1% LOVE SHARE LAUNCHED IN VIRGINIA
[Editor's Note: Northern Virginia has new WFWP Co-Chairwomen: Ms. Debbie Loew and Ms. Zena Ruf. Debbie was inspired to start the 1% Love Share Project in Virginia in August. On Sunday, August 24, 2013, Northern Virginia WFWP had their first 1% Love Share Bake Sale and raised $201 to offer to Korea.]
Greetings from Northern Virginia Co-Chair Team!
Mrs. Debbie Loew: Zena and I would like to introduce ourselves and share our excitement and vision for our NOVA (Northern Virginia) WFWP.
My journey began last spring when I attended the Unification Church in Bridgeport and was so inspired by WFWP member, Robin Baum Sullivan, who every Sunday baked cookies and brownies on a solo mission to support the WFWP 1% Love Share Project. I thought that I could do that for WFWP, and began the process of asking church leaders and nullmaking a plan for a monthly Bake Sale.
Zena found a beautiful quote from True Mother about the 1% Love Share project for our flier, and it reminded me of a special time in my teenage years when my uncle, Marine Lt. Major Don shared his thoughts after returning home from the Vietnam War. He said the way to win the war was by giving and serving the Vietnamese people. I was so moved that I almost wrote President Johnson a letter about my uncle's great idea for victory in Vietnam.
And again I thought of my uncle when Rev. and Mrs. Moon started the Home Church program. I really felt called by God to do this 1% Love Share Project. He is so patient and gentle with us, nudging us to do a bit more.
Zena and I joined the WFWP Prayer Call for the anniversary of Rev. Moon's Ascension. Again I thought I can offer this. When our precious WFWP Virginia leader, Katherine Cromwell, decided to become the newsletter editor, Zena and I decided we could co-chair our WFWP chapter.
We did have our 1% Love Share Bake Sale and our generous NOVA Church bought and donated $201.00. We will have a monthly Bake Sale for this precious peacemaking project.
Mrs. Zena Ruf: My journey of starting to be active in WFWP began a few years ago when I joined Judie Lejeune, Carmella Ciemny, and Debbie Haratian working in a WFWP small group that we called in the beginning "The Four Realms of the Heart" (parental love, conjugal love, sibling love, and children's love). I was drawn to the idea of working to create a culture of heart and of doing that through education. Judie developed several different talks and we publicized them and held meetings in different neighborhoods. I think we only had a few guests in total, but it was a process that helped me to clarify my own thoughts and feelings.
Later, my youngest daughter, who is in college, and I talked about the value of doing service -- not just talking the talk, but doing the walk. She is involved as a leader in youth ministry and felt that our church/movement has a weakness in not doing enough service or actually practicing what we preach. I also really would like to give opportunities to encourage parents and children to work together more. I have observed that the young people seem to have a much lighter and more natural spirit, whereas I feel I am a little heavy and old-school oriented.
Therefore, my inspiration for this coming year is to work on doing a mother/daughter service project. We are all daughters, so that would include all of us and then those of us who are mothers with daughters (who have an interest in serving) could participate in a regular project together. I have contacted one organization in Prince William County, ACTS, and hope that we can work with them. Please let me know if you would be interested in helping with something like this.
I would also like our local WFWP to support the Food Bank that Nancy Fellenz is collecting food for and am working on how I can remind myself to bring in some cans of food on Sunday.