3rd Place Essay by Elizabeth Reyes

On January 6, 1920 [by the Lunar Calendar], True Father was born in Sang-sa village. He was the second son in the family. As a little kid, True Father was very interesting and strong. He fought with bigger kids to keep them from hurting his friends. He very much enjoyed being outside: climbing trees and mountains, playing with insects, birds and animals. I think he loved nature very much.

On April 17, 1935, at the age of 15 [16, by Korean counting], True Father was praying near Mount Myodu. While he was praying, Jesus appeared to him and asked him to take on the special mission on earth having to do with heaven’s work. True Father accepted Jesus’ words. He knew it would not be an easy life, and he felt that God embraced him with warm tears and loving arms.

In 1941 True Father traveled to Tokyo to attend a technical school at Waseda University. He faced the risk of being arrested and beaten by the Japanese police. True Father was arrested and tortured by the Japanese police because he did what was right to protect his friends. He didn’t give their names and addresses, even though he knew where they lived.

While True Father was in Heungnam prison, he had to work with fertilizer. He had to dig and carry fertilizer every day. Most people working there did not survive for a long period of time. When True Father was done with his work, he would help someone who needed a hand. Also he would wake up early, do his work and help other people. Even though True Father was very tired every day, he never missed the chance to pray and give thanks to God. He always wanted to represent God even in the most difficult time. He always comforted God’s heart, he never complained and he loved God deeply. True Father also loved all the people in the prison, giving God’s love to them. Even though he received only a small amount of food, he still gave some of it to the other prisoners, and he also shared the words of God. I think because True Father loved God and the other people, God saved his life and gave him a long life.

I have heard a lot of stories about our True Father’s life. I like the story about when they escaped from the North, he pushed his friend on a bicycle and later carried him on his back until they were safe from the war. I like True Parents’ life because True Father and True Mother teach us how to become loving children of God and to become good children to our parents, brothers and sisters, friends and all people. I miss True Father and I love both True Father and True Mother. Thank you, True Parents, for giving us a beautiful life. I love you, my True Parents.