Interview of Shin-chul Moon (son of Hyo Jin Moon) and Ji-woo Chang

Shin-chul: Hello everyone! We are Shin-chul Moon…

Ji-woo: And Ji-woo Chang

Shin-chul: Today, we are truly honored to be able to stand here to give a testimony in this Hyojeong Youth Blessing Festival. We actually received the Blessing from True Parents in 2020. Do you remember the day, last year on January 4, when True Mother announced our engagement in front of all the members and leaders by any chance For me, that was the happiest moment, the most thrilling moment. As you can see in the picture [on the screen behind them] I could not stop myself from smiling. Yet, when I looked at my wife, she look completely stiff as though she was being sold. I thought to myself, “This is not the time of the Joseon Dynasty. If she doesn’t like me, she should simply say so! It was to the point where my uncle actually hesitated over whether he should pass a microphone to her or not.

Ji-woo: That was actually not the case. I certainly didn’t look like I was being sold. I was just so tense on that day. I kept wondering if I was the right person for Shinchul nim and I was making a determination to do my best for True Parents. I felt that kind of resolve and determination. Please trust me. When I looked at that photo, the emotions I went through on that day vividly come back to me. I believe that many of the people who were engaged at this time, too experienced the same heart that we did. I pondered a lot on what we should share today through this hyojeong testimony. Thankfully, some of my friends who also hope to get Blessed, sent me many questions and their thoughts on this. So we picked three questions we thought were best, and we will share our stories based on those questions.

Ji-woo: So let’s begin with the first question: How is your world different before and after meeting your spouse

Shin-chul: To be truthful, externally, not much changed, actually. Before the Blessing I would hang out with friends joyfully. I played most of the time, I would say. Internally, though, before the Blessing… For example, when I would be playing with my friends, it would be fun, I would be happy, but afterward, when I had said good-bye to them, I would go home and when I would enter my room, I felt such a huge gap between the emotions I felt with my friends and the emptiness, the loneliness, I felt when I was alone. Sometimes, I would ask questions…. I couldn’t find motivation in life. But, as you can see, my wife expresses her emotions, and she’s quite an attraction person, so thanks to that, I feel she has added colors in my life. Now, every single day is much happier, is much more diverse.

Ji-woo: Thank you. Please do not be lonely…. After receiving the Blessing, I became a member of the True Family. Externally, I went through many changes. Internally, before the Blessing, the unit standard of my life was actually me. All decisions would be made based on what I thought, but after the Blessing, I will always think of my husband first whenever I have to decide something. My basic unit for decision making became a couple, my husband and I, so more than anything else, to have a person who loves me and someone on whom I can depend on — the firmness I feel through my husband is probably the biggest

Shin-chul: [Spoken through laughter] If you know that, that’s fine. We will move on to the next question.

Q2. How do you reconcile after fighting

Shin-chul: How do we do it

Ji-woo: Actually, nobody likes fighting with each other. Sometimes, even if you don’t mean to, you can hurt your spouse. I learned that it is important to try to think from your partner’s point of view. My partner is saying these things for this, this and this reason. I realized that point.

Shin-chul: It’s actually the same for me as well. I do not think there is one exact answer for how to reconcile for a couple, but when you fight with someone you love, sometimes you will stop speaking to each other, and you may not feel great. But more than being hurt by your partner, because you love your partner, you want even more to reconcile quickly. I think that sometimes we just naturally reconcile because of that kind of love. It’s like we won’t talk to each other for ten minutes, but after that, after five or ten minutes, we’ll just reconcile. Anyway, we are at the last question: What advice would you give to young people who are about to receive the Blessing What would you tell them

Ji-woo: Actually, we received the precious Blessing from True Parents, because of that, I believe it is essential to know the true meaning of the Blessing more than anything else. When different people, a man and a woman, meet each other, more than simply focusing on being happy with each other, it is always good to remember that responsibility follows a Blessed family, for which we need to become completely one and as a couple support and help True Parents in achieving their providential objectives. I believe that is the right standard we should have as a couple.

Shin-chul: I personally… Only one year has passed since we received the Blessing. So, I feel I am not in a position from which I can give you any advice regarding the Blessing. But if we have to say something, many second- and third-generation members try to keep faith in the church. As you all know the Blessing is our purpose and once you receive the Blessing, you have to create a beautiful family. So, it is beautified in many ways. We have this beautiful ideal in our head that when we receive the Blessing, we won’t fight; we’ll always be happy at all times, but then afterward, when we end up receiving the Blessing, we face different difficulties, including fighting, conflicts, etcetera, and get hurt even more. Sometimes, we might think, “Did I receive the wrong Blessing” Some people may think that way. Even in society, they say that marriage is the bonding of two different cultures. Conflicts are unavoidable in that sense, so my advice is simply don’t be disappointed but always regard the Blessing as precious. Also understand that your spouse is going through the same thing. If you do that, I feel, your Blessing will be OK.

Ji-woo: Thank you. Because we have a designated time to speak, we will conclude here. I hope we were able to convey our hearts to you, even in some small way. I would like to use this opportunity to thank True Parents for giving us this precious Blessing. We hope to become one with all blessed couples, so we can all greatly support True Parents. Thank you!

Shin-chul: Thank you all.