Generation of Peace Academy Life Book 2011 - 2012

This book is dedicated to In Jin Nim our Senior Pastor and all those that made this unforgettable year possible. -GPA 2011-2012-

LIFEBOOK CONTENTS 8 WORKSHOPS Relive the moments where we were all united. after being away on our separate missions across the world

34 LEADERSHIP 43rd street. The morning lectures, the broken elevators, the open mics, the ballroom socials and much more.

54 FUNDRAISING Facts and testimonies from our favor- ite GPA pastime, because admit it, you miss it already.

76 OVERSEAS Check out pictures and quotes from our overseas module countries includ- ing, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Korea, Japan, Thailand, You are the hope and strength of our movement Peru and Panama.

-True Father 146 MESSAGES Advice from the second years and staff members. Also some valuable written content to help you in your life after GPA.

FOREWORD GPA LIFEBOOK Dear Generation Peace Academy Graduates,

I am honored to offer my congratulations to you, on Executive Editor behalf of our entire Lovin’ Life Ministry national team, as the Christopher Stair graduates of the first class of Generation Peace Academy! We are so proud of each and every one of you and are grateful for all of your heartfelt investment and great achievements Assistant Editors over the course of this past year. I know that you have all Hope Schmidt, Hye Jin Suzuki, Joseph Giampaoli, grown in many amazing ways through your experiences this year, and I want you to know that all of us here at LLM Head- Kuni Ohama and Lara De Oliveira quarters, in church communities across America and in overseas mission areas have grown and benefited greatly just by being able to work together with you and get to know you. You are Designers awesome and on the foundation of this year, you will go on Christopher Stair and Hope Schmidt to do great and incredible things for God and True Parents in your lives. Photography by You have brought so much joy and hope to our True Christopher Stair, Johanna Fleishcman, Joseph Parents this past year (and really, there is nothing more signifi- cant than that!) and you have fulfilled the vision of our senior Giampaoli, Riky Johnson, Teddy Sylte and Yofred pastor, Rev. In Jin Moon, for what is now Generation Peace Moik Academy. You have laid a great foundation for those who will come after you. I know it is not easy being a pioneer and you have undoubtedly faced countless challenges as well as Overseas Photography by enjoyed many wonderful moments. All of these contribute to Aika Greenidge, Alexa Sensini, Christopher Stair, the overall victory that you have earned this year. Hideaki Yamamura, Hope Schmidt, Hyo Nam I wish you all the greatest possible success in all that Heller, James Galvan, Jin il Fleischman, Johanna you do and I look forward to continuing to be with you as we Fleischman, Joseph Giampaoli, Lisun Francisco, build ideal families and save this nation together. Kazu Omori, Kengo Inoue, Layla Zomorod, Ma- May God bless you and thank you from the bottom of my rina Stana, Micah Jumonji, Sarah Lea, and Unmi heart. Yank. In True Parents’ Love, Rev. Joshua Cotter Vice President of HSA-UWC USA

Dear Generation Peace Academy Students, Dear brothers and sisters, friends and families, I want to offer my congratulations on your great ac- complishment, as you graduate from the first class of Genera- It is with great excitement that we present this first tion Peace Academy. There is no better preparation for life Generation Peace Academy Lifebook. As you go through than a year lived in pursuit of internal and external excellence the challenges of life (and you will!) I hope and pray that the and an exploration of the values that define Generation images and words in this book will re-ignite your passion and Peace. give you strength to persevere.

You are part of an important transformation within our To all of you who took part in pioneering this first year movement. In Jin Nim is leading us into a new era and you are of Generation Peace Academy, it has been a truly historic playing a vital role in expressing what it means to be a proud achievement. Each one of you contributed to the great success Unificationist, as you live a balanced life rooted in a profound of this year, and none of it would have been possible without love for our True Parents and a deep appreciation of the our Heavenly Parent, True Parents, True Family and especially In inheritance that is yours through the Blessing. Nothing will make Jin nim and her family guiding and watching over us. In Jin Nim prouder than to see you excelling in school or your chosen career and living a life of integrity. A year is composed of countless moments, lived out by over 150 participants. In this book we have attempted In Jin Nim always stresses that each one of us has to capture moments; moments of joy, victory, love, as well as unique, divine value so as you go forward into the next chapter moments of challenge, struggle and effort. Through the photos, of your life believe in yourself and your potential. True Parents, and testimonies, you can re-live the moments as if they were True Children and Lovin’ Life are always there for you. We want yours. to hear about the amazing things you are doing to make this world a better place. Going through the pages of this book you will look back upon the thousands of miles covered by the fundraising Thank you for sharing yourselves with us this year. I am teams in their desperate quest for their goal, the adventure going to miss you! and novelty of the overseas trips, embracing foreign cultures and touching people’s lives, and the many lessons learned as you journeyed through the Lovin’ Life Leadership Program. With much love, Throughout the course of this year we have grown to Mrs. Heather Thalheimer become more than just ‘program participants’, we have be- Director of Education come family and the bonds that we have created will remain. Lovin’ Life Ministries My hope is that just as you have learned to care for, support, and value one another throughout this year; you will continue to do so.

In Jin nim has loved and personally invested herself, her family, and her resources into every aspect of the program. She has genuinely loved and raised the children of GPA as her own, just as Father asked her to do. Having been personally touched by that love, you can now share it with others.

It is with this heart that we offer to you the first Gen- eration Peace Academy Lifebook.

Roland Platt Director of Generation Peace Academy

From Kick-off to Conclusion and everywhere in between . Work- shops were the moments that pieced everything together. After being away, in different parts of the world, we were always able to come back as a family. Here we could share our experiences, gain a new understanding of our purpose, and prepare for our next adventure.

Workshops kick off to conclusion As STF transformed with In Jin Nim’s vision to become the Generation Peace Academy, the new and eager group made their way to New York. On Kickoff Workshop ended on Sunday after attending September 15th, over one hundred first years came Lovin Life and receiving a sermon given by In Jin Nim. to UTS by train, bus, or plane for a full impact, high GPA said their goodbyes as they parted into their power 2011 Kickoff Workshop to set the tone for the first module of the year. year to come. The first week at UTS was filled with team building games as well as guidance to educate After three months of three different mod- the GPA participants of In Jin Nim’s vision for the ules, the GPA participants were once again united at program. The first week went by quickly, filled with a UTS during the First Quarterly Workshop. Everyone schedule to jump-start everyone into a consistent spiri- was filled with happiness and gratitude. After being tual life. To end the first week, they were split up into apart from each other for quite some time, the GPA teams with whom they would spend the next twelve members were eager to share their experiences days fundraising. with each other. The workshop was one week long, consisting of lectures on Father’s course given by Rev. During the twelve-day fundraising condi- Compton. Each module gave a presentation of what tion, the GPA members got a taste of what was to they did during their module, as well as testimonies come this year. Some teams fundraised via subway of moving experiences people had. It was an op- from 43rd street, while others traveled to neighbor- portunity for everyone to connect and gain a deeper ing states in a van. When everyone returned to UTS, understanding of what their brothers and sisters ac- gratitude filled their hearts as they welcomed back complished in the last three months. Before they knew their fellow GPA members for the final week of the it, they were saying goodbye and making their way kickoff workshop. into the second module. During the last week of kickoff, GPA ex- After another three months of new experi- perienced an unexpected request from In Jin Nim ences, GPA came together, this time at CFA in Hunt, to send all of the second and third to Las Vegas in Texas. The workshop lasted a week during which order to attend and support True Parents. After hav- GPA held a Divine Principal Lecture tournament in ing only been on GPA for three weeks, the first year which all one hundred fifty members participated, members had the opportunity to lead themselves the contestants were narrowed down to twenty and during a week long Divine Principal Workshop lead eventually four contestants were left. They finalists by Rev. Compton. The first year participants rose to each gave a twenty-one minute lectures on a section the challenge and proved to be very self-sufficient of the Divine Principal. The workshop was a good and responsible. When the Staff returned, the first opportunity for everyone to share their memories and years had gained more gratitude towards all of the experiences, and also gain a new and deep under- investment it takes to make a workshop possible. The standing of the Divine Principle. Everyone was sad to say goodbye, but also eager to experience their final

WORKSHOPS stretch of GPA.

Below: The Green Team supporting members as they play a game of “human geometry”.

The year was kicked off at the Unification Theological Semi-

WORKSHOPS Above (Left): “Ah that tickles!”, giggles Hyonam Heller. nary in Barrytown New York. Above (Middle): Micah Jumongi gets team spirit face paint. Above (Right): Rosaka Wagner paints Layla zomorod’s face for the Dark Knights .

Below (left): Young Bok Gomez reveals his secret identity: “bat face”. Below (right) Miwa Ishikawa paying immense attention to detail as she paints her Below (Left): The Yellow team creating the “Twleve teammate’s face green. Gates” symbol during human geometry.

On our first day together as GPA we spent time Above (left): Kyoko Biddle gets her ears painted doing many fun activities, including such clas- blue by Rebecca Nishida. Above (right): Natsha

WORKSHOPS sics as the “diaper relay race”, the team chant Honey and Rosia Kittel share a bonding moment competition and Akira san’s bizarre brain child: over some white paint. “Super Dragon Tails”.

Below (Left): Justine Spicciani and Hiro Ando sprint for the ball during the annual Kick-off Vol- leyball Tournament. Below (Right): James Galvin, Katherine Williams and Michelle Han “Lovin’ no mercy. Life” during the volleyball tournament at kick-off workshop.

A lot of time was spent outdoors getting our daily dose of physical activity. Above: Elijah lay- ing out for a frisbee as Marina Stana looks on from the sidelines, unimpressed.

WORKSHOPS Above (Left): Katrina Morgan, she’s out for the kill. Above (Middle): Jeff Schmidt struttng his stuff after a long day on the volleyball courts. Above (Right): Aaron Roppoli stretching during morning exercises.

Below (left): Lym Hwa Kim and Young Hi Townsend enjoying each other’s company during a song session. Below (right): Mathews Below: Hannah, Satoe, Kyra and Hana V. sing- Bello, the king of unconventional dance moves, ing before the ballroom social at UTS upholds his reputation in the aisle during a song.

Above (Left): Sunny, Brian and Matt Rogers exhibit- Above:(left): Katerina Morgan and Melissa Joyce ing their enthusiasm for holy songs through their exchange a unique glare during entertainment night. graceful movements. Above (right): A row of sisters Above (right) Ross Ward and Joe Giampaoli join JJ

WORKSHOPS praying before a lecture. Schmidt as he belts out, what seems to be, a particu- larly soulful passage during a song session.

Above (Left): Jin Sung Nim and Eika Davis show Above (left): Aika Greenidge getting into frame everyone how to properly dance the Viennese for the first dance of the evening. Above (right):

WORKSHOPS waltz. Above (Right): Generation Peace mem- Mary Roman and Joshua Hunter do the “New bers throwing up their peace signs. Yorker” like its never been done before.

Below (right): Jeongeel Hlady and Michelle Han looking stunning at the first ballroom social of the year at the UTS Kick-off Workshop. Below (left): Misook Mendonca and Masa Abe dance Below (left): Back off ladies, this one’s taken! the night away. Mark Hill and his mom share the last dance.

Above (right): Jon Cook and Gracie Becker Above (left): Younghee Somemoto, Miwa Ishikawa give the camera a dose of their Mid-Western and Yemi Harford taking a break from ballroom attitude. dancing. Above (right): Layla Ziomorod turns heads with her “stop and go” dance move.

Below (left): Sonic Cult preforming “Rolling in the Deep” at the 2011 CARP Winter Gala. Below (right): Young ange- lucci and rosia kittel: Nepal and Afghanistan dance like they are in Vienna

Above (left): Ami Stair and Nadia Schwyter: best Above (top): A group of second year sisters, with a few friends friends since middle school. Above (right): Ending the from their first year. “yall are mah gurls” -Marina Stana. Above (left): CARP winter gala with the traditional “Waka Waka” James Kernan, Harumi Miyakawa, Rosia Kittel erika Hiromitsu,

WORKSHOPS dance. “You know its over when you’re doin the Waka Trevor Davies and eiko Sullivan reliving the morning runs from kick- Waka” -Joe Giampaoli off workshop. Above (right): Elijah Whitore, Marc Hill and Kengo Inoue “Who needs 2 bros when you have 3 bros” -Marky

Below: Johanna Fleischman jotting down some inspira- tional God’s words to decorate her fund raising box.

GPA gathered at UTS for the 1st quarterly workshop, Above (Top): Marcus Hill checking out the online sales where the participants received lectures on True Parent’s on crocs and corduroys. Above (left): Klein Gauthier life course. Above (left): Gracie Becker and Hana Mansur and James Galvan getting comfy during singing time. making boxes for their next condition. Above (right): Ken- (middle) Yoshiko Miller ready to go with her most fierce box-making face. (Right).: the upperclassmen taking a

WORKSHOPS go Inoue and company listening diligently to the lectures on True Parents course, given by Rev. Compton. well-deserved rest in the break room.

Below (left): Sachie Kawachi lookin’ cool, just for the camera. Below (right): Kyra Moyer and Karina Below: Melissa Joyce rejoicing on the ski outing Sutker all bundled up during their ski lesson. “It during the Second Quarterly Workshop “A was my first time skiing, so I was scared. But being smile can warm you up on a cold day” with everyone and learning with the other new- bies was fun” -Kyra Moyer

Above (Left): Rebecca Wiltermood flirts with the During the first quarterly workshop GPA went on a ski camera. Above (Right): Jinil Fleischman reflecting trip where participants snowboarded and skied for a deeply before his first ride down the mountain.

WORKSHOPS day of wintry delights. Above (Left): August Lindsay, Seiichi Nagai, and Hope Schmidt best friends for life. Above (right) Kenzo san making a hot winter fashion statement with his hat made of 100% beaver pelt.

30 31 Below (left): Josh Hunter is Victor-ious over Victor Muleki in this intense game of bandana wars. Below (right): Misook Mendonca is surrounded! as Yemi Hardord and Mie Osaka go in for the kill. Below (right bottom): Lara de Oliveria delivers a striking perspec- tive on the purpose of the Messiah.

After completing the second module this year the whole program visited above (top): Kengi Sawada giving a very humorous Principle of Camp Flaming Arrow. This camp is located in Hunt, TX and it has hosted GPA Creation lecture. Above ((eft): Young-Man Ashworth hugs Justin workshops every year for 8 years. This year we held a Divine Principal work- Hughes for all he’s worth. Above (middle) Erika Hiromitsu praying

WORKSHOPS shop centered on ownership. Not only did the participants become the DP at Morgan Ranch. lecturers, they also competed in a tournament to see who could give the best twenty-one minute lecture. They also played some very interesting games that they themselves created. And they experienced a thunderous hailstorm.

Below: Ross’s group and Klein’s group are looking Below: Second overseas module singing Tongil after great after fundraising in California. their closing prayer at the Morgan Ranch

WORKSHOPS Above (right): Emma Tecun and Sarah Lea listen ap- Above (left_: Hirokuni Ashino, Kohsuke Yoshimune, Felicia preciatively as Joanna Clive sings choir songs. Bratti, and Justin Art participate in the touching flower ceremony at Morgan Ranch in Texas.

Below (right): The Hamburglars, (Teddy and Youngman Ashworth) steal the spotlight at the Lovin’ Life Halloween Party 2011. Below (Left): Billy Joe aka Mike Love, and his fellow rockers: Rebecca Nishida, Johanna Flieschman, Satoe Sakuma and Sarah Lea.

Above: The first 43rd module of the 2011-2012 Above (left): Ryan Steinbrom, behind his sheer GPA Year. veil lies a fierce jungle cat. Above (right): Yastaka Ishida, Kuni Ohama and Kahael Lange dressed to impress in their J-pop outfits.

Below: Nastasha Honey, Sarah Lea, Youngbok Below: InJin Nim, Johanna Fleischman, and Gomez, Becca Nishida, and Joanna Clive, Arianna Moon showing their thanks through a having a Kodak moment after their energetic smile on Thanksgiving.. performance of Lollipop by Mika.

Above: Kyoko Biddle and Young Angelucci Above (left): Seiichi Nagai, Yoshiko Miller and strike a pose during their tango date. “When I Anthony Hagen playing “Gravity” by John

lEADERSHIP was feeling down, ballroom always picked me Mayer at the Thanksgiving day celebration. back up again” Kyoko shares. Above (right): Above (Right): Kenzo San and Michelle Han as The 43rd 1st Module Dance Crew performing happy as can be. to “Party Rock Anthem”

Below (left): Hana Mansur and Katsu Maeda Below (eft) : Jin il Fleischman and Stephen Galvan patient- competing in the waltz competition… either that or ly awaiting seconds on Thanksgiving. Below (right): August giving each other an incredibly awkward high-five. Lindsay and Emily G, “corte” the night away!

Above : GPA 1st Module Leadership was ablet o partici- Above (eft) : Johanna Fleischman, Eiko Sullivan and Kahael pate in the first Ballroom competition of the year at the Lange all mesmerized by the ballroom dancing at the Sheraton Towers Hotel in the Heart of New York City. Top Gala at The Grove in New Jersey. Above (right) Seiichi to Bottom (Left to Right): Eiko Sulllivan and Young Ange- Nagai rocking out during an open mic.

lEADERSHIP lucci, Eika Davis amd Christopher Hall, Sarah Lea and Yemi Harford.

Below (left} Melissa Joyce Singing at Junction, the mid-week New York youth meet up. Below (right): Layla Zomorod, Lisun Francisco, Hyo Nam Heller and Nathan Triggol taking the UN by storm.

Top: The second 43rd module at United Nations. Above Above (right): Gregory Couweleers, Irina Miller, Kuni (right): Catherine Meyer, Patrick Morgan, Aaron Lee, Nagata, Rosako Wagner, and Melissa Joyce take Nathan Hallal, and Younghee Somemoto says, “ It was a a team picture showing their love for their brother privilege to be able to take part in the interfaith meeting.” Kuni.

Below (left): Seito Yamamoto has good form while chuck- ing the tomohawk at Morning Garden. Below (right) Chun Hee Kudo and Shinai Cox playing a game of foosball in the living room.

The Second Leadership module was able to attend the first Above (right): Layla Zomorod, Rosako Wagner, Catherine ever GPA “Create a LIfe You Love” Workshop at the Morn- Meyer, Margaret Golden, and Mary Roman show their ing Garden Property in Gloucester Massachusetts. The time true colors. Above (left): Jordan Anglin, Hideaki Otsubo and was filled with sports, friends and enlightenment. Aaron Lee take turns on the tomohawk range.

Within the leadership module, participants were able to take part in different practicums, including, design, video, Below: The Service Practicum walking accross Manhattan to ballroom, CARP and more! Below: The design practicum deliver care packages to college students. 2nd module.

Above: The 2nd Leadership module at their graduation. Above (Left): Arianna Moon and the public affairs pracit- cum. Above (right) Takahiro Sakaguchi thinks about his moves a little too hard while he tries to lead Alexa Sensini across the dance floor.

Below: Jin Sung Nim giving a talk about “Heart of At- tendance” in the Oak room at 43rd street.

Above: the Third Leadership Module sporting their brand new GPA hoodies. First-year participants in light blue, Second Year Participants in royal blue and 3rd year and staff in Navy Blue.

Above: Lovin’ Life on Sundays was a huge part of the leadership module and you will always see GPA occupying the front rows. Above-middle (left): Rachel Boothby at Morningside Park. Above-middle (middle): Marc Hill get- ting ready to board the B train. Above-middle (right) Simon Hochmuth has

lEADERSHIP a blast at Junction NYC with friend, Riky Johnson.

Ballroom dancers from third module pose for pictures in between heats Below (left): Nisha Lipowcan, Misaki Ando, Christi Immel, and Hana Hen- at their ballroom competition. Below (left): Partners, Yoshi Okabe with dricks.. Below (right): Rebecca Mock and Masa Abe wait nervously for Hye Shim Soto. Below (right): Marina Stana, Karina Sutker, and Nadia the music to start. Below (middle): Tommy Wojcik and his sister Natalia are Schwyter put their best foot forward. Below (bottom): Partners, Young Kwon reunited at Lovin Life, DC.. Hirata with Alexa Sensini

Above (left):: Hope Schmidt, Jae Mulabunga, Kazu Omori, and Yoshi Okabe. Above (right): Kendal DiLorenzo and James Abendroth looking fly suave classy

GPA 3rd module had the opportunity to participate in the 2012 Peace King Fishing tournament. Below (left): This fishing Below (left): Life Lounge practicum on the job. Below (right): team comes home with a few keepers. Below (right): Klein JJ Schmidt playing Three Hack Whack with Marina Stana. Gauthier just wanted to slap the bass, but he caught a bluefish.

Above (left): Marc Hill shows some love to everyone’s Above (left): Sam Ferete, Rebecca Mock, Josh Hunter, favorite bronze boat captain Mitsurusan. Above (right): Masa Taka Asaoka, and Aika Greenidge have fun in the -Joe:, “what do you call a fish with no eyes?” sun at Morningside Park. Above (right): Felicia Bratti, Karina -Aileen: “I don’t know what?”

lEADERSHIP Sutker, and Naidia Schwyter lookin’ sketch. -Joe Giampaoli: “Fshhhh”

During the experiences in the van at Wal-Mart, or out on the frontline; fun- draising captured the raw moments of our lives of faith, and put it to the test. Through the times of bonding with our team, the times of challenges inter- nally, and the moments of victory with our relationship with God and True Parents, we were able to find our true selves and discover pure happiness.

FUND RAISING Everyone on our team broke their records. It was awe- Him even if I don’t feel Him. Because I want a purpose some. We all shared something at closing, and we also in my life, I don’t want to sit in my hatred and pain promised that we would break our PR’s tomorrow be- and by giving my love to Him by loving his children out cause real men break their PR’s on Saturday. I promised there I can overcome my want to just feel love. Select Testimonies even if tomorrow was the most difficult day I have ever had I would stay motivated and positive and still strive My goal for the year was to give and for my goal. receive love. I feel like I am learning to give, love one step at a time. Now I just need to let Gods love into In the end I just wanted to offer this experience myself. In the end I learned if you just believe, push, up to God. I did this for Him and I wanted to forget and have the right motivation, you will be victorious.

Make God it and move forward to the next week with the same strength and belief that I can still do more. I took a small step in building a relationship with God and True Parents

and True and I felt they were proud of me. I am going to keep this strength, this belief in doing my best for them this condi- tion no matter what the situation is. I feel so unworthy

Parents to be here because of all the times I have given up on God, but I have put those times behind me. Just like

Proud any relationship, you need to build on it, you don’t just immediately know a person. I want to show God that I want to have a relationship with Him, so I am not going to wait around to see if He loves me. I am going to love

nathan triggol tHE m asked Jesus to forgive my sins. Even though you can’t

lANGUAGE just go to heaven for believing in Jesus, I felt this weight just come off of me. I thought of all the horrible things I My goal was to Make God and True Parents have said to god, and how now I am so grateful to God

OF LOVE Proud. I made this goal because this whole year I had for letting me be here and have this time to turn around wanted to see if God really cared about me. I real- and find him. ized that I need to show God I want to know Him and that I was going to take the step to show Him that I want to do my best for Him, whether or not I feel Him “I REALIZED THAT I NEED TO SHOW GOD around me. Elijah Hyung asked me, “Are you going to THAT I WANT TO KNOW HIM AND I WAS do your best, or just hoping?” I was scared in answering GOING TO TAKE STEPS TO SHOW HIM that question because I feared making a promise and THAT I WANT TO DO MY BEST FOR HIM” not living up to it, but I said I wanted to do my best. I really saw the power of just believing in yourself. I fully Many times I thought like oh maybe I will make Satoe sakuma top 21 and Mike Bonini will see me and be proud then believed with my whole heart, that I could do this.

t everyone will think I am cool, and parents will want me to marry their daughters etc. But I just shot those wind whipped through my hair the grass softened During a mall blitz, I was heading back to the thoughts down because I was doing this for a higher Today, March 2nd, I broke one thousand my steps. I stopped caring so much whether or van for pick up, but I got there early so JJ Hyung told me to do one more approach. I ran to the first people I purpose. I kept going no matter what happened in a after a morning blitz. I know what a big deal not they would buy a sun catcher, and starting to run. I thought of how I wanted God to see that I want breaking one thousand can be, but I didn’t think it care more about them as people. I asked them saw. It was two younger women. I asked if they would to change and want True Parents in my life. Even if my how they are feeling, what they love, what their like to help and they said they would donate if I would would happen so quickly. My spiel was the same body hurt I wouldn’t stop. My legs were in a lot of pain ideas are. It made my runs more meaningful and answer their question. They asked me if I was going to my clothes were the same, my area was pretty but when I started running every worry in the world inspiring. go to heaven. I said, “I got some more growing to do.” much the same, what was different was my heart. washed away. I felt like I was the guy from the movie They then asked if they could a pray for me. Usually “Chariots of Fire” just running and feeling God. these kinds of things are weird or time killing but I did it I didn’t run, I never do, I took some time “MY SPIEL WAS THE SAME, MY CLOTHES

FUND RAISING anyways. I was actually moved by the prayer. She told The whole night I pushed through everything thinking and singing holy songs. I could appreciate WERE THE SAME…WHAT WAS DIFFER- me to repeat after her and there was a part where I God’s creation as the sun beat on my back; the ENT WAS MY HEART”

lIFEBOOK coming my way. In the end I was able to restore $551.

When people ask me what my story was, I with God, and include “God and True Parents” in But I needed to do my best no matter realized it was simple. Gratitude. I didn’t have anyone my spiel. I also did an extra action step of running, what, no matter the circumstances. I noticed that donate an obscene amount or a $400 blitz. I just had “PEOPLE KNOW THE LANGUAGE OF which was an inspiration from Kaoru and Simon. I was always attached to the external results that people consistently buy sun catchers. I learned to trust LOVE, EVEN IF THEY CAN’T EXPLAIN I forgot to offer my runs and investment to God spirit world. I would declare a goal, feel it deep in my IT. THEY RECOGNIZE IT AND CLING Through multiple challenges I can say I and True Parents, forgot to dedicate each ap- heart, invest in each approach, and spirit world did claimed some victories. It was raining today. I don’t proach to God, and to have a heart of offering. the rest. ONTO IT BECAUSE OF THEIR LACK OF like rain very much, but I saw it as a challenge from GOD’S LOVE” God, so I embraced it. Also I didn’t run on inspira- “I NEEDED TO DO MY BEST NO MATTER People know the language of love, tion but on my commitment to God. I challenged WHAT, NO MATTER THE CIRCUMSTANCE” even if they can’t explain it. They recognize it and cling myself by running even though it was tough. That onto it because of their lack of Gods love. When I really kept my fire and determination going. I was I got an unexpected donation of $100 can align myself to God’s frequency and let Him use glad to do it because I got to meet people who dollars and from a person. I was questioning what my body to love His rebellious children, the people donated and bought. Without running I would have God is trying to tell me through that, Felicia onni respond back with love. I realized that there is hope never met them. said to me, “Investment is never wasted.”I would for Cheon Il Guk, that people are hiding behind heir like to offer this day up to God and True Parents, cement masks to protect themselves from the pain, In- even though it was full of mistakes, challenges, side each person, there is a divine spirit. We just need and personal limits. Felicia onni told me, “There to tap into it with sun catchers of love. are good days and there are bad days, but don’t ever think that you have let God down and therefore think that your efforts are not worth offering up. Because of your being here, doing what you’re doing, God is already so proud of you.”

cOMMITMENT TO THE GOAL Fight desperately for god REBECCA MOCK justin art t such a good team action step, it helped everyone to be wide-awake and start the morning with a good Thank you Heavenly Father and True Parents attitude.

M for this wonderful first day of fund raising competition, it my all. One thing I was able to overcome with this in the beautiful small town of Snyder in Texas! The morning service we received was “Com- goal was the feeling of complacency. This happened mitment to the Goal” by Felicia onni. During my 7-min- My internal goal was Fight Desperately for during our second run. I was really close to my run ute prayer, I had a hard time thinking of a commitment God, it was a really good goal for me. I felt by keep- I really wanted to begin well and start out goal within the first 20 minutes, just a couple of dol- that I could give to God and True Parents, a commit- ing my goal in mind I was really able to push past my my day with an attitude of gratitude and determina- lars away. So I decided to take a bathroom break. ment that could make them proud. At the end I commit- limits. I remember talking to a friend the day before tion, believing I could make Heavenly Father and True As I was sitting on the toilet I remember thinking, ted to my internal goal: to See Everyone from God’s the condition started, she was saying that with an Parents proud today. The first thing our team did after “What the *@#% am I doing.” I should have been out

FUND RAISING and True Parent’s Perspective. My action step was to internal goal like that I would really have to try to give waking up was to scream “Good morning Heavenly there fighting desperately for God and working to pray before and after each approach, hold hands it my best. She was so right when I look back at it. It Father and True Parents!” out in the parking lot. It was exceed my goal. So I cut my break short and went

lIFEBOOK felt good having no regrets and knowing that I gave

back out there. I really pushed myself for the remain- in them. I knew that God had prepared each and brighter than ever because He wants me to look through the night before. During my runs, my action step was to der of the run and with the help of Heavenly Father every approach for me. So to make sure that I my notes. stay in tune with my instinct and treat my thoughts as and True Parents I made a new run record. didn’t leave any parking lot too early I set a condi- God given, to let Him guide me. Which led me running tion, if I got seven straight rejections or I get kicked I flipped to a random page and I read, “Move across parking lots, to businesses I hadn’t initially seen, out, I would move onto the next parking lot. This in the opposite direction.” At first it didn’t have any and even running across the street. I can say that the “IT’S ‘MIND BOTTLING’ TO SEE HOW importance to me but then I tried again and what I read, whole day I was pushing away thoughts about home or worked out really well for me. I basically spent the GOD WORKS THROUGH YOUR CENTRAL whole day in parking lots. By setting that condi- “True Father doesn’t hear God, he feels Him.” And this the end of the condition, and trying to have give and FIGURE.” helped me to realize that I should trust my inner instinct. take with my internal goal and have positive thoughts. tion, God knew that I really tried to fight for Him, I shouldn’t be making my internal goal something that I was more focused than I had ever been in my life. If I which lead me to believe that I was making True sounded good or something I thought I should work on, could say anything about breaking my record on the first Another thing I was able to do during this Parents proud and smile. but something that I really connected to in my heart. The day of condition, I would have to say it had everything to day was set conditions. Our area for the day con- first line “Move in the opposite direction” came back to do with the night before. sisted of many parking lots. I wanted to invest deeply The faith that my team leader, Mr. Na- mind and it all made sense. Instead of trying so hard to than Hallal, had in me also helped me out. The be someone God can trust, maybe He just wants me to day before the condition, when we were all at let go and trust Him. I began to pray again and decided the Houston church center, Nathan hyung said that my focus for the condition should be trusting God with confidence that on the second day of this and letting go of what I feel like I could control. condition I would break $500. I had doubts but Finally my heart began to feel more at ease Nathan hyung put a lot of faith in me and helped and the burning feeling that had built up for two hours me break 500. It is mind boggling to see how God was starting to fade. The next day, I started off the condi- works through our central figure. tion with a lot of determination, feeling way better than

let go and start everyday TRUST god positively

mARGARET GOLDEN Kyoko biddle O On Thanksgiving we had a 21-minute prayer, I was trying to prepare myself for the upcoming condition. I noticed I had lost the strong connection I had with my This was the first time I had not fallen asleep in less than 20 minutes on GPA and it started to scare me. I could hear snoring coming from my team and I began t The day I broke my PR was a Friday. I knew that so many people had concepts about Fridays, because day for some reason. Usually I wake up with the attitude of not wanting to go out, but Friday I felt really positive. to feel very lonely and frustrated. I spent the majority it is payday people would just be willing to give. I didn’t Then, at the end of the day I realized that the attitude internal goal, Be Someone God Can Trust. I thought want to leave the van with that kind of attitude so that you start your day with can make a huge difference. about focusing on realizing my value from God and True of the time that night praying and trying to prepare my heart for the condition and find an internal goal I could instead; I decided I would think about the external as If you’re negative then you will have really negative spir- Parents, but I was having a hard time deciding if I should little as possible and just go out there focused on loving its around you, but if you can decide to be positive, then focus on that or work on my main goal consistently connect to. I was doing everything I felt God wanted me to do, including opening my notebook to look at past the people. It was difficult to not think about the external positive spirits will be able to help you out a great deal. and let the rest come naturally. Because of my prayer because I really wanted to break my PR and had been Even though it can be really difficult, I want to learn to I thought I had already had something figured out, but guidance for an answer. I was thinking, maybe I’m awake waiting a long time for it to happen. start everyday positively, and remember that we are not

FUND RAISING throughout the day I lost connection to that too. I thought because God really wants me to be prepared and have a certain focus for the condition. Maybe the lights are out there for our own sake, but for the sake of God, True about it all day but the hours kept passing and soon it Our whole team was in a really good mood Parents and the world.

lIFEBOOK was the end of the night. waking up on Friday morning. We all felt excited for Fri-

64 65 Below (Left): Paint balling it out in California. A Below: Nathan Hallal, Youngbok Gomez, Kenzo good stress reliever and fun sport to play with san, and Marina Stana get the vans ready new teams. Below (Right): Team Men of Man before going out.\ on their second year fund Diego enjoy a day of sailing and getting rid of raising trip. their fundraising tans.

Above (Left): Jess Sattinger at the wheel and Above (Left): A team poses with the moun- getting ready for a fundraising trip. Above tains of Albuquerque, New Mexico in the

FUNDRAISING (Right): Tadaaa!!! Mary Roman and Kenji background. Above (Right): Michelle Han and Minagawa go out on their approach. Karina Sutker taking a break in the flowers.

Below (right): Fairy Godmother and So- licitor. Below (Bottom): Masahiro Abe and Below (Left): Jessica Sattinger’s team Victorious Altus Szalowski before morning service. Cripples aka VicsCrips. Below (Right): Team Righteous White T’s pull ahead in the competition.

Above (Left): “Our car got stuck, but God provides always. Above (Top): JJ’s group plus Emily Iseda in the middle of This time with a shovel and laughter. We broke through that

FUNDRAISING nowhere on their way to Las Vegas. Above (Bottom): Team day despite the late start and rerouting. That’s a Life of faith “Pillow Pets of Navajo ft. MEMORY FOAM” moving onward baby! That’s what it is every day!” –Joanna Clive. Above through the endless roads of Texas. (Right): Felicia’s team finds a beautiful mermaid washed ashore during morning service.

Below (Left): Morning stretches outside of Pasadena House. Below: They say that the characteristic of the whole group Below (Right): Marina Stana and her team didn’t want to and captains reflect the group leader. True or False? miss an opportunity to take a team picture, especially in this storybook, castle setting.

Above (Right): “In JJ Oppa’s Group, we had a tradition Above: Youngbok and his Team The “Heart Crushers” where whenever a van arrived somewhere first, the other standing on the edge of the Earth, ready to save it. people from the vans later, would join the people in the

FUNDRAISING first van. It was fun getting on top of each other with all the B.O. and taking group pictures like this.” –Yong-Sung Masuda. Above (left) Kohta Nishioka and Rachel Boothby playing a game of peekaboo before pick-up.

Below (Left): These brothers have a special relationship due Below: Klein Gauthier and several others take a lesson in to the fact that Youngkwon had one and only one brother surfing before they hit the waves with STF Alumn, Raymond captain this GPA year. Marcus Hill. Below (Right): a feast of Gallagher in Los Angeles, California. fund raising porportions.

Above (left): Elijah’s fund raising team making incredibly efficient use of budget at an upscale restaurant. Yes, that is 28 Mc Doubles. Above (right): Cynthia’s team, “The Fuzz Above (Left): Akira san and his team traverse the islands

FUNDRAISING Shots” sporting facial hair made of Spanish Moss. Fun Fact: of Hawaii and return with heavy tans and many memories. Ticks, chiggers and other unpleasant parasites breed inside Above (Right): Third Module Captains’ Training Leaders in- of Spanish Moss. clude August Lindsay, Kenzo san, Cynthia Jones, Rosia Kittel, and Kyra Moyer.

Below (left): Kim Dickerson’s original team spent a cou- Below (Middle): “What I like about fundraising in teams Below: “’Ask and you shall receive.’ At last, the Soul Gaz- ple conditions together. Below (Bottom-left): “Sometimes is that even though we are completely different, we find ers finally frolic in the Texan flowers.” - Rosia Kittel Left to you just gotta break the ice with some hilarious pictures.” a way to get closer to each other. Our team is so quirky right: Johanna Fleischman, Rosia Kittel, James Kernan, Young -Becca Wiltermood. and we all have funny laughs.” - Team FeFe’s F.A.R.M.Y Angelucci and Eiko Sullivan.

Above (Left): “We went through some tough times, but we went through them together. We’re not afraid to ask each other for help or help others. We know that we got each

FUNDRAISING other’s backs.” - Original Team Wok n’ Roll. Above (Right): “We called ourselves Gigib- aba because we found out that Becca nuna’s nickname is Gigi, which means ‘old man’ and so we called Nathan hyung ‘baba’ because that means ‘old woman’ and he was like our mom. Put it together and you got GIGIBABA.” - Masahiro Abe

Below (left): James Kernan Frolicks on the side of the highway. “The purpose of fundraising Below (Left): Team “Snow and Cold Winds” spend the first is to give God’s love back to the people on the front line so they can experience what we months of the year fundraising in states around Texas. Below receive from God and True Parents. So today, I really just tried to focus on giving uncondi- (Right): Kentoku Kato enjoying a hot meal after a cold day’s tional love to everyone I met because I knew it would make God happy to see me making fundraising. his children happy.” - James Kernan. Below (right): Joe Giampaoli looking extra-happy.

Above (Left): Jeongeel Hlady holding a Chameleon that she Above (Left): Catherine Meyer, Natasha Honey, and Hyeshim found out side of the church center in Kona, Hawaii. Above Soto chilling out at the beach. Above (Right): Captain’s Training

FUNDRAISING (Right): August Linday and his jubulant team; It’s a love-hate Sisters are the boss. (Left to right): Cynthia Jones, Jin Ae Sakai, relationship. Erika Hiromitsu, Harumi Miyakawa and Rosia Kittel.

Looking out the window of the airplane as we left America behind and headed out to different cor- ners of the earth, we didn’t know where our jour- ney would take us. As we left our country and grew broadened our horizons, we also grew our hearts from ones that simply received love, to ones that could serve and give back. During our time over- seas we found a deeper meaning in helping others and realized that we could make a difference by simply touching the lives of those we see every day. Through the amazing friendships we made in other countries, we began to understand how we could make an impact anywhere, with anyone at any- time. Whether in Latin America, or in Asia, and our hearts grew to a new understanding of the world around us.

ST. LUCIA u Upon finally arriving in St. Lucia a few days later than expected, due to missing their first flight, a warm tropical breeze and balmy 86 degree weather welcomed the GPA group. This was not a bad way to enjoy late November.

In the heart of the fishing village of Anse la Raye, the GPA mem- bers quickly settled into their new humble abode for the next three weeks. As soon as they arrived, they jumped right into service by cleaning the house they were staying in and bringing it to pristine conditions. Afterwards they met with and received education from Remy Taupier, who is the National Messiah of St. Lucia. Akira san also welcomed them, as he had flown in three days earlier, and gave them a sense of what was to be expected, as well as the at- titudes they would need to have.

As the group began to settle into St. Lu- cia they discovered two things; the beauty of the country they were serving in, as well as the need for love to be spread throughout the community there. GPA focused mostly on the internal aspects of service in order to bring back a feeling of belonging to the community as well as a sense of family. The GPA mem- bers learned valuable lessons during their time in St. Lucia, one being, the simple act of service can touch another person in unforget- table ways. Another lesson they learned was that little things could make a large difference.

OVERSEAS GPA was able to spread God’s love through- out the community they spent 3 weeks with, and left a lasting impression.

Below: Ami Stair says, “I loved the children, they kept me company while I worked, and made my experience there all the better.”

Above: GPA in St. Lucia. 1st- Year Participants: Aar- on Roppoli, Ami Stair, Greg Couweleers, Jacksun Floyd, Johnathan Barker, Kenji Sawada, Kentoku Kato, Layla Zomorod, Mari Inaba, Patrick Morgan, Raphael Fish, Tommy Wojcik, Unmi Yank.. 2nd-Year Participants: Cynthia Jones, Hiro Ando, Hye Jun Suzuki. Staff: Akira Watanabe. Above (Top): Hye Jin Suzuki renovating the beach front:“Service isn’t only about serving, but inspiring others to do the same.” Above (bottom): Arron Roppoli painting a deck on the beach-

OVERSEAS front.

Below (Right): Raphael Fish giving piggybacks and Below: The GPA St Lucia Team moving spirits at a hugs to his new St. Lucian Brothers. Below (left): John local church with their rendition of the song “The Barker brushing off paint, with love in each bristle. Climb.”

Above (Bottom): Layla Zomorod exclaims, “I wanted to The GPA team in St. Lucia visited a primary school take the kid home with me!” where they sang, danced and did arts an crafts with the students there. Above (left) Kengi Sawada and a new friend wearing the paper chain-link necklace that they made together. Above (right): Jacksun Floyd teaching a

OVERSEAS class about the importance of community.

Below (left): Greg Couweleers and Hye Jin Suzuki Below: Patrick Morgan raises St. Lucia’s children up all ready for their boat ride out on the tropical St. to stand on mountains, and stormy seas. Lucian waters. Below (right): Kentoku Kato and com- pany smile at the camera while treating themselves to a soothing mud bath.

Above (Top): Cynthia Jones having a quality photoshoot. Above: Kenji Sawada and Jackson Floyd walking back Above (Center): Unmi Yank taking the a couple of the home after a long days work. schoolgirls out on a field trip. Above (Bottom): Tommy Wojcik loving his younger brother.

TRINIDAD o One of the most valuable aspects of serving in foreign countries is learning how to adapt. The GPA members who went to Trinidad and Tobago experienced that lesson the first day they arrived. It was origi- nally intended that they take a short tour on their first day, but because of the political unrest within the country, their hosts thought it would be wiser for them to stay at the church center in Diego Martin. Instead of the tour, they decided to take on a mini project and paint the church. Despite the slight shuffling of their schedule, the team was still able to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal with many guests from the local community that same evening.

On the next day they headed to their main service location at the St. Barbs Community Center. The members were greeted by a chain drum performance by five little boys and the President of the lower St. Barbs community, Mr. Brown. After all the introductions, the team surveyed the upper St. Barb Community Center, which was in dis-repair and even had a caved-in ceiling. However, the GPA members, previ- ously empowered by the positive attitude and the high-spirit of the people they had met, felt confident enough to tackle this task.

They also had a chance to bond with the local youth from the community and engaged in some cultural exchange through sports. Several representatives of GPA were interviewed on a live radio talk show. All these experiences contributed to the team’s appreciation and love for the culture and for the people of Trinidad. The people did not have much in terms of material wealth,

OVERSEAS but they had so much spirit and heart in a country where the music was always play- ing.

Below (left): Marcus Hill and his new friend take a break from painting to chill out with trucker hats on. Below (right): Rachel Boothby Loving up the children of Trinidad.

Above: Trinidad mon! 1st- Year Participants: Alexa Sensini, Daniel Allen, Hideaki Otsubo, Hye Shim Soto, Kendall Dilorenzo, Masataka Asaoka, Nisha Lipowcan, Rachel Boothby, Nicholas Kiefer, Young Kwon Hirata, Simon Nagle, James Abendroth. 2nd-Year Participants: Karina Sutker, Nadia Schwyter, Marcus Hill, Jon Cook. 3rd-Year Participants: Izak Hernandez, Klein Gauthier. Staff: Keishu Greene. Above: Karina Sutker, Rachel Boothby, Nadia Schwyter, and Alexa Sensini show off their bright white smiles.

Below (Right): Youngkwon Hirata, after shaving his head, Below: Klein Gauthier chillin old school on the streets of gets painted to resemble an oompa loopma. “ This is what Trinidad. I’ll look like when I’m old.”

Above: Nadia Schwyter spending time with the Trinidad Above: The “Trinimam’s” all lined-up ready to go to the children. “The warm hearts of the Trinny people is what I’ll Spiritual Baptist Church on Sunday. “ Does my hair look remember most.“ nice?” -Karina Sutker

GUYANA i In Guyana, the GPA overseas team received the blessing of connecting with highlevel politicians and had the opportunity to connect them to True Parents. On their first full day in Guyana, the GPA members met with the current President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo. The President was inspired by the group’s commitment to Foreign Ser- vice The main project that the GPA members were involved in during their twenty-one days in Guyana included construction proj- ects at the Joshua House Orphanage. The Joshua House is an orphanage operated by the Unification Church in Guyana that houses over 60 children. The team worked at the Joshua House to build an on-site laundry facility.

In addition to construction, GPA members were able to interact with and take care of the orphan children staying there. ‘Heart’ seemed to be the theme to their overall experience. The project became more than simply doing physical labor. The GPA team was given the chance to connect to the children who hadn’t, in their entire lives, felt a sense of what love truly means. The children taught the GPA team valuable lessons on the importance of loving and car- ing for God’s children in order to show them that they are important. The GPA members came to the country to serve, but came

OVERSEAS home feeling as though they had received more.

Top (Left): Kohta Nishioka shares, “ In Guyana I had the op- portunity for the first time to be an older brother, because I’m the youngest in my family. It was a brand new experi- ence. ”

Above: GPA in Guyana. First-Year Participants: Catherine Meyer, Hyo Nam Heller, Jeongeel Hlady, Joshua Hunter, Justine Spiccianni, Kazuhiro Omori, Kohta Nishioka, Kwonji Reese, Masa- hiro Abe, Misaki Ando, Sachie Kawachi, William Nguyen. 2nd-Year Participants: Aileen Granstrom, Above (middle): Jeongeel Hlady and a little boy stick out Chiyo Tanimoto, Takahiro Sakaguchi, Yoshi Okabe. their tongue in rebellion. Above: Sisterhood goes beyond 3rd-Year Participants: Soogin Ogden

OVERSEAS the lines between countries as Sachie Kawachi and her new sisters pose for a picture.

Below (left): Justine Spicciani shows enthusiasm for her Below (right): Aileen Granstrom takes a break from her favorite color green.. Below (right): Yoshi Okabe hugs a little work for a moment to pose for the picture Guyanese girl as she reminds him what sibling love is all Below (left): The gang gets suited and ready for their about boat ride.

Above (left): Catherine Meyer and Aileen Grans- Above: Soogin Ogden helps to clear out sand for the new trom show off their muscles as they shovel rocks laundry room. “I was motivated by the progress we were mak- during their service project ing. Also the hard work of my team members pushed me to keep going. It was amazing to see the laundry room come to

OVERSEAS life”. Above (right): Hyo Nam Heller leads the way as his posse follows him to see the sunset

Below (left): The group takes a break from work to bask in the beautiful Guyana sun. Below (right): Josh Hunter laughs as he tackles two Below: Masahiro Abe and Kwonji Reese take a Guyanese boys at once holding them both in his break from the burning Guyana sun. arms.

Above: Sachie Kawachie, Jeongeel Hlady, and Above (eft): Chiyo Tanimoto holds her younger Cathrine Meyer posing with a beautiful sunset. sister up high so that she can see her full poten- tial in the world. Above (right): Hyo Nam Heller

OVERSEAS smiles for the camera receiving a thumbs up from his little helper

KOREA o On January 23rd, GPA arrived in South Korea along with over three hun- dred young-adult CARP members from all over the world to partake in all the events during the Cheon Bok Festival. On Janu- ary 25th, Kook Jin Moon kicked off the event with a speech. Afterward, Hyung Jin Nim spoke to the CARP members about faith.

On January 27th, GPA made their way over to Cheong Jeong Gung along with six other choirs from Korea and Japan for the second annual choir competition. After hearing the beautiful performances from the other choirs, the GPA choir walked onto the stage nervously. However, when they set their eyes on True Parents and True Family, all their nerves vanished and gratitude overwhelmed their hearts. After the judges revealed the results, the GPA choir embraced each other with tears in their eyes, for they had just won the grand prize.

The GPA choir spent the next week touring Korea and exploring the unifica- tion church’s roots. They made their way from the Unification church headquarters, back to the very first unification church ever built in Busan. They explored Father’s history, and gained a deeper understand- ing of his heart. The GPA choir, was able to receive so much blessing, but although the competition was over, the music car- ried on, as they went on to perform at the Cheon Bok Gung, and many other places. They expressed In Jin Nim’s love in America,

OVERSEAS through the songs they sang.

Below (Right): Daniel Hirano, waving the Peruvian flag on the stage of the Cheon Bok Gung with unparalelled fervor. Below (Left): Victor Muleki and Eika Davis march down the streets of seould hold- ing a giant UC flag during the Cheon Bok Festival.

Above: After their performance at the Cheon Jeong Gung for True Parents, the Choir got to sing at Hyung Jin Nim’s church, The Cheon Bok Gung. First Year Participants: Anthony Hagen, Christopher Hall, Daniel Hirano, Eiko Sullivan, Emily Giampaoli, Erika Hiromitsu, Gracie Becker, Harumi Miyakawa, James Kernan, Jin Ae Sakai, Johanna Fleischman, Johanna Shoultz, Katerina Morgan, Katsu Maeda, Kuni Ohama, Kyoko Biddle, Lara De Oliviera, Lym Hwa Kim, Matthew Rogers, Misook Men- donca, Miwa Ishikawa, Satoe Sakuma, Seiichi Nagai, Stephen Galvan, Sunny Jones, Trevor Davies, Victor Muleki, Yemi Harford, Yoshiko Miller, Above (Left): James Kernan, Katerina Morgan and Young Angelucci and Young-Man Ashworth. Second Year Participants: Stephen Galvan representing different natoins as August Lindsay, Emma Tecun, Joseph Giampaoli, Joanna Clive,, Michael they marched in the Cheon Bok Festival Parade Love, Natasha Honey, Rebecca Nishida, Rosia Kittel, Sarah Lea, Young- on their first full day in Korea.. Above (Right): GPA bok Gomez. Third Year Participants: Kyra Moyer,, Eika Davis and Yastaka Peforming their Cha Cha routine on stage at the

OVERSEAS Ishida. Staff: Christopher Stair, Keishu Greene, Roland Platt and Thanh Le. Cheon Bok Gung during the World CARP Assem- bly.

Below (left): True Parent’s holding hands as they listened to the other choirs. “I was so happy when I was taking this picture, Father slowly felt for Mother’s hand and then started moving it to the beat. It was beautiful” -Chris Stair

Above (left): Lara De Oliveira the during dress Above (left): The GPA Choir looks on exccitedly as Kevin Yoon makes a rehearsal. “I was shaking as I made eye contact phone call to In JIn Nim after they found out that they had won the grand with Father…The music started and suddenly all prize. Above (right): Joanna Clive smiles brightly after taking the grand my worries left me… I just wanted to offer my prize in the choir competition. “What a blessing. I never imagined id be on whole heart to True Parents through my voice” a stage in front of true parents, singing. and when i think about that ex- perience, i asked myself, did i deserve that opportunity? and my answer

OVERSEAS was “no”. then i asked True Parents, did i deserve that blessing? and their answer was “of course you did”. thats God’s heart” -Joanna Ciive

Below (lef)t: The GPA choir on one of Father’s fishing boats in Yeosu Korea, with love and gratitude in their Below (right): Matthew Rogers re- hearts. Below (right): Jin Ae Sakai, Eiko Sullivan, and ceives a back massage from his new Harumi Miyakawa embrace eachother for warmth on a adopted “Halmuhni.” cold winter day at the Yong Pyong Ski Resort.

Above: After the competition the Choir toured Korea. Above:The GPA choir had the amazing opportunity to serve at a They visited many places including the Gyeong Bok local nursing home while in Korea. There they sang songs for the resi- Palace, the church-owned Yong Pyong Ski resort and the dents, bringing them so much joy and energy. After the singing they Little Angel’s school. got to spend a lot of time interacting with the people there, “Being able to speak with them and love them was such a moving experi-

OVERSEAS ence, I really felt as if I were there granddaughter and they were my grandparents.”-Natasha Honey

JAPAN o On February 6, 2012, 44 members of GPA arrived in Osaka, Japan. During their eight-day stay from February 6-13 they left a lasting impression on their fellow Unification- ists in Japan. Their time was spent visiting local churches and doing relief work in Ishino- maki, a city heavily damaged by the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami on March 1, 201. The morning after their arrival, they traveled directly to the devastated site of Ishinomaki. 46 percent of which had been inundated by the deadly tsunami, which was where they were scheduled to do service work for the following four days.

On February 10 and 1, GPA par- ticipated in a cultural exchange event at the Sendai Church. The GPA choir offered several songs and showcased their ballroom-dance routines. Japanese members sang and danced as well. The friendships that bloomed between the GPA members and the Japanese youth members were proof that language barriers did not exist. Somehow, these international youth found a way to communicate and build everlasting friendships that went beyond just the time that was spent there. Not only was GPA able to contribute to the tsunami disaster relief in Japan, but also, they were able to touch the hearts of the Japanese members and break down any barriers that had previ- ously been put up.

Japan was an opportunity for two countries that worked so hard to build god’s providence, to unite once again through the new generation of youth working both on bonding, as well as helping the country to re- cover, following a devastating natural disaster.

OVERSEAS With young energy, a young and stronger unity in heart came about, that crossed beyond any cultural limitations.

Below (left): August Lindsay stands strong leading others in work with a shovel in hand. “I was digging through the remains of what used to be someone’s home. Their life was now buried beneath the mud I was standing in. It could have been my home. I felt a connection to the Japanese people like never before. It brought the experience to a whole new level.”

Above: The GPA service group in Japan with some of the Japa- nese CARP Members. First Year Participants: Anthony Hagen, Christopher Hall, Daniel Hirano, Eiko Sullivan, Emily Giampaoli, Erika Hiromitsu, Gracie Becker, Harumi Miyakawa, James Kernan, Jin Ae Sakai, Johanna Fleischman, Johanna Shoultz, Katsu Maeda, Kuni Ohama, Kyoko Biddle, Lara De Oliviera, Lym Hwa Kim, Matthew Rogers, Miwa Ishikawa, Satoe Sakuma, Seiichi Nagai, Stephen Galvan, Sunny Jones, Trevor Davies, Above (right): Lara De Oliveira and Nastasha Honey Victor Muleki, Yoshiko Miller, Young Angelucci and Young-Man contribute to cleaning trash and debris. “Sitting in the Ashworth. Second Year Participants: August Lindsay, Emma Tecun, dirt, cleaning up the rubble from the devistaiton in Joseph Giampaoli, Joanna Clive, Natasha Honey, Rosia Kittel, Japan opened my heart to want to love and appriciate Youngbok Gomez. Third Year Participants: Kyra Moyer, and Yas- every moment in life that I am given” Natasha explains. taka Ishida. Staff: Keishu Greene, Roland Platt and Thanh Le.

Below (left) Lymhwa Kim leads the way for the Japa- nese members in the Waka Waka dance. “There was no need for words, just dance. It connects you to people”. Below (Right): Miwa Ishi-”Kawaii” posing with an extra-young, extra-cute Japanese Unificationist.

Above (left): Anthony Hagen sorting through the rubble left behind from the tsunami . “I had never seen with my own eyes the horrific aftermath of a disaster comparable to the tsunami. Entire towns were made into pools of concrete lit- Above (left: “It was amazing to see the difference in tered with scrap metal. So to play, even a small part in the culture between Tokyo and the countryside in the north. relief efforts was truly a meaningful experience. The photos I love observing the fashion and trends in Tokyo” says of terror of what we saw are burned in my mind and are Johanna Fleischman as she and Gracie Becker smile for an ever reminder to be grateful for the blessings I have. To the camera during their adventure in Tokyo, Japan feel that we were able to make an impact in the lives of

OVERSEAS the Japanese people, brings me , such solace and peace and that, I will hold onto forever” -Anthony

THAILAND O On February 22, 2012, the Genera- tion Peace Academy overseas team arrived in Bangkok, Thailand where they were warmly greeted by many smiling members and almost as many flashing cameras. Al- though it was clear that the Thai members were ecstatic to meet these foreign Ameri- cans, the greeting reminded the GPA group that they had the responsibility of represent- ing In Jin Nim and the American movement. GPA members also car- ried a heavy heart, as they remembered that their purpose in being there was to address the human traf- ficking issue in Thailand.

The group worked directly with the human trafficking issue at the Pavena Cen- ter, a foundation focused on preventing the issue and supporting those who have been affected. Thailand CARP members were alongside the GPA team through the whole experience, showing that despite where you come from or what language you speak, an impact can always be made. As GPA stood side by side with the Thai CARP members as well as the volunteers in Thailand, addressed the issue. Although they weren’t able to end it, it brought them hope to know that they had touched the lives of people there, and made some sort of impact no matter how big or small it may have been.

Below (Left): Mitsuhide Abe and Justin Art picking up dead lotus plants. Below (Right): Robert Martin painting steel rods for DEPDC.

Above: JJ’s group experiencing God’s divine beauty and love in Thailand. First year Participants: Aika Greenidge, Brian Tassey, Hirokuni Ahino, Hope Schmidt, Junka Honda, Justin Art, Kohsuke Yoshimune, Mitsuhide Abe, Rebecca Mock, Rebecca Wiltermood, Ren Bishop, Robert Martin, Above (Left): Elijah Whitmore digging a foundation for a Simon Hochmuth and Young Sung Masuda. 2nd year par- plant nursery. Above (Middle): John Gehring having a heart ticpants: Elijah Whitmore, Felicia Bratti, Jon Cook, Marina to heart with a Thai member. Above (Right): Aika Green- Stana. and Naomi Froelich 3rd Year Participants: Jeffery age, Brian Tassey, Jon Cook help to plant seedlings. Schmidt. Staff: Elissa Allen, John Gehring, Kenzo Tanaka,

OVERSEAS Yoshiko Gehring.

Bottom (Left): Junka Honda and Robert Martin giving love and attention to their team mates on sports day. Bottom (Right): Simon Hochmuth and Mitsuhide Abe teaching young students soccer.

Above (Top): Naomi Froelich taking care of a local student. Above (Left): Schmidt siblings cheer on for their sports Above (Bottom): Marina Stana spending quality time with team. Above (Right): Rebecca Mock and Marina Stana her new friend. “ She really reminded me of how I was cuddle with some new friends. as a child; wild, picky, curious, and she loves to braid hair

OVERSEAS too.. I’ve always wanted a little sister, so I was grateful to God to have this experience. I hope Nungtip grows up healthy and happy.”

Below (Left): Rebecca Mock discoveing her innerself with natives. Below (Right): We see the promise land, I see it, there it is.

Above: Brian Tassey, “Geez, it’s not everyday you get to ride an elephant.” Above (Right): Yong Sung Masuda car- Above (Left): Aika Greenage and Rebecca Wiltermood ing for his elephant. take in the beauty of the Thai White Temple. “Before com- ing to the White Temple, I had already Googeled it! The Temple was so peaceful and calm. I could see how much effort was put into the Buddhist traditions.” Above (Right):

OVERSEAS Kohsuke Yoshimune and Hirokuni Ashino taking their el- ephant for a walk.

PANAMA u Upon arriving in Panama, the GPA team was greeted by Patrizia who is in charge of AVACA, a program that teaches those in Panama the importance of disposing their trash properly and being able to take care of their environment. She spent a great deal of the first morning sharing with the GPA participants the goal of this entire project, as well as some history of the town Casco Viejo, and Panama as a whole. She gave them a tour of the community center and expressed the two major issues that the country of Pana- ma is facing: First, the trash problem within the neighborhood streets, second, the govern- ment wants to tear down the town and build a highway cutting across the city, instead of helping with the trash tanks and the cleanup in general.

The GPA members quickly got to work creating gardens to teach the Panamanians how to grow their own food. They also fo- cused on a different street every day in order to clean up all the trash and paint the curbs to create a godly environment for the people living there, who weren’t aware of how much happier they could be with cleanliness in their lives.

The GPA team, during their time in Panama, were able to educate the Panama- nians on the importance of keeping a clean environment, and along the way were able to bond with the natives and understand their hearts more. The GPA team was able to leave the country having made an impact on the people and the streets and also filled

OVERSEAS with new insight.

Below: Kahael Lange, Jessica Sattinger, and Kengo Inoue’s reaction after finding out they can’t live in Panama forever.

Above: Welcome to Panama! First Year Participants: Altus Szawlowski, Emily Cornier, Emma Scazerro, Gloria Morales, James Galvan, Jin Sung Kuroha, Kahael Lange, Kaoru Enami, Katherine Williams, Mathews Bello, Micah Above: Seito Yamamoto and KB Williams giving the Jumonji, Mie Osaka, Nathan Triggol, Ryan Steinbronn, streets of panama a makeover as their new friend joins in Seito Yamamoto and Tadao Bello. Second Year Partici- to lend a helping hand. pants: Jessica Sattinger, Kengo Inoue, Kimberly Dickerson, Michael Bonini. Staff: Hana Villafania and Karin Miller.

Below: James Galvin, attempts to be as beautiful as the Below (left): The Panamanians show off their leprachaun native Panamanians. He succeeds as he puckers his lips hats as the Americans stand by them with hope in their eyes to one day be as cool.

Above (Left): Mr. Steinbrom shows the local kids how to Above (left): Gloria Morales screams as KB William handle a paintbrush.. Above (middle): Micah Jumonji Paints attacks her with love. Above (right): Mie Osaka “Peek-a- the curb in bright yellow so that everyone, even the ants, boo”! can feel a sense of sunshine. Above (right): Emma Sca-

OVERSEAS zzero cuddles with a stray dog to give him the love he has been lacking

Below (left): Ryan Steinbrom, Nathan Triggol and Kahael Lange show up to the airport ready to turn heads. Below (right): Mike Bonini makes being good looking look easy Below (left): Sleepy in Panama… hard days work really while taking a break from painting “It felt good to see vis- wears you out. Below (right): GPA learning how to prop- ible change in our hard work,” -Mike Bonini. erly take care of green plants.

Above: Happiness can come from the most unexpected places. GPA poses on the site of their painting service project. Above (right-top): Ryan Steinbronn shows his soft Above (right-middle): Mathews Bello, Tadao Bello, and Al- side as he embraces a mangy mutt to show that beauty tus Szawlowski find their inner cool as they stand in front goes beyond the external. of a painted skull. Above (right-bottom) Kaoru Enami’s smile makes the world go round.

PERU A After an eight hour plane ride from New York to Peru, the GPA team arrived and were greeted by Anatoly Kazak and Elissa Allen who had flown in a few days earlier. They made their way to the Lima church center where they stayed for a few days doing service projects before moving on to Puno.

GPA members and CARP students drove to the edge of Lima into the slums, which are located on the mountains surrounding the city overlooking the Pacific Ocean. There was a very heavy atmosphere as the GPA team took in the state of the poor Churillo community. Most people who visit Peru aren’t even aware that this part of the city exists. Their service project comprised of taking apart the old roof of the Tario family’s house made of tarp and straw and throwing the debris down the mountainside. The team set off cleaning the floors and counters, which had become filled with dirt. Their supplies were limited but they did their best to create a happy atmosphere. In Puno, the GPA team had the opportunity to help in an excavating project for future foundational use. After the service project, the team visited the abode of native Uros people who live on floating islands. It was quite a blessing for them to be able to reach out and touch a culture so ancient and humble.

The Unification Church community in Peru, who were filled with so much respect and rever- ence for the blessing, moved the GPA team. They saw that the Peru member’s fire and zeal to spread the blessing was insurmountable. After seeing how strong their faith and passion were, the GPA team became inspired to strengthen their own faith and be more passionate.

l I F E B OOK OVERSEAS

Below (right): Sarah Lea meets the Peruvian community for the first time. Below (left): Nathan Hallal moves some earth on site of the service project.

Above: GPA in Peru. Frist Year Participants: DJ Car- nasky, Hitoka Sato, Isaac Jones, Jin Il Fleischman, Jordan Anglin, Katrina Morgan, Margaret Golden, Yemi Harford, and Younghee Somemoto. Second Year Participants: Irina Miller, Nathan Hallal and Sarah Lea. Third Year Participants: Emily Iseda. Staff: Anatoly Kazak and Elissa allen

Above: Nathan Hallal, Yemi Harford and Isaac Jones joining in a traditional Perucian dance.

Below (left): Katerina Morgan smiles and the Below (left): A bonding moment with Elissa Allen elderly Peruvian man tells her she looks beautiful. and a loving Peruvian grandmother. Below (right): Below (right): Nathan Hallal alongside a Peruvian Emily Iseda laughs as she shares secrets that go shopkeeper with his new purchase. beyond language barriers

Above (right): Dinner is always much nicer when shared with the company of friends.. Jordan Anglin, Above: Margaret Golden, Yemi Harford, Katerina Isaac Jones and DJ Carnasky enjoying some fruits. Morgan and Younghee Somemoto posing with an authentic llama.

Below (left): DJ canarsky is amused by the texture of the wall “I was grateful just knowing that their reality is so different now. The people here are so kind, to think Below (left): Tolik oppa proves he is cool no mat- that such hardship happened to them so recently is ter what part of the world he is in as he poses in astonishing”. Below (right): Margaret Golden on the shades. Below (right): Younhee Somemoto, Emily cliffs by the sea! Iseda and Irina Miller all poised and ready for a hearty Peruvian meal.

Above: Happiness takes over the GPA team as Above (left): Jin il Fleischman observes in awe the they admire the landscaping of Peru beautiful architecture of Peru.. Above (right-middle) Jordan Anglin starts off his Peruvian experiences with a new hairstyle. Above (right-Bottom) Yemi

OVERSEAS Harford in her natural habitat..

TRINIDAD T The Trinidad team departed from UTS and made their way to a new and exciting adventure, the transition was smooth with no dilemmas to halt their trip. Upon arriving in Trini- dad, they made their way over to the church center in Diego Martin, where Aunt Myrna Adams and Aunt Virginia Olivevel greeted them with so much immediate love.

The group drove to the Sogren Trace community center, where they met their in- ternational service partners, Mr. and Mrs. Belgrove. The couple founded the Rose Foun- dation that the GPA team worked with during their three weeks in Trinidad. The team joined a community meeting, where they discussed ideas pertaining to the improvement of the community through crime prevention, social change, and enhancing the quality of life for the people of the area.

The GPA team quickly got to work in order to make all those visions possible in the community of St. Barbs and the neighboring communities. They helped clean the Monrepo community facility, by picking up garbage, unclogging a waterway and sweeping the streets. After realizing that Trinidadians are able to give so much regardless of any situa- tion, the team became inspired and was able to develop a deeper sense of gratitude. The foundation that had been laid from the previ- ous GPA team, allowed the next team to make an even greater impact.

OVERSEAS lIFEBOOK

Below: Michelle Han peeling a mango during some down time. “Working in the sun was hard, but some of the locals came out and were very appreciative, some even helped us with the project. It really helped us push through.” Below (right) Lisun Francisco looking cool with her new friend riding on her back.

Above: The GPA ifamily n Trinidad. First-Year Par- ticipants: Chun hee Kudo, Hannah Mori, Hideaki Yamamura, Justin Hughes, Kenji Minagawa, Kotei Whitmore, Kouta Sato, Kunihiro Nagata, Kunikazu Nishimura, LiSun Francisco, Mary Roman, Matthew Above (left): Rosako Wagner reaches way up high to get that Holden, Michelle Han, Miles Garwood, Rosako hard to reach place on the wall that she is painting. Above Wagner. Second Year Participants: Michael Love, (right): Jon Cook poses with a stray puppy. Who is cuter? Rebecca Nishida, Shinai Cox, Jon Cook. Third Year

OVERSEAS Above (right-middle): Chunhee Kudo receiving a much needed Participants: Ross Ward. Staff: Robert Garwood hand massage from on of the local youth.

Below (left): Matthew Holden cuts into a fresh coconut with his machete. “It was hard work, but I kept in mind everyone we were doing this for, and that helped me push past my limitations”. (Below (right): Kenji Minagawa poses with his shovel as he takes a break from digging.

Above (top): Family goes beyond countries Above (left) Kuni Nagata helping paint a mural with his superb as the Shinai Cox bonds with the Trinidad art skills. Above (right) Justin Hughes, brush in hand, gets to work children. on a wall in desparate need of a paint job.

Below: Some of the GPA girls posing with the local youth. “It was really Below (left): Kouta Sato pours paint into another jar in order to be more inspiring to see members of the community coming out to support us. See- efficient with the resources he has remaining in the painting project “It was ing kids playing in the clean water system was really cool, when before it a great way to meet the community, while working with them”. Below (left): was a hazardous playground full of snakes, broken glass and rubbish they Bright in yellow, some of the GPA team takes a break crossing over a couldn’t enjoy.” -Lisun Francisco bridge.

Above (left): Kuni Nishimura finds the frog prince of Trinidad and kisses him to turn him into a man again. Above (middle): Chunhee Kudo, Ross Ward, Above: Below (bottom) : Getting down and dirty during service work. (Left and Jon Cook take a break from work to enjoy the Waka Waka dance. to right): Hannah Mori, Kuni Nishimura, Kuni Nagata, Chunhee Kudo and “Its always a good time to break into dance, and it’s the perfect way to Kenji Minagawa.

OVERSEAS take a break after a long day of work”. Above (right): Teamwork gets the job done quicker as the Trinidad community members work together with the GPA team to get the job done

the world, which is not based on love, began pounding in our ears the moment we hit shore.

Love is what we were born with. Fear is what we have learned here. The “The spiritual journey is spiritual journey is the relinquishment – or unlearning – of fear and the accep- the relinquishment – or tance of love back into our hearts. Love is the essential existential fact. It is our unlearning – of fear and

MESSAGES ultimate reality and our purpose on earth. To become consciously aware of it, to the acceptance of love experience love in ourselves and others, is the meaning of life.” back into our hearts.”

It is important never to stop advancing in your spiritual journey and to never to stop Two Wolves in your quest for knowledge. Within these last pages of the Lifebook is an accumu- lated wisdom, a careful arrangement of words on paper, from luminaries throughout An old Cherokee chief is teaching his grandson about life: history, as well as your mentors from this GPA year. Our hope is that these words will help you gain insight and form healthy habits, that they will help you become brighter “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight and it is and more whole people twith each read. You have many great things ahead of you between two wolves. and today is the first day of the rest of your life, so hit the ground running. “One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, self-doubt, and ego.

Introduction of “A Return “The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compas- to Love” sion, and faith. Marinne Williamson “This same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too.” “When we were born, we were programmed perfectly. We had a natural “When we were born, tendency to focus on love. Our imaginations were creative and flourishing, and The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, we were programmed we knew how to use them. We were connected to a world much richer than the “Which wolf will win?” perfectly. We had a one we connect to now, a world full of enchantment and a sense of the miracu- natural tendency to focus lous. The old chief simply replied, “The one you feed.” on love.” So what happened? Why is it that we reached a certain age, looked around, and the enchantment was gone? The Fern and the Bamboo Because we were taught to focus elsewhere. We were taught to think un- One day the man decided to quit… naturally. We were taught a very bad philosophy, a way of looking at the world He quit his job, his relationship, his spirituality… “I wanted to quit my life.” that contradicts who we are. He went to the woods to have one last talk with God. “God”, he said, “Can you give me one good reason not to quit?” We were taught to think thoughts like competition, struggle, sickness, His answer surprised him… finite resources, limitation, guilt, bad, death, scarcity, and loss. We began to “Look around”, God said, “Do you see the fern and the bamboo?” think these things, and so we began to know them. We were taught that things “Yes”, he replied. like grades being good enough, money and doing things the right way are more When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. important than love. We were taught that we’re separate from other people that I gave them light. I gave them water. we have to compete to get ahead, that we’re not quite good enough the way we The fern quickly grew from the earth. are. We were taught to see the world the way that others had come to see it. It’s Its brilliant green covered the floor.

MESSAGES as though, as soon as we got here, we were given a sleeping pill. The thinking of Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed.

But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. “But I did not quit on the bamboo,” God said. An Interview with God In the third year, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. Unknown Author But I would not quit. In the fourth year, again, there was nothing from the bam- I dreamed I had an interview with god boo seed. “So, you would like to interview me?” God asked. “I would not quit,” God said. -“If you have time,” I said. Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. God smiled. “My time is eternity… what questions do you have in mind for me?” Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant… -“What surprises you the most about humankind?” But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing roots. God answered… Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle. “That they get bored with childhood, that they rush to grow up, and then long to be children again.” God said to man, “Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been “That they lose their health to make money… and then lose their money to re- struggling, you have actually been growing roots.” store their health.” “I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you. Don’t compare your- “That by thinking anxiously about the future, they forget the present, such that self to others.” they live in neither the present nor the future.” God said, “The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern … Yet, they both “That they live as if they would never die, and die as though they had never make the forest beautiful.” lived.” “Your time will come,” God said to him. “You will rise high! “How high should I rise?” he asked. God’s hand took mine… and we were silent for a while. How high will the bamboo rise?” God asked in return. -And then I asked, “As a parent, what are some of life’s lessons you want your “As high as it can?” he questioned. children to learn?” “Yes,” God said, “Give me glory by rising as high as you can.” The man left the forest and brought this story. God replied, “To learn they cannot make anyone love them. All they can do is let themselves be loved.” A happy and meaningful life requires our continuous input and creativity. “To learn that it is not good to compare themselves to others.” It does not happen by chance. It happens because of our choices and actions. “To learn to forgive by practicing forgiveness.” And each day we are given new opportunities to choose and act and, in doing so, “To learn that it only takes a few seconds to open profound wounds in those they we create our own unique journey.” Keep going… love, and it can take many years to heal them.” “To learn that a rich person is not one who has the most, but is one who needs the least.” “To learn that there are people who love them dearly, but simply do not yet know how to express or show their feelings.” “To learn that two people can look at the same thing, and see it differently.” “To learn that it is not enough that they forgive one another, but they must also forgive themselves.”

“Thank you for your time,” I said humbly. “Is there anything else you would like your children to know?”

God smiled, and said… “Just know that I am here.” “Always.”

I will love all manners of men for each has qualities to be admired even though “For just as love is my they be hidden. weapon to open the hearts of men, love is also my But how will I react to the adversity of others? With love. For just as love is my shield to repulse the arrows weapon to open the hearts of men, love is also my shield to repulse the arrows of of hate and the spears of hate and the spears of anger. anger.” The Greatest Salesman in Principle #4 – I will persist until I succeed. the World Og Mandino I was not delivered into this world in defeat, nor does failure course through my veins. I am not a sheep waiting to be led to the slaughter. I am a lion and I refuse This is a principle by principle breakdown of the key aspects to approach goal set- to talk, to walk, to sleep with the sheep. ting and challenging oneself for a purpose and goal. I will remember the ancient law of averages and I will bend it to my good. I will Only principles endure and these I now possess, for the laws that will lead me to persist with knowledge that each failure to sell will increase my chance for suc- greatness are contained in the words of these scrolls. cess at the next attempt. Principle #1 – Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough. Principle #5 – I will increase my knowledge of the world. “He who has never failed is Within me burns a flame which has been passed from generations uncounted Keep it always in mind and you will overcome seemingly impossible obstacles he who has never tried.” and its heat is a constant irritation to my spirit to become better than I am, and I “all my problems are in that are certain to confront you as they do everyone with ambition. Never feel shame for trying and failing for he who has never failed is he who has will. truth great opportunities in never tried. disguise.” I will increase my knowledge of mankind, myself, and the goods I sell, thus my Principle #2 – I will form good habits and become their slave. sales will multiply. I will practice, and improve, and polish the words I utter to sell my goods, for this is the foundation on which I will build my career… Also I If I must be a slave to habit let me be a slave to good habits. My bad habits must will seek constantly to improve my manners and graces, for they are the sugar to be destroyed and new furrows prepared for good seed. which all are attracted.

Each principle in these scrolls will drive a bad habit from my life and replace it I have been given eyes to see and a mind to think and now I know a great secret with one which brings me closer to success. For it is another of nature’s laws that of life for I perceive, at last, that all my problems are in truth great opportunities only a habit can subdue another habit. in disguise.

As I repeat the words daily contained in these scrolls they will soon become a Principle #6 – I will live this day as if it is my last. part of my active mind. Eventually I will find myself reacting to all situations which confront me as I was commanded in the scrolls to react. Thus a new and Yesterday is buried forever and I will think of it no more. Forgetting yesterday “Love is the greatest secret good habit is born. neither will I think of tomorrow. Should I torment myself with problems that “Procrastination I will of success in all ventures.” may never come to pass? No! destroy with action; doubt I will bury under faith; Principle #3 – I will greet this day with love in my heart. I will avoid with fury the killers of time. Procrastination I will destroy with ac- fear I will dismember with tion; doubt I will bury under faith; fear I will dismember with confidence. confidence.” Love is the greatest secret of success in all ventures. The duties of today I shall fulfill today. I will maketh every hour count and each I will laud my enemies and they will become my friends; I will encourage my minute I will trade only for something of value. And if this day is not my last, I friends and they will become my brothers. Always will I dig for reasons to ap- shall fall to my knees and give thanks.

MESSAGES plaud; never will I scratch for excuses to gossip.

152 153 Principle #7 – Today I will be master of my emotions. I will always announce my goals to the world. I will always raise my goals as soon as they are attained. Yet, never will I proclaim my accomplishments. Let the All nature is a cycle of moods and I am a part of nature and so, like the world instead, approach me with praise and may I have the wisdom to receive it tides, my moods will rise; my moods will fall. in humility.

Principle #10 – I will act now. If I bring joy and enthusiasm and brightness and laughter to my customers they will react with joy and enthusiasm and brightness and laughter and My dreams are worthless, my plans are dust, my goals are impossible. All are of my weather will produce a harvest of sales and a granary of gold for me. no value unless they are followed by action. I will act now.

“Weak is he who permits Weak is he who permits his emotions to control his actions; strong is he I will act now. I will act now. Henceforth, I will repeat these words again and “I will act now. I will act his emotions to control who forces his actions to control his emotions. again each day until the words become as much a habit as my breathing and the now. Henceforth, I will his actions” actions which follow become as instinctive as the blinking of my eyelids. repeat these words again If I feel sad I will laugh. Only action determines my value in the market place and to multiply my value and again each day until If I fear I will plunge ahead. I will multiply my actions. I will walk where the failure fears to walk. I will work the words become as much If I feel poverty I will think of wealth to come. when the failure seeks rest. Success will not wait. If I delay she will become be- a habit as my breathing” If I become overconfident I will recall my failures. trothed to another. If I feel complacency I will remember my competition. I will master my moods through positive action and when I mas- The Salesman’s Prayer ter my moods I will control my destiny I will pray, but my cries for help will only be cries for guidance. Never will I pray Principle #8 – I will laugh at the world. for the material things of the world. I will pray as a salesman, in this manner – Oh creator of all things, help me. For this day I go out into the world naked and alone, and without your hand to guide me I will wander far from the path which I will chuckle and my burdens will be lightened; I will laugh and my life will be leads to success and happiness. lengthened for this is the great secret of long life. And most of all, I will laugh at myself for man is most comical when he takes himself too seriously. I ask not for gold or garments or even opportunities equal to my ability; instead, guide me so that I may acquire ability equal to my opportunities. Help me to Four words I will train myself to say until they become a habit so strong that remain humble through obstacles and failures; yet hide not from mine eyes the immediately they will appear in my mind whenever good humor threatens to prize that will come with victory. depart from me. These four words are: This too shall pass. Spare me sufficient days to reach my goals; yet help me to live this day as though “I will laugh at my failures And with my laughter all things will be reduced to their proper size. I will laugh it be my last. Guide me in my words that they may bear fruit; yet silence me from and they will vanish in at my failures and they will vanish in clouds of new dreams; I will laugh at my gossip that none be aligned. clouds of new dreams” successes and they will shrink to their true value. Discipline me in the habit of trying and trying again; yet show me the way to Principle #9 – Today I will multiply my value a hundredfold. make use of the law of averages. Favor me with alertness to recognize opportu- nity. Bathe me in good habits that the bad ones may drown. Suffer me to know “Bathe me in good habits And how will I accomplish this? First I will set goals for the day, the week, that all things shall pass; yet help me to count my blessings of today. that the bad ones may the month, the year, and my life. Just as the rain must fall before the wheat drown. Suffer me to know But all these things be only if thy will. I am a small and lonely grape that all things shall pass; will crack its shell and sprout, so must I have objectives before my life will clutching the vine yet thou hast made me different from all others. Guide me. yet help me to count my crystallize. Help me. Show me the way. Let me become all you planned for me when my blessings of today.” seed was planted and selected by you to sprout in the vineyard of the world. The height of my goals will not hold me in awe. If I stumble I will rise and my falls will not concern me for all men must stumble often to reach the hearth. Help this humble salesman. Guide me, God.

Fear and Failure Rules for Being Human Michael Jordan Cherie Carter-Scott I never looked at the consequences of missing a big shot. Why? Because 1. You will receive a body. You may like it or hate it, but it will be yours the entire when you think about the consequences, you always think of a negative result. period.

Some people get frozen by the fear of failure. They get it from peers or from 2. You will learn lessons. You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called just thinking about the possibility of negative results. They might be afraid of look- Life. Each day in this school you will have the opportunity to learn lessons. You ing bad or being embarrassed. I realized that if I was going to achieve anything in may like the lessons or think them irrelevant and stupid. life I had to be aggressive. I had to get out there and go for it. I don’t believe you can achieve anything by being passive. I’m not thinking about anything except what 3. There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process of trial and error: ex- I’m trying to accomplish. Any fear is an illusion. You think something is standing perimentation. The “failed” experiments are as much a part of the process as the in your way but nothing is really there. What is there is an opportunity to do your experiments that ultimately “work.” best and gain some success. If it turns out my best isn’t good enough, then at least I’ll never be able to look back and say I was too afraid to try. Failure always made me 4. A lesson is repeated until learned. A lesson will be presented to you in various try harder the next time. forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it, you can then go on to the next lesson. That’s why my advice has always been to “think positive” and find fuel in any failure. Sometimes failure actually just gets you closer to where you want to be. 5. Learning lessons does not end. There is no part of life that does not contain its If I’m trying to fix a car, every time I try something that doesn’t work, I’m getting lessons. If you are alive, there are lessons to be learned. closer to finding the answer. The greatest inventions in the world had hundreds of failures before the answers were found. 6. “There” is no better than “here.” When your “there” has become a “here,” you will simply obtain another “there” that will again look better than “here.” I think fear sometimes comes from a lack of focus or concentration. If I had stood at the free-throw line and thought about 10 million people watching me on 7. Others are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about the other side of the camera lens, I couldn’t have made anything. So I mentally tried another person unless it reflects something you love or hate about yourself. to put myself in a familiar place. I thought about all those times I shot free throws in practice and went through the same motion, the same technique that I had used 8. What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources thousands of times. You forget about the outcome. You know you are doing the right you need what you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours. things. So you relax and perform. After that you can’t control anything anyway. It’s out of your hands, so don’t worry about it. 9. Life is exactly what you think it is. You create a life that matches your beliefs and expectations. There are no victims, only students.

10. Your answers lie inside you. You know more than you have ever heard, read, or been told. The answers to life’s questions lie inside you. All you need to do is look, listen, and trust.

sense of control becomes your foundation for building greater happiness and success Maximum Achievement in the future. Make sure its rock solid.”

(excerpts) “The German philosopher Goethe said, “One must be something to be able Brian Tracy to do something.” You must change yourself. You must become a different person on the inside before you see different results on the outside, and you can’t fake it for very “You can’t hit a target you can’t see. You can’t accomplish wonderful things long, if at all.” with your life if you have no idea of what they are, you must first become absolutely clear about what you want if you are serious about unlocking the extraordinary “Most people try to improve or change aspects of their lives by trying to get power that lies within you. “ other people to change. They don’t like what they see reflection back to them in the mirror of their lives so they work at polishing the mirror instead of going to the “Refuse to compromise your answers. Be perfectly honest with yourself. source of the reflection.” Define your ideal in each situation before you allow yourself to get bogged down with all the reasons it isn’t possible for you. All great achievement begins with your “One of the most important questions you can ask it, “What kind of person deciding what it is you really want and then dedicating yourself wholeheartedly to do I have to be to earn the respect of people I care about and live the kind of life I attaining it.” want to live?” “Nothing really worthwhile is easy. It’s an erroneous belief that, if a thing “The comfort zone is the great enemy of human potential. Your comfort is right it should be easy, like a relationship. If you gave to really world at it, some zones become habits of living that are hard to break. And any habit persisted in over people say, then there’s probably something wrong with it. This kind of thinking is time eventually becomes a rut. Then, instead of using your intelligence to get out of fatal to happiness.” your rut, you use most of your energies making your rut more comfortable. You jus- tify and rationalize your situation as being unchangeable. You feel and say, “There’s “First, life is hard. It has always been and it always will be. It’s never been any nothing I can do.” different for you or me or anyone else. The good thing is that is if you accept this truth, life becomes a little easier because you don’t suffer so much from feelings of “The more you like yourself, the better you do at everything you put your frustration and injustice. “ mind to. The more you like yourself, the more confidence you have, the more posi- tive is your attitude, the healthier and more energetic you are and happier you are “Second, everything you are or ever will be is up to you. You are where you overall.” are today because that is where you have chosen to be. You are always free to choose your actions, or inactions, and your life today is the sum total of your choices, good “Be calm, patient, supportive, sensitive, clear and constructive rather than and bad. If you want your future to be different, you have to make better choices.” angry or destructive. Build the person up rather than tearing him or her down. There’s probably no faster way for you to build self-esteem and self-efficacy in others “Third, and perhaps the most important, you can learn anything you need than by immediately ceasing all destructive criticism. You will notice the different at to learn to become anyone you want to become, to achieve anything you want to once in all your relationships.” achieve. There are very few limitations and most of them are on the inside, not on the outside.” “The key to making these methods work for you is for you to demonstrate yourself, in a specific area, that you can develop one important habit or attitude of “Thought by thought, action by action, you will learn how to make your life your choosing. Once you have proved this to yourself, you will have the self-con- a masterpiece. You will learn how to create something truly beautiful out of your ef- fidence and the conviction to make any change, or to accomplish any goal that you forts. You will learn how to take complete control of your destiny. You will learn how could set for yourself. Instead of wishing or hoping, you will know that your possi- to accomplish more than you might have ever dreamed possible. Just don’t expect it bilities are unlimited.” to be easy. “

MESSAGES “One of your major responsibilities is to get and keep your life under control. This

On Risk if you have been opened who you know “To laugh is to risk appearing the fool. by life’s betrayals or how you came to be here. To weep is to risk appearing sentimental. or have become shrivelled and closed I want to know if you will stand To reach out for another is to risk involvement. from fear of further pain. in the centre of the fire To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self. with me To place your ideas, your dreams, before a crowd is to risk their loss. I want to know and not shrink back. To love is to risk not being loved in return. if you can sit with pain To live is to risk dying. mine or your own It doesn’t interest me To hope is to risk despair. without moving to hide it where or what or with whom To try is to risk failure. or fade it you have studied. or fix it. I want to know what sustains you …You may avoid suffering and sorrow if you don’t risk, I want to know from the inside but you simply cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, or live. if you can be with joy when all else falls away. The greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing. mine or your own The person who risks nothing, does nothing thus has nothing. if you can dance with wildness I want to know Only the person who Risks is Free.” and let the ecstasy fill you if you can be alone to the tips of your fingers and toes with yourself without cautioning us and if you truly like to be careful the company you keep

The Invitation to be realistic to remember the limitations of being human. in the empty moments.

Oriah Mountain Dreamer I want to know if you can see Beauty It doesn’t interest me even when it is not pretty what you do for a living. every day. I want to know And if you can source your own life what you ache for from its presence. and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing. I want to know if you can live with failure It doesn’t interest me yours and mine how old you are. and still stand at the edge of the lake I want to know and shout to the silver of the full moon, if you will risk “Yes.” looking like a fool for love It doesn’t interest me for your dream to know where you live for the adventure of being alive. or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up It doesn’t interest me after the night of grief and despair what planets are weary and bruised to the bone squaring your moon… and do what needs to be done I want to know to feed the children.

MESSAGES if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow It doesn’t interest me

point of our lives. Then we can talk about being thankful to our own husband or wife and children and parents. Without God we could not exist for even one second. This world has become devoid of thanksgiving to God. Once you broad-

Let Us Thank God en your life of thanksgiving and gratitude to God then you will find that a more loving relationship between God and yourself will develop. True Father, May 29, 1977 When you live in thankfulness here on earth, you can go with love to God’s own dwelling and live there in infinite love for eternity. When you train Where did your life come from originally? Your own parents invested yourself through nature to live in gratitude then the universe will help you grow themselves in you, and nature also gave you the food to make your flesh and into a wholesome personality of love so that you can eventually reach the level of blood and bone. If you were to repay all those to whom you were indebted you God’s glory. This is God’s dream. would have nothing left. In addition, you are also indebted to God who origi- nally gave you life. What do you have left then? God, your parents and nature invested themselves in you, and therefore you are a chunk of indebtedness. The important thing is, have you been grateful for that investment? An indebted person can be nothing but thankful. God, your parents and nature will say, “You What We Should Do In don’t have to give anything back. You keep it for yourself.” What a wonderful gift your life is! Throughout your entire life you can be thankful. Have you ever thought about that? Our Lifetime True Father September 27, 1970

Jesus told a story that parallels this, about a cruel man who had been forgiven a debt he could not pay, but who then threw a man into jail who was You should not be reluctant to grow old. You should not lose your hope indebted to him. His lord spoke angrily to him for being so cruel after he himself even if the life you have been living up until now has not reached the level of had received mercy. We have nothing that is inherently ours; God gave us life your ideal. Instead, you should reflect on your entire life in order to make more unconditionally, without requiring that any contract be signed or interest paid or effort and preparation to offer yourself for the sake of the race, nation and world. any loan paid back within a certain number of years. The only way we can repay Young people who are 20 or 30 may have great hope for the future of the nation Him or show our gratitude is by giving to others. and for the sake of the history of the human race However, to have hope itself is not enough; the point is that you should not be controlled by the environment, We can say we have parents on three levels; nature is one level of par- but rather you should control it. You should give influence to the environment, ent, as well as our physical parents who gave birth to us, and God is the ultimate console lonely people, give power to the powerless, and present the hope for the parent. We are in the position to be thankful to all of these parents, and since future. Therefore, you should think deeply about what kind of life you should everything we have does not really belong to us, we must be ready to give it out lead. at any time, saying, “Nature, this is from you; my parents, this is yours; Heavenly Father, this is all Yours.” If the members of the Unification Church are given such a heavenly mis- sion to offer themselves for the sake of the world, what kind of life should we Instead of being thankful for all the universal gifts which God has pro- live? This is a serious problem. vided people are many times impatient, cursing nature and cursing God’s work when something interferes with their desires. The wintertime brings cold weath- At this point, you should become a person who can resurrect history. er and people complain about inconvenience, but nature needs both cold and Let’s think about our ancestors who lived their life in this country and passed hot weather. Different temperatures cause certain changes in the soil, and cause away. Do you suppose they desired their country to be a weak country? No, they shrinking and expanding in nature. All things are harmonized and regulated by certainly hoped for this nation to be much stronger and more prosperous. If that nature’s laws. is the case, then when can we realize the ideal on earth that our ancestors have been longing for? We must create conditions on the earth by which we can real- By only complaining about the creation we not only offend God but all ize their hope.

MESSAGES of these great gifts. First of all we must be thankful to God; that is the beginning

greater, you are entitled to higher heaven.

God is so willing to push you because this is your only opportunity. In

Who Am I? His love God is ready to push you, even club you. If a person will accept it and persevere through such pushing, even crying but still striving to go forward, God will push. There is no mercy in this situation. The problem is that God hesitates True Father, January 23, 1977 to do it because if He pushes you too much, you might just collapse, and that would disappoint Him so much! He is inspired by the kind of person who can The important thing is that God is already involved in these events. He take a beating, saying, “Father, come after me; push me all of the way. “You men has His own schedule, His own master plan. He knows of the circumstances in and women are dynamos; you must always have energy for thrusting yourself which we live in the world of despair; He knows of our searching. Therefore, forward, for running within yourself. God’s plan will emerge through a new religion and a new leader to let us reach the ultimate conclusion of our search. ‘Ibis particular solution has been mani- fested in the concept of the Messiah.

Let us concentrate our thought on the Messiah. Why does the Messiah Opportunity for come? What is the content of his work? First of all, the Messiah tackles the prob- lems of all humanity, not just one group. The Messiah brings to this world the Happiness or Unhappiness fundamental solution for the problems of all mankind. The Messiah comes not True Father March 2, 1975 only with the key to solve human problems, but also the key to solve heavenly problems, God’s problems. When you attain your goal, you feel real happiness and find yourself a Since the source of every problem has been the separation between God victor. You must overcome all the difficulties which you encounter on the way, and man, the Messiah comes for one single purpose: to bring God and man and when you attain your goal, when you look back to your past, you feel real into unity. This will solve both man’s and God’s problems. Where will this unity happiness. Then our conclusion is that our happiness can be felt only after win- between God and man begin? What is the starting point? An American Presi- ning the victory. dent might say that this unity must start in the White House here in this country because, after all, America is the greatest nation. Maybe communists would want Then what is unhappiness? What must the definition of unhappiness to possess God themselves, and their unity would probably begin in the Kremlin. be? It is when you are a failure. Where is the boundary between happiness and But even if there is tranquillity in the White House, if the people of America are unhappiness? There is no ready-made place of happiness or unhappiness; your suffering and desperately unhappy, then this has not truly solved the problems of actions are the sole determinants of your happiness or lack of it. Thus, you are the nation. And even if the people in the Kremlin can enjoy a rich life, as long as always placed on the boundary line between happiness and unhappiness. the people of that nation are suffering, that certainly does not represent happi- ness. Every moment you are there. Step to your right and you become happy, but the moment you step to the left, just one step, you will fall into unhappiness. Unity between God and man does not begin in high places, in the office Step by step, you walk on the path of life. So, to step one step forward is very of the sovereign or bead of state. It begins with the individual at the very bottom important. When you want to step forward, it is always your mind that controls. of human life. Even within the family a father and mother may have reason to be When you look for happiness, you must always study carefully in your own jubilant, but at the same time their happiness may not be shared by their chil- mind, because your mind is the subject, which must decide where to go. Every- dren; the children may be desperately unhappy… body knows when they themselves are happy. You know the direction you must follow in order to gain that happiness. It is not that you don’t know, not that you There are three choices: to go forward, to stand still, or to retreat. Which cannot carry it out. is your choice? I want you to know one important thing: It is your destiny to go forward. Whether you like it or not, whether at your own will or someone There’s no single person in the world who doesn’t know what unhappi- else’s will, regardless, you must get there. As you go forward your achievement is ness is, and in what way we should act to avoid unhappiness. Isn’t it true? (Yes!)

Then with the knowledge of what is happiness and what is unhappiness, why do When we decide to take responsibility for ourselves, instead of just seeing you still follow the path of unhappiness? In a word, when we separate from God, ourselves as prisoners of our fate or our present circumstances, we realize we can we are unhappy. When we have God in our heart, we are always happy, in all of do incredible things. African Americans have begun to realize, “I am no different our actions. Now your path is clear. from white Americans. God created me in his and her image, just like my white brothers and sisters. I have the right to live my life as a dignified and divine be- Your happiness or unhappiness: when do they come, and when do you ing, and I have the right to not blame my misfortunes on my race or its history. have a clear picture of where you are? From what point would happiness or un- I have the right to look toward the future and my glorious destiny, to pull myself happiness begin? You can never be sure. Throughout the 24 hours in a day, every up by the bootstraps and become that great person and agent of change.” It’s this moment, you will decide whether you are going to be happy or unhappy. Most of kind of thinking that allowed a black man like President Obama to sit in the you may say that while you are asleep, you don’t decide whether you are going to White House. be happy. Who knows? Let’s not be resigned to our fate or our particular situation, but rather understand that we can be that agent of change, that instead of waiting for God to send us a miraculous cure for all our ills and problems, let us know that God gave us the spirit within. In fact, God resides in the very spirit that is within, as it says in I Corinthians 3:16, where Paul said, “Do you not know that you your- selves are God’s temple, that God’s spirit dwells in you?”

We are not a product of the circumstance that we find ourselves in. Re- gardless of where we are born, what tragedies we find ourselves faced with, what

In Jin Nim’s Words difficulties are in our path, the spirit of God resides within. If we truly believe that we are God’s temple, then we have a duty and a responsibility to live that holy life, to live that grateful life. Instead of feeling sorry for ourselves, thinking, “Poor, pitiful me, or, if only my parents were this way, if only my friends were this way, if only my grandparents were this way,” we realize that instead of blam- ing others for our misfortune, God lives within us and we have the responsibility to live for the sake of others by supporting, encouraging, inspiring, and tapping in to the divinity within us.

Responding to Tragedy: Over- I always remind the people that I find stuck in this martyr complex,

coming the Blame Game blaming everybody else for their misfortune, that if we are true martyrs, it doesn’t matter how much we are suffering, dying, or persevering. If we are true martyrs, we would not be blaming others. We would continue to pray for others. In Jin Nim, November 27, 2011 We would continue to wish well-being on others. We would continue to want to empower others while we are suffering, while we are dying.

Taking Responsibility for Ourselves “Blaming Others Leaves You Perpetually Lame” Some of us are stuck in the idea of being a martyr. It is very unhealthy Usually what I do when I’m faced with a difficulty or obstacle is I like to taking responsibility for others and really is a detriment to our own well-being. write. One of the things I wrote down for myself that seemed to help me in this People suffering from this martyr complex might be telling themselves, “My poor process of desiring to overcome this impulse to blame others was this sentence: life! Why was I born in this family? Why was I born so destitute, with no pros- “Blaming others leaves you perpetually lame.” It leaves you or me or anybody pects for the future?” Many African Americans might have felt like this before perpetually lame, in that you feel like you’re handicapped. You cannot do any- the civil rights movement: “Why was I born black?” thing but continue to blame, continue to be negative, continue to not see hope or

meaning in your life. Blaming others leaves you perpetually lame. change, regardless of how difficult, regardless of how unbearable our situation is. If we have the vision, and we have the plan, and we are committed to being You realize that only when you can really discover or uncover the inner responsible – meaning, carrying out that plan diligently and with commitment – flame within, with the courage to change. So instead of blaming others who keep then we will be able to see the fruits of our labors. you lame, if you can uncover the inner flame, meaning the divinity within, with the courage to change – not change others, but with the courage to change your- When we say we’re going to be responsible, it means that just like the self – that’s the way you keep yourself ahead of the game, meaning dealing with way blaming others and gossiping about others takes a lot of practice and a lot of all of the things that life puts in front of you, all the trials and tribulations or the hours over coffee, in living a proactive and positive life, where we can determine tricks that life might play upon you. our own destinies, being responsible means also practicing this each and every day. By being responsible, we are agreeing to commit ourselves to daily practic- Only by uncovering your inner flame with the courage to change do you ing. stay ahead of the game. That reminded me again of the Bible verse where Paul The greatest form of practice is prayer, daily reminding ourselves why we are said that God dwells and lives within you. doing what we’re doing because we’re committed to accomplishing the vision that we have set for ourselves. We have a plan of action; we know exactly what When I was confronted with the desire to blame others, I asked myself, we don’t want, what we do want. We know what we need to do to get there: by how can I get myself out of this rut? How can I get to a point when I start look- deciding to be responsible and committed to the process by practicing. Just as we ing toward the road I’m driving down and not be stuck in the rear-view mirror, practice blaming others and therefore create a negative attitude toward life, what always stuck to what has gone on, always stuck to the reasons why I should be we need to do proactively is practice thanksgiving and practice being grateful so miserable? that we can concentrate on a daily basis on all the reasons we have to be grateful and inspired. This is the reason why, young men and women of the movement, Determining Our Own Destinies we need our parents.

The first thing you have to do is have a clear vision of what you want. You may find yourself in an un-ideal family or relationship, but in order to change or get yourself from the rut you are in, you have to have a vision of the family you want to build. We have to understand ourselves in relationship with God, un- Dealing with Expectations derstand why we’re here, and understand that God is our Heavenly Parent who In Jin Nim, January 1, 2012 created us not just to suffer and wither away and persevere and die, but he really wants us to be that brilliant light bulb casting glorious light into the world. When God created you and me, his eternal sons and daughters, as divine crea- tures, he had a vision for all of us, for the kind of life he would like all of us to Transitioning Into the Time of Settlement enjoy and feel fulfilled in. When we have an understanding of what we want in our life, then we realize that the next step is to come up with a course of action. We often talk about this as the time of settlement, when we are not called We have to have a clear plan in being able to identify what we do not want in our just to suffer and be miserable and die for the sake of others, but when we are lives and what we do want. called to fulfill God’s providence, to fulfill God’s original ideal of creation by creating that beautiful family, society, nation and world. This is a time when – Instead of blaming others, petrifying ourselves into a miserable state, we because we are internally excellent and externally excellent – everything we do start looking at our individual circumstances and say, “This is a tough situation. can be anointed and blessed by God, resulting in the golden touch by which we These are the things I’d like to get rid of, but these are the things that I would like can prosper and be successful. We can be fulfilled and satisfied in the work that to work on. These are the things I’d like to see in my relationship or in my fam- we do. ily”. So you identify what you don’t want and what you want. This is what loving life is really about. It’s about building on the sacrifice, Then there has to be a commitment to be responsible in that we are go- suffering, and difficulties that the first-generation have laid as that foundation. ing to be responsible for the change in our lives. We are going to be the agent of They have dug well, creating a deep and wide foundation. Now what we need to do in this era of settlement is to reap and harvest all they have given up for the

MESSAGES sake of this movement – and with a grateful attitude and loving heart to build

that beautiful house for God and humanity. When we think about all the things we expect of God, or, when we look at ourselves as children expecting our parents to be a certain way, we have to For me this is a profoundly exciting time. I’ve often thought how wonder- realize that many times the expectations that we project on God, our Heavenly ful it would be if the different teams or organizations in our movement could Parent, or even on our own parents are very much our own. Our own expecta- come together realizing that the different organizations – like UPF, Women’s tions are not necessarily what God is prepared to deliver or what God is deliv- Federation, and CARP – are not just independent organizations but represent ering. Many times if we get stuck on our expectations of what I want from my different facets of our universe and our movement. They are like different fingers God, my parents, my senior pastor, my spouse, my brothers and sisters, or my on a hand in that they need to work together to reap, create, and substantiate the best friend, those expectations have a tendency to override the blessing that may kind of results we’d like to see. be given in very small and sometimes very unassuming ways. We may expect the big, only to forget and not appreciate the small blessings that God gives to us “God Always Delivers” every day in many mysterious ways.

Brothers and sisters, this is an immensely exciting time. We as a com- munity are now going through the transition process of changing our survival “Lean on, Trust in and Be Confident in the Lord” mentality of the wilderness to the mentality of prosperity and settlement. I know a great many changes have taken place, and I promise you that changes will In Proverbs 3:5–6, Scripture tells us, “Lean on, trust in, and be confident continue to take place, whether we are comfortable or not. Many times changes in the Lord with all your heart and mind.” Lean on, meaning you can be vulner- are extremely difficult for those who are set in their ways. But this is not a time to able because you’re in good hands. You don’t have to be afraid of True Parents. be petrified or set in our ways. This is a time when God and our True Parents are You can lean on True Parents. Don’t be afraid to trust in God. Don’t be afraid to saying, “Look, this is a time when we can enjoy unprecedented growth and op- trust in True Parents. They are our parents. They’re going to be there for you, for portunity – but things might not come in the ways we have expected, nor in the me, for all of us. And be confident in who we are. Be confident Unificationists. ways that we have pled for in our prayers.” Be confident in that we are their children.

I’m sure a great many Christian men and women have begged and The same passage also tells us not to rely just on our own insight and pleaded to be living at the time of the Second Coming. Perhaps they were hoping understanding. Again, at the time when we feel the need to call SOS – if we find for another Jesus Christ. Perhaps they were looking for somebody with Western ourselves floating on a cinnamon tree in an open sea, wondering, “How am I features or Middle Eastern features, or, if they were inundated with the Holly- going to find my deliverance?’ and we’re waiting for the Coast Guard to zoom in wood version, a Jesus with blonde hair and blue eyes. But God delivered on the and save us – well, perhaps the deliverance may come in a different form than expectation that we’ve had for the Second Coming. God always delivers. It’s just what we expect. Perhaps our own understanding of how we might be saved from that this time around, the Second Coming is a Korean man. This time God gave our predicament, or our own insights into what would be necessary at this time us not just half the picture but the total picture, with our beautiful True Mother. – “If only God would send me the Coast Guard.” “If only God would send me Jesus on a cloud” – might not exactly be what God sends us. It might be a school So the world was not ready. It was not expecting an Asian man and a of ants. It might be a swarm of annoying mosquitoes. beautiful woman who together would symbolize the True Parents of humankind as agents through whom we can graft on to the heavenly lineage of God. But I think when we’re young teenagers, trying to grapple with our identity, whether we’re ready or not, they’re here. They are with us, and they continue to many times we can look at our parents as creepy things that make us miserable. do great work. “Why don’t they just get out of my hair?” It’s like trying to get ants out of your hair. But what we need to realize is, “Parents are God’s way of saying, ‘It has been Even though they may be different from the expectations we have had of delivered, and in the course of your life you will realize that the very ant that what the Second Coming might be – “Is he going to ride the cloud down into our you and I tried to get out of your hair will be the source of your deliverance, the midst? What is he going to look like? Will he be like an alien, a superhuman?” source of your blessing and great fortune.’” – thank God our True Parents are human because they give us hope that we can have a role model in them, knowing that if they can do it, so can we. If they are Often we might look at our parents or brothers and sisters as annoying telling us that we are divine and eternal sons and daughters of God, then we are. mosquitoes: “Get out of my face!” Or we might have a pesky younger brother

who’s constantly annoying us, as though they’re sucking the living daylights out of us. Family relations are difficult.

But sometimes God sends a school of mosquitoes in an annoying form just to help make us better on our road by truly rubbing up against us to reveal the beauty and treasure within. Then we need to realize that God always delivers in his and her mysterious ways. It takes maturity and life experience to realize that God was always there from the beginning and will always be there through- out our lives – and that’s the same with our True Parents.

The Bible says, “Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord, with all your heart and mind, and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.” It says if we do so, then God is there to direct, to make straight and plain our road. God is there not to make our life difficult, but God has prepared the road. He A Bald Head and a Strawberry continues to pave the road for our future. The only thing we need to do is to walk Hyung Jin Nim, January 1, 2012 that path as a dignified and grateful son or daughter of God.

If we do so, we will realize how much God truly loves us and how much God continues to love us, every day of our lives. Just as it says in Buddhism, in Garland Sutra 10, “all conflagration burns things to a crisp.” Every different con- The Pond flagration burns all things. But in the field of Buddha’s blessing, the conflagration or the fire basically burns away all the fabrication, all the superficialities, all the As I looked into the pond — depending on my focus — an entirely things that are meaningless that need to fall by the wayside as we come to seek different picture emerged. As I relaxed my eyes I could see the reflection genuinely and see the truth. of the vast blue sky, the cool canopy above, and birds drifting by with an Likewise, the process of shifting our lives, our faith, and our growing occasional chirp. But as I focused into the water and not merely at the families from the time of the wilderness to the time of the settlement, from a surface, I saw the profound world beneath. I saw rocks, animals, an entire survival mentality to an understanding that we are to be fulfilled, prosperous, ecosystem, but I had to maintain my focus, because if, for even a second, satisfied, and successful individuals of God, is going to take some work. But just my focus relaxed that world beneath would disappear and the illusion of as fire and the burning process can be extraordinarily painful, in the field of Bud- the reflections would re-emerge and dominate my reality. dha’s blessing all conflagration reveals and burns up the fabrication that exists, to reveal the beauty within. It occurred to me that this very moment, this very insight, did in fact mirror the reality of our existence. Without the proper focus, with just That’s really the beauty of our lives: Being able to come to a place in our the relaxed vision, the world of appearances would overpower any deeper, lives – you and me, every man and woman here – to truly see what we’re made more profound, reality. What lies beneath the surface of this thing we call of. When we can do that, we realize, “Yes, God really loves us. Our True Parents life? Most, unfortunately, will never penetrate it. The surfaces reflection is really love us.” And we realize that with all the suffering we’ve gone through, if powerful, showing us our houses, cars, accoutrements to success, our dogs, only we can have the heartistic attitude of the boy being endlessly compassion- ate and loving, living for the sake of others, and sharing in his safety with others, etc. We can ineluctably begin to believe that this in fact (what we are able then we can be amazing people. to see in our relaxed vision — what we encounter on a day to day basis) is the reality of the entire world, universe, or Hananim for that matter. But what lies beneath?

This lingering question is of the utmost importance. Just as with the

MESSAGES pond, we could never imagine dwelling below the surface with its slippery algae slopes, and dark, dank, wet, cold. The water is a fearful thing as we

NOTES are substantially impeded within it. Our natural instincts of fight or flight are substantially affected when we are immersed in water. Our movement is encumbered, we cannot breath under water, we are in the most alien of environments, our vision is literally taken away (human beings process 90% of information through the visual field), etc.

This is also the case with the reality of the pond we call our world, our cosmos, our Hananim. There are children whose lives turn to shadow before them, as death lowers its veil over their eyes, as the mother weeps, wailing for someone to help. There are our fellow human beings, wading in feces-ridden homes, coughing up their insides only to die on the, cold dirt floor — alone. There are those with nothing to eat; those with no sight, no hearing, no limbs. There is a Hananim that weeps with the mother seeing her emaciated, drooling child gasping for air … for hunger … for life. How much the world under the persistent reflection of our comfortable lives, suffers. It is cold, dark, suffering, filled with pain, anguish, illness, and death. We are in the pond, in the cold, in the alien world, we are in fear. But what is the true existential nature of fear? It is an emotion — a feeling or a combination of many states and feelings.

And who really has control over our emotions and feelings? We do. This world beneath the surface, this reality of our fellow brethren, and of our Heavenly Father is fearful to us because it forces us to look past searching for just our own happiness (What is happiness? — To be discussed.) How convenient it is to cover our eyes when we see children in Africa dying or people walking in Manhattan as the living dead? How convenient it is to shield our eyes from our brethren’s fetters of spiritual imprisonment. How convenient it is to forget about the world, cosmos, Hananim, or our interconnected suffering?

There is a sparkle though — a sparkle of hope in these murky dark waters, however. If we can learn to control our fear, to direct it, it can be used as a companion. We can use that sense of fear, not to run away as usual, but to propel us with courage to embrace, to love, to serve this suf- fering side of the world. Fear itself can be transformed. If we live like this, with the constant awareness of the world beneath the reflections, we can lift people, lift humanity, lift Hananim from these suffering conditions. We can transform suffering into freedom.

I’ve loved theses past two years! I can honestly say they I guess what I want to say to the GPA graduates is to were the best two years of my life. I don’t know if anyone who’s ever trust God. When you set your determination to do something, gone through this program can truly express how lucky they felt to no one else is accountable but you alone. It’s between you have been so loved. I know I can’t. But I can say that every memory and God. When you love someone, you have to be able to I made; every fundraising run, spontaneous Vegas trip, ballroom show it. Let them know. If you don’t love someone, then you dance class, sharing, morning service, call back home, Lovin’ Life ser- get the chance to work on it. No one automatically knows vice and person holds a really special place in my heart. Thank you how much love there is for them or exists around them. That’s Heavenly Father, True Parents, Mama, Papa, Leon, Julia, Irvin, Miyuki, why when I feel like I have love, I can be grateful to all those Issac, group leaders, core staff, and team leaders. You’re the best! who God has worked through. I feel grateful for the people who connected with God and tried to show His love to me. “Learn anything you can, anytime you can, from anyone you can – Ultimately, True parents are that connection and our mission in there will always come a time you’ll be grateful you did.” – Sarah life is to be the same for others. Caldwell One quote that got me through the year was, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deep- est fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask our- selves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ CHIYO TANIMOTO AILEEN GRANSTROM Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel First, I would love to sincerely thank God and True GPA only happens once in a lifetime. But the training and insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children Parents for fighting for me every moment that I was fighting the growth stays with us forever. I’ll never be able to pay True do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that for them. Thank you In Jin Nim for being a second mother to Parents and True Family back for what they’ve freely given to me, is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as me and always having the best interest of second genera- but I can say with confidence that because of their investment into we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people tion in mind. You have inspired me in ways you will never me I’ve gained a deep, personal relationship with my Heavenly permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own know, and have allowed me to realize my value. Thank you Parent that will only continue to grow. In Jin Nim and her family fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” Roland oppa, Kenzo san, Akira san, Tolik oppa, the Nadya have made me feel like I am a part of True Family. Now I know for -Marianne Williamson unnis, all the second years, third years (esp. Izak oppa), and certain my value as a blessed child. I hope I can make my parents the fourth years, for your investment into this program, and for contributing to my experience this year and the last. I proud by becoming the best I can be. I love them so much and want to thank my parents—Mama and Papa Jones for your I hope they see that. They’re my inspiration and I learn the most constant love, support, and belief in me. I am who I am about God and True Parents love for me through them. The only today because of all of you. way I can pay off everything I’ve been given is to love my life, be the very best at whatever it is I choose to do in the future, and These past two years have been more than I ever love God and True Parents with everything I do. I wouldn’t trade AUGUST LINDSAY could have expected. Of course it was difficult at times, these two years for anything. I hope I can read this paragraph but the hope, love, joy and gratitude I now feel for my life, thirty years from now and smile knowing I’ve accomplished these without a doubt outweigh any difficulty I have faced. One things. thing I feel I have come to learn is that when you are broken down, it is only so that God can build you up stronger than “And in the end it’s not the years in your before, happier than before, and able to experience more This is my advice to all future GPAers. life that count. It’s the life in your years.” of His love than before. My experience this year, in taking The dollar menu is your friend, Walmart is your home, and God care of members, has shown me the frustration, the fear, the and True Parents will always love you. sadness, but most importantly the love God has for all of us. - Abraham Lincoln I am determined to make my life a gift to God and True Par- ents, who have given me everything, and be someone they can trust to carry on their legacy and all they have invested into.

“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to To all those returning next year—thank you. This will be a see the whole staircase. Just take the first step.” year you’ll never regret.

CYNTHIA JONES

MESSAGES “I never said it would be easy, I said it would be worth it.”- - Martin Luther King Jr. True Father

So it’s really all over… the traveling, the late nights, the long runs, the smelly feet, the bench or crack, the crazy blitzes, the ballroom classes, the food box, the dorms, the pt’s, the welcome backs, the team meetings, and living out of a duffle, but I miss it already. The reason I am here, in the embrace of our incredible move- These two years have literally been the hardest I have ever had to push myself, but ment and our True Parents, is all the hard work and investment that by far have been the most fulfilling times of my life. Although frustrating at times, it’s the True Children have put forth across the world to make True Parent’s personal growth and understanding, in my own life of faith that has taken me from Dream a reality. I want every moment of my life to reflect the incred- being just another student or teenager to a person who is trying to understand really ible fruits of their labor and the vision that they work to impart to us. what I can offer to a bigger picture and why it’s so significant. I am SO overwhelmed with this thought of gratitude. I never thought there could be something that I cared In the future, I envision myself as world class. I have yet to understand so much about as this program, in every sense, the relationships the environment, the which path destiny will lead me towards, but I do know that whatever experiences, everything. path I take, I will work to become the best. I determine to do this over and over again, because In Jin Nim, Jin Sung Nim, Shin Myung Nim, In particular the relationship I have with my commander Kenzo san, has liter- Shin Kwon Nim, Shin Sun Nim, Shin Yul Nim, and Shin Pyung Nim have ally changed my life. Thank you for always doing what was best for me, and not what all showed me and pushed me to become a beautiful flower in God would always necessarily make me a happy captain. You really are my second dad, I and True Parent’s Garden. They tell me not to do this for myself, or love you so much. You are someone I will always be able to depend on. Also, all my even them, but for our beloved True Parents and the raising up of our past captains and those who have taken time to care and worry about me, thank you international Unification community. My mark on the world is a product so much, I really do have to testify to you for praying for me and teaching me so much. of their love for all the young Unificationists across America. GPA has I absolutely have to thank my 2nd years. I love you all, so much more than words can EMMA TECUN EIKA DAVIS given me this opportunity and for that I am grateful. even begin to express. You all have been with me since the beginning of my 1st year and maybe our relationship didn’t grow till this year, but you all have really had such an impact on my life and have given me an incredible amount of hope and inspiration for this movement, in showing me that there are people who believe in the same things as me. I do really want to thank my trinity! Natasha. Yes. We definitely are different people but you have shown me so much and have made me laugh so hard. I am so in- credibly grateful for the love you give to everyone around you and your carefree spirit. First of all, I feel that gratitude is a good point to start I am so amazed by you and how you fight through so much for the sake of something “A loving person lives in a loving world. A with. I am eternally grateful for God, True Parents, In Jin Nim and way bigger than yourself. Youngbok! We have been through SO much, you, Natasha, hostile person lives in a hostile world. Every- her family, my family and my extended GPA family for making and I. Thank you. Just for being there for me always. Thank you for always calling me one you meet is your mirror.” these last two years of my life awesome! I want to give a special out, and not doubting me through anything. You have so much integrity and sincerely shout out to the core staff (Roland hyung, Akira san, Kenzo san, care for not only me, but so many others, even if you tell yourself you don’t. — Ken Keyes Tolik hyung) for making this happen year after year. They have been the ones stressing meeting after meeting to make sure The only advice I can give to you who are reading this is to believe that when you’re in a really awful place, you really can only go up. Don’t wait for some- everyone could have the best experience of growth towards thing to happen or simply push an issue away from you. Fix the situation you have got- God and True Parents. I also want to express my gratitude to ten yourself into, even if it’s tough. It will be only for your benefit. Now is when your my older brothers and sisters who personally guided me through GPA year really comes into play and you see the advantages coming into your life. So these years. Thank you Ross hyung for always believing in me and just be proactive. pushing me beyond what I believed I could do. Thank you Klein hyung for always bringing me back to the root of our faith, which I will never be able to thank God, True Parents, and In Jin Nim enough for is True Parents, and for reminding me what a privilege it is to be what I have been taught through my two years on GPA. But I know I am not here only their son. Thank you JJ hyung for being there for me all year long, to be grateful but to continue on in my growth. So I sincerely want to thank GPA, for and guiding me to experience the heart of God and True Parents. giving my life a beginning. There are so many other people that supported me and the ones “More important than what you know, is how you live.” - In Jin Nim around me, you know who you are! Thank you so much.

If I were to leave one point behind from my experience ELIJAH WHITMORE in GPA, I would say that if you want a relationship with God If there’s one thing I would hope for people to understand, it is the and True Parents, it isn’t about how many hours you pray or how amount of liberation that comes with understanding True Parents, because much Hoon Dok Hae you read. More than anything you need to that’s where we come from. Words cannot describe how grateful I am to understand God and True Parent’s heart, and the way you can do that is to strive to live like they do. Once you experience the “Most people who fail in their dreams fail have learned lessons of love, respect, and patience - and how I feel free not from lack of ability but from lack of com- to be myself because of them. Thank you GPA for being my home for the joy and pain of caring, loving and sacrificing yourself for others, past three years and for giving me endless opportunities to discover myself. that is when God comes in. I had several moving experiences mitment.” It is only because of the unyielding love I felt that I was able to come as a regarding this point this year and I really hope that you, who are reading this, can have a similar personal experience as well. So I would suggest trying your best to make an extra effort to extend — Zig Ziglar, Motivational Speaker naive idealist and leave a more understanding and confidant person. Thank you True Parents for giving me a world-wide-community and for being the EMILY ISEDA

MESSAGES example of love I see all around me: through my elders, impact training, my love to those around you. Eventually you will make that effort not parents, group leaders, In Jin Nim, and Jin Sung Nim. out of pressure or obligation, but from your heart. You can change someone’s life and you and it will change your own!

I want to express my deepest thanks to our Heavenly Par- ent, True Parents, In Jin-Nim, True Family, and my incredible husband for giving me the most valuable three years of my life thus far. The one thing that I’ve realized is that our life in not for ours alone. Every personal challenge and obstacles are To everyone graduating this year, congratulations! My speed bumps. If we don’t go over the speed bumps then wish for all of you is that you go on to bigger and better things with a sense of accomplishment in your lives. Accomplishments in devel- there is traffic waiting for you. You hold the line back. Basi- oping your relationship with our Heavenly Parent and True Parents, cally we hold our line of legacy back. If you are not able your life of faith, leadership abilities, and self-discovery. to want to go and grow through challenges when it comes or when you approach it, then you don’t care about that After graduating as a second year team leader last year legacy. Each person is helping you to become that awe- and moving on to be with my husband, Ju Heon Jung, in Korea, I re- some dad or that amazing mom in the future. So basically, alized the value of my time on GPA. Because of GPA, I felt a need life becomes joyous because everything is not for us but for for having God in the center of my own personal and married life our future spouse and future children and family. We don’t with my husband. Even after I graduated, there were some things live our life for ourselves but for others. Life then becomes that I couldn’t seem to digest or fully appreciate. I’m sure there are exciting and worth it. some of you that feel the same way in one aspect or another. My advice for you is to keep an open mind and heart and still look to our Heavenly Parent, your parents, and friends-of-faith for answers and guidance. EUN HWA MOUDA HIRO ANDO GPA is training ground and more challenges will be lying ahead for you to take on in college, your career, married life, etc. Dang these past two years have been really crazy. There were so and are MEANT for you to conquer. I’m sure of that. After dis- “Success is waking up in the morning and many ups and downs, but I think all of my brothers and sisters finishing second covering that myself, I felt like I could do anything as long as I had bounding out of bed because there’s some- year with me can agree that we learned more than we could have imagined. my heart and investment completely into whatever it was. Coming thing out there that you love to do, that you I know I wouldn’t have been able to go throughout this year without God, back to GPA in January to work at the Learning Center, with that True Parents, In Jin Nim and her family, my own family, and my future family. I in mind, I was ready to do whatever I was needed for. I don’t think believe in, that you’re good at - something feel like I can’t give much advice, except to say “Your experiences make it I would have been able to see my time being back on GPA in the that’s bigger than you are, and you can good, but the realizations make it last.” - Yeri Mclain same way as I do now if it weren’t for that point. hardly wait to get at it again.” Don’t forget the moments you had with your brothers and sisters and with God. - Whit Hobbs Don’t forget all the people who invested into you. Hold onto your friends of faith and develop your relationship with your family. Family is one of the most important words in my dictionary. So remember “WITHOUT GOD AND TRUE PARENTS, WE WOULD BE FRIENDS NOT FAMILY.” –Kimisei Miyake. HYE JIN SUZUKI These last two years have been too exciting, memorable, deep and challenging to possibly explain in a paragraph. But if I were to give it a shot I would have to start with the people who I’d love to express my gratitude for my past two years on nurtured and guided me the whole time: Tolik oppa, Kyra, Misha, STF/GPA. These years were not just an expanse of time, but a col- Neal, Danny, Maryam, Kimisei, JJ, Akira san, Soogin, my parents and laboration of the effort and investment of many. So….what does that of course God. Honestly, when I think of these people and others actually mean? It means that if not for others, I would never be in this I grew close to, the places I’ve been, the obstacles I’ve overcome, place, never freely granted the patience and opportunity to love my how much I’ve come to understand True Parents, and how much I’ve life. So who are the others? My Heavenly Parents, True Parents, True grown myself, all I can feel is gratitude. My biggest lesson this year Family, In Jin Nim, my family (Mom, Dad, Ian, Andrea, Alissa, Tobin, has been that somewhere, somehow, God is always taking care of the Schmidts), core staff, group leaders, Tolik oppa and the Kazak me. It’s not all about what I do, what I accomplish. You’ve just got to family, the IWs, my trinity members Shinai unni & Boninisan; Nate oppa do your best and remember God’s your parent. Yep, there it is man. & Sarah unni, GPA/STF family-2nd years & 1st years, thank you all I’ve got a lot ahead of me this next year and after, and I just hope I’ll my members this year, all my oppas & unnis last year. These have FELICIA BRATTI always remember this. Thank you GPA. been the two greatest years of my life, but also just the starting point!

MESSAGES Thank you all so much. Love you!

IRINA MILLER

180 181 I’m sure everyone is really tired of hearing this, worded in I can say with 100% confidence these two years different ways, but here it is – I can’t believe how much I’ve changed have been the best two years of my life. Until now, I didn’t these past two years. It’s ridiculous. Eeyore to Winnie-the-Pooh, realize how much I need god, but also how much he needs raincloud to sunshine. In all seriousness, these past years gave me the each one of us. I’ve had to face some of the hardest chal- support, opportunity and strength to transform myself into someone lenges of my life these past two years, and even though that I never thought I could be. I’m so grateful for all my team leaders at times I wanted to give up when it seemed impossible, and group leaders who invested so much love into me, and helped God always led me through with a gentle touch. Don’t be bring me out of the sadness and hopelessness that I had been in for afraid to be vulnerable, in fact, look for those opportunities. so many years. Throughout high school and my two years of college, I promise those are the times when you meet god. BUT! I had dug myself a deeper and deeper ditch of resentment, depres- sion and despair. I had no connection to God or True Parents. I was You have to be willing to put everything else aside, and go positive that I was someone who could never give or receive love, through the poop-storms when they come; and they will. and I had no hope for ever being happy. Through the guidance on The strawberries are at the end. A standard means a way this program, the many many many talks I had with my leaders, and of life that you are committed to. Don’t compromise your through experiences I had either at the Leadership College, Over- standard; it won’t help you or anyone. If you work hard, seas, or during fundraising, I now have come so far in understanding you play hard; that rule is true on GPA but also in life. The how capable I am of loving, how much I am loved, and how bright my small moments are the ones you remember most, so make future is. I now know that happiness is a choice. It is a decision that as many as you can. I have to choose to make. I know that my life is in God’s hands, and I’ve come to see and trust that, just as God had never left me in my past, God will never leave me in my future. As my favorite bible quote JESSICA SATTINGER I want to thank all my past team leaders and JOANNA CLIVE says: group leaders, and every one of my brothers and sisters who have walked this rocky road with me and believed in “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the lord, me the whole time. Thank you UTS, 43rd, and EWH4273 ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope for being my home away from home. The gratitude I feel and a future.’” (Jeremiah 29:11) I now have trust, hope and excite- “Courage is not limited to the battlefield. for my parents, In Jin Nim and her family, our True Parents, If looking back hurts you, and looking ment for my future. Thank you again In Jin Nim, STF/GPA, my team The real tests of courage are much quieter. and God, I can’t put in words. I know for a fact, that this forward scares you, then look beside you leaders, group leaders, and everyone who has loved and supported isn’t the end. We are just getting started. and I will always be there. me through the past two years. I love you, and I’ll always be here to They are the inner tests, like enduring pain support you and return the love that you have given to me. when the room is empty or standing alone when you’re misunderstood.”

-- Charles Swindoll

When you are told to take the ox out to the pasture and feed him, but there is no grass in the pasture, what do you do? You say, “Well, there is a spot with good grass up on the “Be who you are and say what you feel hill. Let’s go there.” And take the ox up the steep hill. But on because those who mind don’t matter the way, the ox finds some grass, quite meager by comparison, and those who matter don’t mind.” and wants to settle there. But you have to whip him and kick him without pity. Would the ox’s feelings be hurt and would he -Dr. Seuss refuse to eat once you finally get to the place with abundant grass? No the ox would be ear to ear in gratitude and would really go to town on the good grass. - True Father

I’m done! Good bye GPA! Thanks for the memories. When we go through hardship, pain, doubt, fear, or loneliness, let us remember that God is always guiding us to I was trying to think about what the best experience I had during my 3 years… and I didn’t feel like thinking so hard. All JOE GIAMPAOLI some amazing place. Don’t give up! I know is that my past three years have been such an amaz- ing experience. I experienced the highest of highs and lowest of lows. But every time I hit the low someone always brought I always wondered why somebody me back up. If you’re thinking about joining, DO IT! If you’re

MESSAGES JJ SCHMIDT graduating with me I love and miss you already! THANK YOU didn’t do something about that, then I realized…I am somebody. HEAVENLY FATHER, TRUE PARENTS AND TRUE FAMILY.

182 183 Through my two years of STF/GPA, I feel that my connection First off, I’d love to thank HEAVENLY FATHER and and understanding of God, True Parents, and our church family are TRUE PARENTS. I’m so grateful for them because they among the most important things I have learned. I feel that STF/GPA provided me with everything in my life. Thank you In Jin is the launch pad that empowers us to contribute to our church com- Nim, Jin Sung Nim, Ariana unni, and all of True Family for munity. I’m so excited to see how we stay connected and how we will the unconditional love you gave me and continue to give work together to really make an impact in the world. We will make me. Thank you to my mom and dad for supporting and God and True Parents proud. Thank you guys! Saranghaeyo <3 loving me every single day, helping me and dealing with me every calling time. Thank you to all the team leaders and group leaders of STF/GPA for providing so much support and guidance and patience (I still don’t know how you did it). You helped me connect to something eternal and I can be nothing but eternally grateful for that. Honestly, this gratitude list can go on forever and ever. A paragraph isn’t even enough to encapsulate a life-changing two years. These years have given me JONATHON COOK relationships that I never knew were possible. I learned Thank you for not giving up on me. I remember during to understand love in the true sense and share that on a the kick-off workshop of my first year, I decided that I would let whole new level, with a whole new center. Solid Friends of Faith for sure. It has given me a connection to Hanan- go of everything except Heavenly Father. Since then, I’ve had times where I disbelieved in God, in True Parents, True Family, im, True Parents and True Family that I never thought was KIMBERLY DICKERSON and even my own family. I’ve also had times where I felt those possible, and has jump-started my life of faith and my life very people lifted me up and took care of me. Through it all, in general. These two years I’ve developed points and characteristics within myself and in my heart that I never In our lives we experience joy, we meet challeng- I’ve realized more about what is real in my life of faith. Grati- es, we hit walls, we push past any and every limitation, we tude is real. I will never forget fighting to understand my value knew I could hit. Realizing potential I never knew I had. throw ourselves into the unknown, we get scared, we get and fighting to love for a higher purpose these past two years. knocked down, we find the strength somewhere to get KARINA SUTKER I’m not going to let the pain I’ve experienced in my life stop me from giving. Keep me accountable okay? back up, we explore, we question…and along this path we realize that what we have really been searching for is simply…love. Love makes all the ups and downs worth it. Please don’t forget the things you learned this When nothing seems real, turn to your friends of faith. When you can’t find a reason to keep going, to keep that year. Please don’t doubt the experiences you had. If I I love you Kimmy, Sarah, Cyntira, Hye Jin unni, Murna nurns, smile on your face, do it for love. Do it out of gratitude choose to, I can see this experience as complete BS, that Rina, Shin Ai, Nads, Aileen, Rosia, Chiiiyo, Jobo, Emma, Becca, for the endless stream of love that has been poured into they made me work so hard and I hardly got any recog- Natasha, Jess, Naomi, and Fefe. Holla at’cha girl. Thank you you. Do it to bring out the uncovered potential you have nition for it. That they filled me in with all these random Papa, Mama, Seil, and Lana. Thank you absolute good spirits to change lives. Do it because it’s your God given right ideas to make me work harder. All these experiences and ancestors. Thank you core staff and team leaders. Thank to live life to its fullest, to find joy and to give with all your were all coincidences, all my emotions were manipulated you to teams I’ve been in and to teams I’ve led.Find what it heart. Your life isn’t meant to be lived for yourself. Dis- by the strange environment. That all my experiences means to be grateful. cover Heavenly Father and True Parent’s love for you and were all fake and stupid, just all painful sad experiences. do whatever it takes to substantiate and spread that love But they’re NOT!! I felt so much deep joy in these last to all corners of this world. two years that I never felt before. I built strong trust with a lot of my friends and elders. I started to understand I’d like to say a special thank you to True Family, the desperate, intense, personal love that Heavenly GPA staff, and members, present and past, that have Father gives to me every day. There were times when invested into my growth and helped me develop as a I cried so hard at the chapel at night repenting to God better daughter before God, True Parents, and my own that I wanted to be the best son to him. Don’t ever KYRA MOYER parents. doubt those experiences. You can be a divine, unique and awesome child of God, or you can be nothing, just another lump of meat. Don’t fall into that negative feel- ing. Thinking that everything was all fake. Remember all the love you felt. Call up your friends in this yearbook. Only God can turn a mess into a mes- “Sometimes you don’t know the true value sage, a test into a testimony, a trial into

MESSAGES Call me, probably I’m struggling too. I love you guys of a moment until it becomes a memory” sooo much, please don’t forget this experience here, a triumph, a victim into a victory. make this your fuel to get you going harder. Thank you so much everyone. KENGO INOUE

We have a lot to be grateful for huh? I’m grateful There’s only one man that REALLY wishes you a happy life and for these past two years of STF/GPA. I’m grateful for be- journey, the one who can be your pocket aces on the river when ing pushed when I didn’t want to be by the group leaders you’ve played every card in your hand. The man who can be and my past team leaders because from it I realized more your life line when you play life’s game of “who wants to be Abel- what it means to truly love someone. I’m grateful for losing ionaire?” The man that will answer your prayers when God’s the trail for two days during adventure training because prayer hotline is busy. He hopes that your experience has been our team realized how tough it must’ve been for True like an episode of Extreme Makeover (Life of Faith edition). He Parents to pave such a beautiful path for us. I’m grateful says to remember that it’s all fun and games till someone gets hurt, for the extended runs because my team leader taught unless it’s Satan…then it’s still fun. Remember if you ever Boni-need me to ‘be flexible for God’. I’m grateful for members who someone to talk to, just whisper his name into the winds and he’ll left their dirty socks and unzipped jackets “hidden” under be there ASAP…in heart. He wants to thank you all for reading this the seats (yeah I saw that…) because it gave me a chance regardless of whether or not these are actually his words, for we to understand mamas’ patience raising me. I’m grateful are all interconnected beings for we all think the same things just at for the one-day notices to Las Vegas because when it’s different paces in life. a better home for God, we can say we were there to help. I’m grateful for the times you wash your feet over- seas and in the next five minutes they turn black, because MIKE BONINI -Excerpts from Mike Bonini’s biography written by Youngbok Go- mez you realize, “who cares?! I just gotta love these people!” Most of all, I’m grateful to everyone that was able to help MARINA STANA me see God’s love in my life-True Parents, True Family, “It is worth spending the rest of your life learning one thing, to be grate- Roland oppa, Akira san, Tolik oppa, Kenzo san, Nadya ful under all circumstances.” - True Father unnis, group leaders, IW’s, interns/staff at 43rd, fellow second years, and precious first years. I believe for that Thanks for an amazing two years everybody! GPA has been love to be kept alive we’ve got to push ourselves to live the jazz. I know it gives God hope to see this many young people a life of gratitude by constantly sharing everything we’ve “One day in the beautiful city of San Diego dedicating their lives to a better world, and I hope the things we’ve been given, and not just think about how grateful we are. during competition, I was really trying to give my team learned can help lighten True Parents’ load. I want to give a shout out So why not? Let’s keep going! We got a train to catch! something to work off of in order for them to connect to to the core staff for all their tireless investment into us, and also to all the OFUG! God or True Parents in any way. Something that I knew third, second, and first years. I don’t know about you guys, but I’m leav- would be easier and much more relatable for them was ing GPA a completely different person than when I came. I wouldn’t “Our desire is to become the kind of people the sinful his- to have a child’s heart. Everybody wants to be a kid trade my time here for anything in the world. :) I love you guys and I tory of mankind has never seen before.” - True Father again and be completely free of worry and all these so hope that although we may be separating physically, we can always called “problems” we have. So as I was giving morning hold in our hearts the ideal we’ve fought for together. service at the park, I was thinking, what is the best way for the team to connect to this point of having a child’s heart? Right then and there I said to them that one of the many ways you can achieve this goal is to PEE YOUR MIKE LOVE PANTS! That was when the inspiration came to me, I peed my pants right in front of them and the whole park, not feeling ashamed or uncomfortable because in that God gave me the gift these past couple of years of realizing how moment I felt completely free and had no care in the much I have to offer and accomplish because of True Parents. How world that my pants were wet and it was more than a much of a unique and beautiful character God implanted in each few days away from our next shower day. As weird or and every one of us and how much joy it brings him when we do funny as it may seem, I really learned a valuable lesson our best to fulfill it. That’s one thing I want to keep consistent in my that day. That one of the best ways to connect to God heart and throughout my life. Thank you to everyone who invested and True Parents is to be completely free and having so much into me. Even though I didn’t always show it much, it that child’s heart that God misses seeing in us so much. means the world to me and I know it has changed my life for the Through this symbolic act, I experienced this. You should better. try it too. Just ask Masataka! Thank you <3

MESSAGES MARCUS HILL NADIA SCHWYTER

Thank you God and True Parents!!! Thank you In Jin Nim, Aunt Heather, and Roland Hyung for Thank you Heavenly Mama, Heavenly Papa, True Parents, In Jin making GPA possible. Thank you Hallal family back Nim, True Family and all GPA core staff. You have opened the home in Santa Monica. Thank you Mitch Akutsu, doors to a life I can truly say I love. David Schanker, Danny Heller, and Keimi Nuna for believing in me my first year. Thank you Hana Nuna, “As God calls you to go beyond yourself, you’ll come up Tolik Hyung, and Naokimi Hyung for investing in me against old habits and attitudes that hold you back. As you meet this year. And thank you everyone on GPA for your these challenges of a life of faith, with every step forward, you unconditional love. become the person God knows you can be! To have a life cen- tered on God means to consider new possibilities… Having God In life never doubt yourself. You can do any- at the center provides opportunities for you to transcend where thing you put your mind to. But that’s only because we you are now, and grow to where you can be.” - Starting Point have God and True Parents. When we can humble ourselves to the fact that God is always guiding us we Enjoy your offering! Smile. Laugh… and cry (yes crying will be can be attuned to God’s blessing and live the blessed involved). Just see what happens. life. I promise it’s all worth it. “I can. I will. I do.” -In Jin Nim NAOMI FROELICH NATHAN HALLAL “We are created for greatness. Because God exists, we can accomplish anything.” - True Fa- ther I could never express how grateful I am for every single person on this program. Thank you so much everyone for going I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to work on Favorite quote: on this wild journey with me. I really need to thank Kenzo san so my life of faith with so many others who either paved the path “Perfection is not a destination; it is a continuous jour- much. I will do everything to prove that all of your love, invest- before me or walked it together beside me. “Sometimes the ney that never ends.” - Brian Tracey ment and hours of having to listen to me cry were worth it. Thank path you are given may look strange or labyrinthine, and you you for your years of dedication to True Parents. Cheon Il Guk can’t see the light at the end. But if the end result is true love, would never happen without you. Thank you so much to my trin- that is the way you must go.” - True Father ity. We have been through so many ups and downs together. I would never have made it without your love and support. I have never experienced more joy than when I am with you two cutie pies. So thank you for being the best brother and sister any girl could ask for. I want to thank all of the core staff and third years for always believing in us crazy second years, even though we are very different then what you may have been used to. You stuck with us and never gave up. Most of all, I sincerely want to thank God, True Parents and In Jin Nim for their absolute and un- conditional love and relentless investment. For always supporting and loving us. No matter how many times we may fall down, no matter how many mistakes you make or how far away you feel from God, never stop looking because they are always there, NATASHA HONEY loving us. God’s goal is to make you feel loved, and our goal is to accept that love. There are no mistakes, no coincidences, only God. He is always with you, in every little thing in your day He REBECCA NISHIDA is there reaching for your hand. Just open your eyes and you will see Him. With a little love you can do anything. This whole year was a product of people who cared enough to give when they “I will stay with you through the ups and the downs, didn’t feel like it, who were willing to show love to those who When you finally let go of the I will stay with you when no one else is around, needed it the most, who have found a reason strong enough to past, something better comes give without limits. Never underestimate the power that love has And when dark clouds arise I will stay by your side, ROSIA KITTEL

MESSAGES along. I know we’ll be alright, I will stay with you.” to change lives. Thank you again for an incredible two years, and always remem- Thank you second years, third years, core staff, In Jin Nim, ber God loves you. Jin Sung Nim, and Ariana unni for proving this to me over and over.

188 189 As this year is drawing to a close, I’ve often found myself remembering those who’ve been a part of My gosh, where to start? It’s been a hell of this precious time of my life and who’ve been here for a three years. All the way from fundraising full time my me for reasons I didn’t understand until I found my own first year, to leading teams my second year, to attempt- relationship with God and True Parents. Thank you so ing to be an “IW” (“ideal woman”) my third year…oh my, much, all my team leaders and my group leaders and what can I say? What it honestly comes down to is … my I.W.’s for choosing to go down this path with all its thank you. Thank you for everything. Thank you to In beauty and hardship so that you could guide me each Jin Nim and True Family for allowing me this opportunity time I stumbled. Your encouraging faces and words are to learn and to serve. Thank you to all the core staff ingrained in my mind and for me to return to whenever I of this program—I know that during whatever time in feel discouraged. my experience, challenging or victorious, I was always looked after. Thank you to my family who never ever I never imagined I could be so proud and so stopped praying for me even if I was far away. And of happy. I never imagined that there would be people in course, thank you to all of the rest of you guys—you made my life who would do so much for me. I never imagined this year what it is! What I have realized throughout my that I could have gratitude this great, or feel love so whole experience is manifold but I would like to share this profound. I never thought that I would discover the one thing: we can never give up as the second genera- SARAH LEA source of this love; had it not been for each one of my team leaders and group leaders, each of my friends of SOOGIN OGDEN tion of this movement. You are the hope of your parents, True Parents, and Heavenly Father. So, no matter what faith, and my IWs who believed in me and reminded me We did it! Our GPA chapter is finished but our growing I would like to share an experience I had this year that you face in your life, whatever challenge or victory, of what was true and lasting, even when I felt hopeless doesn’t stop here. This year will not be the same if a single person changed my relationship with God. It all started one morning when your destiny is to be a son and daughter of God and about myself. on this program was missing, That’s how important everyone is. I was praying to God. I asked God, “God, I want to be a true True Parents. “It is not really the prayer that matters; it So we’ve all gone through a lot this year and it was packed with is the content of your prayer that matters” (Rev. Cotter’s daughter, and I want to be happy. I’m investing into my relationship In Jin Nim, thank you for opening my eyes to the lots of laughter with all the new friends we’ve made and filled life testimony). Whatever words you utter to Heavenly with you but I don’t feel anything.” After many days and prayers, profound love of God and True Parents and for express- with many tears that came from all the struggles and limitations Father, say it with all your heart and with faith. Through I was at a point where I began to question everything. I began to ing true love in a way that is so real and tangible and we faced within ourselves every day. Reminiscing on everything this, whatever experience you are going through, you will wonder why I loved and cared so much about this church. I was at exciting that I find myself overwhelmed with pride and that we’ve gone through i know that we have all become a bet- come out closer to God and True Parents. a point where I was in tears and I no longer cared about anything. gratitude for everything I’ve been given here in this ter son or daughter to our Parents, True Parents and God. My gratitude towards True Parents, In Jin Nim and all the After expressing my heart to God, I felt bad and so I called my movement. mom. She began to cry and told me, “Shinai chan, I’m so sorry. core staff of GPA is beyond what I can express in words, All our experiences that we’ve had are specifically for us but I will try to express it in how I live my life. Because parents could not give you enough love. That’s why I am There’s no way for me to express my gratitude so keep them close to your heart. It’s your experience and that’s so sorry.” I told my mom not to say that. I told her that she is a but for me to take who I’ve become and what I’ve something no one can ever take away from you. Anyway when great mom and she did her best. And that’s all anyone could do. In learned and give it all back by becoming someone you’re off this program you’ll probably look back at this yearbook that moment, I realized, God feels the same way towards me. God greater. I really feel like this is the starting point of my multiple times when you’re going through some hard times in life. wished I didn’t have to grow up in this world. He wished he could life. You’ll think about your year and understand that this year wasn’t have given me more love and raised me up more directly. This great because you were on top 21 in fundraising or because you world was not the way God intended it to be. God is also doing brought back the most guests at 43rd or because you were the his best. I repented because I could see my mom accuses herself best at ballroom or whatever it is. when she hears that I’m struggling. God must accuse Himself too. So I thought, “What can I do?” All I can say is in life we can This year was great because of all the people you were all find a way to support God by making this world a little better able to love and accept in your heart and the people who truly then when we were born into it. So find a way to do that in your love you for who you are. We’re all going to go through hard daily life when you go home. Ask yourself, “What kind of world did times in life. Something everyone faces is loneliness. So give each God intend to create?” Then think, “What can I do to support that other a call, ask how they’re doing and listen to each other. You vision?” Then we can bring God and True Parents’ joy together, can brighten someone’s day and we’re all just one phone call whether we are on or off GPA. away. The relationships that we have created this year are some- thing you will always go back to because we’re beings of heart. A God’s word that has pushed me a lot these past couple In the world of heart we never forget those who have loved of years is, “A life of faith is not easy. It takes constant discipline, us. Thank You God, True Parents, True Children, True Family, My constant dedication, but most of all, constant evaluation and con- Michigan Community, Mama and Papa Guchi, All my command- stant desire for betterment.” - In Jin Moon ers and past captains Matt hyung, JJ hyung, Yoshi Hyung and

MESSAGES Tomeo hyung for teaching me so much. Thank You all of GPA for Thank you so much God, True Parents, True family, my family and all my past team leaders and group leaders that have invested into me and making these past two years an amazing experience. SHINAI COX making this year amazing. TAKAHIRO SAKAGUCHI

COWABUNGA SONNNN!

Out of these two years I was able to see that if I wanted to be happy I These past three years have been the best of my life! The only had to stop trying to mold everything around me or the way I wanted it way I got through it was good friends, smiling, dumb jokes, God, to be. True happiness comes in the form of appreciating what has been True Parents, and a whole bunch of love. So thanks for teaching given to you. That heavenly father has invested his best to give you what me about love STF/GPA. And I want to thank the core staff, my you have. It’s just the matter of uncovering that. past team leaders and group leaders, my present team leaders, my group, and all those who take care of me and raise me up. “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concen- Let’s be the HOPE for God and True Parents! trate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” ~Oprah Winfrey

ROSS WARD YOSHI OKABE I want to sincerely thank God, our True Parents, In Jin Nim I just wanted to say a couple things. First of all, I’m sincerely and Lovin’ Life, our parents, core staff and everyone who fought grateful you all took a year of your lives regardless of your purpose through this past year, two years, three years, four years, and or reason for coming, to giving this year a chance to change some- so forth for making this last year in my STF/GPA career the most thing or simply make something within your life better. What inspires memorable year of my life. “There is no limit to what our children me more than making the decision to come to GPA, is that you can expect.” - In Jin Nim. These were the words I kept close to my made the decision to stay regardless of whether it reached your heart. In the life we live, we have our different paths. Each and expectations or not, or whether you were hit by many hardships or every one of us carry a God-given destiny that we are not aware bumps in the road, whether or not you achieved perfectly what you of. We might not see the purpose in life so clearly in front of our came to gain. Just remember to give yourself room to breathe and eyes. We might go through individual hardships that we don’t want be patient with yourself and with others around you. The pace of to go through from time to time. But amongst all the static and YASTAKA ISHIDA your growth is not what matters. But it is important that you have a issues we go throughout our day, remember that each and every clear plan and path set out for yourself. If there’s one thing I had to one of YOU are being loved by somebody, that they are proud YOUNGBOK GOMEZ say, it’s that a life of faith is only fit for those who can dream about

“ of YOU from every degree possible. That they worry about YOU, what true love feels like and want to make it reality in their life. For that they want YOU to become better than who they are, so that those who only look at what is and has been, will never see what in the end you can do the same for others. Never let the reality of can be. I can only hope and pray that I’ve been the older brother society become your standard, but let the standard of those who “There is only one way to succeed at God wanted me to be for you guys. Thank you Kenzo san, my truly love you become your reality, become your ideal…just because anything and that is to give everything.” trinity and all who have been on my teams for making this path that you want to do the same for those you love. I am truly grateful for — Vince Lombardi I’ve chose worth walking. all the opportunities that God has given me in these past three years in this program to help me become a better brother and a better son. I have been given a chance to realize for myself that it’s all about inheriting a heart of true love, true parents. Thank you to all of you guys who toughed it out this year. We made it! …but Thousands of candles can be lit from a Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Come to the edge, he said. They said , it’s still not over. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the ‘we are afraid.’ single candle and the life of the candle ‘come to the edge,’ He said. They will never be shortened. Happiness soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success “Go to places that no one has ever gone to, experience places came. He pushed them… and they flew. never decreases from being shared. achieved. where no one has ever experienced. Don’t be afraid and try something new. I am with you, and I will always love you.” - God -Hellen Keller

192 193 In my life, I always go back to this: “The FINAL Analysis: People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; Forgive them anyway. Thank you GPA brothers and sisters for your contribution. If you are kind, People may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; This year was specially blessed by God. God taught me that he Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some false wants us to understand that He loves us no matter what. And be- friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway. If you are honest cause we feel so loved by him, we should share that love with others. and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway. When we no longer feel lonely, God is also not lonely. I made him What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; feel lonely when my ego drove my life and when I struggled to find Build Anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jeal- every possible way to prove my value through my own accomplish- ous; Be happy anyway. The good you do today, people will often ments. I made Him lonely. I did not allow Him to embrace me with forget tomorrow; Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; His unconditional love. As you move on to next stage of your life, Give the world the best you’ve got anyway. please journey and grow with God. Let joy drive your life, not fear. You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; Once you taste azuki ice cream, you won’t dare turn your head back It was never between you and them anyway.” to your old favorite ice cream. Likewise, once you taste true joy with God and True Parents, you will not go back. So taste it first instead of That’s the bottom line. When everyone goes their sepa- just smelling and gazing at the azuki Ice cream. rate ways, it will be between you and God.

Oh! Never forget that God loves you so much, but … Satan loves From the bottom of my heart, I want to say good luck and take care. HIROSHI SUZUKI you too. AKIRA WATANABE If you are reading this, it means you’ve graduated! Good job! This year has been amazing, and it’s been so because you were there to be a part of it! “The two most important days in your life are the day you This is the most important part of the program, graduating and apply- are born, and the day you find out why” -Mark Twain. II hope that ing what you’ve learned. Things are going to get tough and overwhelming, but somewhere in this long and crazy year, you have have lived your here are a few points to keep in mind: second most important day. If not, then you still have something amazing to look forward to! Take the first step. Don’t expect for things to just happen, make that first step happen, only after doing so will things fall into place. That means when I am so proud to have been a part of your GPA year you feel distant, take that first step back, go to church, go to a youth group, this year. Watching each of you grow into brighter people through make that call. When you feel unmotivated, take that first step and go play friz, a camera lens has been amazing.. My work for GPA this year open that book, read those notes. The important part is making that first step has truly been a labor of love; gathering memories to frame and happen. You guarantee that God will work then. strengthen your experiences. The reason the Lifebook practicum and I put this book together for you was simple; so you wouldn’t ever for- Stay connected to the movement. Make it a priority. There is always get, so you could re-live your times on GPA in the days and years to time to go to church once a month, or to give a brother or sister a call/text or come. My advice to you is this: don’t ever forget what you learned take them out to dinner or coffee. Make sure you have that someone to talk to this past year; running down the streets of a town you don’t even after GPA, and if you maintain that, you’ll be fine. remember the name of, yelling out an internal goal that you barely understood at the time. Remember everything, remember the love, Always, always be grateful. Always. Even when things are tough, or remember your brothers and sisters, don’t ever lose sight of what’s go bad, remember that this is exactly where you need to be in order to be the important in life; loving each other and helping each other become most grateful person. CHRISTOPHER STAIR the best people that we can be for God, True Parents and the sake of the world. When you go back home look at your old world with KEIMI KANNO Love your family, both your physical family and your extended (GPA/ new eyes and a new hope. Community) family. They are the people there, at this time, at this moment, to help you out when you need it most, no matter what happens. In Jin Nim and “We shall not cease from exploration, her family are part of that family as well, and you are always always welcome And the end of all our exploring “the reason we struggle with inse- back to New York and to Lovin’ Life! The world suffers a lot, not be- Will be to arrive where we started curity is because we compare our cause of the violence of bad And know the place for the first time.” behind-the-scenes with everyone And lastly, come back to visit! We always need extra help at various people, but because of the — T.S. Eliot else’s highlight reel” moments in the year, so come back and help us out! Come to Lovin’ Life and silence of good people. -Steven Furtick New York whenever you can, it’s always so comforting to see your faces! Push yourself and step out of your comfort zone whenever possible, I wish you all the best and many of God’s blessings as you move forward in life. the only thing to be afraid of is missed opportunities. I look forward

MESSAGES to seeing big things from you guys in the future. Make me proud! I “I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come love all of you and if you ever need anything, I will always be there. from ahead and some come from behind. But I’ve bought a big bat. I’m all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!”- Dr. Seuss Bat = points listed above. Have fun!

Congratulations!! All of you are historical 1st class of GPA. These are graduation gift for you guys. “It is necessary to offer your- self to Heaven unconditionally and entrust yourself to the Will. Since God is your Father, He knows best where you should be and leads you to the place of joy and fulfillment.” True Father The Generation Peace Academy attracted an incred- ible class this year, one that collectively was able to achieve “Always remember one thing, God has never forgotten you. You may much that can be recognized by the larger society. I am have forgotten Him, but He will never forget you.So as long as you honored to have worked with the GPA staff in putting together are called to go this way, do it, that is the best way for you.” service programs in Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia, True Father Korea, Japan, Thailand, Peru and Panama. Your efforts in those countries not only stimulated our church members but you “I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept provided great support to a wide variety of organizations that not trying.” - Michael Jordan are contributing daily to the upliftment of society. Your contribu- tions included the precious gift of modeling for communities the These quotes helped my journey to find God. Honestly,I don’t know true spirit of brother and sister relationships. You served as True what to write here for encouragement or advice. Ambassadors of our True Parents. Individually, you consistently move my heart as you are trying so sincerely to be a True Child of God and a responsible citizen of Chun Il Guk. I see your KENZO TANAKA Anyways whenever you need help, just call me up. I’ll be there for you. future as bright, full of exciting challenges and rich in things that JOHN GEHRING have true and lasting value.

Let me leave you with my favorite God’s Words from True Father.: I feel honored and privledged to have been a part of the GPA staff these past two years. If I could sum up the “So far I am a lonely runner, running only by myself with nobody most valuable things I’ve learned, it would be this: LOVE is beside me or in front of me. After 30 years of running I would the most important thing in LIFE. Genuine relationships foster like to see someone running faster than I am, saying ‘Father, just love, and knowing and staying true to yourself fosters genuine hold my hand, I will pull you.’ Are you going to be that kind of relationships. In essence, the key to life and love is learning person?” how to see yourself compassionately as you truly are, stripped away from all your defenses, the good things as well as the Are you going to be the kind of person who is kind of things you wish you could hide---and to stick to your inner voice. a big deal? I know I am. Wherever life takes you from now on, This journey involves commitment, consistent spiritual practice, remember, no matter what happens Heavenly Father and True patience, lots of guts, and ultimately a role model to guide the Parents always love you and they are always there to hold your Way. Thank you True Father, True Mother for walking the path hand. NO MATTER WHAT! In every situation and every obstacle of forgiveness, for lighting my road. and every choice ask yourself what kind of person are you going to be? Not just for yourself but for your parents, family, Wishing you all the best in your future. With tons of love, community, In Jin Nim, True Parents, Heavenly Father. What kind Keishu Greene Young of person will you be? I have to ask myself this often and it has taken me through the best of times and the darkest and most P.S. And by the way, just as in Overseas, in life you can always KEISHU GREENE YOUNG hopeless of times. In the end we are all becoming that true child of Heavenly Father and True Parents that they have longed for. KLEIN GAUTHIER count on: “Expecting the Unexpected”. My advice: embrace it So let’s all go share our lives with Heavenly Father. Thank you head on. everyone for the privilege of these four years. Together we have learned and felt God’s love. Especially to the core staff and In Jin Nim for always believing and loving me. Well, Find God and

MESSAGES Crush out!

-Rev. Dr. Klein Jumong Gauthier

Dear brothers and sisters, Congratulations on successfully completing a year of training in GPA! We are SO proud of you ALL! Thank you so much for your investment throughout this year. You have left so many beautiful memories in our hearts. I will REALLY miss you! Yet at the same time I am so excited for you as you move on to the next important stage

THANK YOU of your life – getting education & following you passion and dream! Work hard, push your limits, never stop learning, and always remember God , True Parents and True Family LOVES you so very much!

I pray that God will bless and guide you in the future always… GPA Can Report!

May the sun shine, all day long, We would like to start by thanking Heavenly Father, and True Parents. A special thank you to In Jin Nim, Jin Sung everything go right, and nothing wrong. Nim and their family for investing so much into GPA and providing us with the unconditional love which filled the entire GPA May those you love bring love back to you, family throughout the year. Thank you to Hyung Jin Nim and his family, Kook Jin Nim and his family and all of True Family. and may all the wishes you wish come true! (~Irish Blessing) NADYA KAMIYAMA We would like to thank Heather Thalheimer for her investment, Thank you to Rev. Joshua Cotter, Nao Kimi Ushiroda, Love always, Nadya Kamiyama Jaga Gavin, and Dave Hunter for all of their contributions to GPA and in their efforts to create an atmosphere in which the youth can deepen their lives of faith in a more practical way.

I am here because I believe in hope - a hope that there is more Thank you to Roland Platt for his direction and guidance this year on GPA. Thank you to Kenzo Tanaka, Akira to life than just simply the physical, a hope that the world can Watanabe, and Anatoly Kazak, for all of their time and effort into this program and for making GPA the amazing program become a place of community and a place of love, and a hope that it is. Thank you to Nadia Kamayama and Nadia Kazak for providing the love and support that we needed throughout that the small amount of work that I do will matter to somebody the year as well as always having the patience to listen. somewhere. Everyone is unique and infinitely precious. What allows me to press forward every day is the awareness that no- Thank you to Thanh Le, and Keimi Kanno for all of their logistical work. Thank you to Christopher Stair and Joseph body else can do what I do. No other person can sing like I do. Giampaoli for their work in the media department. Also thank you to Klein Gauthier, Hana Villafana, Jeffrey Schmidt, No other individual can dance like I do. I am irreplaceable, but Yastaka Ishida, Ross Ward, Isaac Hernandez, Eika Davis, Eun Hwa Mouada Jung, Soogin Ogden, Emily Iseda, Kyra Moyer, you are also irreplaceable. You are the reason for me being here. and Glenn Widenhofer. To all of the second years who have dedicated another year to this program in order to give back You are what makes everything I do matter. You are my hope. what they have learned, thank you.

Thank you to Suzuki san for creating a safe and godly environment for all of the drivers in which they could focus on their teams and their growth as they traveled and fundraised throughout the year. Also a big thank you to the drivers; Nathan Presley, Kimisei Miyake, Yoshimi Suzuki, and Kuni Ohama.

THANH LE To all of the core staff of the overseas work, Keishu Greene, Elissa Allen, Uncle John Gehring, and Jonathan Cook; Thank you for working so hard side by side with GPA in making the overseas experience such a profound and life chang- ing one for all of the participants as well as the locals. Thank you to all of the Trinidad help; Aunt Myrna Adams and Aunt Our family sincerely hopes you had an unforgettable time here Virginia Olivevel, Sogren Trace community center, Mr. and Mrs. Belgrove, The Rose Foundation, Jillian, Avril, Nicola, Anissa, on GPA. We were happy that we could be there for you. Khalifa, Alexandra, Uncle Rob Garwood, St. Barb’s community, Monrepo community, Merilyn, Thank you to all of the help Please never let go of your highest hopes and dreams. Don’t in St Lucia; The Taupier Family, The Mathurin Family, Amy Stephens, “Sugar”, Youth on Fire Youth Group. Thank you to all of be satisfied with anything, but the best. Best school, best job, the help in Guyana; Georgia Pearson, Mario Glascow, Susan Rijkaard, Brenda Nurse, Seweon Mcgarell, Dillon Browne, best church, best you :). If you cannot be satisfied with what Claud Mckenzie. A special thank you to Mrs. Nancy Kubo and Mitsuru Hunter for all of their investment, and hard work you have, create a new and better one. Remember, that you into the choir in order to fulfill In Jin Nim’s vision. We are so grateful to them for their patience and time. Also thank you to ev- are the light of this world and that it should be you that shines eryone in addition who contributed to Choir and the Korea trip; Sonic Cult, Mr. and Mrs. Honey, Shinnosuke Ono, Winston, and gives hope to Heavenly Father and everyone around you. Victoria Roomet, Ju Heon Jung, Nina Taupier, Rebecca Hernandez, Misha Greene, Ye Sun Yoon, Bo Hi Pak and The Little Thank you for doing your best and seeking for True Love so sin- Angels’ school, Sun Moon University, Cheong Shim Graduate School of Theology, and everyone else who gave GPA tours cerely. We know we will be hearing about your great achieve- or contributed to the Korea Trip. Thank you to Luke Higuchi for leading the trip in Japan, also thank you to all those who

MESSAGES ments in all different fields soon :) contributed to the Japan Project; Shizuka Muya, Yumi Tsunagi. To all those who helped with the Thailand project, we thank you; Wasan Yusak, Sankom Netsopa, Niphaphan Sonthet, Suwatchai Sittichat, Sakchai Samtap, Tinnasorn Samptap, Yanatip TOLIK & NADYA KAZAK

Khoa-in, Sutin Sriboonpheang, Mrs. Watcharin, Raweetheewath Srisuthisa-ard, Boontawee Kewlamsak, Narong Chanasiriban, Ranee Patprasert, Naiyanachanok Boonyaratdabhan, Pavena Hongsakula, Wanporin Udhaikanchana Hsinyu “Mai” Lee, Jowa Jeonghwa. Thank you to the help in Peru; Omar Leon, Senor Robinson, the Trujillo community, Trevor Jones, Ana, Jason, Frank, Gladys, the Lima community, CARP students, Tario family, Thank you to the help in Panama Patrizia Pinzon, Esquela de Mexico, Ursula, Frank Ferrer, Rev. Doribio.

A Special Thank you to Ariana Moon, Jana Iparraguirre, and Adam Lerer for dedicating so much of their time in order to teach ballroom. The leadership college would not be what it is without the support, investment and knowledge of so many people. Thank you Rev, Jim Edgerly, Jonathon Gullery, Debbie Guillery John Williams, Dr. Tyler Hendricks, Henry Schauffler, Gerard Servito, Loretta Schauffler, Luis Araujo, Miguel Consoro, George Kazakos, Teddy Sylte, John Lee, LINK team, Rev. David Rendel, Andrew Love, Olga Mazhitova, Bill Miho, Teddy Sylte, Rev. Jessie Edwards, Rev. Tanya Edwards, Rexton Moon Nathalie Franklin, Jatoma Gavin, Doug Berton, Wendy Fiala, Christine Froelich, Riky Johnson, Yoshie Manaka, Koichi Nakai, Toshi Tagawa, Shin Young Chang, Yofred Moik, Ester Allen, Toby Gullery, Tamara Gavin, Sean Kim, Michael Diamond. Additional Thank you to Hope Schmidt, Hye Jin Suzukui and Lara De Oliveira for their work on the Lifebook, as well as Emily Reuter and Judilee King from NGA for their inspira- tion. Thank you Kaye Allen and Graeme Carmichael for legal help. Thank you to our hardworking bookkeepers: Kiiko Hagishino and Wakami.

With everyone’s help this year we wer able to restore Cheon Il Guk.