After
the lecture, Supreme Master Ching Hai was led to the Tzitsernakaberd
Memorial. After a half-mile walk to the center of the monument, Master
took a moment of silence to pray. She placed a large floral bouquet
near the Memorial's eternal flame and was then led into the Tzitsernakaberd
museum for a tour by its director, Mr. Lavrenty Barseghyan, and Ms.
Astghik Yedigarian, the museum guide. At the end of the tour, Supreme
Master Ching Hai placed a cash contribution of more than US$3,000 in
the museum's contribution box and signed the guest book with words of
goodwill.
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| Master
visits the office of the Gjumry Governor and contributes US$100,000
to the city. (first from right, Mayor Michael Vardanyan; second
from right, Gov. Shirak Petrossyan). |
Supreme
Master Ching Hai then continued Her journey with a two hour drive on
a bumpy, winding road to Gjumry (Leninakan), one of the Armenian cities
devastated by the 1988 earthquake in which 25,000 lives were lost. Mayor
Michael Vardanyan and Governor Shirak S. Petrossyan of Gjumry were there
to greet Master as She arrived, followed by a police car, the lecture
organizers, the press, security personnel, and a technical crew. More
Armenian children dressed in traditional outfits offered bread and flowers
to Master to show respect to their esteemed guest. In the meeting room,
Mayor Vardanyan offered Master an oil painting entitled "The Winter
in Gjumry" by the well-known painter Shant Sarkisian. Master then
presented them with a 24K gold lighter and a surprise contribution of
US$100,000 to the city.
Overwhelmed by the generous
contribution, Mayor Vardanyan and Governor Petrossyan repeatedly thanked
Master for Her kindness and benevolence to the citizens of Gjumry, who
have suffered for the last ten years due to the tragic 1988 disaster.
They asked Her for permission to use the money to restore the city and
build a children's school. Master replied to the Mayor and Governor
that they should use the contribution for whatever they felt was necessary
and best for the city. She said that it was God's money and that She
is only a tool of God - the more She gives out, the more God gives back
to Her. Master also gave them an additional US$10,000 in cash. However,
Mayor Vardanyan and Governor Petrossyan asked for Master's permission
to divide the amount and give US$5,000 to the Orphanage Home of Gjumry
and the other US$5,000 to the Elderly Home and Internet of Gjumry.
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|
Master
visits the Orphanage Home of Gjumry.
|
Mayor
Vardanyan and Governor Petrossyan then accompanied Master to the orphanage
and elderly homes, where members of the Supreme Master Ching Hai International
Association awaited to distribute the gifts that they had arranged,
including clothing, toiletries, blankets, candies and crackers. Master
personally handed a gift to each and every resident and embraced them
with a hug. She sat down and played with little babies in their playpens
and children near miniature desks. The director of the orphanage, Ms.
Ruzanna Avakyan, also presented Master with a painting as a token of
love.
Afterwards, the Mayor and
Governor escorted Master to "Amenaprkich," which means "Most
Saved Church" in Armenian. The church is in the process of being
rebuilt after the destruction caused by the 1988 earthquake, and it
is hoped that the reconstruction will be completed by the year 2001
for the 1700th anniversary of Christianity in Armenia.
At
the Elderly Home and Internet, the director, Ms. Olya Mkrtchyan, had
prepared a piece of artwork handmade by the residents to present to
Master. When Master arrived, the children of the Shirak region sang
several songs for Her. There, She made another contribution of US$10,000
and personally distributed gifts to the Elderly Home residents. Before
She left, Master requested that the director take care of these elderly
people for Her. She said, "They are my parents, and God will not
forget them in Heaven."
Master then continued on
another two-hour drive to Vanadzor (Kirovakan), the next earthquake
ravaged city that still has not recovered from the tragic 1988 disaster.
The children at the Orphanage Home in Vanadzor were anxiously awaiting
Master, and upon Her arrival, they delightfully performed traditional
songs and dances for Her. After their performance, they presented Master
with a framed cross-stitched artwork that they had made by hand. Master
thanked and hugged each one of them for their beautiful performance
and gave everyone a gift bag. In addition to the gifts, She contributed
US$10,000 to the orphanage. The director of the orphanage, Mr. Ashik
Harutyunyan, expressed his deepest gratitude for all Her love.
Next, on Her charitable
path, Master went to visit the home for the elderly, Aznavour Pour L'Armenie,
where She played a game of bingo and won! She gave each resident a gift
bag and comforted them with Her gentle words. With Her boundless generosity,
She also contributed US$10,000 to the home. Not expecting such a large
contribution, the director of the home, Ms. Ruzanna Azetisyan, was astounded.
She thanked Master sincerely and said that the money would be used to
buy food for the elderly.
The
Deputy Mayor, Mr. Noric Sardanyan of Vanadzor, had traveled with Master
to the orphanage and the elderly home. Witnessing the benevolence that
Master had shown to his people, Mr. Sardanyan presented Her with a beautiful
painting of the ocean by one of the famous painters of Vanadzor. He
then invited Master and everyone in the crew to join him for a vegetarian
dinner at a local restaurant.
During the dinner, Mr. Sardanyan
witnessed even more of Master's benevolent deeds. She took meticulous
care of everyone, going from one end of the table to the other to see
whether everyone had enough food. In addition, She made Lavash (traditional
Armenian flat bread) with mushrooms and vegetables rolled up like spring
rolls for Her bodyguards, video crew, chauffeurs and the police. Mr.
Sardanyan clearly saw that Master's actions speak louder than words.
Her actions touched him very much.
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|
Master
personally makes Lavash (traditional Armenian flat bread) as spring
rolls to serve others.
|
The
day ended with many smiles and deep satisfaction, especially for the
people of the Komitas House of Chamber Music, and the citizens of Gjumry
and Vanadzor who gave thanks to God for answering their prayers through
a truly kindhearted and gentle woman.
Special Reports
By brother initiate Anthony Cordova,