After a nail biting legal battle, permission was finally obtained, in defiance of the German government’s ban with which the Dutch government complied, for True Parents to visit the Netherlands, some thirty hours before True Father was scheduled to speak in the prestigious Kurhaus Hotel in The Hague. (National Leader Wim Koetsier, far from 'crowing' about this victory, said privately he felt it was a pity we had to "force them/Cain, it would be better if to win with love.") Brothers and sisters from all over Europe immediately mounted a heavenly invasion, some driving all the way from the November 1 meeting in Geneva.

When True Parents first arrived at the hotel, they were welcomed by Dutch Ambassadors of Peace as well as Church leaders. Meanwhile the hall was being quickly prepared, and great cooperation between Peter May, Dutch members and the hotel staff ensured that everything went smoothly. The hall filled up, the meeting started on time and it was a great surprise to see UPF video with Dutch subtitles. The spirit was also raised by a heart warming song from Margaret Stoudinger, Thomas Walsh leading everyone through the Peace Blessing ceremony, the representative couple being long time friends Tae Kwan Do Master Kim and his wife, and President Song deeply sincere introduction to True Father.

During his speech, True Father twice praised the Dutch leaders for mounting the meeting of, by his estimate, some 520 people, at such short notice, and, possibly in celebration of the breach of the Schengen walls, possibly because "you are drowning in this country", possibly because he saw Korean war veterans wearing their medals, possibly because he saw new Korean faces and people of all races and backgrounds in the audience, he departed from his text so many times that his speech lasted an extraordinary three hours, the longest speech in Europe; despite him being handed a note that True Mother was waiting for him to finish.

He ranged far and wide in his talk, treating the audience, who responded verbally and with laughter as well as applause, as if they were regular church members, revealing in the process many new things about his youth and his vision for the future. He commented that much of the country is below sea level and that someone had to come to save us from drowning!

That night, one Ambassador for Peace who had attended despite being so sick he had almost lost his voice, dreamt of Father asking how he could help him, and the wife of another Ambassador of Peace reported how wonderful it had been to be in the front row and see Father close up with all his expressions, and that she and a friend that had come with her were going to mobilize many women in response to Father’s plan for Peace Police. Another Ambassador for Peace had taken the initiative to give True Parents a beautiful glass object on which the faces of True Parents were engraved, together with a congratulatory text about the 100-city tour, and she was the first person in the room for Hoon Dok Hae. Another Ambassador for Peace who represents Aruba in the Netherlands was full of compliments about the meeting and reported that her husband felt so honored to be also appointed as an Ambassador for Peace. The Korean Embassy in The Hague was very helpful in enlarging True Father’s passport to accommodate all the various stamps required and sent a representative to the meeting; and the First Secretary said he would talk with the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs about the shabby way in which the Dutch government had handled True Parents’ visit.

The hall was also full for Hoon Dok Hae the next morning, Pres Song ecstatic as, before True Parents’ arrived, he thanked everyone for their support.. Again, True Father spoke at great length, his comments and President Song’s reading melding seamlessly together. He called the many STF members to the front and conducted them in two groups to sing Omaya, in addition to having other members sing and singing himself with True Mother.

True Father said he himself did not know why he had revealed so much in the Netherlands, but that we must change our clothes and put on the amour of True Love. 

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