Love in Action

Formosa

Loving Concern for Typhoon Victims
Report compiled by Formosa News Groups (Originally in Chinese)

Typhoon Kalmaegi

On June 17, 2008, typhoon Kalmaegi swept across Formosa, bringing torrential rain to the central and southern parts of the island. In the southern county of Kaohsiung, the levees and roads along the Laonong River collapsed, blocking traffic routes. In Dongan Village, the river water level rose rapidly, flooding homes and forcing many people to evacuate to a temple up in the mountains.

Master was very concerned and instructed fellow initiates to render relief to the victims. Upon receiving Master’s instruction, fellow initiates from Kaohsiung immediately surveyed the affected areas and the needs of the people. They quickly prepared and delivered emergency provisions and cash to the temple. It was already midnight when they arrived and the people had already gone to sleep. Therefore, a temple manager received the relief materials on their behalf. They also left their contact details so that the temple could contact them if any further materials or relief assistance was needed.

All the fellow initiates taking part in this relief work deeply felt God’s protection and blessing. They also realized that the disasters caused by global warming are posing threats to humankind and the Earth. Only by returning to a compassionate and peaceful vegetarian lifestyle can our beautiful home be quickly saved.

 

Typhoon Fung Wong

Taoyuan

On the early morning of July 28, another typhoon, Fung Wong, struck Formosa. As it approached, the Taoyuan Rescue Team of The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association had its rubber dinghies and jeeps ready. It established direct contact with the disaster relief centers in Taipei and Taoyuan Counties. Fortunately, the typhoon suddenly picked up speed three hours before it was expected to hit Formosa and passed through quickly. As a result, Taoyuan was not seriously affected.

Kaohsiung

 

In southern Formosa, it was a completely different story. The typhoon brought heavy rain. In Laonong Village, a temporary bamboo bridge that the local inhabitants had rebuilt after typhoon Kalmaegi was destroyed. As access was cut off, they faced a severe shortage of daily living necessities.

Upon receiving Master’s instruction on July 29, members from our Kaohsiung Center dispatched a survey team to collect information from the village chief, and then delivered emergency relief supplies to the local Community Activity Center that same night. Laonong Village Chief Ms. Hsieh Mei-fung, received the relief materials and promised to have them delivered to the people via a makeshift cable car strung across the river. On behalf of the villagers, Ms. Hsieh expressed her deep gratitude. She was greatly surprised and delighted by the consideration of our Association members, because we had brought precisely what the people needed, as well as milk powder and toys for infants and children. In addition to conveying Master’s love and concern, we took the opportunity to remind her that the vegetarian diet can help mitigate global warming, and thus greatly reduce natural disasters. Ms. Hsieh promised to disseminate this message to the villagers and remind them to eat less meat and more vegetarian food.

 

To view the Humanitarian Relief Activities by the Supreme Master Ching Hai and Her International Association, please visit http://www.GodsDirectContact.org.tw/humanitarian (The list can be sorted by year, country/region and type of events.)