A Pilgrimage for Future Generations

John and Helen Abelseth were one of the couples who were given the Outstanding Family Award on December 7 for their constant dedication and sacrifice for the growth of the Unification movement. Below, the couple shares about their experience visiting the Hyo Jeong East Garden Museum. 

Visiting the Hyo Jeong East Garden Museum is an experience we will not forget. This was the residence of our True Parents and their family for the many years that they lived in America and the renovations and updates, and especially the now well-established museum are very impressive, thanks to the dedicated effort and hard work of the “Museum” team.

The museum tour began with the larger, newer residence, and as we visited the various rooms and displays, we recognized the meeting rooms and many other rooms that have been used to meet with leaders and members in more recent years. We even had a great opportunity to feed the fish as True Parents still do when they visit.

The most exciting and impressive part of our day was the detailed tour of the original, main residence where True Parents, their children and all the security and staff, lived together for many years. The house looks big from the outside, but considering how many people lived there – it must have been pretty tight. We were able to tour the rooms of Hyo Jin Nim, Heung Jin Nim, the nursery and all of the True Children’s rooms, and heard story after story from our brother Paul Fontaine of those early years.

Stories and a wonderful video of meetings with early members along with photos of some of those meetings, and locations that some of the special, well known pictures of True Parents and True Family had been taken, brought back memories of our own in those earlier years as True Parents established the foundation for the Providence of Heaven’s restoration.

After a visit to the Holy Ground where True Parents prayed and meditated, then viewing more rooms of artifacts, including the bullet proof podiums used by True Parents (including the one from Mother’s recent Madison Square Garden visit in NY), as well as the bullet proof vests from Yankee stadium and the 1982 MSG Blessing that both True Parents wore, we made our way to the newly renovated kitchen, where the True Family ate many meals. The “kitchen” has been completely renovated and has become the office for Mr. McDevitt and a wonderfully updated coffee “shop”, where Mrs Shimizu treated us to coffee, tea and snacks and more conversation.

Our guides and hosts were Paul Fontaine, Mike McDevitt and Takae Shimizu, who have all worked closely with True Parents and their Family for many years, and all have wonderful and exciting adventures to share. And thanks to our special driver and caretaker Luke Higuchi, we felt like Royalty.

This Hyo Jeong East Garden Museum will become a pilgrimage for future generations, including many people in the surrounding communities who have enquired and are anxiously awaiting the opportunity to visit. And we strongly encourage our brothers and sisters to include this event in any visit to the area. We can easily recommend at least 4-6 hours for a basic introductory tour and a full day to receive a more substantial experience.

Thank you, True Mother and all who made this special place possible. We are truly grateful.

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