GPA Cheon Il Guk Missionary Training in Bohol, Philippines

This is the American Cheon Il Guk Missionary Trainees checking in again with another week spent on the amazing island of Bohol.

First announcement! We would like to give a deep thank you for all the people who have opened their hearts to support our fundraiser! With all of your help and investment we have climbed past $5000; that is over half way to our goal of $10,000! Also, if you have not donated yet, here is the link!

Secondly! The CIG Family took a step away from campus witnessing and university outreach since the students are on summer break. We spent 4 days in Carmen, Bohol, home of the Chocolate Hills ( a Wonder of the World) and Mrs. Merly Barlaan’s International Peace Library and Learning Center. This rural area is abundant with forests and predominantly inhabited by peaceful farmers and countrymen who simple but spiritually vibrant lives. 8 years ago, Mrs. Barlaan returned to her hometown as a Tribal

Messiah, driven to create a God’s Cheon Il Guk community. Ever since, there have been numerous Interfaith Blessing Ceremonies held at the Library and her dream is becoming a clear reality!

Although we have returned to our city, Carmen has stolen a piece of our hearts forever. Every day was a new spiritual experience and a chance to connect deeply to True Parent’s love for nature. This was our last chance to take a breather as we head closer to our 7 Day Divine Principle Seminar. The CIG Trainees our now full-steam ahead!

This week’s events included:

1) We organized our 3rd Interfaith Blessing Ceremony! The event was attended by 5 couples inside the International Peace Library and Learning Center and officiated by Mario and Rebecca Barlaan. Although it was a smaller procession, it was still a beautiful chance for the couples and the CIG Missionaries to experience True Parent’s dream of restoring God-Centered families.

2) We held a 1-Day Divine Principle Workshop for 32 of the local scholars. The ages ranged from 11 to 22 and we covered content regarding God’s Principle of Creation and the Human Fall. What we discovered was that no matter the age, Principle can leave a powerful impact. After a day of education and excitement, the students left with a clear understanding of the Three Great Blessings and their mission to live according to them. We hope that as Missionaries we planted lasting seeds in the hearts of these scholars.

The rest of the week has been spent preparing for the 7-Day Divine Principle Workshop for the 40 young leaders of Bohol. We may be accused and attacked by Satan and given so many reasons to lose hope, however, we are fueled by this truth:

“Until today many people have wanted to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but no one wanted to be responsible to establish it.”

We hold on to our deep desire and responsibility to attend our Heavenly Parent and True Parents. So, thank you all!