#unification church in usa

[whatisonthemoon]

Children of a Lesser God (2001)

Children of a Lesser God / THE MOONIES: Looking to its youth for survival Don Lattin, Chronicle Feb. 11, 2001

Mose Durst sat in the living room of a spectacular church-owned home in one of Berkeley's swankiest neighborhoods, just below the Claremont Hotel. It has an Asian flair, panoramic views of San Francisco Bay and the Rev. Sun Myung Moon looking down from a picture above the hearth.

Since the 1970s, Durst has been at the right hand of Moon, the Korean-born evangelist, conservative political activist and self-proclaimed messiah.

Durst has served as the Northern California leader, and the national president, of the Unification Church. Now he's back in the Bay Area, thinking about his legacy, and the future of his church.

On this afternoon, Durst is feeling contrite. He admits that the Moonies made mistakes in the 1970s, when they sent out an overzealous army of tireless recruiters. But it's time, he says, to give his church another chance.

"People perceive us as a bad religious movement, and they isolate us more," he said. "If you think we're evil, let's sit down and talk. Let's find common ground. Otherwise, you force us into a cul-de-sac, like at Jonestown or Waco."

For years, the Moonies have struggled to make the leap from "cult" to "religion," to win credibility among political and religious leaders in the United States and around the world.

Through such publications as the Washington Times, a church-affiliated, conservative daily newspaper in the nation's capital, and through alliances with priests and pastors across the theological spectrum, Moon and company have spent a fortune courting the opinion-makers of church and state.

Now the church is looking closer to home, at the next generation of Western converts.

Durst confesses that, in the early years of Moon's American mission, church leaders erred in assuming God would provide for the children of devotees. The first kids born into the movement, he concedes, did not always get the parental attention they deserved.

"We were trying to build the church up locally - we were hot to build the kingdom," he said. "There were times in the early years when the hardest thing was building a church, while being responsible for your family. You wanted to be part of a spiritual community. People would put their kids in a nursery. When it was not done well, there were all kinds of shortcomings.

"We made mistakes," he said. "We did dumb things."

Durst says there are about 10,000 members of the Unification Church in the United States. He concedes that the number is much lower than figures the church reported in earlier years.

"That's right," he said with a smile. "I no longer lie."

Worldwide, the Moonies claim 3 million members, with most of them living in Korea and Japan. Some scholars, however, say the actual number of committed adherents may be closer to 250,000.

Nevertheless, Moon has built one of the wealthiest religious movements in the world, with extensive business interests and land holdings in Asia, South America and the United States.

Today, the movement has reorganized into more familiar religious congregations. It has embraced the nuclear family and refocused its efforts on passing its teachings onto the next generation.

The new focus can be seen at the largest Unification Church congregation in Northern California, the Bay Area Family Church, housed in a nondescript building in San Leandro.

At a recent Sunday service, a band with guitar and drums played upbeat music while about 150 worshipers, a mix of Asians and Caucasians, found seats on rows of red padded pews.

There were a lot of children running around the complex, which contains a K- 8 school, the Principled Academy, for 125 children.

The communal days are over. Most Moonies live in their own homes, with their own children, and work outside jobs.

"We still proselytize," said the Rev. Bento Leal, associate minister at the San Leandro church, "but it's different when you have a house full of kids and a full-time job."

Many of the families in this congregation were brought together in a mass marriage ceremony in New York's Madison Square Garden in 1982, when Moon presided over the weddings of 2,075 couples.

Not only does Moon preside over these ceremonies, he picks the spouses for his devotees and advises them as to what sexual positions to assume when they consummate their marriages.

Although these prescribed marriage rites sound strange to the uninitiated, they are a key part of Unification Church theology.

Moon teaches that he and his wife are the "True Parents" of a new spiritual lineage born without original sin. This spiritual status is purportedly passed on to "blessed children" born from Moonie marriages.

According to a church survey released last year, 82 percent of the couples brought together in Madison Square Garden are still married, and still consider themselves members of the Unification Church.

They have had an average of 2.5 children per couple.

Because the oldest kids born from that highly publicized union are still teenagers, the church cannot yet say how many will keep the Moonie faith.

"The real test comes when they are in college and out on their own," Leal said.

Among the tested will be Christopher Barker, born in Manhattan to Moonie parents in 1983.

During the 1970s, his father, Garry, who had grown up in the Catholic Church and attended parochial school, joined the Moonies and started a coffeehouse, Aladdin's, on College Avenue in Oakland. They had great New York cheesecake and served it up with a dose of Unification Church theology.

Barker and Durst were part of "the Oakland family," which produced some of Moon's most zealous proselytizers and fund-raisers.

Recruits harvested from the streets of San Francisco or the University of California at Berkeley campus were whisked up to an isolated church compound in Mendocino County for days of "love-bombing" and alleged "brainwashing."

It was the height of the cult wars of the 1970s, a battle over religious liberty and personal freedom that would see its horrific crescendo in the South American jungle with the murder-suicide in 1978 of 914 followers of the Rev. Jim Jones.

Christopher Barker's mother, Renate, was approached by Moonie missionaries on the street in Munich in 1971, when she was 20 years old. Three days later, Renate joined the Unification Church.

"My mother was very upset," Renate recalled. "She thought I'd been drugged or something. My parents tried to kidnap me, but I was very dedicated."

What attracted her to Moon?

"I was always very religious," she said. "I'd studied the Bible and Oriental philosophy, but I looked at people who went to church, and their lives didn't change. It didn't have an impact on their lives."

Renate came to the United States in 1973 with 70 other European missionaries.

Their mission was simple - to save the world.

"Rev. Moon felt America was so important to the whole world, we thought that if we saved America, we would save the world."

Moon matched Renate and Barker in 1979, but they communicated only through letters for the next three years. They were married in Moon's mass marriage ceremony of 1982. Today, they live in Hayward with their three children, Christopher, 17; Amalia, 15; and John, 11.

During a recent Sunday service, the family stood outside the Moonie church in San Leandro. Christopher was asked what it was like to be a "blessed child."

"My understanding is we were born without original sin, since they were matched by the True Father," he replied. "We are the culmination of all that work, and it's up to us to carry on what they want us to do."

Part of that legacy is no sex before marriage and agreeing to a union arranged by the Rev. Moon.

His sister is saving herself for that day.

"You are waiting for that one person, and not wasting your love on other people," Amalia said. "We believe in total fidelity in your marriage, so you're not comparing them with other boyfriends you've had before."

Her older brother also has vowed to stay chaste until he marries.

"Dating is kind of like practicing for divorce," he said. "When you're done with that person, and when problems come up, you dump them and go on to someone else."

Both teenagers attended the Unification Church's Principled Academy through the eighth grade, and are students at Bishop O'Dowd, a Catholic high school in Oakland.

"I haven't told anyone there that I'm a Unificationist, or a Moonie," Christopher said. "My friends can see I'm not a normal teenager who has girlfriends and everything."

Renate Barker said she and her husband have learned lessons from the child- rearing mistakes of early Moonie parents.

"In those days, the thought was that the children would just automatically turn out good, just by God talking to them or something. We thought we didn't really have to take care of them. It was naive."

Garry says only time will tell if the Unification Church is a forgotten cult, or a "religious movement with legs."

"All religions start out like this," he said. "The proof is going to be three, four, or five generations from now. When Rev. Moon dies, nobody knows what will happen. That will be the big test."

#mose durst #moonies #unification church #unification church in the united states #unification church in the united states of america #unification church in usa #ffwpu #family federation for world peace and unification #principled academy #schools #education #second generation #children #blessed children #bento leal #renate barker

[howwelldoyouknowyourmoon]

Hyojeong Cheonbo Special Events in the USA

▲Tarrytown, New York event on July 24, 2022

The ancestor liberation ceremonies occurred in both Las Vegas, Nevada, and Tarrytown, New York. The Las Vegas ceremony occurred at the church-owned International Peace Education Center, and the New York ceremony was in Belvedere, facing 93 degree weather. 

▲ Las Vegas event on July 17, 2022

▲ Cake at the Las Vegas event

UC members who attended paid for generations of their ancestors to get liberated, as well as to perform a revised form of ansu/chanyang that does not include hitting the crotch or other participants’ backside.

Here is a video from the event in Belvedere:

Here is video from a recent special event in Cheongpyeong:

There are noticeably less cities on this tour, and less people at the events. It's been said that many older first generation have grown increasingly estranged the past few years from the institutional church and the Cheongpyeong providence under Hak Ja Han. Han is currently raising money for her third palace.

___________________________________

Fear and Loathing at Cheongpyeong

I am a victim of psychiatric medical malpractice in Cheongpyeong

Moon church of Japan used members for profit, not religious purposes Cheongpyeong Testimonies Contest Announced on July 14

Shocking video of UC of Japan demanding money – English transcript

#cheongpyeong #ancestor liberation #scam #fraud #spiritual sales #unification church in the united states #unification church in usa #moonies #ansu #chanyang

[firsttraintovictoriaville]

Personification parent of the international countries frequently mentioned or that have physically appeared in WTTT

I wanted to figure out who would be Louisiana and Florida’s paternal grandparent and decided it wouldn’t be fair to the other countries. While there have been more countries mentioned than the one listed here; these are the countries that have appeared (Canada and Italy), mentioned multiple times (Spain and England), or were a running gag/important plot point/otherwise significant for another reason (Mexico and France) 

I am a very strong proponent of each country having two government level personifications- one that handles national duties and one that handles international duties. 

P.S Various sources are linked so history fans go nuts! 

1) Canada - Prince Edward Island. Unable to link the main source which was the Founders’ Hall Exhibit in Charlottetown, PEI that I went to when I was vacationing there a few years ago. It was a fantastic museum that has sadly shut down.  But we always have the Canadian government to keep the personified parent dream alive 

2) Spain - Castile and Léon. This was interesting as, if Spain wasn’t mentioned to be Florida’s Dad (and Juan Ponce de Léon his step-dad) I would have gone with Andalusia due to the Constitution of Cádiz in which representatives from all over the Spanish Empire came together but Florida among others was already in existence when that happened. So I went with good old Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon forming a dynastic union and setting up the foundation for a unified Spain. Why Castile and Léon and not Aragon? Because Isabella was born first and the castle in which they lived in El Alcazar de Segovia is in Castile and Léon AND the rumored inspiration for Cinderella's castle in Walt Disney World. 

3) France - Île-de-France. Because love is stored in naming your child junior. I’m actually beefing with the entire country of France right now because the French loved to centralize and decentralize their country. Philippe II was the first king to call himself “King of the French” and by the time he was in power France had long had Paris as it’s capital even if it wasn’t necessarily the geographic France that we know of today and Philippe II even lived in Paris in his castle which is now the Louvre 

4) Mexico - Guanajuato. Guanajuato even rang church bells to celebrate Mexico’s birth. Also this has nothing to do with history and more to do with culture  but Guanajuato has a Kiss Alley where couples go to smooch to ensure 7 years of happiness and I’m- 🥺

5) England- Hampshire. Horrible Histories might have helped us remember William the Conqueror as the first English king (although he came from France) historians actually say Alfred the Great was the first one and the unifier of Anglo-Saxon England either way, Wessex was the birthplace of England Winchester was the capital of Wessex and that is way out of all the counties that make up what used to be Wessex, Hampshire is home to Winchester 

6) Italy- Piedmont.  This is also controversial as I am going with the unification of the Italian kingdom as the birthdate which makes Piedmont home to the first capital of Italy. Consequentially for all you IDC/Inter Italy shippers (me, it’s just me, I know but that’s OK) this means that the USA was already independent and was even able to recognize Italian independence’s credentials. IDC’s a cougar but like we been knew 

#also random fun fact: england is the only one that has not been played by someone and therefore have no actor and their pronouns to be based #or be able to infer their gender i.e Mexico being implied to be a man #welcome to the table #wttt #once again if anyone that lives or was raised in one of these countries has more accurate information please let me know!! #this will be a 'living' list like my characters of colors one and will be updated if more join #this was really fun please enjoy everyone 🥺👉👈

[divinum-pacis]

May 6, 2023: The Family Federation of World Peace and Unification, commonly known as the Unification Church, hosts a satellite Holy Marriage Blessing Ceremony in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main mass wedding event was held in South Korea. Hundreds of couples participated. (Photo by FFWPU USA/CC BY-ND)

#religion #cult #unification church #moonies #wedding #marriage #people #south korea #divinum-pacis

[mingzisdrgongxuo]

Mormons returned today, at the wrong time for them.

I was in "drag". Their visit was unscheduled and unannounced, I wasn't being a troll to them.

It's still a phone solicitation game. Trying to recruit non-believers or apostates.

Do they need to put their minds at ease? Or do they need a trophy kill, To maintain power or control over a flock of people?

I'm an American.

The church is powerless. They want me to join because the church wants power, not america.

The missionaries will persist until you take a baptism under their Latter Day Saint's spiritual authority. My past experience is that if you politely humor or indulge them, and find them likeable or agreeable, and you don't? They start getting cold and possibly rude, as if a girl not putting out on the fourth or tenth date.

I politely tell them no. My reasons why. They change their response or philosophical rationale. It goes on and on in this serpent dance forever.

As if it's a fish in the water that won't take the baited hook, so they dive in after it with a spear.

This book of Mormon is about Joseph Smith and a set of tablets from ancient egypt/Isreal that he found written on in gold leaf in Sanskrit, in the North American wilderness, hundreds of years ago, but after the birth of the American country.

On his 3rd grade, illiterate education.

And do you agree or testify that these things are true?

Sure, okay.

You do believe this is true...

Sure. And what if it isn't?

If you have ever seen, the movie "the usual suspects", and his character "Kaiser's Jose'" with Kevin Spacey?

It's like somebody wrote a story about a Chinese painting.

What is the reader getting out of this?

The original Bible, it was written "do not add to these things lest ye recieve the plagues and diseases as described and foretold within"

https://www.bibleref.com/Revelation/22/Revelation-22-18.html

And this is basically about another chapter or supplemental book to the Bible.

It's huge importance on the reconciliation and re-unification. And how it's goal was to restore the broken branches of Is real .

What I know Is.. there's this place called the USA, and they have these things called Laws

The church is like a high school chess club in this part. You all have clubs I'm not part of. You all have athletic teams that I could never be part of even if I wanted to, because I tried.

So, they all add these rules and conditions to my life that the USA Laws do not. Unconditionally. They are unchanging regardless of if I eat meat on meatless Friday. I will not be punished by the government for smoking a joint, or drinking caffeine, or looking at porn.

The church and their spirit's authority (another djinn) will.

It's also a very big no-no to mess around with sorcery of any kind.

So yeah, not my sorcery, are you behaving?

My big question is this.

Do you believe God punishes liars, or punishes people for lying to each other?

these crows over there, they have known me for ten years, I feed them and care for them and shout back and forth from the outfield with my guard dogs with eyes in the treetops at all times.

And they still treat me with apprehension.

Why do you think that is? What does this animal know about me or other humans?

It does not trust. Animal ability, intelligence, and self preservation are the only reason it still lives at all, everyday.

🤘

Acknowledges the presence of a universal predatory force

(that one cannot possibly know the scale of justice hunger or mercy it runs on in the balance of life's positives and negatives)

, and goes clear up and down the food chain.

Also another trend I'm not on board with.

I believe it has its' ripple effect of consequences and that it does not happen overnight.

That brandishing it can hurt you as well as who you point it at.

Some people like to dance on dead tree limbs.

#making christians respect or get along with their non-christian family members

[ramon-balaguer]

https://amp.islandpacket.com/news/local/education/article277850623.html

GOD’s Word is Apex of all knowledge, It is higher than ANY higher learning, It is the Genesis of Geniuses and EVERYTHING that was Created and Nothing was Created without His Word; It is The Ultimate Unconditional Expression of Love in a Letter to His Loved Ones But it is Also About The Perfect Holy and Righteous GOD Who Judges ALL Whose Desire is That None would be Loss to place meant for Satan and his Demons Only, It is The Way or Road Map or GPS back to Him; It is The Giver of Laws, Moral or Scientific and Every Good Law funds it’s Foundation in The Holy Bible; It is The DNA of our Being and Sustainer of Life In Whom we have our Being; It is the Highest Authority in Literature and Legislature under which our USA Constitution was formed, made and ratified; It is the greatest Might and Power in Heaven, on earth and under the earth; It is Offensive Dividing Right from Wrong to Sin, Sinners, Backsliders and Double-minded Lukewarm Undecided Straddling the fence folks thinking they have one foot in Heave and the other Hell But there’s No ILLEGAL ALIENS in Heaven, You’re Either Saved or Unsaved, Believer or Unbeliever, Saint or Sinner; It is Not just The Undefeated and Unbeatable Best Selling Book EVER, It is an Everlasting Book that will outlast ALL books and EVERYTHING; It is the Answer for EVERYONE to EVERYTHING, if you’d just Believe Jesus, Who Is The Word and The Way and Is GOD, Who Inspired some 40 writers over centuries to compile its content into 66 Books; It is The Key to set us Free from EVERY form of bondage that enslaves us; It is The Absolute Truth and Nothing but The Truth, that Nothing can be Added or Removed or Misused as It holds EVERY Man a Liar in ANY Contradiction or Opposition Against His Word, and Exposes EVERY lie and tricks of the Enemy attempting and tempting to Deceive us…Folks, the Devil, his demon and minions will try to STOP His Holy Bible, Commandments, Prayers or ANY outward expression of His Faith by prohibiting, condemning or burning It But we are to Hide His Word in our Hearts so that no matter what’s criminalized or destroyed cannot be because we carry not in our hands or backpacks but in our hearts and minds and likewise with His Commandments to strive to obey and are convicted to repent in our disobedience so as Not to Sin that His grace may abound in his everlasting mercies but to do His Will, and pray privately within our inner selves, that is our secret closet or even a physical place of prayer not to be seen but humbled before our Great GOD. Weapons will form but they won’t succeed and in The End, rest in His Peace that we do Win. 🙌🙌🙌 And with all the said, take a moment to pray for our children, educators and administrators as our loved ones return to formal learning, training and teaching or coaching to be focused on their Maker, protection and empowerment without being peer pressured, bullied or taught to be or do Wrong thinking it to be Right, Drunkenness, Drugs or ANY mind altering chemicals or natural stuff like mushrooms or Marijuana, Dangerous Activities, Sex, Rape, Porn, beating, killing or suicide and discerning cultural and social groups like ANTIFA, BLM, KKK, Fraternities, Sororities, gangs, Nation of Islam, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Unification Church Moonies, Church of Jesus Christ and the LDS Mormons, Masons, Eastern Stars, Scientology, Wiccans and the church of Satan and Satan’s Temple, Atheists and Humanists, LHBTTTABCDEFIGMNOPPQZ+ and junk that is in fact Sin that so easily besets us. 🙏🙏🙏🇺🇸#REBTD😇

[brookston]

Holidays 7.12

Holidays

Alkanet Day (French Republic)

Battle of the Boyne Day

Carver Day (Missouri)

Different Colored Eyes Day

Disco Demolition Day (Chicago, Illinois)

Divad Etep’t (Elder Scrolls)

Etch-A-Sketch Day

Fjord Day

International Cabin Crew Day

International Malala Day

Internet-Wide Day of Action for Net Neutrality

Lawyer’s Day (Mexico)

Malala Day

National Collector Car Appreciation Day

National Hair Creator’s Day

National Tyler Day

New Conversations Day

Night of Nights

Orangeman’s Day (a.k.a. “The Twelfth;” Northern Ireland, Newfoundland and Labrador)

Rainmaker Day (Salem, Oregon)

Ratha Yathra (a.k.a. King; parts of India)

Relieve Stress By Walking Outside and Calling the Hogs Day

712 Day (Iowa)

Simplicity Day

Tirana Festival (Chile)

Unification Day (England; by Athelstan of England, 927 CE)

USA Woman VP Day

Visitation Day

World Paper Bag Day

World Penis Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Eat Your Jell-O Day

International Cava Day

Michelada Day

National Pecan Pie Day

2nd Wednesday in July

National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving (Montserrat) [2nd Wednesday]

Sweetheart Days Festival begin (Minnesota) [2nd Wednesday; thru Friday]

Independence Days

Granda Aŭtista Duklando de Sophia (Declared; 2016) [unrecognized]

Kiribati (from UK, 1979)

Pacificonia (Declared; 2017) [unrecognized]

Pibocip (Declared; 2000) [unrecognized]

Sao Tome and Principe (from Portugal, 1975)

Feast Days

Amedeo Modigliani (Artology)

Andrew Wyeth (Artology)

St. Elizabeth of Hungary (Positivist; Saint)

Feast of Saints Peter and Paul (Eastern Orthodox)

Germ (Muppetism)

Hermagoras and Fortunatus (Christian; Saints)

Jason of Thessalonica (Catholic Church)

John Gualbert (Christian; Saint)

Kronia (Kronos Festival; Ancient Greece)

Louis Martin and Marie-Azélie Guérin (Christian; Saint)

Molly Darton (Muppetism)

Naadam, Day 2 (Mongolia)

Nabor and Felix (Christian; Martyrs)

Nathan Söderblom (Lutheran, Episcopal Church (USA))

Pam Grier Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Paisios of Mount Athos (Greek Orthodox)

Solstitium VIII (Pagan)

Surrealism Day (Pastafarian)

Vardavar (Pagan Prank Festival; Armenia)

Veronica (Christian; Saint)

Viventiolus, Bishop of Lyon (Christian; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Lucky Day (Philippines) [39 of 71]

Prime Number Day: 193 [44 of 72]

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Premieres

The Adventures of Sam Spade (Radio Series; 1946)

Breakfast of Champions, by Kurt Vonnegut (Novel; 1973)

The Bride Came C.O.D. (Film; 1941)

California Girls, by The Beach Boys (Song; 1965)

A Dance of Dragons, by George R.R. Martin (Novel; 2011) [A Song of Fire and Ice #5]

Explorers (Film; 1985)

Family Feud (TV Game Show; 1976)

I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke, by The New Seekers (Radio Jingle; 1971)

Last Date, by Floyd Cramer (Song; 1960)

Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League — Gotham City Breakout (Animated Film; 2016)

Mad Max Beyond the Thunderdome (Film; 1985)

Monk (TV Series; 2002)

Northern Exposure (TV Series; 1990)

Oz (TV Series; 1997)

Pacific Rim (Film; 2013)

Point Break (Film; 1991)

Princess Mononoke (Animated Studio Ghibli Film; 1997)

Road to Perdition (Film; 2002)

She (Film; 1935)

Silverado (Film; 1985)

Trouble for Trumpets, by Peter Cross and Peter Dallas-Smith (Children’s Book; 1984)

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (Film; 1961)

When Harry Met Sally (Film; 1989)

Today’s Name Days

Nabor, Felix (Austria)

Fortunat, Hilarije, Mislav, Proklo, Tanja, Živko (Croatia)

Bořek (Czech Republic)

Henrik (Denmark)

Armand, Härm, Härmel, Härmo, Herman, Hermann, Hermo (Estonia)

Herkko, Herman, Hermanni (Finland)

Jason, Olivier (France)

Siegbert, Henriette, Felix, Elenore (Germany)

Veronike, Veroniki (Greece)

Dalma, Izabella (Hungary)

Ermacora, Fortunato (Italy)

Heinrichs, Henriks, Indriķis, Ints (Latvia)

Izabelė, Margiris, Vyliaudė (Lithuania)

Eldar, Elias (Norway)

Andrzej, Euzebiusz, Feliks, Henryk, Jan Gwalbert, Paweł, Piotr, Tolimir, Weronika (Poland)

Nina (Slovakia)

Fortunato, Juan (Spain)

Herman, Hermine (Sweden)

Hilary, Ilary, Larry, Veronica (Ukraine)

Bud, Buddy, Jason, Jay, Jayla, Jaylen, Laylin, Laylon, Jayson, Oscar, Osvaldo, Oswald, Oswaldo, Ozzie, Waldo (USA)

Jace, Jacey, Jacy, Jaison, Jase, Jasen, Jason, Jayce, Jaycee, Jaycen, Jayson, Live, Olivier, Olivia, Oliver, Ollie, Olly (Universal)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 193 of 2024; 172 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 3 of week 28 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Tinne (Holly) [Day 3 of 28]

Chinese: Month 5 (Wu-Wu), Day 25 (Xin-Wei)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 23 Tammuz 5783

Islamic: 23 Dhu al-Hijjah 1444

J Cal: 13 Lux; Sixday [13 of 30]

Julian: 29 June 2023

Moon: 23%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 25 Charlemagne (7th Month) [St. Elizabeth of Hungary]

Runic Half Month: Feoh (Wealth) [Day 14 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 22 of 94)

Zodiac: Cancer (Day 22 of 31)

#calendar #Holidays

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 7.12

Holidays

Alkanet Day (French Republic)

Battle of the Boyne Day

Carver Day (Missouri)

Different Colored Eyes Day

Disco Demolition Day (Chicago, Illinois)

Divad Etep’t (Elder Scrolls)

Etch-A-Sketch Day

Fjord Day

International Cabin Crew Day

International Malala Day

Internet-Wide Day of Action for Net Neutrality

Lawyer’s Day (Mexico)

Malala Day

National Collector Car Appreciation Day

National Hair Creator’s Day

National Tyler Day

New Conversations Day

Night of Nights

Orangeman’s Day (a.k.a. “The Twelfth;” Northern Ireland, Newfoundland and Labrador)

Rainmaker Day (Salem, Oregon)

Ratha Yathra (a.k.a. King; parts of India)

Relieve Stress By Walking Outside and Calling the Hogs Day

712 Day (Iowa)

Simplicity Day

Tirana Festival (Chile)

Unification Day (England; by Athelstan of England, 927 CE)

USA Woman VP Day

Visitation Day

World Paper Bag Day

World Penis Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Eat Your Jell-O Day

International Cava Day

Michelada Day

National Pecan Pie Day

2nd Wednesday in July

National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving (Montserrat) [2nd Wednesday]

Sweetheart Days Festival begin (Minnesota) [2nd Wednesday; thru Friday]

Independence Days

Granda Aŭtista Duklando de Sophia (Declared; 2016) [unrecognized]

Kiribati (from UK, 1979)

Pacificonia (Declared; 2017) [unrecognized]

Pibocip (Declared; 2000) [unrecognized]

Sao Tome and Principe (from Portugal, 1975)

Feast Days

Amedeo Modigliani (Artology)

Andrew Wyeth (Artology)

St. Elizabeth of Hungary (Positivist; Saint)

Feast of Saints Peter and Paul (Eastern Orthodox)

Germ (Muppetism)

Hermagoras and Fortunatus (Christian; Saints)

Jason of Thessalonica (Catholic Church)

John Gualbert (Christian; Saint)

Kronia (Kronos Festival; Ancient Greece)

Louis Martin and Marie-Azélie Guérin (Christian; Saint)

Molly Darton (Muppetism)

Naadam, Day 2 (Mongolia)

Nabor and Felix (Christian; Martyrs)

Nathan Söderblom (Lutheran, Episcopal Church (USA))

Pam Grier Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Paisios of Mount Athos (Greek Orthodox)

Solstitium VIII (Pagan)

Surrealism Day (Pastafarian)

Vardavar (Pagan Prank Festival; Armenia)

Veronica (Christian; Saint)

Viventiolus, Bishop of Lyon (Christian; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Lucky Day (Philippines) [39 of 71]

Prime Number Day: 193 [44 of 72]

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Premieres

The Adventures of Sam Spade (Radio Series; 1946)

Breakfast of Champions, by Kurt Vonnegut (Novel; 1973)

The Bride Came C.O.D. (Film; 1941)

California Girls, by The Beach Boys (Song; 1965)

A Dance of Dragons, by George R.R. Martin (Novel; 2011) [A Song of Fire and Ice #5]

Explorers (Film; 1985)

Family Feud (TV Game Show; 1976)

I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke, by The New Seekers (Radio Jingle; 1971)

Last Date, by Floyd Cramer (Song; 1960)

Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League — Gotham City Breakout (Animated Film; 2016)

Mad Max Beyond the Thunderdome (Film; 1985)

Monk (TV Series; 2002)

Northern Exposure (TV Series; 1990)

Oz (TV Series; 1997)

Pacific Rim (Film; 2013)

Point Break (Film; 1991)

Princess Mononoke (Animated Studio Ghibli Film; 1997)

Road to Perdition (Film; 2002)

She (Film; 1935)

Silverado (Film; 1985)

Trouble for Trumpets, by Peter Cross and Peter Dallas-Smith (Children’s Book; 1984)

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (Film; 1961)

When Harry Met Sally (Film; 1989)

Today’s Name Days

Nabor, Felix (Austria)

Fortunat, Hilarije, Mislav, Proklo, Tanja, Živko (Croatia)

Bořek (Czech Republic)

Henrik (Denmark)

Armand, Härm, Härmel, Härmo, Herman, Hermann, Hermo (Estonia)

Herkko, Herman, Hermanni (Finland)

Jason, Olivier (France)

Siegbert, Henriette, Felix, Elenore (Germany)

Veronike, Veroniki (Greece)

Dalma, Izabella (Hungary)

Ermacora, Fortunato (Italy)

Heinrichs, Henriks, Indriķis, Ints (Latvia)

Izabelė, Margiris, Vyliaudė (Lithuania)

Eldar, Elias (Norway)

Andrzej, Euzebiusz, Feliks, Henryk, Jan Gwalbert, Paweł, Piotr, Tolimir, Weronika (Poland)

Nina (Slovakia)

Fortunato, Juan (Spain)

Herman, Hermine (Sweden)

Hilary, Ilary, Larry, Veronica (Ukraine)

Bud, Buddy, Jason, Jay, Jayla, Jaylen, Laylin, Laylon, Jayson, Oscar, Osvaldo, Oswald, Oswaldo, Ozzie, Waldo (USA)

Jace, Jacey, Jacy, Jaison, Jase, Jasen, Jason, Jayce, Jaycee, Jaycen, Jayson, Live, Olivier, Olivia, Oliver, Ollie, Olly (Universal)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 193 of 2024; 172 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 3 of week 28 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Tinne (Holly) [Day 3 of 28]

Chinese: Month 5 (Wu-Wu), Day 25 (Xin-Wei)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 23 Tammuz 5783

Islamic: 23 Dhu al-Hijjah 1444

J Cal: 13 Lux; Sixday [13 of 30]

Julian: 29 June 2023

Moon: 23%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 25 Charlemagne (7th Month) [St. Elizabeth of Hungary]

Runic Half Month: Feoh (Wealth) [Day 14 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 22 of 94)

Zodiac: Cancer (Day 22 of 31)

#Holidays

[volumeofvalue]

The Unification Church Movement

BOOK REVIEWThe Unification Church Movementby Michael L. Mickler 2022 About the AuthorDr. Michael L. Mickler is Professor of Church History and Vice-President of the Unification Theological Seminary, and Director of the Sun Hak Institute of History USA. He is the author of Footprints of True Parents’ Providence: The United States of America (2013), 40 Years in America: An Intimate History of the…

View On WordPress

#Religion

[fptmguayana]

In the last hours internationalist countries had taken physical sees of the usurped FPTM, and Lama Zopa has been charged with the crimes of function usurpation.

Osel Hita Torres indifferently has argued that he is agnostic and declare against Lama Zopa itself.

The NWO & UUDD had definitely confiscated in all countries United to Roerich Ideal properties and wealth in Banks contrary to the New Times.

The Panamerican Organization (today's OEA) has reunited their old troika of USA, CAN and Brazil to defend the legitimacy of the spiritual incarnations in Indian America as vanguard of a First World America.

Closed the tibetan cycle with the 13th Dalai Lama as is prescribed in the foundationals documents that inspired the NWO & UUDD by Gurdieff, Blavatsky, Warwick, etc. in New York City.

The Guayanese 5th Race still dreaming with the linguistics caribean unity, in shamanism, in cult, in tolerance to the foreigners outlanded in Guayanese Forest from his own andean soil.

Repeat, the 14th Dalai Lama isn't recognised by the NWO & UUDD, nor his words, nor his institutions. Nicolas Roerich, Architect of the OEA who was recognised as the 5th Dalai Lama Hutulku has trespassed from Tibet to the Guayanese Forest with the change of the spiritual strength to America, and specifically the FPTM to Awayce Diaz (Roerich recognised hutulku of Tenzin Yeshe).

That's way in the todays east India builds Hospitals and Science, China Commerce and Social Engineering, and Russia War Industry; and in change America now counts with Tashigar in Margarita and Argentina, Guayanese burkanism, Korean Unification Church in Colombia, etc.

Mission Acomplished.

Awayce Diaz.

MD, MTh, DrTh.

FPTM

Interfaith Society

Aboriginal Laboratory

Obojona Brotherhood

[whatisonthemoon]

Foreigners give babies to ‘Moonies’ The Anniston Star January 23, 1989

MOBILE (AP) – An investigator with the Mobile County Sheriff’s Department remains baffled by three adoption cases involving foreign couples that a Unification Church member said was motivated simply by love. “Why have these people come from these different countries to give their children to these particular people?” said Lark Dodd. But Ms. Dodd said her investigation into the cases was closed since no wrongdoing was discovered. Two of the foreign couples who traveled to Mobile to have their babies gave custody of the newborns to Unification Church members. A third couple returned to Canada with their infant son after the state launched an investigation. An attorney for the Unification church said the church has not arranged the adoptions or instructed members to have babies and give them to church members. “To the best of my knowledge these relationships were developed by the individuals themselves,” with no guidance from the church, said David Hagar, an attorney at the Unification Church’s New York office. Workers at Spring Hill Memorial Hospital told The Birmingham News that the Canadian woman refused to look at the 9-pound, 12-ounce baby boy she gave birth to on Sept. 21 and told them another woman would pick up the infant.

The bewilderment of hospital officials heightened when a 58-year-old woman appeared, saying she would take custody. “They had no adoption papers,” said Brenda Hutchison, clinical supervisor of the hospital’s pediatric department. “We had nothing that said this woman could have the baby.” While pondering the situation, hospital workers recalled a similar case just two weeks before. A woman from France had a baby boy and said she was giving the baby as a gift to a woman who would pick the child up. That case did have legal adoption papers. “They said, ‘God told me to do this’,” Ms. Hutchison said. “They both said these babies were gifts.” Interviews with law enforcement, hospital and Unification Church officials revealed the adoption cases involved the “Moonies” – followers of Unification Church leader Sun Myung Moon. Church members in Bayou La Batre, a hub for Unification Church activity in Alabama, paid for couples to fly to Mobile from Austria, Canada and France to have their babies born as U.S. citizens. Then church members in the coastal community filed for adoption, authorities said. “There’s nothing strange or unusual about the church,” said Martin Porter, president and chairman of Master Marine Inc., a Unification Church-owned shipbuilding business in Bayou La Batre.

Porter said that includes bringing church members from other countries to Mobile to have their babies and give them to Porter and Master Marine’s vice president, Paul Werner. 

Porter explained the motive for such a gift simply: “Why would you do that (give a baby up for adoption to a specific person)?” he asked. “It would be because you have a very deep love for the person. It would only be because they wanted to.” In addition to the babies born in September that Porter and Werner filed to adopt, four months earlier Werner filed for adoption of a baby boy whose mother came from Austria and gave birth at the University of South Alabama Hospital, said Ms. Dodd.

The three adoption cases prompted the state Department of Human Resources to investigate. 

The couple from Canada were forced by a court order to remain in the United States while the case was investigated and their baby was put in state custody. After nearly two months, the couple dropped the adoption procedure.

“They were just blown away… by the legal machinery that was going to come at them,” said Hagar, who flew to Mobile at Werner’s request: “Any time a petition for adoption is filed, we are obliged to make an investigation and report to the (probate) judge,” said Jerry Milner, supervisor of the Department of Human Resources’ office of adoptions. He declined to comment on the case specifically. But it appears the two babies adopted and living with Porter and Werner will remain in their custody, Ms. Dodd said. She said all people involved in the adoption cases were Unification Church members who knew each other personally and could have arranged the adoptions outside official church channels. It would be illegal for the church to play a role in arranging the adoption, she said. 

Ms. Dodd also said Werner told her that he and Porter paid the expenses of the couples who had their babies in Mobile. To pay them a fee would violate state law against child-selling, she said.

“There’s no financial remuneration passing to anybody,” Hagar said. “This isn’t a baby auction.” Alabama Watchman Fellowship Director Craig Branch, whose evangelical ministry monitors the Unification Church, contends the adoptions must have been orchestrated by the church.

#unification church in the united states of america #mobile #alabama #adoption #paul werner #martin porter #offering children #1989 #blessed children #second generation #children #unification church in usa #american church

[howwelldoyouknowyourmoon]

FFWPU Statement Released on July 9, 2022 Doesn’t Address Shooter’s Grievances with the Moon Sect

A statement was finally released by the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) USA. It does not address the role of Tetsuya Yamagami in former Prime Minister Abe’s assassination, or the fact that the UC’s economic exploitation of its members was the motivating factor for Yamagami. This brief statement memorializes Abe as engaged in noble peace-building efforts. The statement came from Nancy Maketa Jubb, PR person for FFWPU USA and daughter of a leading member of the Amrine sub-cult, believed by many to perpetrate sexual abuse.

▲ Pictured: Nancy Maketa Jubb, head of FFWPU USA’s Public Relations

The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (commonly known as the "Unification Church") would like to express our shock and grief over the assassination of the former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family in the wake of this tragedy.

Prime Minister Abe was a globally respected statesman of Japan and active in building peace in Asia, a subject close to the heart of our organization. Mr. Abe often spoke of the need to value freedom and democracy and believe in the hope that such values will bring. We pray that his work to build peace in the Indo-Pacific region will endure.

As an organization, Family Federation stresses the value of family in building a peaceful society. We condemn this act of violence. Guns have no place in our religious beliefs or practices.

May we each take this moment to let our loved ones know that we care, and continue to pray for Mr. Abe's family and the people of Japan at this time.

Family Fed USA Nancy Jubb 212-997-0057 [email protected]

Irving Street Rep Ron Lucas 973-643-6262 [email protected]

The mother of Abe Shinzo’s assassin was financially exploited by a religious group; no confirmation on which group (as of July 9, 2022, the Unification Church was confirmed to be the group) Japanese Sanctuary Church Says Yamagami Had No Sanctuary Connections

#nancy maketa jubb #nancy jubb #nancy maketa #unification church in the united states #unification church in usa #american church #abe shinzo #shinzo abe #politics

[whatisonthemoonarchive]

In 1986, a young woman disappeared while fundraising for the Unification Church. What could have happened to Hiromi Kazuni?

It was either the 10th or 11th of July 1986 in Fort Myers Beach in Florida's Lee County. (NamUs gives the date as the 10th, while contemporary newspapers give the date as the 11th; Doe Network and Charley Project give the 25th and 26th of the month, but there is an article on the case dated July 16, 1986, ruling these dates out.) A small group of members of the Unification Church were knocking on the doors of various businesses and residences, soliciting donations and giving out Garfield hand puppets in exchange. One of these members was 25-year-old Hiromi Kazuni. Born in Japan and still a national of that country, Hiromi (who also used the English name Rachael, or Rachel depending on which source you go by) had only taken up residence in the USA two years prior, having moved to Miami in 1984. However, she had been a devoted member of the Unification Church for a longer time; she had joined as far back as 1981. The group had been, for the past week or so, knocking on the doors of various businesses in the area seeking donations. How exactly is unclear based on the sources, but apparently the group became separated, with Hiromi eventually ending up walking along a predetermined route along the intersection of San Carlos Boulevard and Summerwinds Court. She was last seen around 6PM in the parking lot of Dino's Restaurant, which was closed for the summer. Then, she vanished. Shopkeepers and residents on the road beyond Dino's Restaurant say they never saw her; Hiromi was reported missing.

The case was baffling. In an article dated July 16, 1986, Lee County Sheriff's Sergeant Rod Shoap commented that the police were "seeking any leads whatsoever." He added that there was "no sign of foul play. She just disappeared." It was even considered possible, in the immediate aftermath of her disappearance, that Hiromi may have returned to her family in Japan, though this eventually proved to not be the case. Simon Tufnell, the treasurer of the Church's fundraising department, said she "could have just run away from the church". He added that it was "unusual for people to run away from the church, but it has happened."

The Unification Church, for those who aren't familiar, is a relatively recent offshoot of Christianity founded in 1954 in South Korea by Sun Myung Moon. It is also referred to as the Unification Movement. The group's teachings are significantly different than other sects of Christianity. Their views include viewing their leader Moon as a Messiah who had been visited by Jesus, as well as such an emphasis on the importance of marriage to the point of holding mass wedding ceremonies. The Church has been criticized by other Christian groups as well as secular sources who consider the group a cult.

Interestingly, an October 2014 publication by the Vision 2020 Japan Unification Movement Newsletter (which is, as you probably could guess, a newsletter sent out by the Unification Church of Japan) mentions Hiromi, saying that "Sister Hiromi Kazuni became a martyr in the US." I have linked this newsletter below.

Despite the odd details of this case, it is rather obscure. It did not receive much media attention even at the time, and these days the case isn't known even among online sleuthing communities. Hiromi's family resides (or at least at the time resided) in Japan, so I would not be surprised if they were unable to do much; however, it is odd that nobody in her church, in which she was by all accounts very involved, thought it was worth pursuing.

Another odd thing about this case is just how many discrepancies there seem to be depending on which source you look at- besides the disagreements on the date Hiromi went missing, there's also major discrepancies in her height (according to Charley Project and NamUs, she was 5'3-5'4; according to the Doe Network, she was 5'8) and weight (Doe Network says she was 140 lbs, NamUs says she was 110-115 lbs, and Charley Project says she could have been anywhere from 110-140 lbs. For what it's worth, all the contemporary news reports list her at 5'8 and 140 lbs.)

These things aside, what could have happened to Hiromi? Could the Unification Church be involved in her disappearance, or is her involvement just a red herring? Or maybe she really did run away from the church- but in that case, would she really have remained hidden all these years? And though her family lived abroad, why didn't her case receive more coverage, when she was a well-integrated member of the Church and had many people who knew her in the USA?

I have tried to compile all the information on the case that is available. If anyone finds any information I have missed, please share!

Charley Project

NamUs

Doe Network

Newspapers.com

Encyclopædia Britannica Article on Unification Church

Vision 2020 Japan Unification Movement Newsletter

#hiromi kazuni #unification church #moonies

[trevorbarre]

“Wholly Communion”: the Sixties Replayed as Farce Part One

Having just read a book on William Burroughs’ influence on rock music, I thought I’d revisit the director Peter Whitehead’s 1967 film of ‘Wholly Communion’, the supposedly epochal  Albert Hall poetry readings held on 11the. June 1965. Featuring several of Burroughs’ Beat poet mates, including the execrable Allen Ginsberg, Gregory Corso, Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Alexander Trocchi, the event has gone down in countercultural history as  representing “for a day, (a unification of) various London scenes, cultural, creative and drug taking”. For several commentators, this day was the start of London’s countercultural adventure, furthered in 1966 by the ‘Swinging London’ trope and reaching its apogee (or nadir?) in the ‘Summer of Love’ of 1967 (which was depicted more famously in Whitehead’s Tonight, Let’s All Make Love in London, a more ludicrous title of which would be hard to think of). A (very) rough USA equivalent would be the ‘Gathering of the Tribes’ in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park in January 1967. (Ginsberg was equally smug, smirking and attention-seeking at that gig too.)

So, the whole parade kicks of with a Ginsberg ‘mantra’, with the bearded buffoon playing the spoons (or were they actually Tibetan bells?), and trying to come off as some kind of ancient seer from the pages of Doctor Strange? The audience, all-dressed up, preening and smoking artistically, many, laughably, (the first Velvets album was two years away) in sunglasses, look booored (and I don’t mean ‘fashionably’). The ‘look’ is very much high-Mod, pre-hippie, and is one of the most interesting aspects of this cultural petri-dish. There is even a prominent member of the Church of England in attendance (which just about sums it up). I have to remark, at this point, how much Gregory Corso’s delivery and diction reminded me of Trout Mask-era Beefheart. Anyone else agree? There is lots of Vietnam-agonising and USSR crypto-glasnosting here, as one might expect. Also, a lot of posturing and downright mediocrity, which cannot be truly appreciated without actually watching this 50-minute film: it’s all too easy to mock from a safe distance, but for those of us of a certain age, it does blow up (in both senses of the word) some of the pretentiousness and even unpleasantness of the time, which has often been downplayed by those who valorise the likes of Ginsberg, Burroughs and Kerouac. And it perhaps further demonstrates why the counterculture was never going to really work in practice.

Next up: the poets themselves in all their g(l)ory.

[michellemuniz]

Hope in Korea

It was our first lunch in Seoul. We walked to a restaurant, headed to a room reserved for us, left our shoes at the door and sat down. Table was already filled with different plates with food. Right then, I started asking what I asked throughout the whole trip while pointing out at things: “what’s this?” and “what’s that?”. I certainly felt like an annoying little kid (I didn’t want to, though!), but I really wanted to learn what was on the table. Seeing my bowl with white rice always made me happy, since rice is a staple food at home, but most of the time in Korea I really wasn’t sure what was served in front of me. The saying “barriga llena, corazón contento” (“Filled tummy, happy heart”) that we constantly say in Puerto Rico was basically my thought after every meal. At the end of this trip, my heart was happy, and food was just one of the reasons why.

Last November, I was able to visit Korea as part of a Travel Study Seminar with the PCUSA Peacemaking Program. This was not your usual touristy trip, but an intentional opportunity to learn about issues present in the place you visit. The interjection between the country’s history and today’s conflicts is shared through local voices in church and/or partner organizations. After the trip, the invitation is to return home and share with your community what you’ve witnessed and learned. I had the opportunity to go to Colombia in 2015 and didn’t want to miss this as I knew it will challenge the participants to get a deeper perspective into the issues in Korea. This has been the furthest I’ve been from home. 

We had the opportunity to visit different places in Seoul, Jeju Island, the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in Cheorwon, Nogeun-Ri, among other. The irony between walking around very beautiful landscapes that were actually the scenario for massacres and cruel events was overwhelming. However, it was inspiring to witness so many powerful voices -in the midst of mourning and sorrow- advocating for peace in the Korean Peninsula. 

During my time in Korea, I was constantly reminded of cultural differences while realizing there are more similarities to home than I thought. In less deep but truly engaged activities, I also had some time for norebang.

Few weeks ago, I was asked if I could compare US presence in South Korea with their presence in Puerto Rico. I have to say I constantly found myself in conflict while listening about US Military influence and presence in South Korea, while also remembering over 60,000 Puerto Ricans fought in the Korean War. It felt like I was caught up in the middle of an issue and could identify with both parts.

It was hard visiting a place like Nogeun-ri, while listening to the sound of a small stream with a beautiful fall-colored scenery in the background, and reflect about the lives that were killed by the US Army during the Korean War. We walked through the 2-tunnel bridge as a survivor shared his story while showing bullet marks on the wall reminding all of us this historic event wasn’t that long ago. Next to the bridge, a Peace Park honoring the lives lost there and inviting people to learn, reflect in what this meant, and how it got public attention. A story that also shook me was one of a mother who was shot dead while nursing her baby. 

Back in Seoul, we learned more in depth about “comfort women”, who were sexually exploited by Japanese soldiers in Korea and other countries. Their stories were silenced for too long. Today, advocates not only lead an inspiring but challenging museum to tell these true stories, but also meet every single Wednesday for a demonstration in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul asking for their government to apologize. We were able to participate in one demonstration while we were there. They have been doing these Wednesdays demonstrations for 25 years. Every. Single. Wednesday.

(photo by Gregg Brekke, Presbyterian News Service) You can read more about our participation at the Wednesday demonstration, visit to DMZ and Nogeun-ri here.

We also spent few days in Jeju Island. This is a known location for celebrities to have their houses, but it holds a dark history of apprehension, tension and death. Learning about the 4.3 Uprising and Massacre, and all the events surrounding it in a period of years, was as sad and frustrating as it could be. History is there, and yet it still struggles to get acknowledged.

We visited the Gangyeong community, where a newly-constructed military base was built on their shore, for debatable reasons. While we went and learn about the advocacy work done there, we participated in a protest that took place at the gates of the base. It was unexpected to see the joy walking alongside tension. After walking and hosting a rally at the gates, we sang, danced (even those of us foreigners completely lost on the choreography but trying our best!), and celebrated as a community. 

Jeju island reminded me to the efforts in Vieques (municipality-island southeast of Puerto Rico) to remove the military base that served as a bombing-test field over 10 years ago. The conversation about independence, political views and the constant criminalization of advocates in Jeju seemed I was hearing about home and not about something happening across the world. During our visit, we met with resilient leaders about their experiences and struggles. I was inspired to see young leaders alongside experienced advocates involved in this.  

You can read more about our visit to Jeju here.

One Korea

Even thought it may sound like some kind of utopia on this side of the world, I was fortunate to hear the local perspective around the unification of the Koreas. Regardless of how far or near this may seem (now with US government having this conversation), there is a common hope for the Korean Peninsula to re-unite (which comes as a surprise to many who ask about my trip). It was interesting to hear how many Koreans felt about current US Government and how they are paying attention to the conversations of US with North Korea, at the same time they still fear because of how unpredictable decisions or logistics may be (I think I can relate to that too…). We constantly reflected in the near-yet-so-far desire for peace, especially as we sat down looking out to North Korean mountains from a hill near the DMZ area in Cheorwon, in South Korea.

This study seminar, brought a whole set of “firsts” for me. It was my first time ever in Asia, first time ever in a country where I didn’t speak the language fluently, and interestingly enough first time being an extremely small minority. I remember visiting a shopping mall with Shinhye and Hanbyeol, both PCUSA YAV Alumni’s, saying: “I think I’m the only Latina here”, and Hanbyeol responding: “You may be the only foreigner.”

The hope I witnessed -through the work of fearless leaders and advocates in their pursue for peace in the Korean Peninsula- was inspiring. I enjoyed learning about the connections between the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the local Church in Korea. It was amazing to see collaborations and partnerships all over, from church leaders all the way to grassroots organizations leaders. 

There were moments where I felt home (I could relate to Koreans so much), others where I was completely out of my comfort zone and felt completely naive about certain topics. There were moments were I was speechless and deeply heartbroken, alongside moments where I got to laugh, eat and dance with the community that was welcoming us. There was always an encouraging sense of community everywhere we went. Even though it may feel far away from true (for some), after listening to so many who are working for this, I do believe peace and reunification in Korea is possible. 

Additional links about our Travel Study Seminar Presbyterian Peacemaking 2018 Travel Study Seminar under way in Korea Korean Travel Study Seminar worships with Seoul congregations, visits partners [In Korean] Article about our participation at the Wednesday demonstration in Seoul

#korea #pcusa #jeju

[brookston]

Holidays 1.24

Holidays

Belly Laugh Day

Change a Pet's Life Day

Economic Liberation Day (Togo)

Global Belly Laugh Day (at 1:24 pm local time)

Gold Rush Day

Heart to Heart Day

International Day of Education

International Mobile Phone Recycling Day

Juan Pablo Duarte Day (Dominican Republic)

"Just Do It" Day

Macintosh Computer Day

Microwave Oven Day

Minimoog Day

Moebius Syndrome Awareness Day

National Compliment Day

National Girl Child Day (India)

National Heroes Day (Cayman Islands)

National Readathon Day

Paul Pitcher Day (UK)

Sailing of Bast (Ancient Egypt)

Social Sipping and Nibbling Rehearsal Day

Square Dance Day [also 11.29]

Talk Like a Grizzled Prospector Day

Tricknology Day

TV Game Show Day

Uttar Pradesh Day (India)

World Day for African and Afro-descendant Culture

Food & Drink Celebrations

Beer Can Day (a.k.a. Beer Can Appreciation Day)

Eskimo Pie Day

National Hot Cereal Day

National Lobster Thermidor Day

National Peanut Butter Day

4th Tuesday in January

National Speak Up and Succeed Day [4th Tuesday]

Independence Days

Ziua Unirii (Unification Day of the Romanian Principalities; Romania)

Feast Days

Babylas of Antioch (Christian; Saint)

Cadoc (Wales)

Ekeko Festival (God of Abundance; Bolivia) [Lasts 3 Weeks]

Exuperantius of Cingoli (Christian; Saint)

Feast of Our Lady of Peace (Roman Catholic)

Feast of Seed-Time (Feati Sementini; Ancient Rome)

Felician of Foligno (Christian; Saint)

Francis de Sales (Christian; Saint) [Journalists, Editors, Writers]

Invent a God Day (Pastafarian)

John Belushi (Hedonism; Saint)

Jools Holland (Humanism)

Klaatu Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Macedonius of Syria (Christian; Saint)

Pratulin Martyrs (Greek Catholic Church)

Sementivae begins (Ancient Roman festival honoring Ceres (Goddess of Agriculture) and Tellus (Mother Earth)

Solomon (Positivist; Saint)

Stanley the Mouse (Muppetism)

Suranus of Umbria (Christian; Saint)

Timothy, disciple of St. Paul (Christian; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Sakimake (先負 Japan) [Bad luck in the morning, good luck in the afternoon.]

Premieres

Alice Foils the Pirates (Disney Cartoon; 1927)

The Courier (Film; 2020)

Danse Macabre, by Camille Saint-Saëns (Tone Poem; 1874)

The Grapes of Wrath (Film; 1940)

My Chauffeur (Film; 1986)

Pluto’s Playmate (Disney Cartoon; 1941)

Skid Row, by Skid Row (Album; 1989)

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (Film; 1948)

21, by Adele (Album; 2011)

Waco (TV Mini-Series; 2018)

Today’s Name Days

Franz, Thurid, Vera (Austria)

Bogoslav, Felicijan, Franjo (Croatia)

Milena (Czech Republic)

Timotheus (Denmark)

Naima, Naimi (Estonia)

Senja (Finland)

François (France)

Bernd, Franz, Thurid, Vera (Germany)

Filon, Polyxene, Polyxeni, Xene, Xeni, Zosimas (Greece)

Timót (Hungary)

Francesco (Italy)

Eglons, Krišs, Ksenija (Latvia)

Artūras, Felicija, Gaivilė, Mažvydas, Šarūnas, Vilgaudas (Lithuania)

Jarl, Joar (Norway)

Chwalibóg, Felicja, Mirogniew, Rafaela, Rafał, Tymoteusz (Poland)

Xenia (Romania)

Timotej (Slovakia)

Francisco, Paz, Xenia (Spain)

Erika (Sweden)

Roxanna, Roxoliana (Ukraine)

Oral, Orel, Tim, Timmy, Timon, Timothy, Vera, Verena (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 24 of 2023; 341 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 2 of week 4 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Luis (Rowan) [Day 3 of 28]

Chinese: Month 1 (Jia-Yin), Day 3 (Ren-Wu)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 2 Shevat 5783

Islamic: 2 Rajab II 1444

J Cal: 24 Aer; Threesday [24 of 30]

Julian: 11 January 2023

Moon: 12%: Waxing Crescent

Positivist: 24 Moses (1st Month) [Solomon]

Runic Half Month: Peorth (Womb, Dice Cup) [Day 15 of 15]

Season: Winter (Day 35 of 90)

Zodiac: Aquarius (Day 4 of 30)

#calendar #Holidays