True Parents' History for Children

Autumn came in Korea and then the winter, and as they entered 1964, Father said, "With all these revivals, we need Miss Kim here to help with teaching and talking to some of the more educated members. Of course, she is needed in America, but just now we need her even more."

He wrote her a letter, knowing full well how surprised she would be. "She's expecting me to go to America, not for her to come to Korea," he thought as he wrote.

The members in Korea pictured the riches of America. "People living in America can surely fly to Korea anytime they wish," they thought. They would have been surprised to see how simply Miss Kim and Mr. Kim lived; how they had to work so hard for even a small amount of money; and how hard the members worked to scrape together money for the food and rent. These early members weren't lawyers and doctors and business executives. They were waitresses and loggers and hospital orderlies. They didn't earn much money at all. Sometimes, they had to get two jobs so they could pay all the bills. Buying an airplane ticket was very difficult.

Nevertheless, obediently, and with a certain amount of eagerness, Miss Kim made the trip back to her homeland. "Don't worry, I'll be back in a few weeks," she promised the American members as she left.

As soon as she arrived, even before she got over jet lag, she was swept up in the activities of the growing church. She had very little time to herself. She traveled to all the districts of Korea with Father, teaching and witnessing wherever she went.

After listening to the Principle lectures again, she wrote to her members in America, "I am learning new things, so please do not print extra copies of the Divine Principle yet." But then she added, "everyone is excited to see the Principle in English, so when the books are ready would you please send 500 copies or so?"

As nice as it was to be home again and as busy as she was, she thought every day of her members back in the States. "How are they doing?" she wondered day and night. "Will they survive without me? Will I have to start all over when I return? They are good members, but sometimes they seem so young." She prayed desperately for them. The weeks were flying by and then the months.

"Shall I return to the States now?" she asked Son-sengnim from time to time.

"No," was his answer. "It's not time. We must see if they can survive on their own. It's a test for them. But also you are needed here."

She wrote to the American members, "Dear Family, Our Leader always loves to hear news from America. (Father was usually called Leader or Master in America in those days.) So please keep writing.... I miss you all very much. Love to all."

Western Visitors to Korea

During this time, a flurry of excitement buzzed through the Korean church when two Westerners arrived on the scene. One was a British man, Anthony Brooke who had been searching for truth. He had heard about Sun M. Moon's new revelation and had traveled all the way to Korea to check it out for himself.

"I bring with me important information from the West," he told them. "It is based on a spiritual revelation which occurred in England in April 1961.... According to this revelation, a breakthrough in the history of the world is coming, or has already come."

He told the newspapers and radio stations about it. "I have come to Korea for the specific purpose of visiting Mr. Sun M. Moon," he announced, "and to investigate the work of the Unification Church which is reaching out to many countries and continents throughout the world. I already believe that this is a tremendous spiritual force which will change the world. ...We are entering the New Age...."

He was a very talkative and enthusiastic man. "I believe Mr. Sun M. Moon will become known throughout the world some day," he said.

The Koreans outside the church were astonished to hear a Western man tell them about their own Korean man. The Korean members were overjoyed. To have someone from the Western world testify to their own Sonseng-Nim was really a breakthrough.

The other Westerner who came was an American soldier. He had just met Miss Kim's group in the States when the Army transferred him to Korea. The first chance he got after arriving in Korea, he found the Chongpadong Church and began attending services. His name was Ernest Stewart, better known as Ernie, and he lives today at Unification Seminary at Barrytown, New York.

Ernie walked a bit timidly but excitedly into the church that first day. Not knowing any Korean, he didn't know what to expect. He had arrived an hour earlier than the service, hoping he would have a chance to find Miss Kim. But already the room was filled with people. They were so much into their singing they didn't even seem to notice him.

As he lowered himself to the floor in the back of the room, he noticed the man leading singing. "Why that's him!" he thought in amazement. "Sun Myung Moon-our Leader. I can recognize him from the one picture I saw of him. How strong he looks, and how vigorously he leads the singing." Then he looked around the room. "And how they sing! Wow! I've never heard anything like it!"

Song after song after song they sang. Ernie couldn't understand the words, but it was easy to get caught up in the heavenly atmosphere. "Maybe I died and went to heaven," he thought, "and these are the angels singing."

An hour later, Father began to preach. Ernie felt his heart stirring with strong emotions. Tears came to his eyes. "He's so totally in tune with God," he thought with awe. "God is truly speaking through his mouth. I can feel it so strongly." His heart soared as he listened. The members back in the States longed with all their hearts to meet their Leader, their Master, and here he was sitting in the same room with him and actually listening to his voice.

After the service, the people came up to him and welcomed him. So, they had noticed him. He suddenly felt so loved, and there was Miss Kim shaking his hand and smiling and greeting him. Soon she was translating for him and putting meaning into the sounds he heard.

He went to the church often after that and became a frequent companion to Miss Kim. One day Miss Kim asked him, "Do you think you could get a leave of absence from the military base and come along with us as we travel to the revival meetings in Taigu and other districts?"

This sounded exciting, indeed. "Well, I think so," he answered. "In fact, I'll make sure I can." He didn't want to miss an opportunity like this!

In a few days, he was bouncing along the dirt roads of Korea with Father and Mrs. Choi and Miss Kim and others. The trips were long, for the roads were narrow and bumpy, but he wouldn't have traded it for the most luxurious limousine in the world.

In Taigu, even though he couldn't speak Korean, he became involved in the activities. They visited the street preaching spots. He watched young members speaking loudly to the Koreans.

In one of the parks, the leader, Mr. Han, surprised Ernie, "Why don't you speak to the people, too?" he suggested.

"Oh, I couldn't do that," said Ernie, blushing with embarrassment. "Anyway, they wouldn't be able to understand anything I said."

"I'll translate for you," offered Mr. Han with a smile.

"Well, alright," agreed Ernie nervously. "I'll give it a shot." Before he could lose his nerve, he stood up before the people and began to speak. "Mr. Sun M. Moon has come to save the world," he said to the people. "His words are truth and you should come to our church and listen to them."

The Koreans in the park paused to listen to this strange voice. Then more people gathered around. They had seen soldiers in town, but they had never heard one preach.

"Why he's talking about Sun M. Moon," they said in surprise. The more they listened to him, the more inspired Ernie became and then the easier it was to speak.

Later, he spoke in a market area, where people were outside selling their wares, and then at a railroad station. He could gather a bigger crowd than any of the Korean speakers.

In the weeks and months ahead, he witnessed in churches and on campuses. Sometimes, he was a featured speaker at events. On his days off from the military base, you could count on him to head straight for the church, which had become like his second home.

Western white folks witnessing about a Korean to the Koreans was quite a phenomena.

Again, Father's face looked happy.