In April 1996, a group of fellow sisters, bringing with them their inherited agricultural knowledge, came to Kompong Speu to join the reclamation work. When they set foot on this land, all they could see was a vast and boundless plain, covered with tall grass. As they looked further, the clear blue sky matched perfectly with the beautiful green plain, so pleasant to their hearts and soothing to their eyes. It was truly a paradise on earth. They couldn't help admire Master's fantastic foresight.

The memories from American sagas of developing the west - coaches, horses and cowboys, were still deep in their minds. Today, relying on a pious heart, they came from far away to this strange land. Just to walk once around this 30,000 hectares of land would take them a whole day, or even longer, so how could they restore this land with their hands and hoes?

The working members were divided into many groups, including building construction, road construction, carpentry, electricity and water works, painting, vegetable growing, horticulture, art design, information service and kitchen. Regardless of whether they had experience or not, they worked in cooperation. Each fulfilled their duties, and strived hard for their ideal.

Having been assigned to the farming group, each members put on their bamboo hats, and used their hoes and sickles to clear the wild grass on the wasteland that was as tall as a person. In April and May, the scorching Cambodian sun was unbelievably hot. Even before noon, the sun would generate a current of hot air that swept across the land. The sisters were completely wet with perspiration, which dripped upon the yellow earth mounds that had just 'shown their faces'. Then they realized that a piece of land filled wild grass had been revived. On this yellow earth that had just made its 'debut' would grow many fresh and green vegetables, and fruits in the future. Bearing this hope in mind everyday, a large plain of yellow earth was eventually recovered with their cooperation and efforts. The ecstasy of that is really hard to describe in words.

They found a piece of land in the tent area, and then planted the seeds that they had brought in various experimental areas. From sowing the seeds, irrigating them, to weeding out the wild grass, they watched the seedlings emerge from the soil one by one, which were as delicate and feeble as new born babies. When the sun was too hot, they had to water them quickly to quench their 'thirst'.

The watermelon vines were full of blossoming flowers; the bitter-gourds, pumpkins and cucumbers were yielding fruit; the long green beans were growing longer; the bright yellow melons beautifully covered the entire field. Everyone ran around in excitement telling each other the good news. The fellow brother scored the first 'goal'. Nourished by a torrential rain, the sweet potatoes in the fields had grown lots of green leaves, and the sweet potatoes leaves were ready to be eaten. There was also a harvest of water convolvulus, which were served for dinner. That particular meal tasted especially sweet and delicious.

An agricultural expert researching organic fertilizers, bringing along his instruments, came to study our land. He said that the yellow soil here has a pH reading of 7, while that of the sandy soil is 5.5. Ours is a virgin land not contaminated by any insecticide or chemicals, and is therefore superior in intrinsic conditions. He chose a piece of land to experiment growing different kinds of fruits, to observe how they grew in such a climate, and how they coped with it. Assured by the technological verification of this agricultural expert, these 'pioneers' had even greater faith.

The group also went to the nearby villages to observe the way the villagers farmed. They found that most Cambodian farmers were growing rice paddies. Next to the paddy fields, they would have a field for growing vegetables and gourds.

After returning to Raising Center, they decided to extend their experimental plantation to the sandy soils in the commercial region. Their reclamation work attracted the attention of nearby farmers and villagers. They crowded around in curiosity. After a long and difficult communication with hand signals and gestures, they finally understood what the villagers were trying to tell them, "Why do you plough with hands and hoes, instead of using cows?" Since there was a language barrier, the fellow sisters used body language enhanced by their wisdom and imagination to explain to the villagers, that they were only experimenting with the growing of vegetables. The villagers were very friendly. Some of them covered their mouth and laughed. Some fetched some seedlings for the fellow sisters to field test. They also told the fellow sisters that they must grow paddies so that they have rice to eat.

Such a conversation with 'hands and feet' gave everyone the opportunity to become more acquainted with each other. Early each morning, after taking breakfast, the fellow sisters would go to work in the fields. When seeing them, the villagers of the several nearby households would close their palms and greet them with: "Bye, bye!" Very often, the villagers brought their whole family to watch the fellow sisters work. They also taught the sisters to speak some Cambodian. At sunset, the sky would be filled with colorful clouds, the fellow sisters would carry their hoes and step on their homeward journey, while practicing the Cambodian words that they had learned. This leisurely and carefree life could hardly be enjoyed by city dwellers.

When planning the construction of the Compassionate Heart Temple, the Center bought a ploughing machine. Whenever the machine drove into that area, the farmers would put aside their farming work, and gather around to look curiously. A large field was ploughed very quickly with the help of this machine. The next step was sowing the seeds, but how could four or five persons do the job? They could only pray to Master for help. Eventually, that very day, the service counter informed them that more than ten Korean brothers and sister would join their farming team. They were grateful to Master for dispatching this timely reinforcement.

Watching bunches of green vegetables carpet the original yellow soil, contentment and a feeling of achievement flooded their hearts. Here, they beheld the truth of the greatness of mother nature, and they could also see God bestowing life upon the plants. Having recovered the inborn instinct of humankind, the fellow sisters felt the exaltation of being unified with nature and the great earth. Their hands and feet were covered with corns, and their yellow skin had become shiny and tanned from the rain and sunshine. If they meet their relatives one day, they could be mistaken for visitors from a Cambodian village. Time is hardly discernible in the hills. They are leading a carefree life of farmers, treading the morning dew and enjoying the evening breeze. The colorful clouds in the evening light their way home, free of any worries. The children of the great earth are so free and easy.