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| Fellow
practitioners purchase food items, pack them in bags, and personally
deliver them to quake victims in remote mountain areas. |
In
January and February of this year, El Salvador was hit by two severe
earthquakes that brought suffering to many victims. At the time, fellow
practitioners from Costa Rica formed a relief team to help the victims
in the affected areas. In addition to sharing Master's divine love with
the people, we also provided building materials and food, hoping to
help residents rebuild their homes and survive the difficult times.
In May, Master again contributed US$10,000 to the victims. Thus, fellow
practitioners from Costa Rica made another trip to El Salvador and formed
a team with local fellow practitioners to convey Master's love and concern
to the quake victims.
When
our team arrived in El Salvador, we were immediately greeted by the
citizens and councilors of Tamanique County, who stood in ranks to welcome
us and invited us to a vegetarian dinner at the hotel where we were
staying. During the meal, they described the miserable living conditions
of many households affected by the two quakes and efforts by a Tamanique
government task force to promptly resolve the accommodation problems
of the victims. They also took the opportunity to ask about Master's
teachings and deeds of compassion. It was their sincere desire that
Master would accept their invitation to visit El Salvador in the near
future. During our stay in Tamanique County, many households earnestly
invited us to stay in their homes temporarily; their cordial reception
warmed our hearts. Our merciful Master always arranges everything for
us perfectly and discretely, so that we can smoothly accomplish our
tasks.
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| The
citizens of Tamanique County present this banner to Master, which
bears their hand-embroidered words of gratitude. |
Our
main mission in Tamanique was to visit the local communities to determine
which homes were in poor condition and vulnerable to heavy rain, so
that we could ensure that the materials would really reach them. After
attending a conference by the township reconstruction and development
committee, we found that the most urgently needed items were food and
zinc sheets for roofing. The Lady Mayor generously provided transportation
for us, so that we could conveniently proceed to various communities
to make purchases and distributions.
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| Material
aid is very practical, but spiritual comfort is everlasting-fellow
practitioners showing Master's video at a community meeting. |
When
traveling among the communities, we noticed that many households were
in urgent need of building materials and food. Situated in remote areas
that were difficult to reach, they were deprived of concern and help
from the outside world. This strengthened our determination to go deeper
into the mountain areas to convey Master's love and concern to these
forgotten victims, many of whom, upon seeing Master's photo on the sample
book, immediately forgot their suffering and material needs, and began
to experience peace and bliss. When they realized that it was Master
who had instructed us to help relieve them of their homeless and starving
condition, they were deeply touched by Her selfless and boundless love.
While doing the relief work, we came to realize that everything was
manipulated by God's power, and we were simply tools of God. We not
only brought material relief to the victims, but also conveyed the message
of love, which was of the utmost importance.
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| Children
are overjoyed with the balloons, cookies, and candies specially
prepared for them. |
On
the last day, the distribution of zinc sheets was completed. When we
were meditating that evening, we heard the pattering sound of rain.
God had let the rain fall only after we had distributed all the building
materials to the victims, which seemed to convey the message that God's
blessing had graced this heavily afflicted area!
This
time, two hundred households received zinc roofing sheets and three
hundred received food supplies. For both fellow practitioners and local
government officials, the operation was an unforgettable experience.
Two different political parties worked with us for the first time, and
it was also the first occasion when they had worked together for the
wellbeing of the people. Though there were some hindrances at the beginning
of the project, everything later went smoothly. When the work was completed,
the participants wholeheartedly said, "This miracle is all due
to Master's grace, because She always shows us a good example through
Her own deeds; regardless of our religion, political affiliation, or
color, God loves us all without discrimination." Thus, we are forever
thankful to God for letting us be Master's disciples. We are fully aware
that "Love" is Master's only icon, and that She takes care
of every fellow disciple and all the brothers and sisters around us
without discrimination.
)
