Love in Action
Report from the USA
Michigan
Heavenly
Food Blesses Detroit's
Women's and Children's Shelter
By Helen Guo and Sherrie Wang, Michigan (Originally in English)
Under Master’s divine guidance, on January 7 and 12, 2006, initiates from the Michigan Center visited homeless shelters for women and children called Genesis House II and III in Detroit, to serve nutritious vegetarian meals and convey Master’s love to the residents.
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The delicious cuisine included veggie spring rolls, salads, fried rice, homemade egg-free cookies and plenty of fresh fruit, which were much appreciated by the residents at both facilities, and many returned to the serving table for more food. In fact, one woman told the initiates, “I’ve eaten up to my throat.” Thus the sisters and brothers were happy that the concept of vegetarian eating was readily accepted by the attendees, and were also pleased when the director of one of the shelters permitted them to display Master’s posters and show Her video lectures while the residents ate dinner. During this activity a noticeable hush overtook the dining area when Master’s video began, and afterwards, several people inquired about learning the Convenient Method so the initiates gave them the Michigan Center’s contact information. They then informed the initiates that the shelter provided a meditation/prayer room for use by residents of all religious backgrounds so that they could easily practice.
In conclusion, the Michigan sisters and brothers are deeply grateful
for Master’s divine blessings, which allowed them to be the instruments
of Her compassion, and they look forward to continuing Master’s
work of feeding the homeless in the future.
California
Feeding the Less Fortunate
in the Spirit of
"Alternative Living"
By the Los Angeles News Group (Originally in English)
Inspired by their successful effort to feed the homeless during the 2005 Christmas season (see The News #163, “Love in Action”), Los Angeles Center initiates are now serving vegetarian meals at various homeless shelters in the Southern California area on a regular basis.
The
first of these activities was conducted on the frigid evening of January
20, 2006 at the National Guard Armory Cold Weather Shelter in Santa Ana,
California, a largely Spanish-speaking community located south of Los
Angeles in Orange County. When the initiates arrived at the Shelter they
saw a large number of street people gathered inside, with many women and
children lying on blankets on the floor near the tables designated for
the food and beverage distribution. At first sight the people looked tired
and dejected, but upon seeing the initiates their faces lit up as they
felt deeply touched knowing the sisters and brothers were delivering to
them the gift of love from God.
Then several shelter volunteers helped the initiates arrange the food and drinks on the tables, and approximately 170 guests lined up in an orderly fashion to receive their meals, which included fried rice, veggie egg rolls, potato salad, an apple and bottled water along with pictures of Master and copies of Her “Alternative Living” flyer. Since they normally eat just bread and gravy each day for dinner, the Shelter visitors greatly appreciated the delicious veggie food as a warm, cozy atmosphere permeated the building and everyone felt like a big family filled with Master’s love.
The LA initiates’ second homeless food distribution activity was conducted on February 17, when they served delicious vegetarian lunches consisting of fried rice, sweet and sour veggie chicken, cole slaw and bottled water to approximately seventy guests at the Orange County Rescue Mission’s Men’s Shelter, the oldest faith-based facility of its kind in the area, also located in Santa Ana. The Shelter’s manager, Mr. Jeff Hollett, who was friendly and receptive to the brothers and sisters, said that each night the facility houses thirty-six homeless men seeking to readjust to society and find jobs, conducts Christian discipleship training and other activities and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner to the homeless. As its website states, the Mission’s vision is “to address the varied needs of the people and to minister God’s word showing them that God loves them”
This spirit was clearly evident among the staff members, who were warm, upbeat and courteous, and also among the Shelter’s residents and visitors, who enjoyed the meal immensely. For example, Joseph, a former street person and a cook in the facility’s kitchen said of his own spiritual transformation, “The gift I’ve been given I want to share with others.” Moreover, regarding the food served by the initiates, Maricela, a woman visitor said, “I have a liver problem and the soy in the food helps me with my diet and health and cleanses my blood.” And other guests commented, “I can’t tell it’s veggie” and “I’m not a tofu eater but this is really good. I couldn’t tell the difference between this food and real chicken.”
After the meal was served, the initiates distributed the remaining lunches in carry-out containers to the guests, who gratefully accepted them, and a brother provided a stack of Master’s “Alternative Living” flyers to one of the Mission’s staffers, who said, “Thanks a lot. I’ll make sure these get distributed to our people.” Also, as he was going home, the same brother encountered a homeless woman in the street who had missed the sit-down lunch but had received one of the carry-out veggie meals, and she remarked, “Even though I missed the meal, God always provides for me in this way. The food is really delicious.”
Through their experiences at the National Guard Armory Cold Weather Shelter
and Orange County Rescue Mission’s Men’s Shelter, the initiates
who participated learned valuable lessons in sharing Master’s love
and concern in the spirit of Christ, and after receiving an invitation
from Rescue Mission officials, they plan to periodically serve vegetarian
lunches at their facility in the future.
