CARP Workshop Strengthens Students’ Relationship with God

Over 15 students from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV) took part in a two-day weekend retreat hosted by the Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles (CARP) at the Las Vegas Family Church from Friday, March 11 to Sunday, March 13.

Although each of the five new guests had heard lectures on the Divine Principle, this was the first time that they were attending a Divine Principle retreat with other students. The theme of the workshop, “Why Am I Needed?” focused on the relationship between God and humans, with the goal being to educate students to take responsibility in building a parent-child relationship with God.

The retreat began on Friday evening, when the students made teams and then played games and icebreakers to get more comfortable with one another. “Even though I’ve only known CARP for a short amount of time, I feel that everyone here is amazingly sincere,” commented Cody, a UNLV student attending his first CARP retreat. After the high-energy games, the focus of the night turned more reflective as each participant printed a picture of a mentor or someone who had guided them in their life. Participants explained why the mentor was significant to them and reflected on the question, “What does this person see in me?”

“I chose my boss because he showed me a different way of life,” Amy said. “Instead of always comparing myself with others, he taught me to help and care for others.” The evening helped the group bond more closely and created the atmosphere for a meaningful Divine Principle retreat.

Saturday morning the participants hiked up a nearby hill to prepare for the day with prayer. Jinil Fleischman, President of the Las Vegas CARP chapter, gave the Divine Principle presentations throughout the day. “By teaching the Divine Principle, I was moved to realize how deep True Father’s heart is, that he understands God’s Heart and story so profoundly,” Jinil said. “I felt very humbled in trying to convey God’s Heart.”

After every presentation, the participants broke up into teams for discussion and questions. In the afternoons the participants made pairs and passed out inspirational quotes to shoppers at a nearby mall.

“I wasn’t having a very good day,” commented Joan. “But when I thought about how I could give these quotes to help brighten someone else’s day, I felt re-energized.”

The day ended around a bonfire—with s’mores, some dancing, singing and testimonies. “At first I was skeptical about why they wanted me to join this group,” reflected Daniel. “But then I became grateful when I finally understood how much they sincerely invested their time and energy into tailoring every activity so that I could have the best experience.” Several participants and one CARP member related how studying the Divine Principle and meeting CARP had transformed their lives. Through this experience, everyone came to understand the importance of developing a relationship with God.

On the last morning of the retreat, the participants learned about the important tradition of Hoon Dok Hwe as a way to gain spiritual energy through studying inspiring speeches. “Hoon Dok Hwe  is a lifestyle dedicated to personal growth and improvement,” said Akira Watanabe, Director of CARP Las Vegas. Each participant took turns reading paragraphs from True Father’s speech entitled “May God Protect Us,” and then commenting on what they had read.

After Hoon Dok Hwe, everyone packed up their things and returned home after an exciting and deep weekend. One participant, Amy, felt that she needed God’s guidance in her life and made a determination to pray for seven days to strengthen her relationship with God. Other participants said they will continue their weekly Divine Principle studies to continue to learn more about a life of faith. We wish to offer our thanks and gratitude to Heavenly Parent and True Parents for providing such a moving experience for all the workshop participants.

This story was originally published on the Las Vegas Family Church website at Cafe Daum.