Love in Action

West-coast High Snowfall Relief Activity

By Gwangju News Group (Originally in Korean)

[Jeongeup, Gochang] This winter in Korea the weather was so cold that it broke the record for being the coldest winter in 30 years. It also brought an unprecedented amount of high snowfall, causing much suffering. Some of the snow dropped literally like small bombs, destroying many houses and cattle sheds, and isolating some villages.

Houses destroyed by the heavy snowfall

The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association Korea Relief Team began to investigate the damage and needs of the victims beginning in the middle of January 2006. Their investigation revealed that most of the damaged houses did not meet the compensation criteria set up by the government; thus the victims had to repair houses with their own money and time.

The Relief Team decided to repair houses for the poor, disabled and elderly people who could not fix their homes by themselves. By January 31st, about 60 initiate-volunteers from all the Centers gathered at Jeongeup, Jeollabuk-do Province.

Offering services to victims of the disaster. On the banner is written: “West-coast High Snowfall Relief Activity by The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association, February, 2006”

House Repair Activities

House repair activities were carried out from January 31st to February 7th, in Jeongeup City and Gochang-gun. Three house repair teams were established and spread out to restore houses as well as deliver daily necessities to the needy victims.

In Jeongae Village of Jeongeup City, where lepers live, the entire village appeared to have been bombed by the snow. The house of 82-year-old Mr. Oh Gyu-Yun and his wife was in the most pitiable state. When the Relief Team said they would help, the couple was so delighted and said, “You are like angels from Heaven.”

The house was in such disrepair that the Team thought it would be easier and faster to build it anew. So, it took more time than other houses. Although snow came down again during the effort, the initiates boldly completed the mission in very cold weather. As a result a brand new house was born. Mr. Oh’s 79-year-old wife, Ms. Eo Soon-Ok, said with much gratitude, “You built my house so nicely. I wish I could give something but feel sorry that I have nothing to give.”

Views before and after of the house of Mr. and Mrs. Oh Gyu-Yun

Many other damaged houses were repaired by the Relief Teams and by February 3rd, upon hearing about the initiates’ relief activities, Kim Wee-Seong, Chief of Urban Affairs Section, Gochang-gun Office, visited the site along with the Chief of Housing Section. They were touched by the Team’s actions to help victims excluded from government support and said, “We spared time to come here to appreciate your good deeds.”

Korean initiates repairing houses for the poor.
Plates put up on two almost newly built homes that say, “This Home was Reborn with Supreme Master Ching Hai’s Love. February 2006. The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association.”

While providing assistance, some villagers took an interest in the Association and the Quan Yin Method; some were highly interested in vegetarianism and requested more information. Hence, initiates promised to prepare an opportunity to provide more information about vegetarianism after the relief work was completed.

Vegetarian Seminars

On February 15th, initiates organized an informative party to explain vegetarianism and principles of Alternative Living to about 100 people from Jeongae Village, the Community Office staff and other nearby people.

Then on February 16th, initiates held a seminar titled “Alternative Living – Vegetarianism” for about 40 students of Heuksalim, an organic farming society whose title means “Save Earth by Organic Farming.” The seminar was located at a hotel located in Chojeong, Chungwon-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do province. As these students already had basic knowledge about the ecosystem and environment, they paid great attention to environmental issues and vegetarianism, and asked profound questions. Following the lecture, initiates organized a vegetarian food party, where the guests and even hotel staff joined and showed a hugely positive response.

After performing the house repair work for the victims of heavy snow damage and holding vegetarianism seminars, initiates realized even more that the suffering of our neighbors is our own suffering. Brothers and sisters appreciate Master for giving them such an opportunity to comfort their compatriots in need and wished that their suffering and worries could be gone shortly with God’s Grace, just like the snow melting quickly in the spring sunshine.

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