Reflections on the Las Vegas Tour

Masumi Hoshika

I was so happy to be able to take part in this tour, especially because I wanted to visit the International Peace Education Center in Las Vegas. When we had a ceremony for the 54th anniversary of True Parent’s Holy Wedding last April, I heard that the Peace Center was True Father’s final project that he had initiated for the sake of “Japan’s recovery from the 2011 Great Earthquake of Eastern Japan.”  Although I could not see the Peace Center as a completed building due to its delay, I saw the construction in progress and felt True Father’s passion there.  I am grateful that he loved Japan.

I became connected to the Niihama Church as a new Unificationist last July, so July is an important month for me.  I did not get a chance to meet True Father because I met the movement after his Seonghwa (ascension).  I really wanted to meet him and hear him speak in person.  When I visited Cheon Hwa Gung and the VIP room of the Aria Hotel in Las Vegas, I could actually feel his warmth. 

The handbook for this tour refers to the purpose of this tour as “Victory in 2020 by being engrafting to the church, becoming the center of miracles, and making a determination for Japan.”  This put me under pressure and also made me afraid that I may not be able to fulfill such responsibilities.  However, I pledged to do everything that I could possibly do now.

I saw three great miracles through this tour: God’s great creation of the Grand Canyon, the man-made miracle of the Hoover Dam, and the fallen world demonstrated by Las Vegas.  I realized what a small person I was, and truly experienced “seeing is believing.”  Visiting the actual sites lets your body feel the reality that you would never know by seeing pictures or hearing stories.

Everyday, I was inspired and thankful because I had a precious experience that I could not possibly imagine before.   But I couldn’t just be happy because I thought about True Father, who had invested his time and effort with much sincerity on the path of restoration for Las Vegas. 

I am pleased that all our 45 participants completed the tour and came home safely.  I am particularly grateful that my husband and I were able to visit America and Las Vegas together for the first time.  Thank you.

Pastor Sun-baek Soh

I had many personal feelings and questions about Las Vegas, a city of crimes, and I did not understand why True Parents had invested their efforts in it.  This tour allowed me to see many places in Las Vegas.  First, we visited Cheong Hwa Gung where True Parents had spent their time, and we listened to Pastor Ken Doo’s presentation on the “reasons why the Messiah had to come to Las Vegas.”  This talk helped me sort out my thoughts and questions and made the rest of the tour extremely meaningful.  I was able to feel the breath of True Parents where they had invested their efforts, and I could not help thinking that I should have visited these places when True Father was still alive. 

On the first night in Las Vegas, I had a very vivid dream.  In the dream, the words that True Parents spoke in Las Vegas with sincerity became seeds of life, and the seeds sprouted with incredible spiritual power.  I realized that True Parents succeeded in restoring Adam and Eve through the eight stages to reach complete, finished, and perfect unity. 

I also realize that one of the most important missions of True Parents was to restore fallen Eve and recreate her to be original Eve before the fall.  Based on this victory, we had the Foundation Day to usher in Cheon Il Guk. 

Earlier, I was ignorant and thinking that True Parents had come to Las Vegas simply to save the sinful city. Now, I understand the deeper meaning, which is about the eight stages of final restoration.  True Parents have planted seeds, so we want to raise the tree and let it bear fruit.  I am determined to work hard and fulfill my responsibility in Japan so Las Vegas will be the restored Garden of Eden and Korea the original Garden of Eden. 

Yukari Kubo

I offer my sincere thanks to the Heavenly Parent and True Parents for my allowing me to participate in the Las Vegas Holy Grounds Pilgrimage tour at this time.

My hope was to experience the path of True Parents in Las Vegas and inherit their victory.  During this tour, my husband’s father was scheduled to be hospitalized and go through medical examinations.  That only strengthened my determination to participate in the tour because I felt that God had a special plan.  My husband was initially opposed to my going on a week-long trip, but he gradually changed his mind and became positive. 

I was inspired throughout the trip, but my most moving experience was hearing God’s voice in the Grand Canyon.  At the most beautiful site of God’s creation, I heard His voice saying, “Yukari, Yukari, I am your Father.  Everything is fine.  Do not be afraid, but work hard.”   I couldn’t think of anything, and even forgot to take pictures.  I simply stood there and prayed in tears, in this most amazing encounter with God.

In the hotel room that night, I spoke with my spiritual daughter until 3:00 in the morning.  We were able to share many things that we would not normally share. I was so inspired that night.

On my return flight to Japan, a woman from the same church as I, Kochi Church, was sitting next to me.  In our conversation, she shared with me her testimony about her marriage with her husband.  I felt that God was giving me a strong message through my experience in the Grand Canyon, my spiritual daughter, and this sister on the airplane.  God’s message was that I should not be afraid.

Upon my return home, I was greeted by all my family welcoming me back.  I am sure my absence had caused many inconveniences to my husband, but he was concerned of my jet lag rather than his own situation.

I am truly grateful to Heavenly Parent and True Parents.