Northeast Region Newsletter for March 2016

Content Inauguration of the Regional President of NER and visit of CIG Youth Special Envoy Russia Ukraine Kazakhstan Latvia Lithuania Georgia

Inauguration Ceremony of the Regional President of the Northeast Region Dr. Katsumi Otsuka and visit of Cheon Il Guk Youth Special Envoy The Inauguration Ceremony of the Regional President of the Northeast Region Dr. Katsumi Otsuka took place on March 6 in Moscow, Russia. Several years ago, Dr. Otsuka already was the Regional President of NER, and many members know him well. Many brothers and sisters gathered to celebrate his inauguration. Dr. Otsuka received gifts and flowers. The Vice National leader of Ukraine attended the event and offered a beautiful gift, a plate of onyx stone. As he explained, in the ancient Israel onyx stone was a part of chief priests’ clothes decorations. Many warm words were said. One sister recited poetry of her own and shared about her heartfelt attitude to Dr. Otsuka. It was Sunday, and Dr. Otsuka gave a sermon. He expressed his gratitude to brothers and sisters of NER for their spiritual support of his son Hirotaka who is blessed with True Parents’ granddaughter. Few days before the Foundation Day Hirotaka’s heart stopped for 25 min. Surprisingly, Hirotaka did not die and his health finally recovered. Dr. Otsuka said that True Mother expects a lot from the members of the Northeast Region. He shared that True Mother suddenly appointed him as a Regional President of NER. Dr. Otsuka said that during yut game in Cheon Jeong Gung few days before appointment, he gained confidence that his team which consisted of leaders from NER, China and Europe, would win. And it came true. We can see it as a sign that Heavenly fortune came to the Northeast Region. Dr. Otsuka emphasized a few points that he would like to observe in relations and work of brothers and sisters: empathy, conjunction, cooperation, share, and mutual prosperity. Finally, Dr. Otsuka presented scholarship certificates to the exhibitioners of Wonmo Pyeongae Foundation. On March 2, The Cheon Il Guk Youth Special Envoy to the Northeast Region Mrs. Lee Su Jung arrived to Moscow, Russia. She is a graduate of the Universal Peace Academy (UPA), and True Mother gave her a mission in NER. During Sunday Service, after inauguration ceremony, Ms. Lee Su Jung together with three brothers and sisters performed a dance using a music which True Mother likes. Through listening this song, and other songs, by dancing this dance we can connect with True Mother in heart and support her. Link to a video is here: 참부모님 찬양 - Champumonim Chanyang https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6hXS_E3b6Y On the next day, Dr. Otsuka and Ms. Lee went to Saint Petersburg and had meetings with the members there.

Russia North-west region of Russia, Saint Petersburg In March, the Regional President of the Northeast Region, Dr. Otsuka, and graduate of the Universal Peace Academy, Cheon Il Guk special youth envoy in the Northeast Region, Ms. Lee Su Jung visited St. Petersburg. Dr. Otsuka held a meeting of the church council of the North-west region of Russia, a meeting with Church members, and a meeting with CARP members. CARP continues witnessing; this month the project “Studying the Korean language” was launched. The lessons are attended by 3 family members, four CARP members, and 2 people are contacts from the Internet social network. UPF together with CARP organized a thematic meeting “The role and image of women in today’s society”, related to the International Women’s Day. Twenty people attended the event, among them members and guests of CARP, one Ambassador for Peace, and some Blessed families. On March 18, our group attended the event “Cultural Capital of the Finno-Ugric world 2016.” The event took place at the General Consulate of Hungary. The workshop for students on the principle of restoration “Forgive, love, unite” was held on March 25-27. It was attended by 20 second generation children.

Regional President Dr. Otsuka visited Nizhny Novgorod On March 13~14 Regional President Dr. Otsuka visited Nizhny Novgorod in order to share love and word to members of Russia. During Sunday Service he says that Russian members are already not young. They are mature therefore we need to take real responsibility for developing God’s Providence in our nation and cities. Dr. Otsuka shared about his work in Africa when he was a Regional President there for two years. He spoke about people prepared by God in early years of XX century. One local minister received revelation that Messiah will be born on 1920, and a color of his skin will be yellow. Many decades later when Unification Church missionaries came to D.R. Congo they found witnessing was relatively easy because people could join Unification Church after they heard that Rev. Moon was born in 1920 and he is Asian. True Mother says that God already prepared everything, therefore our task is to find these prepared people. Dr. Otsuka shared how he organized a choir contest in Africa. Suddenly he got inspiration to support developing Second Generation choir in Nizhny Novgorod. In order to keep Second Generation in our movement their hearts have to be moved and connected to something they truly love. That’s why it is very important to develop cultural and sports activity in our movement. Unless Second Generation children find their ways to realize themselves in our church, they will run away.

Dr. Otsuka asked one sister, professional music teacher, to take responsibility for developing Second Generation choir. If she takes he would give money to buy an electric piano for Nizhny Novgorod church. At the beginning she hesitated, but finally made decision to take responsibility for a choir. Few days later new Casio electric piano was bought and children started practice already from next Sunday. Moscow WFWP Activity The 4th Intercultural and Interreligious Family Festival “Family World 2016” was celebrated on March 26. About 300 people participated in the event. The celebration was organized by WFWP of Russia in cooperation with the Central House of Cultural Workers – one of the most significant cultural institutions of Moscow. Each year more and more partners – family oriented NGOs and governmental institutions – express their desire to support this project. All families that attend the Festival have many children; they all cherish the family values and therefore can show a very good example to the society. This year we presented the families of different cultures: Russian, Georgian, Gypsy, Azerbaijan, and different religions: Christian and Muslim. The Festival drew attention of media.

Ural-Siberia Region of Russia, Yekaterinburg Church activity On March 5, we held the second meeting of the Family Club. At the meeting, we analyzed some methods of communication in a couple. The spouses tried to listen to each other. Club meetings are to be held once a month. On March 12, we held a one-day seminar on the Devine Principle that was attended by two guests. They watched video lectures by lecturer Igor Rumyantsev. On March 18, we started working with a small group of guests. The first meeting included a lecture, explaining the essence of the group work. The second was a “classic” meeting. The participants were inspired and expressed their readiness to attend another 10 meetings. Conference “Spiritual Mirror” The spiritual and practical conference on “Spiritual Mirror” was held on March19. The event was aimed at creating a new version of “Spiritual Mirror” for practical use in home groups and for spiritual growth of each believer.

Nine Church members took part in the conference. Participants were divided into three working groups. Each group had listed all sorts of vices, the most characteristic features of the root of our fallen nature. Then, they draw up a general list. Vices were collected into blocks. The result was a Spiritual Mirror. In June, we plan another conference, where we will continue to work and, in addition to the Spiritual Mirror of the fallen nature, create a Spiritual Mirror of the original nature. UPF activity The meeting of the organizing committee of the half marathon “I choose life!” was held in our center on March 20. The half-marathon will take place by all means! It will include interesting innovations and “cool” features. The event will be followed by the Festival of natural (bare feet) run. If members want to help in organization, run one of the distances, or organize a half-marathon or a festival in their city, they may contact the organizers. Second Generation Department activity On March 26, Second Generation Department held the Pure Heart ceremony. Participants were Second generation children: boys from 13 years, and girls from 12 years old. On the eve of their adolescent, children participated in a special educational program: they promised to keep purity of love and symbolically took over the spiritual mission of their parents. During one month, children read the specially designed materials. They also offered donations and kept a short fasting (6 hours). The participants of the ceremony were offered two lectures - separately for children and their parents. After a brief rehearsal, parents and children danced a beautiful waltz. Then children gave a short pledge to keep purity of love and continue the mission of their parents. After completion of the ceremony, children received silver rings from their parents. Finally, children received Pure Heart Ceremony certificates from the hands of Elena Kalmatskaya, Leader of the Second Generation Department of Russia. Altogether, there were 9 children of our region, aged 12 to 17 years. After the service, there was a meeting of the Sunday school teachers, where in the form of trainings and discussions Elena Kalmatskaya shared her experience of working with children. Novosibirsk On March 4, the Unification Church volunteers held a film club with movie “The Little Boy.” There were two guests, a family couple. They were greatly inspired by the event and expressed their desire to come again. On March 8, we celebrated the International Women’s Day in the warm family atmosphere. Besides, we continue with education for the second generation. For senior children we held the first group meeting using the Brazil system.

Ukraine 7-day Divine Principle workshop On February 27, 2016 we started the 7-day Divine Principle workshop. One new guest participated. He was inspired by the Divine Principle and decided to join a 1-year training program after finishing this year in his college. Parents’ meeting about the Second Generation education On March 20, 2016, we held a meeting for parents of the Second Generation (the children who already attend school). Over 20 parents participated. We discussed how to educate our children properly for them to inherit our traditions and attend True Parents.

Kazakhstan Almaty Educational clubs We continue meetings of our educational clubs every Thursday and Sunday. Our goal is to convey Divine Principle through the public language. Young people find these clubs quite interesting. They like it there. They are especially attracted by the atmosphere. Of course, it is clear that we have to invest a lot more effort to make this place the best. Moreover, we need to improve the quality of our programs. Also we started a series of 1-day nonreligious workshops on “True love. True life.” The themes look attractive to the guests. Sunday Service We conduct Sunday services on a weekly basis. It’s the time when we can purify our life of faith through God’s words, and the time to share our experiences. During February, many of our active members went abroad to participate in workshops. It was a good time for us to renew our goals and make a new beginning. I hope, next month we can offer more to God and our True Parents.

Latvia The new witnessing center In Latvia, we have performed re-modeling of the witnessing center in Merkela Street that lasted several months. Officially the new center was opened on March 8, 2016. Dr. Ando and Oscar Bergs’ family who lived there and took care of the premises, performed the opening ceremony together with Cheon Il Guk missionaries from Japan. Right after the opening we welcomed the first guest. Already many guests have visited the Merkela witnessing center. We feel that our witnessing program has been opened not only physically but spiritually as well. Our witnessing venue is close to the center of Riga and near the university and a train station. It is a very nice location easy for guests to come. This center is the result of our commitment because many members have invested their efforts and time with sincere jeongseong. No doubt, from now on, the witnessing in Latvia will be ever more effective.

We are planning to witness first of all to young people and students. Women’s Day celebration and the Second Generation creativity time The Open Sunday service and celebration of the International Women’s Day was held at the FFWPU HQ of Latvia on March 6. About 40 members including new guests attended the event, and they had a good time together. A Cheon Il Guk Japanese missionary team in cooperation with one Blessed family gave a festive performance and sang a good song. Then Dr. Ando, the national leader in Latvia, spoke about the significance of Women’s Day. Through True Parents words we came to know that women should play an important role. Also on that day, each family wrote a short message for their mothers with gratitude. After lunch, Oksana, a Unification Church member in Latvia, conducted for the 2nd generation children and their parents a creative program. They drew pictures with the help of their parents. The atmosphere was joyful and friendly. We had a good time enjoying the quite realistic presence of the Heavenly Father and True Parents.

Lithuania Three of our members participated in the International TOP GUN seminar and 21-day NER Sub-leaders seminar in Korea. Charity meeting in Vilnius related to the International Woman’s Day On Sunday, March 6, Lithuania families decided to organize a celebration related to the International Woman’s Day. We highly praised talents and capacities of our sisters, whose exposition of handmade objects, pictures, cards etc. was open throughout the whole event. WFWP leader, Roma Karagazian, spoke on “Our role in the modern family and society” largely based on Yeon Ah Moon’s and True Mother’s words about women’s value and role, motherly love and women’s activity in every area of life. After the speech, MC Aram Karagezian congratulated all sisters, and the elder Second Generation boys handed roses to them. Later, as we shared coffee and snacks, we again admired the handmade articles of our sisters and brothers, some of the items were offered for sale, and everybody was happy to buy them. All sisters expressed their desire to organize more events of the kind. The next event could be a Charity Fair, where everybody could bring something they don’t use at home. Some objects could be bought by other people, and the rest would be offered to a Charity organization. Home Group Sunday Meeting Two times a month our community holds Sunday Hoon Dok Family Home group meetings organized by group leaders. We say, “Through Home Group activity, let us protect ourselves and the family values in the society!” After one home group meeting, one family initiated street witnessing with True Parents’ words written on cards, inspiring others to join in. Some did respond - in their own way; they decided on visiting their neighbors with True Father’s words. Such is their unique way to go on with their Tribal Messiah activity. “We went witnessing in my neighborhood — our Tribal Messiahship area — where people walk with their children and dogs. It was an interesting experience. We met some girls who got interested, and I am trying to keep in contact with them, though not so much success yet“, said Tamila Magomedova, home group coordinator. Georgia On March 13-17, Mr. William Heines (Education director of our Movement in UK) visited Georgia. He had a meeting with a theologian and professor Mr. Vladimer Narsia on development of religious education in Georgia. Mr. William Heines introduced to him the materials of the International Educational Foundation. The parties agreed to cooperate in the future. Meeting was held in the Tbilisi Sulkhan Saba Orbeliani University where Mr. Heines had a chance to give a lecture to the students of the theology department on “God and Marriage.” On the last day of his visit, we held a meeting with guests and members. The guests were very much inspired by the event. Three of them now are attending the DP lectures and preparing for the summer programs. Mr. Heines together with Mr. Vladimer Narsia visited the Stalin`s Museum and the first Christian church in Georgia built in the 4th century.