When we were pioneering in Korea, there was no place for us to work. So, we frequently went without food. It was very common for us to skip meals. You have to understand that we did the forty day witnessing campaign with just grain or rice powder bought and mixed in a cup of water. Even though we did not have enough to eat, we considered it as training for the forty day fast.

So, they had to at least even do some manual labor; but for a leader in a region to do such menial work would be too embarrassing, so they could not do it in their own region. Therefore, in order to do manual labor, they had to wake up at dawn and walk for at least five hours. Then, after finishing the work they had to come back at night. They had to do this within twenty-four hours. They had to spend five hours going there and another five hours coming back, and they had to do the manual labor in such a far-away place. When they did that, the one-day wage they earned was only five hundred won. For just five hundred won... This would buy only two meals in Korea. Money enough to buy just two meals. Do you understand? This is what they got for working the whole day. What this means is that even if they worked everyday they could not live on it. So, you cannot possibly understand how much your predecessors have suffered, even if it is explained to you in words. You cannot understand. No matter how many times I tell you, you cannot understand.

For example, they had to do their mission for the sake of the providence, and they had to go out lecturing; but how could they do this when they are famished? So, they had no choice-as they passed by a wealthy household they saw that its dog was drinking water, so... It is different from the way dogs are fed meat here. In Korea, dogs were fed some water in which rice had been washed. So, grabbing onto its ears they told it, "You have a wealthy owner, so even if I take this away from you, you will not die," and having chased away the dog, they drank the rice water. You have to know that this is what they did. Do you know these kinds of things? You don't understand, but I know these things very well. I have eye-witnessed it all and... You must understand that I am someone who has seen and experienced numerous situations that people cannot bear to even look at or speak about because their heart is overwhelmed with sorrow to do so.

Every time I went through such an experience, I made the determination within myself to build the economic foundation... I have to have financial power in the near future.... In order to lay that foundation, I poured so much of myself to work in the factory. I worked with the diligence that no one else can match. You only have to suffer to a limited extent, enough only to rise to the national standard; but because I, the leader, have to be responsible for the future, I knew that I had to make economic preparation for you who would lay the foundation from now on, so I have been making the utmost effort night and day. (89-278)