True Mother Arrives in Africa
The following is a letter from Dr. Young Ho Yun, Secretary-General, Cheon Jeong Gung Headquarters on November 27, 2019 about True Mother’s World Tour and the 40-Day Cosmic Canaan Course for the Firm Establishment of Cheon Il Guk, which began on Monday, November 18, 2019 leading up to the Clergy Rally on December 28 in Newark, New Jersey.
Beloved Cheon Il Guk leaders, blessed families!
May Heavenly Parent’s and True Parents’ blessings and grace be with you.
Today, the first day of the 11th month by the heavenly calendar (November 27), True Mother, for the president of Niger and its people have waited a long time, finally arrived in Niger to Bless the nation.
I left Taiwan for Niger a day before True Mother departed, in order to check on the general preparations for the events as well as preparations for True Mother herself. So, I arrived a day before True Mother. Upon my arrival, I immediately held a meeting with our leaders in Niger. Yesterday, I also had a meeting with the Prime Minister of Niger at his official residence. The meeting was initially supposed to last for 30 minutes, but we ended up talking for two hours.
At the meeting with the Prime Minister, I introduced the recent rallies in Cambodia and Taiwan, True Mother’s activities there, and why True Mother was coming to Niger. I also introduced True Mother’s vision on the realization of “Blessed [Heavenly] Africa” through the “Blessed [Heavenly] Africa Project,” which includes 10 separate projects, and the firm establishment of the Pacific Rim Civilization through the realization of “Blessed [Heavenly] Africa.”
Africa, in particular, has suffered from a history of suppression and subjugation as a result of the Atlantic Civilization that degenerated into one that conquered and took things from other countries. I conveyed True Mother’s hope and request for Africa, that Africa participate in the Pacific Civilization that is based on the true-love culture of heart that lives for the sake of others— a civilization prepared by Heaven at the final stage of God’s providence—and to have Africa record a new history of blessings and joy. In response, the Prime Minister of Niger expressed his determination to actively support and participate in this vision, and even promised to welcome True Mother in person at the airport.
When the president of one nation visits another nation, the visit is usually classified in one of these four categories: a state visit, an official visit, a business visit, or a personal visit. In the case of a “state visit,” it is the norm for a minister of that country to take charge of protocol for the visiting president. But to have the Prime Minister, instead of a minister, welcome the visiting guest in person at the airport can be seen as their greatest expression of respect for the guest. I was tremendously grateful. After meeting with the Prime Minister, I was interviewed by Niger national television about our meeting.
Today marks True Mother’s arrival in Niger to preside over the Africa Continental Summit. Niger is filled with excitement over True Mother’s visit. This is because the Niger government and people firmly believe that True Mother will bring heavenly fortune to Niger.
True Mother arrived at 2:30 p.m. As soon as she disembarked from the plane, government representatives from Niger welcomed True Mother with the greatest respect. I have seen many standards of protocol applied in welcoming True Mother for national level events, and this has been the best by far.
First of all, True Mother’s plane landed at a section of the airport that is exclusively for presidential use, instead of the regular passenger aircraft section. True Mother also used the presidential lounge. She was welcomed by all the top government officials of Niger including the Prime Minister, all the ministers of the Niger government including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Economy and Finance, as well as the Africa Union Minister of Special Affairs, the Chief Presidential Secretary, the Head of the Protocol office, and many others.
The red carpet, usually reserved for state guests, was laid out over a distance of 100 meters from the plane all the way to the presidential lounge. As soon as True Mother disembarked, the Prime Minister personally guided her to the lounge along the red carpet. As they walked, Mother was shown respect and saluted by a military guard of honor made up of some 150 army servicemen, and welcomed with a performance offered by the top traditional dancers of Niger. The Prime Minister explained everything in detail to True Mother as they walked together. At the presidential lounge, she had a brief talk with the Prime Minster, and then moved to her hotel with the presidential car, a bullet-proof vehicle provided by Niger President Mahmadou Issoufou.
Around Niamey, the capital, some 5,000 military and police officers are charged with preserving security and protocol for the event. Possibly for this reason, I did not see a single car on the way to the hotel. Only True Mother’s car, with a military and police escort, was on the road. On special orders from the president, Niger’s minister of foreign affairs accompanied True Mother in the car from the airport to the hotel.
True Mother received the energetic cheers of our members on her arrival at the hotel. Then in her room, she was greeted by some 30 African leaders ,including Africa Regional Group Chair Bakary Camara, UPF-Africa Chair Kathy Rigney, as well as international leaders including UPF International President Thomas Walsh, and UPF Vice President Dr. Taj Hamad. True Mother received a report from Mrs. Kathy Rigney on the preparations for the upcoming events.
True Mother truly does not rest. Our Heavenly Parent did not rest for even one second during His work of creation, nor since the Human Fall, nor during the providence of restoration has our Heavenly Parent rested. Similarly, Heavenly Parent’s Only Begotten Daughter, True Mother—just as they say, “Like father, like daughter,” has continued on behalf of Heavenly Parent without even a second of rest.
Though it had been agreed in advance that True Mother would not attend the welcoming banquet hosted by the President of Niger, True Mother accepted his earnest request that she attend, even though she was physically exhausted. The banquet began at 8:00 p.m. and some 300 VIPs, including former and incumbent heads of state, parliamentarians, and ministers attended. True Mother entered the banquet hall with the President. She was seated at the center of the banquet table and conversed with the president as they watched some specially prepared entertainment. It was nice to see the president explaining each of the performances to True Mother.
After asking for the President’s understanding, True Mother returned to her room to prepare for the following day’s event. True Mother chose to attend this extra schedule out of respect for the President and the devotion and kind attendance he had shown her at the welcoming ceremony at the airport. She is truly our gracious Mother.
Respected leaders and blessed families!
The African Continental Summit 2019 and the state-hosted Family Renewal Festival for Peace will begin tomorrow, November 28, here in Niger. The reason this summit is on a continental level is because the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which is made up of 15 countries in West Africa; current chair country is Niger; current chairman is President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger, the G5 Sahel (made up of the five Sahel countries: Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger), and UPF will be co-hosting it.
Since São Tomé and Príncipe became the model for national-level restoration, this is True Mother’s first course to create a model of a continental-level restoration. In fact, True Mother’s vision and course for continental restoration was not to be undertaken until 2027. However True Mother has advanced that course by seven years, and this year, as a prelude, she will be carrying out this Summit and Blessing.
True Mother is going a path that no one else has taken or walked and she is forging that path on her own. This is a great challenge, and a great course.
Leaders and blessed families, I would like to ask all leaders and members to offer profound devotions for True Mother’s long life and good health.