These same participants were delighted to receive an invitation from True Mother to the recent Christmas celebration in Las Vegas. It was another generous and unique opportunity, as well as a chance to reconnect with their brothers and sisters from the Aloha workshop. The 11 participants, ages 15-17 from all over the United States, spent time touring the beautiful natural sites around Las Vegas including the Hoover Dam and Red Rock Canyon. They visited the International Peace Education Center and some of the famous sites along the Las Vegas Strip. It was a memorable and inspiring six month reunion.
Some of the participants reflected on their experience during their stay in Las Vegas. Their testimonies can be read in their entirety here:
Lily Patton
I’m so grateful to Heavenly Parent and True Parents for my wonderful experience in Las Vegas. I’m also grateful for Dr. Ki Hoon Kim and the Wonmo Pyeongae Foundation for inviting the North American Aloha participants. My time at Las Vegas was life-changing because of the reunion of the North American participants and the honor of singing for True Mother and hearing her speak.
I arrived early and attended half of the Kodan National Conference. I was so inspired and moved by the love and devotion of the Japanese sisters. Through their personal testimonies I learned the value and urgency of fulfilling our tribal messiah mission. One young woman who spoke particularly motivated me. She talked about her experiences witnessing with her mother this past year. She is young and already has a spiritual child! From her testimony I learned how much she loved her mother and True Parents. She has a pure and innocent heart that strives to live for God and True Parents. She inspired me to witness fearlessly. I’m so thankful that I was able to hear her message. I think Heavenly Parent was preparing me to hear True Mother’s speech at Sunday service and to accept my mission as a tribal messiah.
I’m incredibly grateful for the love that I received from God and True Parents through my extraordinary friends that I met in Hawaii, our chaperones, and True Mother’s speech. My love for True Parents has also grown. The lifelong friendships that I was able to create in Hawaii and develop in Las Vegas expanded my heart. I have never experienced giving or receiving this kind of love before. Our chaperone from Friday to Monday, Karlsun Allen, and our other chaperone, HyunOok Seo, who took care of us on Monday, gave so much love to us. They both work for the church and have inspired me to work for the church also! I want to give other Unificationist-born young people the love and inspiration that I’ve received from them.
While performing on stage during the Christmas Banquet and being in True Mother’s presence, I could feel love radiating from her and I was so overwhelmed by that love and gratitude. Her speech on Sunday also touched my heart.
Samuel King
Being given the opportunity to travel to Las Vegas, reunite with my fellow Aloha Reunion participants and most of all see True Parents was an absolute blessing. It is a memory I will cherish for the rest of my days—a memory overflowing with bliss and warmth. I feel so loved by True Parents. … All I can think to do is express gratitude and embrace my experience with an open mind, so that I can spread the love I received to those around me.
True Mother invited to come and we viewed it as an occasion to spend time with each other, to connect with True Parents, and to learn and benefit from the experience. In my opinion, I got all of those things and more out of the weekend. It was glorious spending two full days with friends, and seeing others that I hadn’t seen in years! Additionally, our Aloha group was taken care of by two outstanding chaperones that I can’t thank enough for making our time more memorable.
We toured many parts of Las Vegas, including beautiful destinations of Mother Nature that would make anyone’s jaw drop. After spending a couple weeks in Hawaii immersed in its ethereal environment, it was gratifying to see the phenomenal mountains and breathtaking canyons that Las Vegas has to offer. Personally, I love Heavenly Parent’s creation—humankind’s home. It was definitely a highlight of my trip to see more of His handiwork.
We were asked to sing a song to True Mother and the multitudes of church members attending the Christmas party. Due to this request, our weekend was saturated in determination and heart. There was a great deal of teamwork, cooperation and friendship at play. This experience brought the Aloha Reunion group closer together—it truly was a time of bonding.
The Sunday service was amazing. The ambience of love in the Grand Ballroom was tangible. True Mother spoke words of wisdom and guidance, instructing the church members to persevere and overcome, to challenge ourselves and unite. True Parents are infinitely inspiring, their insight is something billions have yet to grasp, and it is something we must teach.
Doubtless, my adventure in Las Vegas was worthwhile. It was unbelievably fun and enlightening spending time with great friends and True Parents. I feel as if I’m boundlessly blessed. I can’t portray my gratitude enough; all I can say is “kamsahamnida” and “saranghamnida” toward True Parents and Heavenly Parent.