Cheering Children’s Hearts During the Moon Festival

In Aulacese culture, the Moon Festival is an important and fun occasion when children can play with paper lanterns, watch lion dances, eat moon cakes, and sing songs. Thinking of Aulacese children in deprived situations during this year’s (2012) Festival, compassionate Supreme Master Ching Hai provided three separate allotments of US$5,000 to our Association members in Northern, Central and Southern Âu Lạc so that they could bring special gifts to the little angels in their regions.

Northern Âu Lạc

After preparing gift packages containing moon cakes, a team of our Association members from Northern Âu Lạc set off on September 24 to Tả Phới Village, Lào Cai District, Lào Cai Province. After a long journey in windy weather and on flooded roads, the team managed to deliver 260 gift packages to a preschool and to a representative of the village people’s committee to share with local children.

The next day, the team went to Khao Mang Village, Mù Cang Chải District, Yên Bái Province, and gave a total of 300 gift packages to students at the Khao Mang preschool and primary school as well as those in Làng Nhì Village, Trạm Tấu District, Yên Bái Province. They then went to Lập District, Phú Thọ Province, and distributed 165 gift packages to students at a primary school. On the third day, the team shared 275 more gift packages with the students of a pre-school in Hà Trung District, Thanh Hoá Province.
The children accepted the unexpected gifts with smiles and cheerful eyes, warming the hearts of our Association members.

Southern Âu Lạc

From September 27 to 28, our Association members in Southern Âu Lạc distributed 500 loving gift packages, each containing a box of vegan moon cake and a red envelope (containing lucky money) with 100,000 Aulac Dong to disadvantaged children in the cities of Cà Mau, Sóc Trăng, Cần Thơ, Vĩnh Long, and Sài Gòn, including blind youngsters in the rural area of Vũng Liêm District, Vĩnh Long Province. With these gifts full of Master’s love and blessing, the children enjoyed some moments of happiness and comfort.

Central Âu Lạc

After receiving Master’s relief fund, a team of Association members from Central Âu Lạc prepared gifts, enthusiastically rehearsed entertainment programs, and contributed VND6,698,000 (US$322) of their own money to the fund.

Then, on September 25, the team travelled by bus to visit orphans living at The Warm House, Kon T’Nẽ, in Kon Rẫy District, Kon Tum Province. While watching the team’s entertainment program, which featured legendary fairies, the children shouted and laughed loudly. The youngsters then eagerly participated in a riddle game and other fun activities, and also sang and danced. At the end of the program, our Association members said a prayer, distributed moon cakes to the children, and contributed 1,500 kg of rice and vegan food along with some daily necessities. The head nun of The Warm House was moved to tears and thanked Master and our team for bringing a meaningful Moon Festival to the children. Witnessing the love expressed during the occasion, the young driver of the bus refused to accept tips from the team members and instead wished to share the money with the children. He also said he planned to adopt the vegan diet and work with the orphanage to help the less fortunate.

After their trip to Kon Tum, a good-hearted transportation company let the team use their bus free of charge and another organization contributed 100 paper lanterns to the effort. On September 27, when the team members arrived at Buôn Hằng, a highland village of the Ê Đê indigenous people, the children and adults were waiting excitedly to see their beautiful program, because they had never before seen a performance group. After enjoying the team’s fun programs and games, the children received gifts from Master, after which they raised the items in the air and shouted, “Oh, so many cakes and candies! Thank Supreme Master Ching Hai! Thank everyone! “

At N’Trang Lơng primary school in an indigenous village outside Buôn Ma Thuột Province, the team gave gifts to children, teachers and those coming to watch the program. Touched by the team members’ thoughtfulness, the school’s principal Ms. H’Win wrote a letter of appreciation to Master.

Continuing their journey on September 28, the team travelled on muddy roads in the rain to a remote village of Mông people in Đăk Uyn Commune, Cư Jut District, Đăk Nông Province. When their bus arrived, the team members saw the people waiting for them wearing raincoats and holding umbrellas. During the celebration, the villagers also performed traditional songs and dances to entertain the guests. The children happily received Master’s gifts and then reluctantly said farewell to our Association members.

In addition, the team in Huế distributed more than 1,200 gift packages to disadvantaged, young students in Cẩm Hà Village, Cẩm Xuyên District, Hà Tĩnh Province. In Phan Rang, 150 gift packages were handed directly to the children. Afterwards the chief of Vạn Phước Village wrote a sincere letter of thanks to Master. In Nha Trang, an education and rehabilitation center for handicapped and destitute children was given more than 150 gift packages, which included moon cakes, fruit, candy, and paper lanterns, so that the children could enjoy a happy Moon Festival.

Distributing gifts in Huế

Distributing gifts in Phan Rang

The Aulacese Association members sincerely thank Master for giving them this opportunity to bring Her love to their country’s less fortunate children, thus allowing the youngsters to enjoy a blissful Moon Festival. On this occasion, may all Aulacese children get to eat moon cakes and sing this joyful song:

“Holding the lantern in my hand during the Moon Festival,
I went to all different streets
My heart was so happy
And I sang and danced under the full moon.”

Letters of appreciation from N’Trang Lơng School, Vĩnh Sơn Orphanage, Handicapped Children’s, and Vạn Phước village chief

Expenditures by Supreme Master Ching Hai and Our Association members for Children’s Moon Festival Celebrations in Âu Lạc