Happy New Year to everyone.
I traveled to Korea on New Year’s Eve last year. There, centered on the Inheritors of Heaven’s Love and Blessing, we held a New Year’s Day prayer meeting. We had this meeting in the form of a praise festival. The venue was filled with determination and gratitude that the first, second, and third generations would firmly carry God’s will with one heart. I truly felt it was an excellent starting point.
Then, on January 2nd, I visited True Mother at the detention center. Since January 1st is a national holiday, there were no visits scheduled. I was granted the very first visit of the New Year, a mere 10-minute meeting. Yet within those ten minutes, it felt like a year’s worth of blessings were packed into that encounter.
I arrived at the Seoul Detention Center at 9:40 AM. When I arrived, Yeon Ah Nim entered the detention center alone, so I followed behind her into the facility. Yeon Ah Nim had arrived first, followed by me, then Hoon Sook Nim, Shin Chul Nim, and Sin Hung Nim. It was like a rural elementary school or an old city hall—a concrete-walled, stark building. We walked down the hallway, and when we opened the door, it was a space about the size of a public phone booth. This was on our side. Separated by a single pane of glass, the other side was another phone booth-like space, about the same size. It was partitioned by just one pane of glass, and no sound came through at all because it was soundproof glass. The only way sound could pass was through the microphone.
We entered the room about five minutes early that day. True Mother was already inside. She was seated, but her chair was angled slightly. She was sitting at an angle, not looking at us as we entered. For those five minutes, she sat there looking up the air. We were standing right there, very close, but she seemed to be staring blankly into the air, slightly toward us. We weren’t sure if her eyesight was a bit off, or if she was meditating. It was hard to tell, and we started wondering if she wasn’t feeling well. Those few minutes passed like that.
Then, a bell rang, signaling the start of the 10-minute meeting. The instant it rang, True Mother suddenly turned toward us. She had seemed distant and not fully present just moments before, which had made us a bit worried, but suddenly, her composure returned to her face. It signaled that the time for proper dialogue had arrived. The very first thing she said was, “Saehae-ga doeeotguna” (It has become a new year). When Shin Chul Nim offered New Year’s greetings to True Mother, saying,”Saehae gyeongbae deurigetseumnida”(we offer our New Year’s respects to you, True Mother).
We also… well, since January 1st is a holiday at the detention center, there was no visitation that day. I was able to slip into the visitation on January 2nd, Day of Victory of Love, which was the very first visitation of the year. I was allowed to join the visitation with Shin Chul Nim and Shin Hung Nim, along with Yeon Ah Nim and Hoon Suk Nim—the True Family members.
Shin Chul Nim introduced us, saying, “Today, President Hori has come from Heavenly Japan, and from the True Family, Shin-chul, Shin-hun, Yeon-na, and Hoon-suk are present.” True Mother responded, “I see,” and then said, “Then, Hori, you speak.” So I began with New Year greetings. After I offered my New Year greetings once more, saying, “I offer my New Year greetings once again,” True Mother asked, “Horineun ibeone eotteoke watna?” (Hori, how did you come this time?)
I replied that this time I participated in the New Year’s Day prayer meeting, and yesterday shared the situation in Japan with the representative committee members. I added that I would be returning to Japan after this meeting today. Mother responded, “Kure (I see).” I then explained the situation in Japan. In Heavenly Japan, President Tanaka held a press conference on December 9th last year, and we have been busy with the transition of the president.
I myself was in a position to inherit the role in December, learning various things. During January and February, we have been preparing for the court’s decision and making preparations for the Family Federation’s new changes. I also shared the representative situation of the members: how they are all earnestly giving speeches on the streets or offering sincere devotion at Cheon Shim Won late into the night.
Then, True Mother said, “Tell the members in Japan. Many good things will happen in the New Year.” She really emphasized the word “many” by stretching it out. Along with that, True Mother smiled so brightly, and I felt tremendously encouraged right then. With such a blessing, we cannot afford to say that things are difficult.
It wasn’t that True Mother was predicting many good things would happen, or speaking like a prophecy. It was more like True Mother herself, speaking on behalf of Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother, conveying their heartfelt desire to bring many good things. It was that kind of vibration. Well, it was truly more precious than a mere prophecy, I should say. This was True Mother’s entire New Year’s message to the Japanese members, her message of departure, her message of blessing. I sincerely hope you will keep this in your hearts and also share it with others.
She told us to say, “Many good things will happen, so put forth your strength and do your best,” using the phrase Himchagenaagara. At first, True Mother’s expression appeared neutral and almost transparent, and I even wondered if she had not yet noticed us. However, when she offered Her New Year’s greeting and began to share her message to Japan, her expression suddenly changed. It was as if the image shifted from black and white to full color—like an ultra-clear, vivid picture. Spiritually, it felt as though something blossomed all at once, like flowers bursting into bloom. That was the impression I received.
So, True Mother is telling us not to lose hope, to believe Heaven is with us, and to keep striving wholeheartedly until Heaven’s truth is revealed. She’s saying, “Everyone, stay healthy and keep fighting.” I truly feel Mother is empowering us. This, above all else, strikes me as the most hopeful message for Heavenly Japan right now. It’s not about fighting desperately without knowing if we can succeed. It’s about fighting without losing hope. I feel we must urgently convey this to everyone: Heaven’s truth is gradually being revealed.
And this appeals to the conscience of the nation of Japan. It reveals that we are not in despair but are moving forward with hope toward a path where we can continue and survive. True Mother spoke very brightly, and it was a situation where all of us were encouraged instead. That’s always the case. We always come out of the detention center feeling encouraged and empowered.
As I mentioned earlier, I cannot forget True Mother’s smile as she said many good things would happen. It was as if suddenly, everything shifted from black and white to color, and True Mother’s smile spread across my entire field of vision. This isn’t prophecy, but rather True Mother herself directly conveying God’s heart to bestow abundant blessings upon our future. I felt this was directly connected to the truth that seeing me is seeing Heavenly Parent. Though I alone attended the meeting, representing Heavenly Japan, we received solid, certain blessings and fortune.
I believe this is the most important message today. I hope you all can truly feel this blessing and then impart it to all the members, amplifying and passing it on. I think that is the very essence of Blessing. It doesn’t diminish as you share what you’ve received; rather, the essence of blessing is that as you share it, it expands and grows larger and larger. Rather, it becomes an ever greater, more immense blessing. The love of True Mother, poured out to us even from within the detention center, is an eternal and absolute Blessing.
It penetrates this ever-changing world, where praise and criticism constantly rise and fall, and continues to encourage us and give us real strength.
This is crucial for us to understand that we are loved by True Mother. This is the essence of our departure this year. Therefore, because we receive the love of True Parents, we can face all kinds of challenges. Even amidst various trials, the love of the parents within my heart cannot be taken away or erased. I believe this is absolute. If we start the year anchored to such a foundation, I am confident we can transform this great year of transition into a shift toward a better direction. With this, I conclude my New Year’s message. Thank you. I look forward to your continued support throughout this year. Thank you.
