ⓒ 2010 WATV

Deacon Sato from Tokyo, Japan

The visiting group members from Tokyo, Japan, devoted themselves fully to prayer and preaching from a month ago, and all six of them offered beautiful fruits to God before they visited Korea. Here is an interview with Deacon Sato from the male adult group of the Tokyo Church, who conveyed the news about the Tokyo Church and expressed his determination for the gospel.

I’ve heard all of the members from Tokyo bore fruits before visiting Korea.
-“We, members of the Tokyo Zion, put our minds together from May 8, a month before we visited Korea. We continued to meet together in Zion whenever we had time, and started to preach the gospel with a firm determination to spread the glory of Elohim throughout Japan. While doing so, we prayed earnestly to Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother.

When children visit their parents, they usually bring some gifts for -them. So, we made efforts to bear fruit that would please Mother, being united in mind. We preached the gospel, thinking about the sacrifice of Mother, and while preaching we were able to understand Her sacrifice more vividly. It’s all thanks to Mother’s grace.”

What’s the most impressive thing during your stay here in Korea?
-“It was at the 4th New Jerusalem Festival for Families held at the Okcheon Go&Come Training Institute. Mother humbled Herself before the people who had not yet received the truth, and expressed Her heartfelt thanks to them. I was overwhelmed by an inexpressible emotion, and on the other hand my heart ached so much. They are all helpless beings who cannot live without the water of life from Mother. Nevertheless, Mother humbled Herself before them, and She always said ‘thank you’ to us as well. Mother personally set an example for us. We are likely to complain and grumble even if we run into a little bit of difficulty or hardship. When we become humble and sacrifice ourselves like Mother, we can save souls. I believe that Mother showed us the example of love and sacrifice, so that we should follow Her example and change.”

What’s your impression after spending time with many brothers and sisters from Asian countries?
-“Korea and Japan are very close to each other geographically. In actuality, I’ve visited Korea several times to meet Mother before. However, in case of the members in other Asian countries, it is not easy for them to visit Korea because of their unfavorable circumstances; many of them are unable to come even though they want to. The brothers and sisters I met here in Korea this time were so fervent in their love for Mother. As I saw how earnest their hearts were, I felt ashamed of myself who was still lacking in many ways.”

Is there anything you want to tell the brothers and sisters all around the world on behalf of the members of the Tokyo Zion?
-“Until now we’ve just passively listened to the fragrances of Zion from the members overseas. From now on, however, we will convey the beautiful fragrances of Zion to the whole world and establish Zions throughout Japan. You can expect big things.”

ⓒ 2010 WATV

Deaconess Thea from Quezon, Philippines

The following is an interview with Deaconess Thea who bore many fruits by fervently preaching the gospel after she returned from her first visit to Korea. This was her second visit to Korea. We asked her what made her come to Korea a second time and what she realized during her stay in Korea.

What’s the purpose of your visit to Korea?
-“On my first visit, my purpose was to realize Father and Mother’s love, and then on my second visit now, I want to ask Mother to let me become a gospel worker that pleases God.”

Did you have many changes after your first visit?
-“Yes. I was surprised. Before my visit, I preached but not that frequently and not that fervently. But after I came here, Mother told me to bear much fruit. When I came back, almost every night I was in Zion and every other weekend we preached fervently. As a result, I was able to bear much fruit. It’s all thanks to Mother’s love and blessings.”

What did you realize through this visit?
-“Through this visit, I realized the endless love of Mother. Although we are sinners who don’t even deserve to stand before God, Mother embraced us warmly. I want to tell the brothers and sisters, ‘If you want to receive more blessing, if you want to be a good gospel worker, if you want to feel and know the love of God the Mother, first meet Mother.’ If they come and see Mother, they will realize the love and sacrifice of Father and Mother. Truly Mother is love. I will obey Mother’s words and always remember Her example. She showed us patience, and always encouraged us and talked to us about Heaven. So when I go back to my country, I will try to be the same—to be more patient and make sure to encourage everyone to go back to heaven.”

What did you feel when you saw the overseas members from each country of Asia?
-“When I was in the Philippines, I thought that I was working hard for the gospel and what I was doing was enough. But sometimes I said preaching is hard in the Philippines because of this and because of that. But when I met brothers and sisters from other countries, I realized that we are in much better conditions than they are. When I heard of their suffering, I said to myself, ‘Such little faith . . .’ What I am doing is not enough. We are in a very good circumstance for preaching, contrary to other countries, but we didn’t appreciate. We didn’t work hard enough, and most of the time we made excuses, ‘It’s too hard because they are against us, because they don’t listen to us, . . .’ Through our brothers and sisters, we realized that we should change more, and thought, ‘Even in a hard situation, we can do it. They are bearing many fruits even in difficult circumstances. We are in better conditions than them. So we should be more thankful, work harder and glorify Father and Mother all the more.’ ”

When was the most touching moment during your stay in Korea?
-“It was when Mother embraced us all. We arrived a day earlier than others. It was at 1:30a.m. or 2a.m. early in the morning that we arrived, and Mother was waiting for us. The next day, Mother went up early to meet us, and She listened to us preach. During all the time, She smiled even though it was tiring. She made time to say with every one of us. As I listened to other members’ preaching ten times, I got tired. But Mother listened to each and every one of us and encouraged us. I think you can’t find that kind of love anywhere, but only in Zion.”

What are the words engraved deep in your mind during this visit?
-“Mother said, ‘Preach diligently. Find your brothers and sisters quickly so we can go back to heaven.’ During dinner, I was given a chance to sit beside Mother. I told Her, ‘Mother, I want to go back to heaven with You.’ Then Mother said, ‘Yes, you will surely go; let’s go to heaven together.’ Mother blessed me and encouraged me to hope for heaven all the more. We cannot repay Mother for Her grace. Whatever we do, it is not enough. The least we can do is to preach the gospel diligently and to study the Bible and to give our brothers and sisters the spiritual food at the proper time. We should preach whenever we can, as Mother said, ‘Open your mouth; just open your mouth.’ ”