By FFWPU Asia Pacific (Blessed Children department)
After two consecutive years of virtual events, the Heavenly Asia Pacific region, spearheaded by the Blessed Children Department, finally culminated its annual 12th Heavenly Asia Pacific Sung Hwa Youth Workshop from December 26, 2022 to January 1, 2023 in the FFWPU Philippines Headquarters, Manila, Philippines. With the theme: “Becoming the Light of the World with a Filial Heart for Heaven,” the first hybrid workshop served as an avenue for blessed children to learn more about the value of their identity and the Blessing, and to develop their life of faith and heart of hyojeong toward Heavenly Parent and True Parents.
Overall, 410 blessed children; on-site, 117, and online, 293, from 14 nations participated, namely; Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Nepal, Mongolia, Korea, USA, Mainland China, the Filipino-Japanese community, and the host nation, Philippines.
This year, the workshop integrated 9 special lectures, Hoon Dok Hae morning devotion, sight-seeing, sports, team-building activities, service project, and BC Got Talent event to enable blessed children in attaining the objectives. Through these activities, blessed children could receive more direct guidance, connect deeply with Heavenly Parent and True Parents heart, bond with their Blessed Children brothers and sisters from Asia Pacific region, practicing True Love in action by living for the sake of others, and showcasing their God-given talents and skills.
Because of the immense love and hope of the respected leaders for the blessed children, the Regional Leaders of Heavenly Asia Pacific were very hands-on and prepared earnestly and with full dedication for the workshop, especially educating and raising up our precious blessed children. The speakers of the lecture sessions include Dr. Robert Kittel, Asia Pacific Cheon Eui Won Chair; Pres. Demian Dunkley, HPHC-FFWPU Regional President of Asia Pacific 1; Pres. Masaichi Hori, HPHC-FFWPU Regional President of Asia Pacific 2; Rev. Ronnie Sodusta, IAYSP President and HPHC-FFWPU Regional Vice President of Asia Pacific 2; and Mrs. Ursula Mclackland, the BFD Director of Asia Pacific 1. In addition, Rev. Yutaka Yamada, the Sub-regional President of Oceania; Dr. Kimsruy Tang, HPHC-FFWPU Regional Vice President of Asia Pacific 1; and Dr. Julius Malicdem, HPHC-FFWPU Regional Vice President of Asia Pacific 2, led the Morning Devotion schedules with their profound sermons.
Moreover, elder blessed children who had their breakthrough in their life of faith, the Blessing, and in community-building also conveyed their testimonies to inspire their fellow blessed children to lead their own path as well. The participants had the opportunity to raise their questions during the Question and Answer sessions which opened into the speakers’ sharing more of their insights and life guidance with the blessed children. Through the leaders’ jeongseong and dedication, the blessed children participants were able to reflect more about cultivating the heart of hyojeong toward their parents, developing their own life of faith, the significance of the Blessing, and their contribution to the BC Holy Community.
The 12th Heavenly Asia Pacific Sung Hwa Youth Workshop carried through with high spirits and overflowing love because of the utmost dedication of the leaders, staff, parents, and the participants. Ultimately, the blessed children expressed their gratitude and strong resolve to contribute to the realization of Vision 2027 as they ended the year 2022 and began 2023 attending Heavenly Parent and True Parents, and relating heartistically with their brothers and sisters. With longing hearts, they were able to offer a moving performance to our beloved True Mother and concluded the workshop victoriously. The Heavenly Asia Pacific region looks forward to continuing in educating the blessed children through various activities this 2023, including the most anticipated year-end workshop this December.
Reflections
“As the day of this workshop was coming, I had this special feeling that something great is about to happen and something special did happen. We had a lot of experiences and precious moments- we learned a lot, we also had a lot of realizations and personally, many of my questions before coming here have been answered through the lectures and I’m very grateful for that. Thank you so much to our dedicated lecturers. Since I’ve gathered all those answers, I guess the remaining thing for me is to have an action plan for them… I personally want to thank everyone once again and I’m grateful for this opportunity and all the blessings and wisdom that we received from this workshop. And I want to thank everybody’s unique joy. I really had a great experience being with everyone and I thank you for your hearts, your sincerity, and even your craziness. I’m glad to know I’m not the only crazy person in the world. And also thank you for your hard work and as well as your brotherly and sisterly love. To end my reflection, I’d like to end it with this. Life is a journey, endless learning and the life of overcoming faith and love. I hope that we all return home with all these precious memories and learnings and be victorious in our own respective missions. I also want to encourage everybody to overcome our own challenges, to ask help especially if you need spiritual help, a support system, because the storm won’t last. Finally, let’s help God and True Parents and offer our victory. May God bless us all. Thank you so much. I love you all.” – Jon Olive B. Gawec (on-site participant)
“I was very inspired how our elder 2nd gen BC had their breakthroughs in their life of faith. I felt their heart for God in their stories. I reflect myself also about my situation and how firm my connection to HP and TPs is. I have a long way to go to really understand deeply how I can return back love to God and make him proud.” – Humi Suzuki (online participant)
