By FFWPU Thailand
During the lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, all HTM activities were conducted online: Since then blessed families and Cheonbo couples conduct daily and weekly PeaceNet (virtual home group) meetings during which they share True Parents words and activities with their tribal members. They also share daily brief excerpts of TP’s words through group chats. Once the Thai government ended the lockdown in October of last year, physical HTM activities resumed in full and 7 blessed families were able to educate and bless their 430 couples, thus reaching their goal of becoming a Cheonbo family.
Encouraged by the Cheonbo Challenge program conducted by the Regional President Demian Dunkley, blessed families are taking now more and more personal responsibility for their tribal activities. One blessed wife Mrs. Kankrong Nopsuwan has spent the last 4 months working together with the staff of the Kalasin HTM center preparng 15 Blessing Ceremonies with the support from local government and community leaders, not only for her own tribe but also for other blessed families. She went from house to house to invite the villagers to join the upcoming events. Mr. Prasert Phangam and his spiritual father Mr. Nitikorn Jitbunjong travel forth and back to their tribal area to further educate their blessed couple, give them relief supplies as well as DP and 3-day ceremony education.
When True Mother’s memoirs were finally published in Thai language in December, tribal messiahs and Cheonbo victors rushed to buy many copies to distribute them to community leaders and tribal members. Over a period of one month, Mr. David McLackland was able to distribute 140 Mother of Peace books by visiting the homes of his tribal members one by one, deepening the personal relationship with each family. Through these home visits, even elderly tribal members in rural area were able to learn how to connect to the HTM chat groups and PeaceNet meetings on Zoom. This virtual connection is crucial for relationship building and further education since most of our tribal messiahs and Cheonbo couples live in the city and have limited time to visit their tribes in the countryside.
Mrs. Benjalak Jagopa as challenged to hold a blessing ceremony in her home province of Narathiwat, a red zone plagued by violent conflicts between Muslims and Buddhists living in the area. Many families had lost close family members in this conflict and do not want to interact with the other community. However, with the encouragement from Muslim and Buddhist leaders who understand True Parent’s vision of bringing peace to their province through the Interfaith Peace Blessing, over 40 Muslim and Buddhist couples joined the Blessing in peace and harmony, even shaking hands with each other. The program was broadcast on local TV and reported in the local newspaper in great details with the request to conduct larger Interfaith Peace Blessing Ceremonies as a solution to the decades-long conflict.
In the monthly Tha Tum district leaders meeting in Surin Province attended by 500 local government and community leaders, the District Chief Mr. Rongrat Chonguthsa praised FFWPU Thailand for their dedicated service to the community and their support to government initiatives in the area. He presented a certificate of honor to Mrs. Watcharin Kaewlamsak, the HTM leader and the blessed family team working in the area. On this occasion, the FFWPU staff presented the book “Mother of Peace” to the District Chief and all the heads of government agencies. The District Chief emphasized that everyone should read this book as it is a valuable gift from the founder of the Family Federation.
With unity, hard work and dedication, blessed families and HTM staff members were able to reach out, educate and bless over 3,500 families throughout Thailand. By reading True Mother’s life story in their own language, leaders and tribal members become deeply connected to the Mother of Peace in heart. Giving life to others, our blessed families receive life, love and joy themselves.