ⓒ 2009 WATV

Among the overseas visiting group members, there was a brother who was filled with a strong military spirit. He was Brother Ramon who touched and inspired many members through the pictures of him and another brother celebrating the Passover in the battle field, Iraq, last year. Here is an interview with Brother Ramon, who expressed his wish to be a "great gospel worker."


You celebrated the Passover in the battle field last year. Please explain the situation of that time.

"I was stationed in Camp Bucca, Iraq; we were guards. I knew I had to celebrate the Passover when I was over there. I knew it was very important. The day before the Passover I had to go out and look for a place to where I was separated from everyone so I could celebrate the Passover, me and a brother that was over there. At that time it was difficult; especially at the appointed time we would be very busy. So I prayed to Father and Mother for a way to keep the Passover while we were there. As far as staying strong in faith, I called my pastor in San Diego Zion. They explained what I had to do to keep the Passover. Finally the day came and it seemed like I wouldn't be able to keep it, but I knew Father and Mother would open a way to keep it. I told myself it would not matter if I was punished by the military for leaving, but I wanted to keep the Passover ' cause I knew in the last day I will receive eternal life. Whatever persecution or suffering is nothing compared to what we will receive in the last days. Finally, the appointed time came; me and another brother kept the Passover thanks to Father and Mother, despite the difficult situations and the place. The day the Passover came, there was a big political issue about me trying to keep a Christian feast the way Jesus kept it. Basically, the political issue was the Muslims there, bringing our religion into the Muslim community. That was part of the huge issue I was going through there, also being so busy, sometimes working 30 hours before we got rest. So, time was crucial. So I prayed hard to Father and Mother to allow us to keep the Passover at the appointed time. For weeks in advance I told my supervisors I needed time at least 2 hours to keep the Passover, me and my brother over there. They said we would see the mission is first. But I kept begging them. I asked, 'Can I get time off to celebrate the feast, just a few hours,' but I always got the same answer. I prayed continually to Father and Mother and it wasn't until that day Father and Mother opened the way for me and my brother to celebrate the Passover. It was at the last possible minute I could celebrate the Passover thanks to Father and Mother."


What special blessing did you receive after celebrating the Passover?

After keeping the Passover I knew the Father and Mother were pleased with us. Especially, all the hardships we went through in order to keep the Passover. Being there by ourselves, we prayed to Father and Mother. Being out there by ourselves is tough, but Father and Mother blessed us so much and we were able to have some of Father's Books out there. We studied it all the time in order for us to keep getting fed with the spiritual food we need and not dying spiritually. That kept us strong all throughout our deployment. Thanks to Father and Mother, not only were we able to keep the Passover, but we had Father's Books out there. After the deployment, we got back in October, 2008, and thanks to Father and Mother I was able to join the Overseas Visiting Group to visit our Heavenly Mother even though I'm still in the military. Actually I was not approved until the very last day before we took the flight over here to Korea. Because that was another hardship and persecution, it took months to get approved to come here, but thanks to Father and Mother anything is possible."


How do you preach the gospel in the military?

"Being in San Diego, in a big military town we have many opportunities to preach to our lost brothers and sisters, but lately being in the truth so long for 2 years, I have preached to some of our lost brothers and sisters and eventually it got to the point where we were persecuted a lot-we go in trouble from our chain of command; basically they told a few brothers and sisters to stop preaching. Preaching did not belong in the workplace, so I asked them, 'What if someone wants to know about God?' They said, 'If they come and talk to you, then ok, but you cannot openly start preaching to anybody.' So I said ok and we prayed to Father and Mother like always and then everybody just started coming up to us and asking questions about God because they knew that God is with us. Again, thanks to Father and Mother, these lost brothers and sisters are coming to us and asking, 'Who is this Heavenly Mother you're talking about?' So, God made it easier to proclaim Her to these lost brothers and sisters and also our Mother Jerusalem is the only One to set us fee."


What spiritual realizations did you gain through this visit to Korea?

"This was my second visit to Korea after my first visit last year. This time I gained more spiritual realizations than the last time. Especially I felt much more of Mother's love. As I watched the process of making ceramics and saw various kinds of fishes at the COEX Aquarium, I thought of the providence of God who chose me as a precious vessel for preaching the gospel and made me a fisher of men. I clearly realized that preaching God fervently is the most valuable work in the world. Above all else, I liked the sermons. 'If we obey God with faith, we can see God's miracles.' Beginning with these words, all the sermons were so gracious. Especially, when Mother gave us teachings about love, my heart was beating so fast. I came to realize that studying God's word, preaching hard, serving brothers and sisters, covering up their faults with love, and following Father's words and Mother's teachings without complaining-this is obedience."


What's your future ambition for the gospel?

"I want to go home soon and do everything I can to proclaim our Heavenly Father and Mother. I want to bear much fruit for my Heavenly Parents so we can fulfill our mission here in the last days. So, whatever it is, I want to do. I know that if we pray to Father and Mother, They will give whatever we are lacking in. I just want to be a great gospel worker."