Since
the end of May, a persistent drought has
sparked a chain of wildfires that has been raging through forests
in northeastern Florida lasting more than forty days. The blaze has
destroyed nearly four hundred and eighty thousand acres of woodlands
and has burned down many homes. Several major traffic routes have
been closed and the smell of charred timber fills the air. Known damage
is estimated at almost US$400 million. More than five thousand firefighters
from forty-four US states have rushed to Florida to help contain the
fires, but the abnormally scarce rainfall this year has made their
job even more difficult.
Upon
hearing of this disaster, the compassionate Master immediately sent
a representative on July 7 to give an initial cash contribution of
US$10,000 to the Red Cross Society in central Florida, together with
mineral water and other daily necessities for the relief of the fire
victims. The Red Cross expressed its appreciation for Master's selfless
love and for the valuable contribution, and passed on the gratitude
of all victims and firefighters that benefitted therefrom.
It
was the greatest hope of the local people that God would send them
a timely rain to hold off and extinguish the great fire. Only then
could they rebuild their homes, and the firefighters who had been
battling hard with the fire would have a chance to catch their breath.
God answered theirprayers; a torrential rain descended following Master's
quiet arrival in Florida, and continued while She was there, sweeping
aside the originally dry weather. Thanks to Master's blessing, the
fire has been extinguished and now there is continuous rainfall every
day to dispel the burnt and dry air replacing it with clean and fresh
atmosphere.
After
visiting the Red Cross HQ in central Florida, we prepared more basic
necessities and visited the Salvation Army HQ at Daytona on July 11,
as per Master's telephone instruction to continue helping and comforting
the victims. Their Superintendent Mr. Phelps gratefully accepted the
relief materials charged with Master's love, and then took us to visit
a Victim Shelter at Flagler, one of the most seriously affected areas.
The
Shelter was situated in a primary school in Bunnell. Upon our arrival
there, their staff arranged for us to meet Mr. Berry a Federal Emergency
Management Assistant, who was deeply impressed by Master's great compassion
in sending fellow practitioners to help the victims whom they had
never seen. He pointed out that although people were strangers before
the disaster, once the mishap happened, everyone contributed all their
effort to help each other and those in desperate need, as though other's
suffering was their own. One outstanding example was the selfless
sacrifice of the firefighters and other disaster fighters who temporarily
forgot their families and friends to control the fire day and night.
Their selfless action was driven by the most pure compassion and love
latent in all human beings.
When
we told him that we could go to the affect area to deliver basic necessities
and extend Master's love to those in need, Mr. Berry was extremely
delighted and immediately arranged staff to bring us to the most effected
areas.
On
the road to the disaster sites, we could see banners and posters put
up by the local people conveying their hearty feelings: "Thank you
very much, firefighters, police and all those who are helping us.
May God bless you all!" They wanted to express their deep gratitude
to all the people who fought sohard to protect their homes and lives,
and reduce the damages to the minimal. The people were really touched
by those who ignored their exhaustion and struggled with the blazing
forests under the scourging sun.
In
recent years, a chain of natural and human disasters has destroyed
many homes and broke many hearts. This brought us to the realization
that to reduce the agonies and suffering in this world, we must begin
from ourselves; meditate diligently and pray for world peace so that
the world will improve from the root. 
Love
In Action
