1st International Cattle Drive for Peace and Unity
June 18-27, 2008 - Fuerte Olimpo a Leda, Paraguay In February of this year, Hyun Jin Nim and several leaders visited Leda, a land situated next to the Paraguay River in the Chaco region of Paraguay where, eight years ago, Japanese brothers, directed by True Parents and headed by Reverend Kamiyama, pioneered. They built a tremendous foundation with their own hands, in temperatures ranging from 40 degrees in the winter to 120 degrees in the summer.
While riding some of the horses near the corrals, Hyun Jin Nim saw some of our cattle being herded to another part of the pastureland. He and several others joined in to help. During this short ride, he began formulating the idea of a major cattle drive from one part of the Chaco to Leda. But this was not just to enjoy ourselves or to actualize a childhood dream of being cowboys. He meant to bring young leaders from Paraguay who had never seen this part of the country, to participate, educating them for the future peace and unity of their nation and the region of South America as a whole.
Some of those young leaders he had met a few days before were so excited when they heard about the cattle drive that they instantly put aside their schedules and wanted to come. One of those leaders is a soccer legend in Paraguay who was very eager to participate. Another young leader, whose wife was expecting their first child any day, realized this event was so important that he came as well.
On June 18th, we all arrived at Fort Olimpo, the same town where True Parents stayed over ten years ago to spend forty days with the National Messiahs. The town was so excited about the cattle drive that they closed the schools; many of the town’s people came out for the opening ceremony that would launch the drive. After several local officials spoke and the priest gave the cattle drive his blessing, Hyun Jin Nim spoke, explaining his inspiration for the cattle drive and the hope for the future it would bring.
With the conclusion of the ceremony, the participants mounted their horses, and with Hyun Jin Nim and the soccer player carrying the national flag, rode through the streets of the town and onto the dirt road that would take them to the herd after two days of riding.
Photos by Ken Owens |
