ASIA

 

Japan / Taiwan / Thailand / Hong Kong / Malaysia / Philippines / Sri Lanka

  Southern Asia

It was very difficult for missionaries to live in southern Asia. There is no religious freedom or any single moral standard in the countries there. In addition, it is not easy at all to make progress within the domain of Islam and Hinduism.

Not even one country issued a missionary visa to the missionaries of the Unification Church. Accordingly, they had to become a media representative, student or businessman. Some had to move in and out of a country in order to renew a tourist visa every month.

For example, a Japanese missionary assigned to Sri Lanka tried to enter the country as a businessman importing thousands of dollars worth of minerals for a jewelry company. However, a long-stay visa was not issued and his effort to stay in Sri Lanka were in vain. As a result, Michinori Hasegawa, the first Japanese missionary to Sri Lanka, had to travel between India and Sri Lanka with his wife and daughter every month for more than twelve years just to renew their visas and thus continue to work for God.

Five countries Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka make up this region. Missionaries cannot stay even for a few months in countries such as Bhutan. Nobody has been able go to the Maldive Republic yet. Actually, eight missionaries were assigned to this region but only a few remain. Several were re-assigned to other countries or regions, and a few returned to their home countries.

Nepal / Pakistan / Bangladesh / India