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| Love in Action |
A Relief Mission Full of God’s Love
By Colombia Relief Team (Originally in Spanish)
In Cordoba, one of the most stricken areas, the relief team was greeted by a staff member of the Department of Internal Affairs, who assisted them in purchasing and distributing food for the neediest families. From October 18 to 23, the relief team visited the municipalities of Cerete, San Pelayo, Lorica, Buena Vista, La Apartada, Valencia and Monteria. The local governments showed full support by providing guides, transportation and even food for the team members. The mayors of each municipality and sometimes their wives, came along to visit the most flooded communities, where most of the houses were still under water. Many people shed tears of joy upon receiving Master’s loving gifts.  After reading the leaflets on global warming, the mayors showed great interest and planned to encourage their people to adopt an environmentally friendly lifestyle. Many villagers were also grateful for the information, saying, “Please give thanks to your Master for sending us this information. We did not know anything about this,” or “I’ll try to eat less meat to try to help heal the planet.” At the end of November, over 500,000 people were affected by the flood, and 221 municipalities suffered from avalanches, gales and landslides. One volcano erupted with two others at high risk of eruption. Upon learning the news, Master immediately provided another US$20,000 to help, and the Costa Rica initiates again went to Bogotá, Colombia to carry out another relief work with the Colombian initiates.
The villagers were overjoyed to receive the food, since most of them
had lost all their crops in the flood. They told the relief team that
they were the first international organization to visit and provide
help, love and comfort to them. Full of indescribable joy, the villagers
thanked God for hearing their prayers and sent their deepest gratitude
to Master saying they will pray for Her to have a wonderful life and
to continue helping many more people.
Expenditures by Supreme Master
Ching Hai
* Throughout the relief operation, fellow initiates paid for their own transportation, food and accommodation expenses.
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On October 16,
2008, with US$30,000 financial aid from Master, our Association members from Costa Rica joined the Colombian relief team to bring assistance to those affected by the floods caused by overflowing rivers and heavy rains in recent weeks.
Together, the initiates flew to Quibdó in the Department of Chocó, where they bought one week’s food supplies for each family. Mr. Mauricio Lopez from Disaster Prevention helped them like an angel, liaising with the Red Cross and driving them to Puerto Meluk in the Municipality of Medio Baudó where the Mayor was also able to provide them with invaluable help.
