<Palawan> Upon receiving Master's contribution of US$10,000 for the victims of the natural disaster in the Philippines, fellow practitioners nationwide assembled at the Manila Center, bringing with them personal gifts and other necessities that they had purchased and packaged. (For the record of expenditures please refer to appendix 1) As requested, they had also prepared for community disaster prevention, other necessities including raincoats, galoshes, flashlights, office furniture such as desks, chairs and file cabinets, as well as other equipment like water pipes and water pumps.

Early in the morning, initiates sat down earnestly for group meditation. They then speedily formed the relief team and each member put on a rescue vest that embodied love and responsibility. Very quickly, the relief goods were loaded onto the truck. A banner reading "Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association Relief Team" was suspended on either side of the truck. The team then set out for the disaster area. It was in a small remote location, where people lived together in small, dilapidated shacks made of tattered bamboo-mat sheets. Floods had severely damaged some of the houses in the village, leaving them without a roof. Almost everything in the villages including cattle had been carried away into the ocean by the surging waters. All that remained were people who were left homeless but lucky to survive.

Villagers reading the Supreme Master Ching Hai News magazines. As soon as the relief team arrived, it was immediately surrounded by a crowd of people who were pleasantly surprised. The leading relief agencies in the area including Cabcom Evacuation Center and Sapang Bato Barangay Hall provided wholehearted assistance to the rescue team. Initiates distributed to the villagers, vegetarian sandwiches that they had prepared for them as breakfast. Although it was a simple meal, it was the villagers' first taste of vegetarian food. The great joy that they expressed through their smiles touched the hearts of fellow practitioners. The villagers also received other items, including rice, toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, clothes, towels, sweaters, crackers and medicine. Although these were material things, they nevertheless represented Supreme Master Ching Hai's immense love. As both adults and children relished their sandwiches, they happily hugged in their arms "relief packages" and the other necessities that they had received.

Filipino flood victims are happy to receive relief packages. The villagers also received Master's books and News magazines -- priceless spiritual gifts that no worldly language can describe. Some expressed their interest to see Master and initiates promised that they would return with sample booklets published in the local language so that the villagers could get to know Master better. Warm applause burst out when the villagers heard that initiates would be there again to give publications to them.

The relief items came as a great surprise for the villagers, so great that many could not hide their feelings and quietly broke into tears to thank God and Supreme Master Ching Hai for the blessings that had brought them this great joy. The relief team members stood by, consoling and explaining to them Master's teachings, Her infinite love and omnipresent power. They told the villagers, "Whenever we need Her and think of Her in great faith, She is always by our side."

It was time for the relief team to return home. The initiates left carrying an indelible impression of the warmth of the villagers. As they waved good-bye to each other, the initiates and villagers together were immersed in Master's ocean of love. The initiates were happy that they had successfully accomplished the task of spreading God's light and love.

Note: Supreme Master Ching Hai has contributed an additional US$10,000 for disaster relief in the Philippines to meet the needs of the people. For the follow-up report, please read the next issue of the News magazine.

<Appendix 1>

Record Of Expenditures For Flood Relief Effort Of
The Palawan Center, The Philippines

Pictures of appendixes