The Words of the Piepenburg Family |
Poland, The First Leg On True Parents' 13-Cities Tour Won A Great Victory
Fritz Piepenburg
October 24 2005
Warsaw, Poland
True Parents' party arrived in the morning and was smoothly guided to the VIP launch. It was a relaxed atmosphere, brightened up by the occasional performance of Shin Joon Moon, the grandson. Driving to the hotel was smooth - True Mother commented on the beautiful sight of the colors of the autumn trees. At the hotel, the door was widely opened and the elevators were waiting to take the party up to the 20th floor.
Meanwhile brothers and sisters, who were not involved in the preparations, continued to invite people by way of bringing them to the exhibition, which was organized in the center of Warsaw in the upper rooms of a well known café, dating back to 1866. Because of this exhibition, we could crack the 500 AfP mark two days before the event and came very close to the 700 confirmed invitations.
Then at the event itself, people started to stream in in ever increasing numbers. Rev. Kwak and Dr. Walsh came to the VIP reception, hosting some 50 VIPs from Poland, Germany and Holland, being introduced to each one and have some meaningful conversation. Meanwhile it became clear not everybody would possibly fit into the hall. Several times the MC had to announce and ask those families with young people to stand up and empty their seats for our guests. The hall had a capacity of 550, but there must have been a total of over 700 people. The doors at the entrance of the hall could not be closed, because people were crowding there and standing all along the wall.
Germany could bring some 240 people, Holland a busload of 50. And more people were coming in. In fact the hotel management became so worried about the big influx of people that at one point they closed the hotel completely, and let only as many people in as were going out. Only towards the end they would allow everybody in.
Gregor Galatski, whose law firm bears the interesting name of "Hananim & Galatski", led through the program. The pre-program went quickly and soon True Father could take the stage and begin his speech. Frequently he was commenting on certain passages, mostly in English. He directly addressed the Polish people several times, explaining about exchange marriage and elaborating on the significance that this day was also some commemorative day for the United Nations. He was full of vigor and stamina and stayed on the podium for over one and a half hours. At one point he said that he was feeling very close to the audience. "You may feel so close to me that you won't want to leave me anymore" he said.
After the speech True Mother came on the stage, smiling and beautiful as ever. They were given bouquets of flowers and a large trophy by a combination of Polish and German Ambassadors for Peace, as a joint token of gratitude and congratulations. It was a very beautiful sight, True Parents with Pres. Song and the Peace Ambassadors posing with the trophy. Then, under large applause, True Parents left the hall.
The program which followed was equally nice and interesting. First a German Ambassador for Peace, a long term friend and Bishop of the Mormon Church, expressed his dismay at the fact the True Parents can't enter Germany: "Nobody understands this entry ban, when it is clear that Rev. Moon works for bringing peace and harmony among the nations, races and religions." He could feel the Holy Spirit being present at this time and in this hall, urging all participants to joint the work of Rev. Moon in establishing God's Kingdom on earth. - He was really on fire and thanked True Father frequently for his work.
Next came Christian Hausmann, who told the audience that he was feeling so light and exited since he had never been before after completing his student years back in the 60ies. -
Then, unexpectedly Imam Sajid from Great Britain took the podium and congratulated the Polish people on hosting such an event with True Parents. He himself would always refer to Father and Mother as True Parents. "Rev. and Mrs. Moon, the True Parents, bring this out in men, what was originally created to be in the image of God", he remarked.
Finally Christoph Gago, the Secretary General of Poland, took to the podium and, within 3 minutes, explained all about the importance of love, three generations, four realms of heart and more. He is very well respected by the Polish Ambassadors for Peace.
The event ended with a beautiful, self made song by the STF and other 2nd gen. accompanied by a guitarre and a violine.
Brothers and sisters, thank you so much for you great support all around Europe, which made it possible that this event could be so successful!
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