Love In Action

Love Overcomes All Obstacles --
Relief Work Of The Flood Disaster
In North Dakota, U.S.A.

Report Compiled By California, Indiana, and Ohio Fellow Initiates,U.S.A. (Originally In English)

The Supreme Master Ching Hai Rescue Team consists of initiates from the U.S. states of California, Minnesota, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio.

April 1997, parts of North Dakota were devastated by a flood, forcing more than 70,000 people to evacuate their homes. Many suffered from the loss of their homes, businesses, and even family members. With great compassion and concern for the flood victims, Supreme Master Ching Hai urged disciples to visit them and deliver Her financial aid and love. The rescue team, consisting of initiates from the US states of California, Minnesota, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio, first gathered in Fargo, North Dakota to organize our efforts before distributing relief supplies to people affected by the flood. We rented two large trucks and purchased supplies consisting of food, personal articles, and cleaning items. We then sorted and bundled the supplies into thousands of love-filled "Care Packages", which more importantly contained Master's blessings. With two trucks fully loaded, we visited seven flood shelters, with the last two being a Bible Study camp and a distribution center in Grafton that was the most memorable and heartwarming.

The abundant relief supplies are filled with Master's love.

We arrived late in the evening at the Bible Study camp and immediately offered our services. Upon seeing us, the pastor was amazed, and said "It must be God who sent you here! It's really a miracle!" It turned out that they desperately needed manpower and were praying for help to reorganize the overwhelming quantities of donated food and used clothing. They only had a few volunteers and felt lost. So we immediately went into action and completed their "mission impossible" in less than two hours. The efficiency of our work surprised them.

Later, they were again overjoyed to learn that we brought "tons" of new underwear, socks, and all sizes of children's clothing, which they did not have and needed desperately. Some victims were elated to receive underwear and socks that night, telling us, "You guys are life-savers. We've been recycling two pairs of underwear." Also they were all bare-footed because they had no socks. Fortunately, the sister who purchased these items had learned from Master during the relief effort in Northern California in January, 1997. Master specifically instructed her to identify those items which most people neglected to donate. Those same items were neglected this time too. Even though people gave many things, few people donated underwear and socks, let alone brand new ones.

The rescue team rapidly deliver the purchased items to each disaster area by containers to meet the needs of the victims.

Upon hearing of our arrival, one woman could not believe that our initiates had come from so far away to help them, and so she came in person to welcome us. Learning that she had two children, we asked her to select clothes for them. With wide open eyes, she stared with disbelief at the many brand new items of children's clothing that we provided.

She then asked: "Who should I write a 'thank you' letter to?" We told her it was Master who had sent us there and who had donated the items, and then we gave a sample booklet to her. She immediately grabbed it as if she had found something very valuable. Looking at Master's picture, she said: "This is amazing. Really amazing!" Later, she excitedly showed the booklet to others, telling them that these wonderful people were with Supreme Master Ching Hai, and that all the relief items were from Her.

We then traveled to the shelter in Grafton, North Dakota. There, volunteers at the local distribution center felt overwhelmed joy to see that we brought a truckload of relief supplies, which were desperately needed because about 3,000 victims needed assistance, and they had not received materials from other organizations except for one truckload of quickly dwindling items from the local Salvation Army.

The local residents immediately joined our initiates in unloading the "Care Packages" in an assembly-line fashion. It was a touching scene to see the "Care Packages" being passed from one hand to the next, as if the packages themselves represented Master's love linking all of us together. We all gave a loud cheer when the last package was unloaded. A very warm, loving atmosphere permeated the center, and everyone's face lit up with God's love.

Flood victims, shopping in the center for much needed clothing and food, were delightfully surprised to receive brand new materials neatly and individually packaged, since most of the items they received before were second-hand. They also were amazed to find that we had come from very far away. They were obviously deeply moved by the love and care from Master.

Upon seeing our group and the thousands of packages we were unloading, one lady couldn't help but cry immediately. She hugged initiates as if we were close family. With tears pouring down her face, she told us that she had lost her husband in last year's flood. Still in shock, she was moved to see that God sent us to comfort her, so she kept hugging our initiates again and again, while repeatedly saying, "Thank you." "These are tears of happiness, not sadness. A house can be replaced, but not a life," she added.

Through the disaster, she truly realized the value of life beyond this material world. Upon learning that all of us, as well as the relief items had been sent by Master, she tightly held a sample booklet and lovingly stared at Master's picture with great gratitude and admiration. Because of Master's blessings, every victim felt so touched, moved and relieved of their emotional pain, as if they realized that they are indeed loved and taken cared of by God.

At this moment, the initiates were truly moved by Master's great compassion and unconditional love. They realized that in God's kingdom, only love is real.

Most of the victims showed a high level of spiritual awakening after the disaster. They appreciated our presence more than the materials we brought them. One elderly lady, accompanied by her daughter and grandchild, received many relief items including baby formula. The mother and daughter both commented, "You are such beautiful people. Your teacher is such a wonderful lady! Anyone who did not believe in God should believe now!" They told us that God gave them love and strength, and assured us, "We can make it!" They were positive that they could overcome their hardships and begin a new life with greater inner strength.

Another elderly lady in her eighties said that she couldn't believe that we showed up from nowhere. She thought that it was a miracle! She told us how nice it was to see that God's love helps strangers join together to help each other; aloof neighbors to become like a family; and makes everyone feel the oneness again.

Wherever we went, we brought the victims hope and love. We all knew that through us, Master aroused their inner beings. A lot of them cried because, through us, they could feel the great love from God.

We began to feel that all of us are one. Throughout our trip, we felt that Master was guiding us. We greatly thank Master for blessing us during our mission of helping the flood victims and for giving us a chance to learn to serve; to overcome our egos when working; and to develop our compassion. With Master's love, we overcome everything.

Breakdown list of North Dakota's Flood Relief, U.S.A.

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