Esfuerzos para Ayudar a las Víctimas y Llevar el Amor Divino de la Maestra

Efforts to Help Disaster Victims and
Convey Master’s Divine Love

Compiled reports by fellow initiates in China (Originally in Chinese)

Prefacio: Beginning this summer, there have been a series of natural disasters in many parts of China.

Shanxi, Henan, Hubei, Guizhou, Guangdong and Anhui Provinces were stricken by torrential rains and heavy flooding. Shandong and Jilin were hit by rare tornadoes; Jiangxi and Inner Mongolia suffered severe drought. Upon learning about the disasters, fellow initiates from all over China rushed to the affected areas to render relief and convey Master’s love to the victims. While helping the disaster victims, fellow initiates also hoped that the general public would reflect deeply on the crisis of the changing climate and increasing natural disasters. It is time that we show our determination and endeavors to change our lifestyles to resolve the problems completely.

Upon receiving Master’s instruction to render relief, in early August fellow initiates from Shanxi went to the flood-affected area in Xia County, where we were warmly greeted by government officials who assigned representatives to assist us.

With assistance from the government officials and a supermarket manager, we purchased emergency provisions such as flour, rice, cooking oil, dried noodles, vegetables, biscuits, milk powder, sugar and salt. Knowing that we were from a local charitable organization, the manager of the supermarket sold the goods to us at cost price and provided some items free of charge. As the roads were blocked that day, the County Government official promised to deliver the relief materials to the affected area the next day. So we packed and carried only the less heavy items such as fried doughnut twist, biscuits and sugar cubes to the affected area ourselves. After a two-hour journey by car, the road conditions became so bad that we had to travel by foot and walk two hours on mountain paths to reach that area. Upon receiving the relief materials, some disaster victims cried emotionally, some grasped our hands tightly while expressing gratitude, and some thanked God repeatedly.

After rendering relief in late July to disaster victims in Huaibin County, Xinyang City (for details please refer to reports in News #188), fellow initiates learnt that the heaviest rain in a century had triggered floods in the mountain area of Lushi County, Sanmenxia City. We promptly went to the Disaster Relief Office of the Bureau of Civil Affairs to find out more about the situation and what the victims needed. That same day, we purchased all the relief materials, which included cooking oil, detergent, soap, candles, lighters, salt, soy sauce and vinegar. Early the next morning, we divided into two groups and went to distribute the items in two affected areas.

The fellow initiates found that it was quite cold in the mountains at night, so we quickly telephoned and requested other initiates to buy some quilts. The following day, we rented two trucks and drove throughout the night to deliver the quilts to these disaster stricken areas. The victims had not expected us to visit again so soon, especially bringing the quilts that they needed most. They were overjoyed, and the town Mayor said with great emotion: “You have brought them just in time! Really just in time!”

On July 28, Yunxi County of Hubei Province was hit by heavy rain and floods that destroyed houses and fields. When fellow initiates rushed to the affected area, they were sad to find many displaced victims taking shelter in highway tunnels. We quickly retraced our journeyed through the night to purchase emergency necessities that the victims badly needed. On the way, we were amazed to see a beautiful golden cloud hovering above our car, as if Master’s transcendental bodies were accompanying us. Fellow initiates were all very excited and deeply felt the blessing of Master’s omnipresent love.

By the time we returned to the tunnel where the victims had been taking refuge, we were glad to learn that they had accepted accommodation in homes of villagers not affected by the disaster. The victims were grateful and delighted to see the relief supplies had brought.

Another heavily stricken place was Tutai Township in Danjiangkou, where many mud houses had been destroyed by massive landslides. The local government had made arrangements for some victims, but there were still 97 households requiring aid. Therefore, we entrusted the relief contributions for these 97 households to the Bureau of Civil Affairs for delivery.

On July 30, fellow initiates read in the newspapers that a village in Yangxin County was hit by a hailstorm. One fellow initiate immediately went to the affected area to assess the situation. On August 1, a group of fellow initiates arrived in Yangxin County to give relief funds and emergency supplies to victims who had lost their homes. The victims were very grateful and thanked us repeatedly.

Yichang City in Zigui County was devastated by landslides and mudslides. After talking with the County Bureau of Civil Affairs, we decided to launch a joint relief operation. In early August, we prepared relief materials such as rice, oil, salt, quilts, shoes and towels, and quickly distributed them in the affected areas. During the distribution process, we were glad to find out that the victims had already settled down.

Upon learning about the flood disaster in Guizhou, fellow initiates went in groups to render relief in Duyun City, Zhunyi City, Renhuai City, Xifeng County and Dafang County. In Duyun City, we distributed rice, noodles and other materials to 59 heavily stricken households and three lonely old folks who could no longer work.

In Zhunyi City, we distributed thick blankets, rice and oil to the victims, and relief cash to seriously affected households. The local government was happy to see that we were helping the disaster victims with all our heart and soul, as few charity groups or individuals act like us: taking care of our own board and loading, not publicizing anything, working anonymously, and always giving the most urgently needed relief materials of premium quality to the victims.

The situation in Renhuai City was grave. Fortunately, with assistance from the Civil Affairs Bureau, the disaster victims were settled. The next thing was rebuilding their homes, and so we contributed relief funds to the victims, hoping that they could rebuild their homes soon.

In Xifeng County, we set up three distribution points and provided relief cash, rice and vegetable oil to 511 affected households.

Victims in Dafang County met with the same disaster — houses collapsed and crops lost in the flood. Local officials were worried that, if the victims were not relocated to a safer place, the circumstances would be worse if and when the next disaster strikes. After realizing the situation, we distributed relief funds to the victims on the next day to help them through this difficult time.

Affected by typhoon Pabuk on August 11, severe floods occurred in Leizhou City and Suixi area of Zhanjiang City in Guangdong Province. Fellow initiates purchased rice, mineral water, biscuits, noodles, straw mats, towels and other relief provisions, and then rushed to various affected areas to render relief. When distributing, we asked the victims about the latest situation and what they needed most, hoping to find out whether anything had been overlooked and to complement the government’s relief operation.

Our last stop was a devastated village in Leizhou City. Some houses had been washed away completely. Farms had been carved into deep gorges by torrential floods. The villagers were in great difficulty. We bought some rice, cooking oil and blankets for them. But because the only bridge leading to the village had been destroyed, the village chief asked villagers to wade through the water to receive them.

This year, Anhui Province was seriously affected by floods from the rising Huai River that devastated its basin area. Innumerable people lost their homes. Following Master’s compassionate instruction, fellow initiates launched two relief operations (Please refer to reports in News #187 and #188). In order to extend Master’s love and concern to more victims, fellow initiates disregarded their fatigue from many days of nonstop working and continued to purchase a large quantity of relief supplies. Braving the scorching sun, they launched the third relief effort.

In early August, during the fourth operation, many soul-stirring incidents occurred. When we were trying to rent vehicles to deliver 2,100 kg of rice, 1,300 kg of soybean oil and other emergency supplies to the disaster victims, some villagers told us that they were absolutely touched by our loving kindness, and offered us free use of three tractors and a truck. When we were still several hundred meters from the village, we saw welcome signs written on red paper everywhere: “Timely help in moments of difficulty warms our hearts!” Villagers came a long way and set off firecrackers to welcome us.

The villagers eagerly helped us unload the materials and then orderly received their portions. Every one of them thanked us many times. Some offered us well water and clean towels to wipe the perspiration. They even went somewhere far to buy us expensive drinks. More touching were the women who stood silently behind the fellow initiates, fanning us to ease the heat. They also set off firecrackers to see us off. All the villagers were so pure at heart, so sincere, polite and orderly, all of which showed that they are highly noble and dignified beings.

The fifth relief operation was carried out in a small town in Shou County. With the help from local officials and villagers, 5,000 kg of rice, 1,600 kg of soybean oil, and 3,500 bags of pickled mustard tuber were unloaded in no time. At that moment, a heavy rain came down. A young village chief at the scene said with deep emotion: “These are not raindrops! These are God’s tears. Despite the long journey, you have come to visit us, bringing so many things. God must have been touched and sent you to us.” Love is the supreme language of the universe. When the love in the hearts of fellow initiates and villagers intertwined, the love power was multiplied.

In early August, several townships in Linyi region were hit by strong winds, causing great economic losses to the villages. Fellow initiates drove to the affected area in the rain. With an enthusiastic village accountant as our guide, we visited villagers who were in financial difficulty, extended to them Master’s love and concern, and gave them some relief funds.

As recommended by the villagers, another group of fellow initiates visited three destitute households in the affected Linyi area. Members of these households were chronically ill elderly people who needed care and attention. Apart from giving them some relief cash, we also silently prayed for them.

On August 8, the Yitong Manchu Autonomous County in Jilin Province was suddenly hit by a hurricane. Hearing the news, fellow initiates immediately went there with Master’s love and blessing and visited each household. There they found that building materials were most needed. In just two days, fellow initiates managed to deliver building materials for 156 houses to the households.

To heavily stricken families that lacked manpower and money, we gave extra relief cash. We also distributed many boxes of clothes to the victims. The villagers were extremely touched because we took care of every single heavily affected household in every village.

This summer, Jiangxi Province faced the most serious drought in half a century. More than one million people did not have drinking water. A bus fully loaded with Master’s and fellow initiates’ love reached Ganzhou City after a six-hour journey. When we handed the milk, potable water and heatstroke-preventing drugs to the villagers, together with God’s love and concern, they all responded with a sunshine smile.

It must have been Master’s blessing. During the relief effort, everywhere our bus went, a heavy rain always followed, irrigating this dry land that had not seen rain for a long time.

This year a severe drought hit the north eastern part of Zhaludeqi, Tongliao City in Inner Mongolia. Crops were lost, and some peasant families facing starvation had to live on food by credit. Fellow initiates went to the most heavily affected area and distributed rice, flour, vegetable oil, fresh vegetables, clothes and other relief materials to the neediest households. The recipients were very touched. A peasant woman said to us with tears in her eyes: “Are there still such kind people in the world?”