The Words of the Hernandez Family
|
|
The Words of the Hernandez Family |
Mark Hernandez joined the Unification Church at the age of 19 in 1973. Instead of starting his second year at the University of Texas on a full-ride scholarship, he chose to become a full-time missionary, and from that time until 1980, he served on MFT. His career from 1980 to 1992 involved pioneering the fish business in the Maryland and Washington, D.C. suburbs and founding "New Wave Seafood Co.," managing the Metropolis Restaurant in Los Angeles. And joining Uni-World Seafood as a sales manager.
In 1982, he and Yuri Otsuka were Blessed in marriage in Madison Square Garden in the 2,075 Couples' Holy Marriage Blessing. Ten years later they moved to Mark's hometown and served the community by holding annual block parties. teaching True Family Values, and giving the Marriage Blessing to all their neighbors. Mark was elected Vice President of his neighborhood association from 1997 to 1999, and elected President from 1999 to 2001. He was recognized in 1998 by the City of Houston as "Neighbor of the Year" and the next year his family was honored as "Family of the Year"
From 1999-2006, Mark served as a Unification Church pastor in Houston and South Texas and as vice-regional director In February of 2005. he was selected to receive the Cheon II Guk Award from True Parents as the Outstanding North American. In 2006, he was chosen as the Director of District 9 and was reelected in 2012.
Question: What are your reflections on the inauguration ceremony?
The very recent ordination ceremony and meeting with our National President, Reverend Hyung Jin Moon, and his wife, Yeon Ah Lee Moon, at East Garden was in one breath, both magical and mystical, yet totally real and grounded. I have previously been appointed to various pastoral positions, but never quite like this inauguration service. Likewise, in the past, those who had finished serving unselfishly for long periods and at great sacrifice were usually only briefly acknowledged in memos. I am so grateful for the careful thought put into this investiture by Reverend Hyung Jin Moon through the unforgettable foot washing ceremony, Pastors' pledge and appreciation of former District Pastors. The preciousness was amplified by the presence of the spouses of the District Pastors. My wife was able to accompany me and for that I was so grateful, because she has always been so present in my being able to invest myself publicly and we could witness and participate together in the overwhelming joy and holiness of this new beginning for our American movement.
Question: What nick name did you have growing up and why?
Until I was one or one-and-a-half years old, my nick name was "Gordito," which means "little fat one" in Spanish. My grandmother said that if my cheeks were any fatter I wouldn't be able to see! Later, my brothers called me "Marky."
Question: What would you do if you had a million dollars?
First, I would tithe. Then, I'd fix a whole bunch of brothers' and sisters' teeth!
Question: What story does your family always tell about you?
My mother has a story that she always tells about me when I was in high school. When I wanted to be alone with God, I would always climb the tall Eucalyptus trees that we had around our house and sit there. One day, I was coining down, swinging from branch to branch, and I grabbed a branch that cracked and broke. I fell 30 feet onto cement! I lay there unable to do more than roll over to the grass, due to the terrible pain. A neighbor boy who had seen the whole thing came over to me and said, "Mark? Are you dead?" I assured him that I was still alive and then, because I didn't want my mother to know, I asked him to go tell my dad, not my mom, to come outside. It scared everyone to death. I had to wear a brace for several weeks, which was very embarrassing.
Question: If you could travel back in time, who would you want to meet and why?
Jesus, I think. I would want to make a difference as one of the disciples. When I was 16, Jesus was more real to me than God. He told me once that I had the capacity to make him proud of me. Wow! To think that I could make him proud was amazing! It had a profound effect on me to imagine that something I could do would give Jesus some joy.
Question: If you didn't have to sleep, what would you do in the time that you would normally be sleeping?
I'd probably write more music. When I was four or five years old, my brother and sister would come home from their piano lessons and teach me what they learned. By the time I was nine, I could play the piano pretty well. From the time I was 14 to when I joined the church. I probably had written hundreds of songs, but I can't read music so I never wrote them down.
Question: If you could be a super hero, which one would you be and how would you use your powers?
I would have to be a flying super hero! I'd have to be a new kind of super hero, too. I'd want to be able to speak to peoples' original minds so that they'd make better decisions. I was going to be a doctor before I met the church because I wanted to heal people. When I gave that up, God said, "You can help me by healing hearts." I'd be a super hero who could heal peoples' hearts!
Question: Do you have any phobias? If so, what?
Well, the only real kind of a phobia I have is the fear of being cold an unable to get warm! I nearly froze one time in Tulsa, and it was very traumatic. I'm always worried now about being prepared if I have to go somewhere cold. I make sure I have things in the car like extra blankets or coats.
Question: What is an exotic dish that you haven't ever tried but would like to?
Durian! When 1 was in Indonesia in 1991 I saw them hanging in the market and I always wanted to try them. The members there would say, "No, Mr. Mark! We don't want you to have a bad memory about Indonesia!" Everyone always discouraged me from trying them. And the smell was also hard to get past. But that is what I would try.
Danny Aguilar
Michael
Hentrich
Stacey Cho Hernandez
John Jackson
Steve Kills
Shin
Chun Lee
Ken Morgan
Peggy Yuji