Second Generation Winter Workshop in Poland

Second Generation Winter Workshop God, Love, Purity – the Principle Applied in Our Lives Glanow, Poland, 27. December – 1. January 2014

he Polish family has already conducted several had 22 brothers and 22 sisters, 22 from Poland and T Winter Workshops for second generation during the school break between Christmas and New 22 from 7 other nations (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Russia, Germany and Year. First they were organized for Polish teens only Switzerland). They were organized in 7 teams that but with time they were opened for participants were led by elder second generation. 3 of them from other nations, too. This time we planned to came from ESGD: Joyce Koetsier, Benjamin Baron advertise our workshop more widely and make it and Korena Baron and 3 from STF: Iasmin Lumibao, really international. In this way we wanted to Hyangjoo Kim and Yuhui Han. Benjamin Lajda from prepare youngest participants to attend Junior HARP the Czech Republic was the last team leader. workshop next summer. Because of this participants David Hanna (UK) was our lecturer and Ladislav had to be at least 13 years old. We have also invited Pandy (Slovakia) was responsible for sport activities elder second generation from other countries to including morning gymnastics. Bogdan and Anna support the workshop. Brzyscy, Elżbieta Duran, Michał and Chie Piskorscy Originally we planned to host 40 participants but (Poland), Miriam Baron (Germany) were part of the finally we had 44 teens aged 13-18. Miraculously we workshop staff fulfilling different important

functions - overall organization, MC, kitchen staff was training, another one was split among 3 creative and technical staff. Jacek and MiKyung Czyszczoń activity groups: cooking, dancing and singing. On the (Polish national leader couple) were in the position third day we went to Kraków for skating what has of the workshop parents and Krzysztof and Marta brought a lot of fun for both semi-professional Krall (one of the first Austrian missionaries to skaters and those who did it for the first time in their Poland) were supporting the seminar with their life. The fourth day afternoon was used for writing prayers. Other families from Krakow community reflections by participants and preparation for the helped with preparation and transportation of the New Year celebration. participants to the venue. The workshop started on Dec.27th afternoon with dinner and general orientation meeting. The basic schedule for the next 4 days consisted of educational session in the morning and different activities in the afternoon. Each day started with HDH for the workshop staff, then we had morning sport session led by Laco Pandy. All the participants really enjoyed these morning breathing exercises. Right after it we had morning service for participants in the form of HDH (and once Laco gave deep testimony of his life).

Educational session was usually hold in the morning and consisted of 2 lectures followed by group In the evenings we also had some programs. Once activities. Lectures presented by David Hanna were we had presentation about STF, Korean CARP and dedicated to the application of the Principle in our ESGD. Second time we had separate talks for life and were very well received by the audience. brothers and sisters with elder second generation of Participants expressed their deep appreciation of the same gender and incredible lesson on singing the lectures in their reflections. One out of 8 lectures given by David Hanna. On the third night we had was conducted by Joyce Koetsier; it dealt with the very profound Purity Ring ceremony conducted by issues of purity. During group activities after lectures Jacek and MiKyung Czyszczoń. 10 brothers and participants met in their teams for group sisters accepted Purity Rings and the ceremony was discussions; they also made some art works or incredibly heartistic and moving. The last evening prepared performances. English was the workshop was filled with New Year celebration – performances language and it was used during the lectures and and reflections that could be put on the flying group activities. We tried to restrict translation to lantern according to our few years’ long tradition. minimum to give youngest participants opportunity There was also time for wishes and joyful welcoming to prepare for ESGD workshops, where translation to New Year. native languages is not provided. The workshop was finished with the New Year Afternoon activities differed from day to day. On the service followed by lunch on Jan.1st. first day brothers went to the sport hall in the next The workshop proved to be a very intense but very village, while sisters had some dance lesson good experience. Participants especially appreciated conducted in the workshop center. Second day lectures, overall atmosphere and sport activities. It activities were concentrated on self-defense was a very unique experience for staff members, techniques taught by Laco Pandy separately for too. We represented 3 groups – second generation sisters and for brothers. While one gender group members from STF, second generation ESGD staff

members and first generation (parents). We could already started planning the winter workshop next learn a lot from each other, each group contributing year. to overall success of the event. [Bogdan and Anna Brzyscy, Elżbieta Duran] We could not avoid some minor problems but PS And this is what the participants wrote about the fortunately we noticed them in time to be solved workshop: and we hope to use it to make the next workshop an even better experience for participants and staff “The lectures were amazing! I took so many notes members. The only problem is that Glanów training that my notebook is full, not just with words, but the center was filled to its full capacity and we will not happiness I had during the whole workshop…” be able to invite more participants to it. “I had really many good and precious experiences at this workshop. The prayer during the Purity Ring ceremony was so powerful and meaningful and true. I cried… I’m feeling now as a true blessed child and I’m so thankful for that. That purity talk by Joyce was the highest value for my whole life actually. Thank you so much. I’m also feeling proud now about having a purity ring, and through the talk and the ring I’m cleaning up myself deeply, really deep, I feel like a child of God. I feel worthy and happy and joyful. I feel like new-born. I never felt before this way. I felt such love and forgiveness which was so precious to me…” “At this workshop I felt really good because Speaking on behalf of the organizing committee, we everybody accepted me just the way I am… The would like to express our gratitude for help we have lectures were really interesting and this time I could received to conduct this workshop from numerous really understand many things I haven’t known people and communities: to David Hanna for deep before. It really gave me the motivation to be lectures and beautiful songs that we have learned, myself, also in school. And not to listen to all the evil to ESGD and to STF for supporting us with people, spirits who are whispering to your ears sometimes – who contributed so much to the atmosphere, for just call the good spirits and they’ll come to help you brothers and sisters from other countries who in any situation. You can really trust in God!” worked as staff members during those days, to all those who supported us with their prayers. We “I came here to get back into my religious life, I could truly feel the presence of our Heavenly Parent mean, to live a deeper and stronger religious life and True Parents, their protection and guidance in than before, to have daily habits, to pray every day our efforts to share with our teenagers the deeper or do HDH every morning. I got a bit lost in my meaning of the Principle everyday life before, I started to care too much about school, but I think, I reached my goal here in Dear parents, the seminar wouldn’t be possible Glanow, and I will try my best to “stay alive” after without your investment. It was such a joy to look at the workshop…” your children, to see their beauty, sincerity and purity, their incredible talents. We could see the “The topics of the lectures were just so perfectly- results of your efforts to raise your children to fitted in my life. How to use and live according to the become wholesome young men and women. Aren’t Principle is the most important thing for me now. our kids the fulfillment of everything we dreamed Somehow I could feel God so deeply during Uncle about when meeting the Principle? David’s lectures… I feel very inspired for the next year, which is the thing I wanted to gain out of this And finally, dear participants of the workshop, the workshop. I’m getting deeper into the Principle. I seminar wouldn’t be possible without you! We feel know what to do, how to do it and why do I want to very privileged and grateful that we could support do it. I’m really thankful for this opportunity to grow. you at least in some minimal way. We want you to I can feel God during all the days and nights in this know, that we are always there for you - to help you, place. God is really here, I know it now. Every share with you everything we’ve learned ourselves, workshop brings me closer to the decision, to to listen to your concerns and questions… And we’ve knowing who I really want to be in my life…”