The Words of Joong Hyun Pak
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The Words of Joong Hyun Pak |
After
the inauguration of the new Unification Church headquarters building
in Anchorage, Alaska, everyone poses for a picture in front of the
building. Front row, Anchorage center members; back row, Korean
leaders.
On July 21, I received a phone call informing me that 10 regional directors, two IWs, the leader of CARP, and Mr. Dong Moon Joo would soon be arriving in Anchorage, Alaska. We were delighted that the major Korean leaders in America would be visiting the center, and we did our best to prepare a warm welcome for them.
The day after they arrived, we went to Kodiak Island on the Bering Sea, where Mr. Joo Chan Choi arranged for us to go fishing. The Bering Sea area is one of the world's most abundant fishing grounds. I had heard that Alaska abounded in fish, but I actually saw rivers and streams so swollen with salmon that the water looked like a carpet!
True Parents asked Mr. Joo Chan Choi to instruct us in fishing on their behalf. First Mr. Choi gave us a tour of all the facilities and explained how they worked. He told us that at first the people in Kodiak had disdained to work with our members, but their hard work and generosity, as well their exemplary lifestyle, soon won many friends. Now the local people admire the unity and the peaceful atmosphere our brothers and sisters have created there.
After the tour of the facilities, we went fishing. You can imagine the effect of quickly changing from our usual, rather sedentary activities on land to fishing on a rocking boat in the cold wind and bright sun, from early morning to late at night. Our lips and noses were sunburned, cracked, and peeling; our eyes were reddened; and all our muscles ached, even those we didn't know we had! Some of us are in our fifties, but the excitement of catching fish helped us overcome the difficulties. We were very successful in our fishing, especially in catching halibut. The largest one we caught weighed 184 pounds. It almost set a record! For several days we brought in many fish, but suddenly one day, though we worked hard, all the fish seemed to have disappeared!
Left
to right: Rev. Zin Moon Kim, Capt. Joseph, Mrs. Mal Sook Lee, Mr. Joo
Chan Choi, and Mrs. Gil Ja Sa Eu.
On July 27, we stopped fishing there and wanted to go to another one of the islands. After breakfast Father called from East Garden to find out how many fish we had caught there. He always wants to be aware of our situation so he can stimulate us to do better. After we reported, he asked us not to leave that island as we had planned, but instead to go out fishing again within the next ten minutes! We were still suffering from sunburn, blisters, and aching muscles, and we really longed to rest; but we obeyed Father and immediately went out fishing.
Just as Peter experienced miraculous fishing success when he obeyed Jesus, so did we that day. The weather was unbelievably calm, clear, and warm. Everyone caught many fish -- except me! I was miserable and kept repenting. Maybe I wasn't praying enough, or wasn't as sincere as I should be, or maybe God didn't love me. One reason for my lack of success was that the video cameraman was on my boat; my boat was always moving, so I didn't have much time to fish. Then right before we were to return to the center, I hooked a big fish, but in the next moment it cut the line and escaped! My brothers and sisters were praying for me very sympathetically, and finally on my next try I caught an even bigger fish than the one that got away! At 88 pounds, it was the third largest fish brought in that day. Mrs. Eu was the day's champion, with a fish weighing 167 pounds, and Rev. Chung came in second. Mrs. Eu told us that that day was her husband's [President Eu's] memorial day, and she felt he helped her catch the fish on the foundation of her absolute obedience to True Parents.
The next morning True Parents called to hear about our experiences. We conveyed how grateful we were that we had obeyed his direction, and how fruitful the day had been for everyone. Once again we experienced that following True Parents' guidance always brings great benefit. Altogether we caught between four and five thousand pounds of fish during our stay in Alaska.
Mrs.
Hyun Sook Pak (wife of Rev. bong Hyun Pak), Rev. Joong Hyun Pak, Mr.
boo Chan Choi, and Capt. Joseph.
On July 30 we journeyed to Barrow, in the northernmost part of Alaska. Barrow is called the top of the world -- there are no trees or mountains there, just tundra over an area bigger than Idaho. We prayed deeply there for all of North America. Most of the seven thousand people who reside in Barrow are Eskimos.
Because there are no connecting roads there, everything must be imported by ship or plane. Goods are very expensive -- one gallon of milk costs $10!
While there, we found a Korean restaurant that served delicious kimchee as well as sushi! We witnessed to several Eskimos in the restaurant. They described how their ancestors had survived for thousands of years eating the same things. Winter temperatures there often fall to 100 degrees below zero. Eskimos have a very strong and persevering nature to be able to endure living in that area. Their lifestyle is very bare and simple, though in the last few years their living standard has improved. Now they can buy things like orange juice and soft drinks, but unfortunately many illegal drugs have filtered in as well. We felt responsible to help elevate them spiritually and socially.
Next we visited Prudhoe Bay and the oil fields. Half of America's oil resources and two-thirds of its coal come from this area. Geographically, militarily, and economically Alaska is very important. The regional directors were surprised to see its richness. This area has great potential to become God's territory. As a whole, Alaskans seem to me to be more pure and open to new experiences and change than people elsewhere in the United States. Because they trade a great deal with the Orient, they also have an appreciation for Asians.
After my experience fishing in Alaska, I can better understand how much love God expressed for human beings in creating the ocean. Yet how much do we truly appreciate these resources?
The
big halibut catch ready to be sold in Kodiak, Alaska. Korean leaders
look on.
God's profound concern for creation can be seen very clearly in the ocean. The salmon, for example, returns to its exact birthplace after four years in the ocean. Right after the eggs are laid, the mother dies -- thus she sacrifices herself for her young. Father has said the salmon should be called "salmoon" because of its sacrificial parental nature, and Mother was even moved to tears watching a videotape of the salmon's life. Without an amazingly caring Creator, how could this fish have such instincts?
The halibut is also remarkable. It is a very slim fish that swims on its side. Both of its eyes are on one side -- the top. Is this a result of random selection in evolution, or of a loving Creator? The halibut is a bottom fish. An eye on the bottom side would easily be hurt by the sand and debris on the ocean floor. Therefore, God put both eyes on the top. This could never have happened only through evolution. God has endowed each species with something special. The bottom fish, for example, are not beautiful, but they are very delicious, whereas those in the upper strata of the sea are not as tasty but are very lovely.
The personality of the ocean is very dependent on the sun, the moon, and atmospheric conditions. Those who fish on the ocean must understand and obey the laws of nature. The more wisdom they have about the character of the ocean, and the more they can adapt themselves, the more success they can bring. They iry.st sensitively watch the tides, the wind, and the behavior of the fish. Because the weather is so variable, they must always be alert and prepared for danger. Even a moment's mistake can be fatal. Through our fishing experience we received deep insights about God and understood the importance of obeying Him absolutely.
The
biggest catches. Front left to right: Capt. Mark, Rev. Moon Kyun
Song, Mrs. Gil Ja Sa Eu, and Mr. Joo Chan Choi.
Currently, America spends $6 billion to import seafood from the rest of the world. This contributes to our huge deficit. If our fish business can provide the seafood that America now procures from other countries, we can decrease imports, keep the money within America, and build resources to help True Parents establish the Kingdom of Heaven on earth more quickly. True Parents have plans to develop fish farms to ease the food shortage experienced in so much of the world. By increasing the harvest from the sea, we can help feed the hungry.
Through my experience on the ocean, I have come to appreciate True Parents' constant sacrifice and suffering for us. Father's example on the ocean shows us more ways we can increase our capacity to endure, to understand God's heart and creation, and to become the kind of people God can work through and trust. True Parents definitely want all of us to have an "ocean experience."