How Our Spiritual Daughter Met The UM

By Mereth Van Frank Huemer

Marlaina and Robbie first met while working together at the Walmart deli in Saratoga Springs, NY. Marlaina worked with integrity and with an amazing work ethic. She was firm, but kind and was very interesting to talk with. Marlaina, who was searching for answers to her dysfunctional life, asked many questions of Robbie, who shared her faith with Marlaina without specifying what faith she had. At one point, Marlaina asked Robbie what religion she followed.

Robbie said, “I’m a Christian.” 

Marlaina replied, “No, you’re not.”

You see, Marlaina came from a very difficult family situation. Her mother died when she was just a baby, 18 months old, and her father ended up in prison for child abuse and died when Marlaina was only 9. Her mother’s sister, Aunt Ruth, left a carefree life to raise Marlaina, even though she had little, if any, skills in raising children. Marlaina had dyslexia and never thought nor believed she was very smart. She was unsure about her value and always thought herself to be “weird.”  Marlaina was searching for a way out of the hell she lived in her life and read many books on psychology and on spiritual matters. Her first foray into spiritual reading was in high school when the class was assigned “Siddhartha” by Hermann Hesse. She wrote a book report on it which amazed her teacher, considering she was a poor student. Later, though she was raised a nominal Catholic, she read other books including those on the Wicca religion. But somehow the life she saw Robbie leading was a real inspiration. Eventually, she got Robbie to tell her about what kind of life she led and why. They had many deep and spirited conversations and Marlaina learned a lot.

One day, Robbie took her out to the parking lot and opened the trunk of her car and pulled out a small red book. “Are you sure you want this book?” she asked. “Because there is no going back once you read it.”

“Yes! Yes! I want it!” exclaimed Marlaina eagerly.

The book was called The Divine Principle and It’s Application by Dr. Young Oon Kim. It was the only book Robbie had from her earlier time in the Unified Family. 

After reading the book, Marlaina had many more questions, but Robbie told her, “You’re going to have to call the church center in Albany to get any current answers. I haven’t been in the church for over 40 years.”

Our church center in Albany is about 40 miles away from that Walmart deli and is the closest center to Saratoga Springs. One day at the center, we received a phone call from a young lady (Marlaina) who had some questions for us. Sebastian and I arranged to meet her at a McDonald’s in Saratoga’s downtown. We spent about two hours having lunch, getting acquainted and answering her questions. We didn’t hear from her for a couple of months. But then she asked us to meet again. So, we did and while we were there “Aunt Ruth” barged in to find out what kind of people were trying to “steal her niece away.” When she saw we were an old couple around her age, she smiled and let us get on with our talk. 

Marlaina joined our movement about 15 years ago. Aunt Ruth came for a one-day workshop and hasn’t come back so far. Marlaina brought some friends and other family members to hear the Principle or for Sunday Service. No one has joined but we continue to hope. Unfortunately, Robbie also disappeared from our lives even though we tried to gently reach out to her.

Marlaina went to a therapist for over 10 years to get over the trauma in her life. She is working on her associate degree with an eye to help others deal with trauma as she has. A psychiatrist who tested her for an IEP (Individualized Education Program) said she was a genius. She never believed it when I told her, but she believed him! She has become a Reiki Master and is working on starting her own business. And she has related how God has put many mothers and fathers (including us!) into her life to help her learn how to relate to the idea of True Parents and Heavenly Parent. She is currently looking for a match so she can attend the Blessing.  

I must say that she has been a great blessing to me. I have learned so much from her and I have a friend I can talk to – sometimes for hours. My mother once said to me when she was in her 90s that all her friends had passed away. I told her that my friend, Marlaina, is half my age and will hopefully still be there when I am in my old age too. 

All Photos credit to Mereth Huemer