Love In Action |
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Spring was approaching and everything was beginning to flourish. Filled with love and bringing along relief funds and News magazines, fellow initiates in Formosa paid visits to a number of poor and sick people. During February of 1998, relief funds totaling 159,600 NT dollars were distributed to 63 poor and needy families.
|
|---|
| City/County |
Number of Families |
Amount (NT$) |
Receipt |
| Keelung |
1 |
2,000 |
1 |
| Taipei |
9 |
18,000 |
2 |
| Taoyuan |
2 |
4,000 |
3 |
| Hsinchu |
1 |
3,000 |
4 |
| Miaoli |
6 |
12,000 |
5 |
| Taichung |
6 |
12,000 |
6 |
| Nantou |
8 |
18,600 |
7 |
| Jiayi |
6 |
12,000 |
8 |
| Kaoping |
5 |
44,000* |
9 |
| Yilan |
1 |
2,000 |
10 |
| Hualian |
6 |
12,000 |
11 |
| Taidong |
8 |
12,000 |
12 |
| Penghu |
4 |
8,000 |
13 |
| Total |
63 |
159,600 |
Sending Blankets Of Love
In The Wintry Season
[Report
From Taoyuan] The Taoyuan Center launched
a blanket distribution programme in the winter season, working
in groups to offer warm bedding and clothes to those truly in
need.
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| These "blankets of love" warm both body and soul. |
A group of fellow initiates drove along a precarious path up the mountains in Northern Formosa to distribute blankets, warm clothing and sample booklets of Supreme Master Ching Hai to needy households in Fuhsing Village. This project was carried out in the hope that Supreme Master Ching Hai's divine love would warm the bodies and souls of the needy, in much the same way as the sun heats up the cold arctic air.
The Taoyuan County Government had provided a list of poor households in the area, but fellow initiates requested the police at Fuhsing Village to list other households that also needed assistance. Most of the villagers live high in the mountains. With the help of the local police and through on-site investigation, initiates found that those on the police list were in even greater need than those on the government list. But they managed to distribute relief supplies to all the needy people in the area.
Madam Fan, wife of a Kaoyi Village representative, demonstrated her personal compassion by escorting fellow practitioners to destitute families in her village, where she acted as their interpreter. The local inhabitants greeted these unexpected visitors, sent by Supreme Master Ching Hai, with warm, endearing smiles.
Though poor, some low-income families remain optimistic, cheerful and contented, unperturbed by the reality of living a frugal life on their meagre income. Some of the needy families have the good fortune to live in homes provided by kindhearted people. This warm concern from caring neighbours comforts many miserable souls, as does the sun in winter.
Through this
winter project of blanket distribution to the orphaned, the
old, the sick, and the destitute, God has given fellow practitioners
a valuable experience, which has led them to a deeper realization.
Love
Heals Wounded Hearts
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The
party reverberates with the elegant sound of a zither.
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[Report From Chiayi]At the invitation from authorities at the Formosa Provincial Yunlin Institute For Mentally Disabled Adults in Central Formosa. Chiayi fellow initiates sponsored a special program in celebration of the Lantern Festival [15th day of the first lunar month]. This activity was the second to be sponsored by Chiayi initiates following a party held last year which drew enthusiastic response and widespread commendation from both authorities and disadvantaged young girls and the mentally disabled at this halfway house.
The initiates designed a series of exciting activities for the students in hopes of alleviating the daily pressure and feelings of insecurity suffered by these people who desperately needed the care and spiritual support from society.
The activities included some riddles especially for Lantern Festival celebrations, karaoke television where amateur singers sing to the accompaniment of videotaped music, and other performances by fellow initiates. Students at the Yunlin Institute competed for chances to answer the riddles and to win stationary and a bookmarks printed with aphorisms by Supreme Master Ching Hai. The bookmarks were included among the prizes in hopes that the words of this great Master would be a comfort to wounded hearts and bring light into the lives of the disadvantaged. Dialogues between fellow initiates on stage indirectly pressed home the message that true happiness comes from the inner world and not the outside one.
National Assembly delegate Lin Shu-shan who partook in the celebrations expressed his fear that social discrimination might make it difficult for these young women seeking employment upon their graduation from the institute. In a touching show of concern, he promised to help them find jobs or offer them employment at his radio station should they need it.
As always, time flies when you are having a good time. Even though the participants were still in a festive mood, the celebrations came to a melodious end. The students bid farewell to the initiates, everyone now full of God's love which is non-discriminating, and the joyful expressions of the young girls bespoke the blessings they had received due to Supreme Master Ching Hai's compassion. Initiates hope that Her love will help them through whatever adversities and guide them to their true Home.
Ice
Storm Relief Work