Contributed by Jinil Fleischman
On July 25-31, 2023, a group of 23 students and staff from CARP chapters throughout the United States went to Korea for a special opportunity: the 2023 New Hope HJ Pilgrimage. Over the course of a week, the pilgrimage participants traveled all over South Korea to understand and experience the history and heart of CARP Founders, Father and Mother Moon, based on the theme “Experience the Footsteps of True Parents.” It was a truly life-changing experience for everyone!
Day 1
After arriving at Incheon Airport the day before, the first day of the pilgrimage began at the Cheongpyeong training center. In the morning, we had an orientation to the week’s schedule and time to meet our teams. In the afternoon, we had time to explore the training center campus, including to climb the nearby mountain and visit the “Tree of Blessing” and other holy tries, and then took time to read Mother Moon’s memoir, Mother of Peace, which we continued to do throughout the pilgrimage in order to understand the lived experiences of Father and Mother Moon at the various places that we visited. Finally, in the evening we received a special lecture about the life of Father and Mother Moon from Dr. Insoo Kim, a professor at the Sun Hak Universal Peace Graduate University.
Day 1 Testimonies:
“My highlight of today was visiting the holy trees with my team; it was a great opportunity for team bonding and appreciating nature.”
“My highlight of today was being here in the Cheongpyeong training center. I felt so much of God’s grace and love here. Listing to Dr. Kim’s lecture stock out to me, especially when he talked about how we can call out to God and ask Him to come into our heart, mind and body, so we can experience God throughout our lifestyle.”
Day 2
We woke up nice and early, and immediately left the training center, eating breakfast on the bus. Our first stop was Gyeongbokgung, a historic ancient palace from the Joseon dynasty. Gyeongbokgung is located in the center of Seoul, and provides a look into the rich tradition and culture of the Korean people. We rented traditional Korean clothing called “hanboks” and explored the palace.
After that, we visited the DMZ. We crossed a military checkpoint and ate at the “Unification Restaurant” (Tongil shikdang), celebrating the hope of a unified Korea. Then we visited Imjingak, a location on the Imjin river that forms part of the border of the DMZ, and highlights the Korean war and DMZ’s role in Korean history. We rang the “bell of unification,” which rings out loud enough to be heard in North Korea. Being there helped us appreciate the significance of the Korean War and division of North and South in Father and Mother Moon’s life as well as to all Korean people. We could feel the pain of having one’s homeland ripped in two, and the countless lives that were lost. After the DMZ, we drove about 5 hours to Busan, on the southeastern tip of the peninsula.
Day 2 Testimonies:
“Experiencing traditional Korean culture through wearing hanboks at Gyeongbokgung Palace helped me gain a better understanding of True Parents’ country. The “chima jeogori” outfit was especially beautiful!”
“Visiting the DMZ was my highlight because it is the place that divides the world. It was a rollercoaster of emotions. At first I was looking at it as a fun historical adventure and it wasn’t until later that the reality settled in. There were people who were just a few kilometers away, starving, being brainwashed, and forced to do the bidding of a tyrannical governor, and I couldn’t do anything. I was supposed to be there to experience the footsteps of True Parents, but it is only now that I understand what they might have felt if they visited the DMZ.”
Day 3
In the morning, we visited the Beomnetgol museum. In the winter of 1951, Father Moon had escaped from a North Korean concentration camp in the midst of the Korean War, and had journeyed to Busan, the only city that hadn’t fallen to the communists. There, as a refugee, he restarted his ministry and eventually built a humble church out of mud bricks and cardboard, located in the Beomnetgol neighborhood in Busan. Now a museum stands to honor that original church. We learned about this history from a museum staff. After that, we climbed a little ways up the mountain behind the museum to the “Rock of Tears,” a place where Father Moon offered numerous tearful prayers for God during his refugee years. Then, we continued to the top of the mountain to the “holy ground,” a special place for prayer consecrated by Father Moon. Overlooking the city and Busan harbor, we offered a prayer and loud cheer for peace.
After lunch, we enjoyed the afternoon at the Haeundae beach, the most famous beach in South Korea. We enjoyed the ocean waves and warm sand. Then we departed on another long bus ride to our next destination.
Day 3 Testimonies:
“Through praying at the Rock of Tears and climbing the mountain to the holy ground, I was able to feel the devotion that Father Moon put each day.”
“My highlight was climbing the mountain in Busan. I was inspired by Father’s vision, looking over the ports of Busan, envisioning that one day many people will come to visit this place to learn more about his journey, and that one day he will go overseas to create a world of peace. I want to have a big vision like he does and contribute to a world of peace.”
Day 4
Today we went somewhere off the beaten path of Korean tourism. We visited Gyeryong-san, or Mt. Gyeryong. Gyeryongsan is a beautiful mountain located near the city of Gongju, the former capital of the Baekje kingdom, and is known as a spiritual place. It is a place that Father Moon offered a lot of prayer, especially before the Holy Wedding of Father and Mother Moon. The Gapsa temple near the base of Gyeryongsan is the place where Father Moon met with Mr. Bong-choon Choi to give him the mission of going to Japan as the first foreign missionary of his ministry. After a cozy night at a traditional Korean lodging place, we visited the Gapsa temple, enjoying the beautiful scenery of the mountain.
After that, we drove to Seoul and had the entire afternoon and evening for siteseeing by teams. We spent the night in a Korean “jimshilbang” bathhouse.
Day 4 Testimonies:
“Sightseeing in Seoul was a really enjoyable team bonding experience, and I got to understand the members of my team better.”
“The Gapsa Temple is one of the most beautiful places that I’ve ever been to. The fresh forest air and abundant nature were so refreshing. The experience gave me greater respect for Rev. Choi, and what he did for God.”
Day 5
After a relaxing night at the bathhouse, we spent the whole day in Seoul. Our first visit was to the Cheongpadong church, which was the former headquarters of Father and Mother Moon’s ministry, as well as the location of their wedding, and where their family lived for their first decade of marriage. In the Cheongpadong church, we could feel and connect with the incredible tradition of devotion and heart that Father and Mother Moon offered there.
After that, we visited the Seodaemun prison, which is now a museum. Seodaemun prison is were numerous Korean patriots were imprisoned during the Japanese occupation of Korea. The museum honors the lives of those patriots and their work for the liberation of Korea. Seodaemun prison is also where Father Moon was kept for three months during a period of persecution that his ministry faced in the 1950s.
After lunch and a visit to the Cheonseung church — the largest church of Father and Mother Moon’s ministry in Seoul — we went to the Yamok church, located in the countryside just outside of Seoul. The Yamok church is a place where Father Moon led many service and training activities in the 1950s. Our hosts there helped us to experience the heart of his ministry from that time period.
Finally, in the evening we returned to the Cheongpyeong training center, and after dinner we received a special lecture from a member of the training center staff.
Day 5 Testimonies:
“Visiting the Cheongpa-dong Church was great, because it is the greatest historical site in human history. Seeing the place where True Parents and some of their eldest children lived, and where the holy wedding took place was a great blessing.”
Visiting the Yamok Church was my highlight. I felt a lot of love from the staff, and I could connect to the spirit of the early days of the Unification movement.”
Day 6
Today we were able to experience the training center more deeply. We participated in a Chanyang — “praise” — session in the morning. In the afternoon, we climbed Mt. Seon-In, a peak close to the training center. It was a steep and exhausting hike, but was a meaningful experience. During the hike, we thought about the many times that Father Moon hiked this mountain while offering prayer for world peace. After that, we enjoyed a boat ride on Cheongpyeong lake. In the evening, we had time for prayer and reflection.
Day 6 Testimonies:
“The Chanyang session was my favorite part by far. I felt so spiritually empowered and wanted to do it again every time it finished.”
“The boat ride was great. It was fun swerving around Cheongpyeong lake. The hike to Seon-In Bon (peak) was tough, but I felt a little closer to Father Moon after that hike. I could feel how much devotion he offered there as he prayed for God’s providence and the world.”
Day 7
For our final full day, we had the amazing opportunity to visit the Cheon Jeong Gung museum, a beautiful palace on the mountainside that honors the lives of Father and Mother Moon, and also the residence of Mother Moon. We visited the gravesite of Father Moon, located behind the Cheon Jeong Gung, and offered our prayer and respects to him. It was an amazing place where we could feel deeply how God has been part of Father and Mother Moon’s lives.
In the afternoon, we received our final special lecture from Dr. Insung Moon, understanding more deeply about Mother Moon’s ministry and work today. We had some time to share our reflections in our teams, then visited the Cheonbowon museum, which shares more about Father and Mother Moon’s ministry at the Cheongpyeong training center.
In the evening, we had our closing session where we could hear testimonies from each other. After that, many of us joined a special night time prayer devotion that is held at the training center regularly.
Day 7 Testimonies:
“Visiting the Cheon Jeong Gung Palace, I was reminded of my mission from True Parents. They want the most for all of humanity and they have lived their lives for everyone. When we visited Father Moon’s resting place, it was our call to inherit his will fully and help Mother Moon to create heaven on earth.”
“I appreciated Dr. Moon’s lecture about ‘Heavenly Father-Mother God.’ It was a simple but powerful explanation that brought me closer to the true concept of Hyojeong [filial heart] and about God.”
This pilgrimage was an incredible experience for all of us, providing a chance to understand CARP’s founders more deeply, and to experience many aspects of their lives tangibly. We look forward to hosting more pilgrimages in the future!