Reflections from Chicago, Illinois Hyojeong Cheongpyeong America Tour 2018

The following are submitted testimonies from the 2018 America Tour Hyojeong Cheongpyeong Special Event in Chicago, Illinois on November 3 and 4.

“I want just thank God and True Parents for their love for us to bring Cheongpyeong to the USA. Chicago, Illinois is very close to where I live which allowed me and my family to attend this special event. Generally speaking, this event show as how God and True Parents love us for all we are. I thank True Mother for her sacrifices and her full heart of love towards us. Thanks to all the Cheongpyeong representatives who came to show their love, devotion and commitment through their hard work.” – Louis Amisi Ngandu

“Thank you to Heavenly Parent and True Parents for this incredible grace of Cheongpyeong ancestor liberation and blessing. One of the ways I prepared for the 2-day workshop in Chicago was to learn about my ancestors. I discovered over seven generations of ancestors, including a connection to George Washington. It was very powerful to know their names and backgrounds as a preparation to liberate them and other ancestors. When the first chan yang session started, I couldn’t help but cry. Even though the leaders said we needed to sing during chan yang, I couldn’t sing through the tears that lasted several verses. I was so repentful on behalf of my ancestors and so sad for the difficult situations my family members were going through. Once the tears were gone, I started singing and looking at the chan yang team, feeling so grateful that this pain and ancestral suffering could be healed and liberated. By the time the chan yang session finished, I felt so free and liberated. The whole room felt lighter. When I started chan yang on the second day, I was full of joy, hope, and gratitude. True Parents have given us a way to purify ourselves and come closer to the true love of God. I feel renewed by this incredible grace. Thank you, True Mother, for bringing this grace to America. We hope we can welcome Cheongpyeong back to America again next year and accomplish vertical and horizontal victory of 430 liberation and blessing!” – Teresa Rischl

“I was so impressed by the professionalism of the Cheongpyeong staff who conducted the special event. Their explanations and videos about the spirit world and what happens when our ancestors are liberated and blessed was very educational for me. It was so easy to understand and accept Rev. Lee and Rev. Moon’s lectures on the spirit world. I am so happy our couple came to Chicago for the special event. Rev. David Rendel did a wonderful job organizing the event and Rev. Hyungtae Ha was excellent as the emcee.” – Mark Lincoln

“During the unison prayer at the end of the chan yang session, I felt some kind of energy coming thorough my body and kept my eyes closed. Suddenly, I felt a warm embrace around my shoulders. I thought it was my son, Sean, hugging me because that’s how it felt. But it wasn’t him because he was on the stage. When I tried to slightly open my eyes, I saw my dad hugging me. I quickly closed my eyes again and couldn’t stop crying. I miss him a lot and thought that this is his way of saying everything is alright. Thank you, chan yang team for the energy because without you, I never would have experienced this.” – Celine Garrison

“I am so grateful for having received God’s grace and blessing. One of the leaders came and worked on my head where tumors were found. After the ancestor liberation and blessing, it was wonderful to know our blessed ancestors are with us, right by our sides during the blessing. I had so much pain and difficulty in moving my right arm for a while. Finally, through the session and the offering ceremony the resentful spirits were uprooted and liberated. Thank you so much for this grace.” – Mieko Ikeno

“The program was very well organized and inspiring from beginning to end. I am grateful that we could liberate and bless our ancestors and offer wish papers. I am also totally impressed by the developments in Cheongpyeong and the amazing vision of True Mother. I am hoping to make a fresh start in my spiritual life which was in a not so great place before the workshop. I will try to remember to welcome back my ancestors after their 40 days and will try to be more conscious of their presence around us.” – Anonymous

“Even though I could not do the ancestor blessing this time because it has not been 100 days since the last liberation, I really wanted to attend this time to clean myself and offer a wish paper. Also, it is always good to see brothers and sisters from other states. I was so happy to hear about the liberation and blessing that we would be able to finish by 2020!” – Aya Asanuma

“I am grateful to Heavenly Parent and True Parents for the Hyojeong Cheongpyeong America Tour in Chicago. Chicago is the birthplace of my mother, 3 sisters and myself. Our Blessed couple and 3 of our children came in 2007 for Dae Mo Nim’s tour. My eldest son and daughter-in-law are now living in Chicago, so I had many reasons to attend here. I felt the whole event was a wonderful experience of God’s love and grace. The chan yang sessions were a blessing that I needed to heal my physical body as well as spiritual illnesses which cause anger, doubt and worry. I felt a warmth in my chest on the first day and the usual pain of my feet when I walk has almost subsided. Spiritually, I feel relieved about my circumstances due to the can yang sessions and the Hyojoeng Offering Ceremony. I did not have the right attitude before I came, but I understood the explanation of the lecturers which set my heart on the right path. I needed to express gratitude and sincere desire to do God’s Will and unite with True Parents. I have more confidence that by making an offering, completing the papers and sincerely praying during the Hyojoeng Offering Ceremony that these problems will be addressed by Heaven so that my wife and I can fulfill our Tribal Messiahship.” – John Monestere

“This time I helped brothers and sisters fill out the application forms and I realized very much the importance of organizing the spirit behind us by liberating and blessing our ancestors. The more we bless our ancestors the more we feel joy and feel closer to God and True Parents and the more we can gain the spiritual power to fulfill our mission as a tribal messiah. When I attended the wish paper ceremony, my husband, who is in spirit world, visited me and talked me. He said, ‘Thank you for offering the wish paper for our children. Do not worry, I am working to fulfill our dream together.’” – Sadako Maeda

“During the Ancestor Liberation, I saw True Father and experience an overwhelming rush of goosebumps all over me while her softly smiled with a gentle look and gentle head movement. He was happy! Tears just flowed down my face. During the wish paper prayer, I was very very light. Like I was being emptied of something heavy. Toward the end of the prayer, I received a strong inner strength and clear awareness in my prayer. This helped my prayer to be stronger and much more intentional. As we said goodbye to the ancestors after the ancestor blessing ceremony, I had a great sadness overcome me. I felt I was being emptied and was sad while tears just came down gently.” – Susana Stoughton

“I was looking forward to Cheongpyeong coming to America. I always experienced insecurity in my life of faith. I went to Cheongpyeong quite a few times from 198 to 2005. Beginning in the mid 1990’s and growing continuously was the discovery that my life was nothing that I had thought it was. I had missed an opportunity for an extended stay there before we were buried in financial difficulties. I noticed I would eagerly speak to others about diet and health, things I had both success and struggle with, but it was hard for me to witness. Others always seemed more together than myself and I felt inadequate with all my problems. Through the wish papers ceremony, feeling True Parents’ love so intensely I realized it is True Parents that will give if I only put away my doubts and let them flow through me. I felt enlightened, hopeful and so grateful for the grace of the wish papers. Without the Cheongpyeong providence, the liberation of our ancestors and evil spirits, I dread to think what my life would be today.” – Anonymous

“I deeply felt True Mother’s loving touch and concern for me. During the chan yang session, I received the gentle touch of Mr. Moon and Rev. Bussing on my head. I was very happy as well as all my ancestors after the pain was gone from my body. The Ancestor Blessing was beautiful experience. I really felt I was in Cheongpyeong because the spirit was high and joyful.” – Keiko Foss

“On the second day of the chan yang session, I looked up to the stage and saw True Father. I was so happy and I started crying redoubling my devotion in clapping. He looked young like when I first met him. He was wearing simple clothes and was looking at everyone intently. He was there the whole time and I saw Young Jin Nim wearing a brown chimachogori, and Heung Jin Nim was also wearing a chimachogori. They were watching all of us as to give us more power through their presence.” – Claudette Kambara

“Attending the Chicago event was originally to please my wife and also, since we had liberated many generations who had not received the Blessing, I thought at least it would be worth the trip to give that a chance to happen. The Hoon Dok Hwe Reading of True Mother’s words on Sunday morning confirmed to me that God is truly working through True Mother at this time, and the sincerity of the officiators persuaded me that I now need to take action in fulfilling tribal messiah responsibilities. I was amazed how much the Cheongpyeong spirit could be transferred to a hotel convention room.” – Christopher Bush

“The Chicago event was a mixture of sadness and joy for me. Sad in the fact, I could not liberate nor bless my ancestors because of financial misfortune. The joy I received was our Heavenly Parent’s love and grace and hope that next year’s Cheongpyeong ancestor liberation and blessing would be possible if we fulfill our responsibility as tribal messiahs and complete our 430 couples. I made a pledge with God that I will fulfill my 430 couples. During the liberation ceremony, I saw the ancestors entering through the light of the white curtains on stage. Millions and millions of ancestors descended, all in white robes. As they entered the room, they twirled around dancing, and swirled in a circular motion. Later, while waiting to receive the Holy Wine, I went into a deep prayer and meditation, asking God to let the Holy Wine enter into every cell of my body and into every cell of my blood and into every cell of my soul, when suddenly I transcended into high consciousness and saw a vision of thick blood pouring out of the True Parents and dripping down on the stage. The platform was covered with very thick blood, and it started seeping down off the stage toward us as we stood in silent meditative and prayerful attitude. As the blood seeped toward us, the blood began to get thinner and flowed faster. With a sudden rush, I felt we were washed by a huge tidal wave, and the room turned into an ocean of blood! Astonished by what I had just seen, I opened my eyes. I was amazed to find that the couple that was passing the Holy Wine was right next to us. This vision came to confirm the teaching of True Father about the importance of rebirth and changing of blood lineage.” – Ali Mahjoub

“I had so much heaviness in my head and heart but after participating in chan yang, I felt so free. I cried so much during the chan yang session because I felt so much grace from Heavenly Parent and True Parents. I was sorry to them that I was not being a filial daughter, and I determined to work hard to accomplish True Parents’ dream to establish Vision 2020.” – Jennifer Pierce

“I could clearly sense the importance and cosmic impact of True Parents works in the spiritual world. What I could sense was a great wave of internal and external benefit is coming gradually to all of mankind. What I understood many years ago was so little and also I had many questions and doubts, but during this event everything became perfectly clear. Such incredible glory and benefit for all was so very present in this event. I am so grateful to Heavenly Parent and True Parents.” – Hans Rinkema

“On the first day, I had no particular experiences. But on the second day during the Sunday morning Hoon Dok Hwe, we read the second book of True Mother’s Anthology on the topic of Blessing and Eternal Life. I already read the first three books and am now reading the fourth book. Still, I felt an incredibly deep appreciation to hear those words again. It was as if no breakfast could replace such nourishment and fullness in my heart! I also noticed from the testimony of some members how these words had a profound impact on their spiritual lives and the spiritual life of those who were listening that helped them awaken and come closer to Heavenly Parent and True Parents’ heart. One of the most important experiences I had was during the chan yang session that morning. Suddenly, while we were singing, some words of True Father from many years ago came back to me. Father had said, while looking over the whole crowd of members who was listening to him, “You have no Idea how many thousands of people are waiting behind you.” I felt as if he was talking directly to me. At the time, I hadn’t given so much weight to his statement. However, during this event in Chicago, I got it! I was also reminded of another memory from the time Father matched my husband and me in the New Yorker Hotel, and he said that this group from the matching of 705 couples was responsible for the Unity of the Black and White Races in America. That statement has never left me since I was blessed with my husband. I started to burst into tears thinking, what if my husband and I, despite our financial and other difficulties, just put everything aside and went to New York on November 12 to attend our beloved True Mother. The very moment I incarnated that thought and possibility in my heart, I felt those thousands and thousands of spirits were already mobilized and ready to go with us to the Nassau Coliseum to receive True Mother! I’m going to see Mother with the best intention and motivation to support her victory.” – Flore (Noel) Mathison

“What a great blessing that Heavenly Parent, True Parents and Cheongpyeong staff brought to us in Chicago! For many years in my heart, I’ve been trying to liberate my ancestors and completed as much as I could. In my head, I didn’t know how long or when I could ever complete it. It took a lot in the beginning to start and I couldn’t liberate more than 8 sets of generations after so many years. When I heard that Cheongpyeong was coming to Chicago, I was so excited and thought it was a great opportunity. With the recent events in my life, I thought that I should offer as much as I could. Suddenly about a month before the event, I came upon a lump sum of money by chance. This ancestor liberation/blessing was a once in a lifetime thing. I wouldn’t know if I could ever be in a situation like this again where I could finish liberating 210 generations. After attending the Chicago Liberation/Blessing event with my whole family, I felt all of my ancestors and my husband’s ancestors were so happy, grateful, and proud of the decision that I made. What confirmed this feeling was when Dr. Kim said that all of our ancestors came to him to say “thank you.” I can live forward and on to the next steps from here on without any regret or remorse.” – Anonymous

“My wife and I are truly grateful to have had the opportunity to attend the Cheongpyeong 2018 Ancestor Liberation and Blessing Ceremony in Chicago! We are a 70+ year old first generation interracial and international couple who were blessed in 1982 and who’ve each been in the movement for over 40 years. One brief experience I had while listening to Mother’s words during Hoon Dok Hwe involved who to vote for in the mid-term elections. Mother said that focusing too much on changing society might cause more harm than good if the people who want to change things do not connect to Heavenly Parent’s and True Parents’ Heart. While reflecting on these words of hers, a voice spoke up inside me out of the blue advising me not to vote for a particular candidate that I had planned to support. I appreciated that kind of heavenly guidance!” – James Mathison

“The workshop was a wonderful time for me to really pray and have an honest moment with Heavenly Parent and True Parents. My words were filled with honesty, sincerity, and at times, moments of clarity within myself. While I did not experience the Ancestor Liberation or Blessing to the fullest potential, I sincerely appreciated the moment to speculate the process and ceremony. It was certainly a pleasure to have the workshop held in the United states/Chicago as it allowed me to see familiar and old faces and friends. Overall, a wonderful experience with the workshop and an incredible time to receive Heavenly Parent and True Parent’s blessing and grace.” – Norikuni Nishikawa

“This time I was able to liberate my grandmother’s ancestors. During the prayer, both of my grandmothers came to me, weeping and thanking me for liberating their parents and ancestors. During the Saturday prayer, after chan yang, I started to pray for my father, but I could not say the words, as tears rolled down my face.” – Maria

“During the Ancestor Liberation chan yang session, I received chan yang through Rev. Lee. I decided to close my eyes and kept singing as he began patting my head. When my eyes closed, I saw True Mother in a beautiful dark plum and purple hanbok standing there patting my head and felt her love pouring through me from head to toe.” – Mark Hernandez

“I was very impressed with the organization of this event and how the spirit of Cheongpyeong was made available for us to recapture experiences that so many of us have had in Korea. I believe many people of faith and non-faith worldwide will be coming to deeper understanding regarding nurturing deeper connections with our ancestral foundations. In this world we cannot move forward toward peace unless we find fresh and meaningful new ways to honor our past. New studies regarding epigenetics show that there are ways for us to tweak our DNA. With sincere intention we can gradually and sometimes dramatically transform the destructive and unnatural patterns passed down to us. A child of an alcoholic can have that inclination toward substance dependency, but with understanding that tragic cycle can be minimized. Our society needs a wider range of healing and counseling options. There are many ways to change and rewire ourselves, but I believe most organizations working toward better health, addiction and recovery, etc. on just the faith or science side. Unificationists can become better known as pioneers in the effort to combine the wisdom of faith and science for individual/family health and wellbeing.” – Bruce Biddle

“On Saturday night, I woke up at 2 am having a dream of a couple waiting for us to do something for them so they can move on. Dr. Kim also had a dream of ancestors at 2 am as well as one other brother. I concluded that our ancestors were waiting for us and this made our experience a lot more deep. We decided to do everything we can to help our ancestors as best as we can in the years to come.” – Jacques Fontaine

“This was the best experience that I have had with the Hyojeong Cheongpyeong Workshops. I felt more involved in the preparation beforehand and also my son could attend representing our family because my husband could not come due to a foot injury. I gained a better understanding of the process of liberating ancestors and Blessing them too. I hope to continue to learn more about this in the future and try to remember how important this effort is to the future of our family and nation, and the development of Korea as God’s hometown.” –Patricia Fliginger