Creating a Space for Family

Day two of the 7-Day Divine Principle (DP) Workshop in Las Vegas, Nevada was a balanced mix of study of DP, application of these principles to life and sharing that application with the group. Several participants are new to the Divine Principle, just having been introduced to it weeks ago, yet they came all the way to this remote mountain range taking time out of their lives to study the word with a group of strangers, a true testament to the power of Divine Principle. By the day’s end, the entire group of 120 participants gelled into what truly felt like one family under God.

Program Coordinator Teresa Ferrete’s embracing nature and sisterly affection to everyone encouraged a consistent progression in relationship-building throughout the day. The most loving of hosts, Teresa urged everyone to meet Naokimi’s challenge and invest their entire selves into the program. Their complete engagement resulted in revitalizing, reenergizing and contributing to the growth of every person present.

Day two began with morning exercises, service and the creation of 15 teams. Every DP study session included group discussion and reflection and Q&A with the presenter. Marianne Rischl, guidance counselor, Gerry Servito, lecture coordinator, and Rev. Zagary Oliver, the Pastor of the Washington D.C. Family Church, made up today’s Q&A panel.

After dinner, participants shared stories with the group at large. Susen, a participant who flew all the way from Trinidad, celebrated her birthday today. Her journey to get there was both spiritually and physically challenging.  This morning, she felt True Father tell her he “holds the master key to your life.”  She knows it was True Father who brought her here.

There were several outbursts of “Happy Birthday” throughout the evening and much more sharing. Teams spent time reflecting on their bucket list while staff handed out ice cream floats. Spontaneous uncontrollable fits of laughter could be heard throughout the room.  Participants then shared their bucket list with the whole group. People teased each other from across the main hall, energy was high and it was a surprise to the whole group—wholly strangers yesterday—that they gelled as quickly as they did. Unificationists and guests alike shared openly, freely and feeling safe to do so. Bucket list items spanned from raising a beautiful family to changing the world, to visiting the corners of the earth to behold God’s stunning creation, to doing that one thing to make a family member feel completely, utterly loved.  All the dreams were large in love. The evening ended on a high note of brotherly and sisterly love no one expected to feel today.

Participants are excited for the days to come!