstacles. They both listened to each and every report with patience and later carefully showed us the flow of ideas that can help us to find the victory. Dr. Walsh, who always has the objectives of UPF as it pertains to national restoration clear in his mind, also conveyed his enormous love for his True Mother that is the underlying motivation that we all need in order to achieve our goal. Hyunook Suh, a child of Africa, came home to the continent he knew as a young boy growing into a man. He was bright and shining and extremely effective in translating and supporting Rev. Cho Sung Il and Dr. Yun Young Ho in innumerable ways. Africa was so proud of him. Finally, our focus was made clear: 1. Focus by all members daily on accomplishing Heavenly Tribal Messiah centering on village chiefs, religious and community leaders. 2. Focus on contacting VVIPs of each nation, President, Vice President, and Prime Minister, members of Parliament, government ministers and witness to them about True Parents thus preparing a proper environment for national witnessing. Inaugurate the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace in each nation. 3. Focus on education of Youth. By inaugurating the International Association of Youth and Students for Peace in each nation we can educate the youth with pure love and thus prepare the environment for Cheon Il Guk. Can we say that we are grateful! Gratitude doesn’t seem to describe well our feelings after this amazing meeting. Hearts full of love and thankfulness to our True Mother said goodbye to our True Mother’s delegation. Finally, our African leaders returned to their nations and the work of national restoration has been taken to a new level. Our minds are clear and our hearts are set and determined to continue until the victory can be offered to Heaven and Vision 2020 can begin here on this precious continent of Africa prepared by God for this very moment!

87 1975 Missionary Testimonies From Robert Kittle As it turns out, I won’t be able to come next weekend. The person I was counting on for a ride has a full car and I May 12, 2017 have no other way to get there.

Oh how I would love to be there. Instead, I have included an obituary that I wrote for Merlinda when we heard of her passing. Please ask people But we are in the middle of planning a two-day to pray for her and she was unable to have a SungHwa and program in Bangkok. One day at the UN with Ministers of no one knows for sure where she is buried. I’m still Education and other high-ranking VIP from education, searching cemetery listings, but so far to no avail. youth, sports, etc. from throughout Asia, Pacific and Greater China (1200 people). Then the next day, 12,000 Thank you, students at the Impact Arena. PM will be the Chief Guest. All sponsored by the Ministry of Education Thailand. Susan

And I’m very much in charge… Obituary for Merlinda Skow Fournier It’s crunch time. On February 2, 2015 Merlinda Skow Fournier passed into the Spiritual World. Due to many unfortunate circumstances this was not discovered by her spiritual From Gloria Frothingham family until January 8, 2016.

May 23, 2017 Merlinda joined the Unification Church in the 1971 in California, having been witnessed to by Diana Weber. She Sorry I wont be attending the 40 year anniversary. My was sent to pioneer in Alabama and then to Mankato, love to all those brave souls who went out we were about Minnesota. She was Blessed to Lou Fournier in 1975 as 25 years old and our movement had only ICF. Now I speak part of the 1800 Couples. They had one son, Coby. to people with much more authority because there are so many organizations we can attract people to also I do sales In 1975 she was sent to Sri Lanka as part of the 1st and witness everyday for an hour. So I am missionaries send to 120 countries from Korea, Europe and America. She stayed there for one year, but had to leave l getting a lot of inspiration and love that is not mine due to a take-over by communists when all missionaries alone. were told to leave. I am trying to get those who go to the anniversary to From Sri Lanka she went to India and stayed there for give a report to those of us who could not go. four years. While there she nearly lost her life twice due to cholera, but persisted in her work until she succeeded in God Bless you all 1975 Missionaries . meeting the Dalai Lama. Love, Gloria Frothingham-Goldstein In 1980 she returned to America to join her husband in New York to begin their family life. From New York they went to Pennsylvania, and Washington DC. After this her From Mary Johnson path becomes unclear as rumors of a divorce were heard. She then took her son to California to care for her aging May 19, 2017 parents and lived there with her son, now handicapped, after their passing. My husband Mike is still recovering from a stroke he suffered on March 29, and I have some responsibilities to Her obituary, found online, simply reads: “ assist him that will not allow me the time to come to UTS FOURNIER: Merlinda Sue Fournier, 66, of Magalia, for the 1975 Missionary reunion from May 26 to 29. California died Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015, in Magalia.”

So I have to cancel my reservation for that weekend, In addition to being survived by her sister. Teri and Michael, and have copied Tal Zorer here as well. I will son, Coby; she is also survived by her spiritual family: miss much seeing and sharing with you all, but please do mother - Diana Weber, Mobile, Alabama; sons - Clark give my best to everyone who will make it to Barrytown Eberly, Arlington, Virginia; Gary Chidester, Orlando, that weekend. and I will enjoy watching the videos and Florida; and daughters - Dr. Susan Schroeder, Baltimore, reading the testimonies. Maryland; Mary Jane Anderson, White Bear Lake, Minnesota and Iris Sardella, Concord, California. If there May our Heavenly Parent bless all your family, are more, we would be happy to hear from them, but these are all we know of. Of course, any in India are unknown to In CIG, Mary us. Attached you will find a picture of Merlinda (See From Susan Schroeder display table) reciting a poem in Russian to True Parents while attending the 120-day workshop in 1975 just prior to being send overseas. May 23, 2017

1975 Missionary Testimonies 88

HSA-UWC Invitation to the 1975 Missionary Awards Ceremony and Reunion at UTS

89 1975 Missionary Testimonies Genie Kagawa - Religious Harmony in Malaysia