It’s really quite a shame that winter workshop spans such a short time period, wedged in between Christmas and God’s Day each year. This was my second winter workshop, and my first as a junior high school group leader. I really didn’t know what to expect from this workshop, as the whole of my experience from the previous year was spent lying in the sick room after catching a harsh head cold. This year, however, was a remarkably different experience, and exceeded any of my hopes and expectations. The theme for our workshop was modeled after Hyun Jin Nim’s CARP motto: Service for Peace: Vision of the Second Generation.

Our days and evenings were filled to the brim with lectures and testimonies, activities and group discussions. A few highlights of the workshop included Mrs. Eu’s Divine Principle lecture training, talks with Rev. Jenkins, Aunt DJ Brewer, Young Joo Hyung, and Mr. Sabourin, and activities such as ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire? (In God’s eyes),’ and ‘Family Night,’ featuring the refreshing entertainment of group skits.

However, these highlights took a back seat to my group of ten amazing young brothers, for without whom I would not have grown as a brother struggling to become the hyung, oppa and true son that God wants and needs me to be. There were several instances when I was completely blown away by my kids.

After the first day’s orientation and initial ice breaking, I felt it was important to stress to my group the importance of understanding what the workshop stood for, and their motivation in attending. I tried to convey what I meant by entrusting them with a line that I always hold close with me: "Sometimes it is the heart in which you do things that matters more than what you actually do." I asked them if they understood, and after receiving mechanical nods, I challenged one of them to repeat what I had just said, but in his own words. After a moment of thought, he began comparing the line with an allegory from the Children’s Bible, of a rich man and a poor old woman who gave away her last penny, concluding that what the old woman did was of more value because of the heart with which she gave. I was speechless.

Another instance came during Mrs. Eu’s lecture training, when my entire group boldly, if not reluctantly, marched to the front of the hall to try their hand at giving a brief lecture with projection slides. There was, however, one brother who was very shy, and adamantly refused to go up. After a time of fruitless wheedling, I reminded him of what I had told the group during our first meeting, and after a moment he nodded silently and stood up to get in line. Before he could get a turn, however, it was time for a break, and he returned to sit next to me with a small, content smile on his face. I told him that I was proud of him, that although he didn’t get a turn, the fact that he had the heart to do so was equally valuable, so I told him that he didn’t have to get back in line after the break if he didn’t feel up to it. I returned to the room after break, and a smile crept upon my face when I saw that he had returned to his place in line.

Whether my kids were trying diligently to pay attention during Hoon Dok Hae, offering to pray before and after meetings, or serving meals to occupied group leaders, I will always be grateful for my group and my condensed, short-lived time with them at Winter Workshop 2001. My elder brothers and sisters have always been particularly important to me, and have been instrumental in my life and upbringing as a blessed child. I can only hope and pray that I can be as strong an anchor to my younger brothers and sisters as my hyungs and nunas have been for me.

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