Love In Action

This year began with one of the worst flood disasters to hit northern California since 1920. More than 125,000 people found themselves suddenly homeless as more than twenty counties of California police force were declared disaster areas. Fearing loss of lives, the California police forced evacuation and all people living in the affected areas were required to leave their homes and stay in shelters.

With Master's concerns and immediate instructions, California fellow practitioners from all Centers worked together to purchase emergency supplies and arrange rental trucks to deliver to the worst hit areas. Working closely with the Red Cross, fellow practitioners delivered goods to the Red Cross emergency distribution center and then purchased additional supplies which we could deliver directly to the victims. Fellow practitioners from San Jose, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles and even distant Centers like Texas, Arizona, Chile and Australia joined hands in the effort of bagging 6,000 bags of emergency supplies to be delivered to the victims. Efforts were split in two waves, one team staying up all night to bag items and the next team relaying the following day.

To our great delight and surprise, Master appeared the night before we set out to deliver supplies and told us that She would join us in handing them the next day! The first team set out in the morning accompanied by Master to deliver supplies near Sacramento. Finding a clear route on flooded highways was not easy. As we set off to one of the largest shelters (housing 6,000 people), a dam broke and a 150 foot wide hole developed in the highway. We had to drive nearly four hours around to get there and by the time we arrived, they had evacuated the area.

As we visited the shelters and gave out the needed items to the people, we were all very touched at the humility and composure of the people. One shelter manager continuously thanked us for including socks in our packages because many people had left their homes quickly without even shoes or socks! But even despite their desperation, they still remained humble, politely accepting our gifts and thanking us profusely.

Master was very touched at the composure of the people in the shelters. One woman held her hands in prayer from the moment she saw Master enter the shelter. She could not even speak because she had tears running down her cheeks, watching Master give out bags of supplies to the people. When Master went to speak to her, the woman embraced Her in a warm and heartfelt hug of gratitude. Master literally disappeared in this woman's arms, with only Her head and legs showing! It was like seeing two old friends meet again.

Master commented several times at how patient and humble each of the people were. They stood in orderly lines and quietly accepted the gifts with thanks. One gentleman kept bowing to Master calling Her "Your Highness and he even asked Her denying it, but he was sure that She was a great and noble being. He asked Her politely for a hug and She gladly complied.

Even the children were very respectful and considerate. Although they had lost everything, one little girl told Master that she had enough thank you asked we possibly had some pants she could give to her sister? When we offered to drive one family to a nearby shelter, the boy went straight up to Master and asked her if he could take his little brother too. Master assured him that we could, but he asked several times just to make sure, Master tried to give some money to the father to buy a new tire for his car that was falling apart and the man cried and said he could not accept it. Only after insisting several times did the man finally accept at the urging of his friend.

We went to one place where the shelter had closed, but the local service organization was supposed to deliver meals. Evidently a mistaken radio announcement told them to wait there for meals, but none were planned. The people had been waiting out in the cold for more than an hour and no one ever showed up. When we arrived with emergency supplies, they gladly accepted but what they really wanted was a hot meal. Master, always quick to think on Her feet, immediately invited all of them to the nearby store for a meal. Over a hundred people quickly invaded the store and bought out everything hot that they had. Just as the store ran out of hot food, the local service organization arrived with meals. Master always has perfect timing.

One of the most touching things for local disciples was to work side by side with Master instead of just following Her around all the time. It was a wonderful experience for everyone to share in the blessing of helping our fellowmen together. Master shared a meal with all of us that evening. She told us how much She appreciated working together with us, and how touched She was by the humility of the people. Many left with memories that will last a long time.

Master had to leave for interviews with reporters the next day, and with Her concerns and love, the second team continued working hard to deliver to another disaster area around Modesto. The Red Cross and the shelter managers were deeply appreciative of all the gifts we could supply.

The work is still not over. As the people return to their home, they are faced with nearly $6 billion in damage. The next crew to go out will be helping as volunteers in the long clean-up task. With Master's blessing, everything should go quickly and well.¡¹

Kaoping Center initiates visited orphanages as well as homes for the elderly and disabled in Kaosiung County, Pingtong County and Kwei-Jen Village to spread a little cheer. Places visited included the Catholic Youth Home For Girls and Boys, Jen-Ai Home, Le Yu Orphanage, Liou-Kwei Orphanage and Wu-Jia Home for the Handicapped.

As we arrived at the Catholic Girls Town, we were greeted with many smiling faces. The nuns kindly received us. Near the end of our visit, the children were laughing and cheerfully jostling to have their pictures taken with us.

When we presented Master's financial contributions, candies and cookies to the director of the Xiao Ai Benevolent Home in Pingtong,she was most grateful, telling us that Master's gifts and love were like a tonic for her and all the staff, motivating them to continueto serve helpless elderly people.

As we arrived at Le Yu Orphanage in Kaosiung. A staff member of the institution expressed her heartfelt feelings of gratitude, joy and gladness when she received the contribution. In her excitement,she told us that the former director was now in the hospital after a stroke; and on top of that, the mortgage repayment was due.Therefore, when everything appeared so unfavorable, Master's contribution was like a timely rain when they needed it most.

Fellow initiates drove onto the Liou-Kwei Mountain Orphanage. After a brief introduction by staff, we were able to visit many wonderful children helping and lovingly taking care of one another. We were even more impressed seeing how polite and cute they were when greeting visitors. The sight of these clever children, bereft of their parents, overcoming their physical handicaps, brought usgreat inspiration.¡¹

While driving through poor areas we visited each family and friend needing help. These unfortunate friends, who had temporarily plunged into difficulties -- were desperate for outside help.

Through an introduction from a church, we came upon a family struggling on the verge of destruction. Unfortunately, the three children of the family were addicted to drugs. As a result, the family had plunged into difficulties. Prayers had been their only spiritual consolation. After receiving the financial contribution, the mother repeatedly thanked God for answering her constant prayers for her gravely ill daughter to be able to get the necessary medical attention.

Then, accompanied by a warm-hearted neighbor, we visited another poor family. The eighty-two year old grandfather said with a sigh that he was forced to scrounge for rubbish to earn a paltry income to support his family. He was holding his grand-daughter tenderly with one hand when he received the financial contribution. With tears streaming down his face, he thanked God for Hiers miraculous help.¡¹

On a cold and windy afternoon, fellow initiates from Changhua Center arrived at the Catholic "Compassionate Nursing Home for the Disabled " Changhua. The main object of the Home is to accommodate children between the ages of 1 and 10 who are severely incapacitated. In doing so, Manager Chou indicated, the disabled could acquire some dignity normally afforded to other people.

Through the years, they had seen many families destroyed as aresult of having to take care of their mentally or physically disabled children. Some parents, out of despair, had even abandoned their children. Under these trying circumstances the Executive Officer had to manage with very limited, often archaic resources like unwanted tables, chairs, beds, refrigerators, paper and crockery. He often had to assume the role of a laborer and cook,just so that the residents could lead more dignified and independent lives.

Youths at the Home who are medium to severe mental handicapped were engaged in various types of vocational training. We visited the horticultural area, the hydroponics area, the ceramic room and the small wood-work shop. Seeing the finished products of hard work by courageous, determined angels, whose wings were sadly clipped,really filled us with the utmost respect for them.¡¹

Fellow initiates from Tainan visited a place with beautiful sceneryand quiet surroundings called the "Humane United Nursing Home" There were about two hundred residents living in the Home. Of those, two-thirds were unable to take care of themselves so people were needed to help them eat, dress and bathe. Fortunately their food, clothing, accommodation, travel, medical care and so on, were all well taken care of.

Other poor families we visited included one old lady who had topick up rubbish for a living. When we arrived at her home we discovered that she had gone to the hospital, so we immediatelywent there. When we arrived, she could not believe that concerned strangers would visit her.

Another lady, Ms. Chai, was quite ill. She normally did some handicraft work to help her family. When she saw us, she was touched. We could see that the dark cloud over her face was blown away and a faint smile was noticeable.

When a single parent, Ms. Kung, saw a group of us appear at her door, she was truly surprised! As we expressed our purpose, she immediately sighed sadly about the uncertainty of life. Although she received the monthly government subsidy, she still needed help.She could not go out to work because she had to take care of her disabled child.

We conveyed Master's love and also encouraged her and the child totry their best to be vegetarian and to pray often for help from God, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. As she was reading the Supreme Master News magazine we gave her, she seemed to have realized something because she was very moved and kept saying "Thank You, Master! "

We were also very happy for her because we knew another helpless soul had finally found the support she desperately needed.¡¹

Upon hearing of the flood disaster in southern Thailand, Supreme Master ChingHai instructing emergency relief workers to determine the number of affected households and their immediate needs. The flood-affected areas were situated in remote locations where large quantities of commodities were unavailable on short notice. Thus, all the purchases were made in Bangkok. Relief workers acted quickly,completing preparations and making the necessary contacts and purchases within twelve hours of notice.

On December 20th, they drove all night to get to the disasterareas, but prevailing conditions meant it took as many as twenty hours for the goods to reach the Chian Yai Activity Center. The four affected areas were: Chian Yai, Hua Sai, Cha Loem Kiet and Cha Uad. The relief team divided into two groups to simultaneously handle the work. Within two days more than five thousand households received provisions and aid. Each area had its own specific needs (please refer to Table 1). Supreme Master Ching Hai hadspecifically prepared for each child be given a new outfit; as aresult, three thousand children received new clothes.

In Chian Yai, where five villages were affected by the flood,provisions were distributed at seven selected sites. A total of 2,024 households received relief supplies and more than 1,500 children new clothing. The provisions had been packed the night before, which facilitated quick distribution the following day. One of the seven sites could be accessed only by boat; at the other six locations, it took only 30 to 40 minutes for the supplies to be distributed, which was an hour shorter than officially estimated. We briefly introduced ourselves before we set to work. As soon as all the provisions had been distributed we drove away even before anyone could express their appreciation. The way we handled the work was completely new to them.

Beneficiaries in Hua Sai totaled 449 households. Here, the floods had caused severe damage and the villagers were already poor.Apparently Hua Sai finds itself under water for two months each year. When the relief team arrived, the flood water still had notabated so the relief team's car could hardly be relied on. Local contacts arranged for a military truck and a jeep to take the goods and relief workers to the destination.

For more than two hours, the vehicles struggled through water before arriving at the remote disaster area. The entire area was submerged under water except for a small temple, so it was here that the distribution work was carried out. When the relief team arrived, all the villagers were already sitting on the floor quietly. Smiles emerged on their faces when they saw the large quantity of supplies unloaded.

The children moved fast to quietly lined up in four separate queuesaccording to their clothes sizes (S, M, L and XL). They were overjoyed when new clothes and candies were put into their hands. Ironically, the children here were even reluctant to eat their candies right away, seeing this scene, the relief team give out all the remaining candies to the children until each child could carry no more.

The villagers in this area were efficient and diligent. As soon as the supplies had been distributed, the environment was cleaned up.The children also gave assistance.

The local contact at Hua Sai presented a small tree to the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association as a token of appreciation. The relief team accepted the thoughtful gift and returned to the ChianYai Activity Center.

The affected area in Cha Loem Kiet included more than 2,600 households, and supplies were distributed at six locations. Because of our previous day's experience, we asked our local contact to arrange a tight schedule for our trip. Local officials sent six large trucks to carry the bulky supplies and workers to help distribute it. The relief work proceeded quickly and smoothly. The villagers here were friendly and hospitable. One of them picked some mangoes from his orchard and offered them to the relief workers. When everything had been distributed, the local contact even invited us to dinner. Although we had to decline his kind offer, we were very touched by his warm hospitality.

For the three hundred households in Cha Uad, the supplies were transported on land while the relief team took a ferry. When they arrived the villagers had already lined up to receive the necessities. The children happily queued up according to size to receive clothes, cookies and candies. The Thai children are well-behaved and well-mannered. Almost every one of the children closed their palms in front of them to show their gratitude when they had received the gifts.

Much credit goes to local Thai officials for making this flood relief activity possible. They offered immense help, providing trucks and dispatching guides for us, and assistance in the distribution. Volunteer and paid workers sacrificed entire nightssorting and packaging provisions, which ensured the relief work to accomplish smoothly and efficiently.¡¹

In mid 1996, the United Nations and the Red Cross ceased to provide financial and medical support for Au Lac asylum seekers in Palawan, the Philippine. Thanks to the benevolent policy of the Philippine Government, the country accepted the asylum seekers. The Catholic Church also cared very much for them, and the Center For Assistance To Displaced Persons, Inc. helped them build their own village. It is hoped that they can begin a new life there.

The construction of this village is expected to be completed in early 1997. Apart from the support of the Church, the building fund relies also on Au Lac compatriots overseas. When Supreme Master Ching Hai learnt that Palawan still needed financial support, She immediately instructed that US$50,000 be set aside from the proceeds of Her charity sale. The money was used to subsidize the asylum seekers' medical expenses and their building fund.¡¹

On December 11, fellow practitioners in Hong Kong learnt that Master was very concerned about the Au Lac asylum seekers in the Hong Kong Detention Centers. She wanted to find out what they needed and to give them Christmas gifts.

The following Sunday, together with several Au Lac fellow practitioners, we entered the High Island Detention Center. There we were so delighted to see the fellow practitioners whom we had not seen for two years. We could feel the wonderful ambiance created by the monastic initiates, who had practiced the Quan Yin Method in the camps for a long time, was so peaceful. There were some initiates who started practicing the Convenient Method two years ago, that have been initiated for about a year -- we noticed that the strange and fierce look on their faces had disappeared. Even in the eyes of the newly initiated practitioners, we could see glittering light. Therefore, we are more certain that the Quan Yin Method is capable of changing our inside as well as out completely.

Fellow practitioners in the Detention Center know that their repatriation to Au Lac is imminent, but they don't mind anymore now that they are practicing the Quan Yin Method. They feel that it is their greatest blessing to have been able to survive the angry sea, arrive alive at Hong Kong in their small boats, and learn the Quan Yin Method. Since they have already found the key to spiritual liberation and achieved the aim of their lives, they don't mind being repatriated. We discovered that apart from Master's books, compact disks and tapes, they don't need any other gifts. As to other asylum seekers who are not fellow practitioners, they are still very agitated and cannot accept repatriation.

Recently, the weather in Hong Kong has been warm so clothing in the Detention Center is not in short supply. Having decided how many and what to buy as gifts, fellow practitioners promptly purchased them. On the following Friday evening, after group meditation, fellow initiates gathered at the Mongkok Center to pack them. As they worked, their faces were lit by the radiance of love generated from within. Deep inside, they were extremely thankful to Master for giving them this opportunity to develop their love, and to take a giant step forward on the spiritual path.

On Monday, December 21, the gifts were successfully delivered to the asylum seekers. Master's photo and the telephone number of the Hong Kong Center were included in each gift package.¡¹

When Supreme Master Ching Hai relief team reached Huarung County, they went to the Civil Bureau to make sure all the relief supplies had arrived. A representative had been sent earlier to investigate and make sure the necessary purchases, so as soon as the whole team arrived, distribution could begin. In China, it's very difficult to acquire such large amounts of supplies in just a couple of days.For example, the clothing and quilts had to be ordered in advance. With God's blessing, many miracles occured, making it possible for the relief team to obtain all the necessary items.

Some unexpected incidents occurred during the relief activity. For example, the relief team had intended to purchase powdered milk for the infants, but after investigating it was observed that the local people preferred soybean milk powder instead. So, the latter was immediately purchased.

Among the victims were residents of five "Safe Homes" at looked after senior citizens over 60 years old without families to care for them, as well as orphans and handicapped people. These people were more in need of help than anyone else. In addition to the rice, clothing and quilts, the infants were given soybean milk powder and children between three and twelve and the elderly received a box of candy to provide caloric supplement.

The plan to purchase and distribute rice changed from one moment to the next. Originally, the relief team was told the rice shortage was more severe in Yuanchiang City than in Huarung County, so 10 kg of rice was allocated for each of the 13,929 villagers in the most severely damaged areas of Yuanchiang City. As Huarung County was not desperate for rice, the relief team decided not to give rice to that region. However, while the supplies were being distributed, many villages in that region also reported a shortage of rice. Therefore, an allocation of 10 kg of rice was distributed to as many households as the budget permitted. Thus, the total number of recipients increased to 121,937.

Also, when factories producing trousers ran short of supply, long underwear were ordered instead. Originally they worried the underwear would not be warm enough, but after the distribution, relief officials in several villages reported that the underwear was lighter, warmer and more practical than the trousers. In fact, the farmers found the trousers "bulky and awkward, " the relief staff were happy with the outcome of that arrangement.

Several days before the relief program officially started, the relief team distributed supplies in Huarung County in cooperation with the local relief offices. They began with the four worst affected areas: Hsingfu Village, Nanshan Village, Tuanchou Township and Chutzeko Township. Delegates from these areas came to a warehouse owned by the Huarung County Government's Civil Bureau, signed for the relief supplies, then returned to their respective towns or villages in the company of our relief team members. At thetown halls, the heads of the towns and villages signed for the goods, and once again our staff (most from H.K.) accompanied them to make sure the goods actually reached the people in need.

In Chunan Village in Chutzeko Township, some villagers were already airing their new quilts on their balcony. The December sun, bright and warm, melted the winter snow and brought forth a freshness of spring, just like God's tender love.

Residents of Tsaimin village, having received the rice, conveyed their most heartfelt feelings of joy. Along the river towards the south was the eastern bank, where floods had destroyed roads, leveled houses, and turned rice fields and lotus ponds into stagnating mires, villagers were already re-constructing a two-story brick house.

Tuanchou Township was the most severely damaged area. The houses near the broken bank were all leveled and belongings were washed away into Dongting Lake. Some people were able to retrieve dirty, ragged quilts once the water had receded. They put them in the sun, hoping to make new ones once they had dried. Homeless villagers had to make fires with pices of wood from broken fences to keep warm while the strong young workers were busy repairing the dam. Others were building houses in preparation for the snow.

Mothers, with babies in their arms, thanked us again and again upon receiving the milk powder and the quilts. Some villagers surrounded the truck loaded with supplies and caressed the quilts saying, "These quilts are new and good. Are they really for us? The reliefsupplies we received before were mostly used clothes and quilts,but it's different this time. "They asked us who our kind-heartedboss was. The relief team all replied, "Supreme Master Ching Hai wanted us todeliver these things to you. She is our teacher."

The residents in Gingchu Village and Huahsing Village, NanshanTownship were given quilts, clothing and other things in accordance to their needs. Not only were their houses and roads ruined by the flood, but also the street lamps, so electricity was not available in many places.

It was very similar in Hsingfu Township. Although many of its villages were in darkness, they did whatever they could to help with the distribution of the relief supplies. The articles that couldn't be delivered at night were distributed the next day.

The superintendent of the Civil Office in Hsingfu Township thanked us over and over, saying, "The government has surely helped us agreat deal, but it hasn't been able to take care of everyone. The supplies from your group have solved our problems completely. I believe no one will freeze to death this winter."

The Civil Bureau of the Huarung County insisted on thanking us officially. The local television station also took a few photographs of the staff distributing the relief supplies. But, of course, the one that they sould be most grateful to is Supreme Master Ching Hai. She heard the victims' cry for help and gave us a chance to do what we could. We thanked them for their kindness, but turned down their offer, asking nothing but their full cooperation to deliver the supplies to each victim as quickly as possible. That was the only thing that Supreme Master Ching Hai wanted. We distributed the supplies on December 21st and 22nd, and headed for Yuanchiang City atmidnight.

It was early morning when we arrived. Staff of the local relief office were at the warehouse waiting for us. After we checked the relief supplies, we were told that this flood was the most devastating one that Yuanchiang City had experienced in several hundred years. The water had risen to the second floor of houses -- something local residents had never seen before. The whole city was submerged for an entire month, during which the residents had to resort to boats for transportation. Most were confined to their homes which became dirty and smelly like pigpens. Later, we learned that Hunan Province had the most prosperous pig industry in the whole country. They had originally expected it to improve their standard of living, but the deluge washed away their pigs and pigpens, leaving them destitute. This gave the relief team an excellent opportunity to explain to the people the benefits of keeping a vegetarian diet. If the people had been fed with the rice that was used to feed the pigs, they would have been able to resolve the shortage of food.

It was 7:00 pm on December 23rd when the relief staff finished loading the relief supplies for hsinwan Touwnship onto the trucks. The vice secretary, in charge of receiving the goods, told us that they were not leaving without having had dinner, and that they would only transport the goods to the town hall and distribute them the next day. Our staff, however, insisted that the goods be distributed to the victims as soon as possible -- that very night. Fortunately, the superintendent of the local civil office fully cooperated. He arranged truck drivers for us so we were albe to reach the most severely flooded villages of Nanchou and Peichou at about 9:00 pm.

The heads of the villages, as well as the assistant secretaries, summoned the villagers to help unload the trucks. When we told them these supplies came from Supreme Master Ching Hai, they were deeply touchedand excitedly asked, "What have we done to deserve so much help from you?" Some of the women burst into tears. With their flashlights, they moved forward to see Supreme Master Ching Hai's pictures pinned on our clothes. They had not expected Supreme Master Ching Hai to be a woman and were very pleased about this discovery.

Superintendent Sun, who had accompanied us for the distribution, told us again and again in a grateful tone, "You don't know how much you have really helped us. "Having received hundreds of letters asking for help, he didn't have very much to offer except some used clothing. But Supreme Master Ching Hai's relief supplies had really solved the residents' problems for the winter. He said, "Without your timely assistance, the lonely old people and children would surely have starved to death. I really don't know how to thank you enough. "

Other relief team members reached Nanzwei Township, Makonpu, Baisha Village, Gonghua, Sanyentang and Sihu Village on December 23rd and 24th to supervise the distribution. Some villagers had a very good opinion of the way we handled everything, making sure the relief supplies actually reached the victims. They believed this would greatly reduce the incident of corruption. We also received a thank-you letter from the Makonpu government. (Please refer to appendix A.)

With Supreme Master Ching Hai's help, all the relief supplies were delivered to the victims by December 25th as timely and meaningful Christmas gifts. These things not only provided a solution to the victims' problems but also conveyed Supreme Master Ching Hai's love and care. This boundless universal love would bring them infinite light and hope for the new year.

Note: After the relief team completed the distribution inYuanchiang City, there were still some supplies. The local orphanages and homes for senior citizens were contacted, and the remaining goods were given to these institutions via local relief offices.¡¹