The Words of the Guignard Family |
Witnessing Workshop Reflections
Rafael Guignard
March, 2005
I was looking forward to this Witnessing WS because I wanted to study the Divine Principle more deeply. In a period of doubt about True Parents and the Church, studying the DP by myself is the only thing that gave me faith. So the DP is something very important in my life of faith and I really wanted to know it better.
It was good to have help from the 9 months program members (SOTP) from London. With more staff it is easier to organize. More then only a practical help they were really inspiring because of their determination to breakthrough with CARP in Europe. It made me think about what I am going to do after STF and I would have enough determination to push myself and be able to be creative and take initiatives. That convinced me even more to do a 2nd year of STF. The MCs Nicole and Nathaniel did not hesitate to raise the standard when we started to lose focus. I enjoyed all the lectures a lot. I really liked the serious atmosphere compared to other WS. It was good to only sing Holy Songs before the lectures and do a minute of silence at the end and at the beginning of each lecture. It helped a lot to prepare and to reflect about the lectures.
I was really surprised by the quality of Matthew’s lectures. His explanations were really clear and his comments were very inspiring. He handeld the lectures really seriously without making it heavy or boring.
We didn’t have so much time so Mark Bromwell and Auntie Beatrice had to go through the DP lectures quite fast without going into great details. Usually I hate lectures like this but this time I could feel that our lecturers didn’t want to rush it but try to convey as much possible, focusing on the core, to really prepare us for the WT. They gave the lectures with so much passion and serious that I was really inspired and even when I was tiered I couldn’t fall asleep with such lectures. I am really grateful for this.
Rev Schanker’s and Pres Song’s lectures were really amazing. It was so inspiring. But the problem is that only determination can help you to keep the commitment. I am always worried about that because it happened already so many times to me this year that I lose the inspiration and the high spirit that I had temporarily.
I had many doubts about the duo Julius and Simon because they are so different but finally they complimented each other very well.
Everything at this WS pushed me to be more and more serious, especially the seriousness, the determination, the passion and the commitment of the staff and the lecturers. I also liked a lot the video about Father’s tears. It touched much more then the 1st time I saw it because in between I went through many experiences, learned a lot and especially I became closer to God and True Parents. After seeing this video you see things really differently. It was also the 1st time that I saw Braveheart with such intensity. This movie is really inspiring, especially about what Jesus said that those who are ready to die will live. In the movie they say: "Everybody dies but not everybody really lives". You really can see True Father many times in William Wallace. What touched me the most is the character William the Bruce and his struggles between his heart and his father representing Satan. The moment that touches me the most is when Wallace discovered that Bruce betrayed him. You can see the pain in his eyes. He trusted him so much. When I saw this, the 1st thing that came to my mind is that God and True Parents are living this kind of situation with the same pain everyday because of us. Each time we make a bad condition, we betray them, especially when we determined ourselves before that we will do their will. Through this movie and other experiences I could realize that WT is more about win the people’s heart than about telling the truth.
I am really excited to go WT. I am happy to go out to meet the people, trying to know and understand them and also inspire them by sharing my heart and my experiences. I want to have a desperate heart because I really believe TP’s ideals and believe that I can change the people’s lives and even save them from a spiritual death. It’s really important for me to know the DP very well and be an example because I want to offer the best to the people. It’s also an important time for me to listen more, understand the others, see from their point of view and also try to have parental heart, this is especially very important now that I am blessed and mist be ready to take responsibility for others. This concerns my team members as well.
I really learned a lot during this WS and I can’t wait to put it into practice. But I must be patient because I am doing 3 weeks of FR first. That doesn’t change the attitude that I want to have. Only the activity is different. I think that it might be a good preparation just before going WT, especially becuase I didn’t FRer for 1 month. I am happy to go out meet God’s children again for FR and WT.
I hope that I can bring back at least one child to God and I am going to aim for more.
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