True Parents' History for Children

We are going to follow the activities of Yung Kyung, a fictitious character who is a composite of many people and their experiences.

"Pictures for sale! Pictures for sale!" called out Yung Kyung as he walked along the crowded streets in the marketplace. Well, "streets" was hardly the word; they were more like pathways. The sides of the streets were packed with tables and booths until there was hardly any place left to walk. Now, he was in the household area, where pots and pans, kitchen utensils, and other items for the home were sold. Sometimes, he wandered into the bedding section where comforters, blankets and pillows were sold, or even into the clothing area, hoping to find a customer he might otherwise miss.

Selling pictures on the street was a way to make money to support the church. The Chongpadong Church was crowded these days, with many new people coming every day. These people had to be fed. The bills had to be paid. Leaflets had to be printed.

The year was 1964, and the 40-day conditions were still going on-one after the other, nonstop. It was exhausting, but at the same time it was very inspiring. Some members were getting 10, 20, 30, or even more, spiritual children.

Meanwhile, down in the southern part of Korea, in the direction of Pusan, there had already been two revival meetings in Taegu, where hundreds of people heard the Divine Principle. (A revival is an event that helps people wake up spiritually and feel God's heart. )

Each of these revivals was four weeks long. Many new people had come, and Yung Kyung had been one of them. He remembered the awesome prayers and singing. He remembered how excited he had felt when he learned that God's son was on earth. His whole life-indeed the whole world-was changed.

He was one of the new members who had been sent to Seoul, and he had arrived just in time for a speech by Father, the man they called Son- sengnim, meaning teacher; or Ju-in, meaning Master.

"From 1960 through 1963, for these three years, I have been driving you harder and harder," he had said. "`Go out and witness,' I said to you every day. I knew you were exhausted, hungry and treated badly. But we had to get God's word out to all the Korean people. I felt so sorry for you, but I couldn't let you go home to rest." Tears came to his eyes even as he spoke. Yung Kyung was surprised to see a grown man cry in public; yet there was nothing sissy about him.

"When I sent you to all parts of Korea, you were like the Israelites being driven out into the wilderness," continued Son-sengnim. "If you didn't complain, you were a success."

At the end of his talk, Father led them in singing with such great feeling, that soon everyone was singing from the very bottom of their hearts and at the top of their lungs. With eyes closed and bodies swaying as one, they poured out their love to Heavenly Father through their heartfelt music. It was as if the angels were singing with them. Yung Kyung had thought the singing in Taegu was great, but this was phenomenal.

The next night, Father had given them all a great treat. He invited them to a performance of the Little Angels. "What are little angels?" Yung Kyung wondered. "Is it a spiritual experience or something?" No. He soon learned that the Little Angels was a group of girls who

had learned the traditional Korean songs and dances and were preparing to perform to the public. How beautiful they were! The Korean heart truly soars when it sees such beauty and grace springing from their own culture.

Many members had thought it was a mistake when Father started this group. The church was so poor. Even True Parents' family practically lived on barley and kimchee, and the true children had very few treats. How could they put their scarce money into something so frivolous as music and dance? But Father was looking into the future and the universal level. He knew these beautiful children could bring God's musical and colorful heart into the drab lives of the Koreans. Later, they could even be good-will ambassadors to other countries.

"Pictures for sale! Pictures for sale!" Yung Kyung put more energy into his sales pitch now, as he remembered the beauty of that night. He truly wanted to help his Ju-in, his Son-sengnim. He felt love bubbling up in his heart as he remembered how God's love flowed through Son-sengnim to him. He must return some of it. Through his blood, sweat and tears, he would do it.

The Great Seoul Flood

As spring came sneaking past the winter, the rains broke loose. Never had they seen such rains in Seoul. Every day, every night, they beat down upon the tile roofs. Pictures were impossible to sell. Witnessing was difficult at best. Teaching inside was the most pleasant activity of all, and Yung Kyung sat with the others, grateful to listen to lectures once again.

Outside, the waters of the Han River rose higher and higher, and worried families tried to protect their homes. They piled their belongings on the roofs or moved to higher ground.

But then, one day, the water poured over the banks and into the winding streets. Higher and higher it came. Before it was over, thousands of homes and shops were ruined. In some cases, whole communities were swept away, and at least 300 people died in the city. Seoul was a disaster area.

The water sat in the streets and in the homes for days, and it stank. When it finally went down, layers of mud and debris covered everything. The people shoveled mud out of their homes for days and sorted through their meager belongings and hung them out to dry. Life was always hard in Korea. Just when they thought life had improved, everything was destroyed once again.

Luckily, Chongpadong Church was on higher ground and was not harmed. But homes of some the members were destroyed.

"Let us pray for our brothers and sisters who have lost their homes," said Father. "But more than that, we must help them rebuild. Being brothers and sisters means taking care of each other."

Yung Kyung put on his old work clothes and was soon up to his ankles in mud as he helped his brothers and sisters in the church. Witnessing and lecturing had to be forgotten for awhile. The hardest part was finding clean water to drink. If they drank dirty water, they could get very sick and even die. Yet it seemed that every drop of water in the city was dirty. Yung Kyung was sent with other young men to get big containers of water from outlying villages. Everyone found a way to help.

One day, a box of supplies arrived from America. The Unification members in America had collected clothing, honey, molasses and other things, because they had heard they were in short supply in Korea. The

clothing was handed out, and although it was a different style than they usually wore, many people felt a little better that day.

"I wonder what those American members look like," wondered Yung Kyung, as he watched the unpacking. "It's a funny feeling to think that there are people on the other side of the world who follow Son-sengnim-and it's a good feeling." Maybe someday he would meet some of them. Well- more likely not until spirit world, for what chance would he ever have of going to the other side of the world?