STARTING 2024
We kicked off the year with a new name, new branding and new website!
January
Who could be so brainwashed as to offer themselves to full-time public mission in 2024?! “GET A REAL JOB!” (but I love the community). Thankfully, as ESGD we managed to gain a few more experienced voices, expanding our team with a doctor and an engineer…and a graphic designer; senior and junior, 1st and 2nd Generation working together #SeanPleaseComeBack #50%50%asians
BLESSING WORKSHOP
8th – 11th of February
Although it was not an official blessing workshop, we offered our best education and heart to 70+ BCs in Bad Cambe…wait, I am getting some news…hmm…really? Is that what he said? Ok guys! The workshop is actually official! Tbh it doesn’t matter that much, the Blessing is a path of eternal commitment, not a checklist to attend a ceremony 🙂
OFFICIAAAAL
DONE MISSION ONE 2024
13th OF FEBRUARY – 6th of MAY
Right after our beautiful blessing workshop, Done Mission One kicked off, and we’ve gotta tell you, this group really showed that sincerity can move Heaven.
keep your head up!
keep your heart strong!
SUMMER WORKSHOPS
14th OF JULY – 25th of AUGUST
For many, the main course of the year are ESGD’s summer workshops, and this year didn’t disappoint. At near full capacity, we offered once again our triad of best sellers: ODP+, Senior and ROOTS. What a WAY to recharge in the summer. (And yes, those shirts are damn cool.)
CAMINO DE SANTIAGO
1th – 10th of September
We organized a Pilgrimage in Spain, an authentic WAY to connect to our spiritual ROOTS, honour our Christian background, and to invite God in our journeys. The organizer wrote this specifically: “God can be found in each step, in the process and the destination…it’s not just in any building that God awaits an encounter, but in every moment of every day”. Did you catch it?
BUEN CAMINO!
DONE 2024
23th OF SEPTEMBER – 18th of NOVEMBER
We celebrated the 16th season of DONE. Despite new text on the hoodies, we don’t want to forget the original motto that hundreds of graduates have encountered. Whatever the future might bring: Strength and Honour.
During the 16th season of DONE we experienced some turbulence. Out of deep and serious concern – both pastoral and cultural, we shared a statement about the current education of the new theology and let’s say, it made an impact.
The statement received hundreds of encouraging messages and interactions, and thousands of views. We are grateful to have made a positive contribution towards opening the discourse surrounding the ‘new theology’. With our statement we wanted to express our support, concern, and love for True Parents and the Divine Principle. In the meantime, we have continued working.
ABOJIIIIII
*insert comic relief
*so what did you do for new year’s celebration?
*moonies
MENTORING AND PASTORAL CARE
throughout the year
Alongside our main internal activities, we have all been involved in supporting a large number of smaller workshops, trainings and meetings throughout the year. We have been able to consistently invest in mentoring and pastoral care throughout the different seasons of life; finding and maintaining faith, matching and blessing support, leadership guidance, preparation for birth, etc. This is a central part of our work alongside the Principled education we strive to provide and carry on improving.
ENDINGS AND BEGINNINGS
To end and start the year well, we wanted to offer some guidance on reflection and goal setting.
Don’t forget to take a look at these videos to start 2025 well!
Thank you to all of the people who invested in our programs as both staff and participants; thanks for your trust and for the support and care you have offered to others as a part of the process of growth.
We also want to thank those who donated to support our collective work this year – your contribution has helped us to carry on helping others.
It’s been an intense year for all involved with ESGD, and without seeing the fruits of our collective work, or experiencing the joy of creating and growing the bonds we share, we wouldn’t have the energy to continue. We give thanks to God, True Parents and the Divine Principle for guiding our vision and action; we are determined to continue offering what we can, always with the heart that we want to offer more. We look back on this ‘year of Development’ with gratitude and appreciation.
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*Trigger warning*
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference, living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; taking this world as it is and not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen. (Reinhold Niebuhr)
