By Keiko Hamada Foss
I was raised within the Buddhist religion in the Kochi pref. of Japan. In 1966, when I was 16 years old, I was introduced Divine Principle by my parents. My younger sister Kazuko, then 14, saw street preaching by the young college student. He was passing out a flyer asking “ Does God really exist? “ She knew right away to bring the flyer to our mother because our mother was crazy for God. She was always looking for the higher truth and answers for the mysteries of universe. Six months earlier, a Jehovah Witness missionary had come to our door and we had been studying the Bible at home.
After my parents attended the first display of the Divine Principle lecture, my mother was so inspired that she told me that 'this is the one I have been looking for, for such a long time'. She then introduced True Parents to my elder sister Sanae, my cousin and me. We went to study Divine Principle everyday.
During High school, I started to bring my friends to attend fun circle gatherings. We helped with several activities like 'Haihin-Kaishu' (collecting and recycling news papers, etc) and street witnessing. We had lunch with Su Udon (only white thick noodle soup) and mimi pan (only the crust of white bread). It was a humble meal, but these college students who came for 40 days pioneering, were afire with deep love and dedication to True Parents and God. They were constantly talking about how to restore the evil world and build a world of True Love. I was completely drawn by their bright eyes and the smiles on their faces. They seemed so happy, bursting with hope and ambition. I wanted stay at church center more than staying at home.
After I graduated high school in 1968, I enroll in a 4 year technical college to be a knitting designer. After one semester, I was told to attend a 7 day workshop. That workshop was a life changing experience. I decide to join and become a full time member. After another 40 day workshop under Rev. Sudo’s guidance, I was assign to the Nagoya Church under Rev. Kamiyama and Mr. Furuta. My training began with selling flowers and witnessing. Everyday I wrote letter to my parents to tell them how happy I was. I told them of the joy of meeting new people everyday and being surrounded with wonderful brothers and sisters. I invite my parents to come to Nagoya church to greet Rev. Kamiyame & Mr. Furuta.
My parents felt such gratitude towards the church leaders for taking such good care of their daughter. They experienced many devoted fathers and mothers helping the young members, cooking delicious meals for them and cleaning the center, just like their own home. My parents were so moved, they decided to become full time members. They inspired my elder sister and younger sister to join full time also. Our whole family joined in 1970.
My next mission, for five years, was selling the Eiwa air rifle B-3 made in Korea by Tongil Enterprise. This was quite a challenging mission, but I understood this was the course to indemnify Abraham’s failure to not to cut the dove during his offering.
On Sep 06, 1973, I was among the 30 member of the fifth group of Japanese to arrived in New York. The next day, we rallied at Times Square, selling $3 tickets for Father’s speech event. During the event, we stayed at Lexington Ave & 71st., in New York Church building. I did witnessing. Once, I brought guest without knowing that he was homeless man just looking for free food. My lack of knowledge of English didn’t stop me from going out everyday.
One day, I was listening to Mr. Joe Tully's prayer. He was our leader at the time. I started crying. I surprised myself. I had gained some confidence, and realized that understanding a language is from the heart, and not from brain. I made some effort to speak beautiful English. Every night I put earphones on and slept while listening the radio news, trying to input English to my brain and expand my heart to love America and American people.
I joined the MFT International team and traveled to 38 states. Every time we moved to new state, I bought a post card and send to my parents and all my relatives and contacts in Japan. This became a my good habit; to writing post cards all the time, even while moving in the van. Simply, I wanted share my pure joy and wonderful experience of traveling in the United States. Whatever the mission God gives to me, I always find simple joy and put my own style and expressed enthusiasm. I never felt burdened or pressured. I was always a positive thinker. I had such good human relationships with anyone I met. I thank my parents who gave me an excellent example of parenting, and lots of love and care. We were a sunshine family, bonded in heart, inseparable. When I went to through some difficult time, I tried to remember my parents good example. They are so harmonious, doing thing together with lots of smiling and laughter.
I was asked to be a MFT team Mother, next a Center Mother, and finally an itinerary worker, to visit team by team. I have met so many wonderful brothers & sisters. Most of those member are now great leaders who are advancing God providence in America.
After the Yankee Stadium event, I start selling Korean Ginseng in Queens, NY. I went to Cleveland Ohio to build the foundation for the Ginseng business with Mrs. Hsu. I travelled to Columbus and Toledo, to all the health food stores and drug store to give Ginseng demonstrations. I strongly believe Ginseng does cure all. I still take Ginseng capsule everyday with Tenchi cha.
I worked hard for the Washington Monument Rally September 18, 1976. My parents came to support this event with so many members from Japan. My mother came to Madison Square Garden event and attend the 2,075 couple Blessing at MSG. In 1975, My sister was blessed with Joe Tully in Korea and my parents received the 'Previous Marriage Couple's Blessing' after the Yoido Rally in 1976.
I returned to Japan in 1976, after the rally. While I was in Tokyo, I heard about a matching. I send my photo. Then I received phone call from John Foss (who I never met before). He said “Hello, I am John. I was picture matched with you.“ What a surprise! I didn’t know what to say. I just said, “Okay, Thank you very much for your call. Please send me a your photo.“ My Mother was shouting with joy and singing 'banzai'!. It is like cheering 'mansei!'. She had a vision and saw the 'Milky Way', the east meeting the west in the sky. You can imagine how happy my father was to have a son-in-law who was a fourth generation Architect of Norwegian ancestry.
My father is a second generation master of carpenter. He had a construction business for 45 years. His specialty was wood work. He has built many shrines and temples. He even helped build Korean local Churches and New Hope Farm's decorative wood work (with my Husband). He was fortunate to have built an addition to Father’s house in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii in 1991.
For about 1 and ½ years, John and I exchanged letters & gift and introduced ourselves to each other from the inside first. We have both saved all these precious letters and put together in a scrap book. I like to show them to our children and plan to show them to our grand children in the future.
I entered America with a fiancé visa in 1980. Dr. David Kim officiated a wedding ceremony for us in New Yorker Hotel. In July 01, 1982, we attended the 2,075 couple Blessing. We were given a Blessing Trinity at that time, with Bill & Nancy Kubo, Rod & Rosanne Cameron. Since then we are good true friends in faith and we still are writing letters to keep in touch.
I worked at Edo Japanese Restaurant, Ilhwa/Ginseng, Good Food Café, and Décor Marketing in the years we lived in Manhattan and New Jersey. My children went to Jin-A Nursery School in Clifton. John and I volunteered as a parents representative to help take care things at school.
On the first of July, 1992 we decided to go back to John's hometown in Fargo, North Dakota. We drove the car for about 27 hours from Nutley, New Jersey. It was a heart breaking experience for me to leave such a loving community with so many Japanese members and Blessed Children.
The Pfeiffer family had already moved back to Fargo in May. We started pioneer the Home Town Providence together. I was the only Japanese member for 12 years. Now we have one more Japanese sister, Toshiko Olson and one Japanese second generation brother Tomitaka Sodeyama in Grand Forks. I belong to a Japanese Luncheon group with non-UC members. We meet every two month at a restaurant for friendship. Most of the women are internationally married. John and I are also board members and volunteers for 'African Soul, American Heart', a non-profit organization to help build a boarding school for orphans in Southern Sudan. My husband made trip to the village in September of 2008 to study the site in preparation to design the facility.
We had quality time with his parents. They came to watch their grandson’s ice hockey games and base ball game, Golf tournaments and to watch their granddaughter’s volleyball and basketball games, figure skating shows and ballet recitals. They helped send our kids to swimming lessons, golf lessons, tennis lesson and contributed to so many beautiful experiences, helping our children grow. I became so close to mother-in-law. We were like best buddies. Both Grandpa & Grandma taught me how to cook and shares their favorite recipes with me. My father-in-law passed away in 1998 with a heart problem and two years ago, mother-in-law became very sick. We moved into her house and took care of her every single day with joyful hearts. I made hearty breakfasts and wiped her face with a hot towel. I changed her gauze, gave her medications, and made runs to the pharmacy. I would take care all her errands and walk her to the bathroom. John and I would put cream on her back every night before go to bed.
Every day I wrote journal like a nurse, recording all the detailed doses of medication and times. When helpers would come to take over, they could read all the notes, and smoothly chip in. When my sister-in-law came to take over, she wrote such nice notes that I could read so easily.
I called John's mother Grandma, because I never knew my own Grandma. My Japanese grandmother passed away after she gave birth to my mother due to birth complications. When Grandma was healthy, we went to grocery and cloth shopping. We went to the movie 'Titanic' and watch TV together. When the our van broken down, I wrote a wishing fulfillment paper, asking Heavenly Father, "I need a new car to do your will." Out of nowhere, Grandma bought a brand new car for me. On August 02, 2008 She passed away. I miss Grandma so much. I really loved her deeply.
Through serving Grandma, My relationship with my husband sibling’s and relatives changed and deepened so much. They trust us and love my family. At the same time, my Japanese parents became sick. I could go back to Japan quite often. My mother passed away on Dec 16, 2006. She suffered Alzheimer for 10 years. And recently, my father passed away on Dec 26, 2009. He died with Lung Cancer. We both became orphan in a sense. All the siblings and cousins are getting along with each other very well and enjoying each other more than before.
Our son Rygo and daughter Roshan were truly the bridge to make a good relationship with all the cousins, uncles, and aunts. Grandparents really enjoyed seeing all the grand children playing together so nicely when we were all gathered the lake home (like a family root) in the summer.
We run an Architect's office as a husband & wife team since 1987. John is self-employed and I do the bookkeeping at our home office. I am following my parents footsteps. They ran a construction/carpentry business together. I am so grateful to follow our precious True Parents. I understand that Heavenly Parents know everything about us. I remember Father saying that the gate to the Heavenly Kingdom cannot be open with a key made of gold or silver. The only 'Key' that can open it is a 'True Family perfected through True Love'.
%20Oliver%5B2%5D.jpg "Susan (Hughes) Oliver")
%20Oliver%20and%20team%201970%5B18%5D.jpg "Susan (Hughes) Oliver and team 1970")
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