How I entered a Korean language program to be closer to True Parents

Out of a desire to come closer to True Parents, the writer entered a Sun Moon University Korean language program. She is in the bottom row, fifth from the left.

I was born in 1999 as the daughter of a blessed couple; my parents had received the blessing in 1992 in Seoul. My father is Argentinean, my mother Ecuadorian. I was born in Quito, Ecuador, but during my childhood I moved to Argentina.

When I graduated from high school, I joined STF-Europe (Special Task Force), which is a program for blessed children and a few first-generation members. STF’s vision is for those in the second generation to establish their identity more deeply as Heavenly Parent’s children and to take ownership of Heavenly Parent’s dream. One of the main reasons I decided to join the program was because I wanted to work on my faith — a faith that I began to have thanks to my parents but which I knew I personally had to possess more deeply. During my first and second years in the program, I was able to experience and understand Heavenly Parent’s and our True Parents’ loving hearts in ways that I had never done before. This came to me through periods of fundraising, witnessing, social projects and seminars in which each day my understanding, gratitude and love for True Parents and Heavenly Parent grew.

During my second year on STF, I had the opportunity to do witnessing in Ukraine. There, through witnessing to local people, being with my team and the local leaders, I deeply understood that if I want to make Heavenly Parent and True Parents happy, I must learn their language. For many years in my life, I had heard that we should learn Korean, but at those times, I did not understand the importance of it and what it entails. Because of my experiences in Ukraine, I was finally began to feel the urgency of learning Korean. During the two-year program, we were happy and blessed to be able to help in different events that included our True Mother. I remember True Mother asking during her talks, especially the ones directed toward young people, if we were going to learn her language. We always promised her we would. I made the decision to come to Korea to study her language, and thanks to her, was able to receive a scholarship. My desire is to be able to unite with her and with Heavenly Parent.

Thanks to my experiences in the program, I was able to understand that the only way I can feel happiness and peace is by helping in the fulfillment of Heavenly Parent’s will. I understood that this was the best way to go, to work hard to fulfill Heavenly Parent’s ideal, for which true Mother needs us — first-, second- and third-generation youth — to all take responsibility. At the moment, I am at Sun Moon University’s Korean Language Institute, because like every child who wants to communicate with his or her parents, I need to learn their language to understand them better. The Korean language is Heavenly Parent’s heart language; it is the language with which our beloved True Mother hopes to communicate with us.

Beginning to study

I arrived in Korea last February 29, in the midst of the Coronavirus Pandemic. I did not know if I would be able to enter Korea, since many countries were contemplating closing their borders and their airports. Still in my heart I knew I was making the right decision in coming here to study, so I took the flight.

In the beginning, after constantly doing various activities within the STF program, getting used to concentrating completely on studying was difficult for me. These were months in which I was able to experience a lot of love and joy, but I also experienced a big internal struggle due to external situations, since none of us had ever and what studying and living together would be like.

It has been four and a half months since I arrived in Korea, and I feel that time is passing quickly. Until now it has been a period of constant growth. I am grateful to Heavenly Parent and True Parents for this opportunity. Although the Korean language is something completely different from anything else that I know, I want to try my best to learn True Parents’ language and to understand our True Parents’ hearts deeply, so I can convey their hearts to others. I want to help to fulfill True Mother’s and Heavenly Parent’s ideal. Therefore, I desire to enter the university that True Mother inaugurated (unofficially) as the Cheon Il Guk National University, knowing that True Mother has great hope for us to be part of it, for us to understand her heart and Heavenly Parent’s heart and for us to return joy to our Heavenly Parent. That is why she has been investing in education for us.

A struggle with priorities

At this time, in addition to the study of Korean, the international students can participate in Peace Road 2020, which will take place in August. It will be a nine-day bike ride from Busan to the border between North Korea and South Korea, at the DMZ. We hope to set a good condition that can accelerate Korea’s reunification.

At the beginning, I was a worried about my studies, because to participate required time for training and practicing before the event. I was confused about whether I was making the right decision to participate in the Peace Road event Daniela in front Peace Road coach Allan Hokanson or if I should completely focus on the study of Korean. Months before, I had been wondering how (rather than just studying) I could help the providence beyond studying. I felt that the study alone was difficult, though I knew it was my responsibility at the moment. We have constantly heard our True Parents talk about the unification of the two Koreas. I felt that I could only pray for that at this time, because physically we are not able to do much about it, but when this opportunity arose to participate in Peace Road, I volunteered, even If I was not quite sure if it was up to me to do it or not.

During the first training session, I still wondered if it was what I should do. Not until I attended a day of training did I ask Heavenly Parent, while bike riding, how he felt and if I should do it, how I could make him happier. Just after finishing a prayer, the elder Peace Road trainer and I started talking. He told me about his experiences in previous years with Peace Road and his experiences with Heavenly Parent and True Parents. I focused, because I like to hear stories of people who have different life experiences. He told me many experiences he had had with True Father. We were talking about various issues and without knowing it, he had answered the prayer that I had just offered minutes ago. “True Father,” he said, “put me in places because he wanted me to be there. True Father wants you here; that’s why you’re here today. Now you just have to take responsibility.”

It did not take long for the clear answer to appear. At the same time, I understood once again that one of Heavenly Parent’s and True Parents’ greatest wishes is for the reunification of the Koreas and that for many years they have been investing and offering so much devotion to achieve this.

A way to connect to True Parents

So far, we have been doing several types of training — studying, learning the language and deepening our understanding of True Parents’ teachings every week. Although we often feel tired physically due to the training, knowing the training’s purpose gives us joy. With the passage of time, the activities and the schedule are reverting, little by little, to what they were before the worldwide pandemic began. We, the new students, are grateful that we are learning many new things regarding the Korean language.

Finally, I want to thank Heavenly Parent and True Parents for all the love received during these last months. In this way, I will conclude. I want to address especially young people like me, who desire to learn Korean or who want to help True Parents: Together we can do it! Keep pushing and keep investing in learning True Parents’ language. It is worth it, and it is important, not only for us but for many people who need to listen to True Parents’ teachings. That is the true way for us to learn from our True Parents’ mother tongue and to continue, with hope and determination, to give our best for the fulfillment of vision 2027 from wherever Heavenly Father allow us to do it.