Special Reports

◆ Moscow, Russia (Originally In Russian)

Fellow initiates in Moscow, Russia celebrate the Moon Festival in a toast to Master.

God's little children in front of Master's poster.

Dear revered Master, I am one of Your new disciples and my name is Anatoli. I am very happy to have received Your blessing, which not only helps the cultivation of my soul, but also helps to satisfy many of my family's material needs!

My daughter and I received many gifts at the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, and felt really blessed. We are extremely grateful to You, Master. I sincerely send You my best wishes, and hope that You will visit Russia in the near future.

◆ Montreal, Canada (Originally In English)

Master has delightful surprises for Her big and small children.

The celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival was a delightful surprise for all the big and small fellow initiates of the Montreal Center! While packing candies and sweets into individual bags, and making decorations, we felt joyful like small children, smiling when thinking about the delighted faces of the big and small children when they would arrive the next day for group meditation and see this unexpected addition of the Center.

On Sunday morning, laughter had already started to bring a festive atmosphere to the Montreal Center when we watched the video tape on the celebration of the Moon Festival in Hsihu, Formosa. The celebrations began after the group meditation ended. It was the children who were the distinguished guests of the party as they seemed to be larger in number than the adults. They ran around everywhere in the venue, all very impatiently waiting for their turn to receive red envelopes (containing lucky money), toys, cakes and candies from Master. When their turns came, the children chose the toys they liked, and returned with their arms full of loving gifts. They immediately opened and showed their new toys to daddy, mommy and their new friends. Those children who could not come that day did not know that a surprise would be waiting for them, their parents came up to receive Master's gifts for them under the thundering applause of other initiates.

◆ San Diego, CA, U.S.A. (Originally In English)

After the weekly group meditation, fellow practitioners worked hard in cooperating to prepare for the Mid-Autumn Festival celebration. While some fellow practitioners were busy preparing gifts, some waited at the entrance to welcome guests, and others prepared food and drinks. The Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations were about to begin! Fellow initiates' relatives and children came with smiles on their faces. Never before had the Center witnessed such a large crowd of children. Everyone got a gift. During lunch, fellow practitioners enjoyed talking and laughing with each other, and opened their gifts of toys to play with their friends. All of them had a great time!

◆ Hawaii, U.S.A. (Originally In English)

In Hawaii, all initiates get set for the Moon Festival celebrations for the children.

Fellow initiates of the Hawaii Center finished preparing for the Mid-Autumn Festival celebration within a very short time, after which they brought their families to enjoy the love, laughter and fellowship at the event. The children were delighted to have their favorite sweets, treats and toys that had been especially prepared for them. Everyone enjoyed a delicious vegetarian lunch with an array of beautiful fresh fruit and vegetarian moon cakes that enhanced the festive mood. Through Master's compassion, love and thoughtfulness, all Her children, young and old, enjoyed each other's friendship and love.

◆ Dallas, Texas, U.S.A. (Originally In English)

With lanterns in hand, the Dallas children celebrate the festival.

Centered on the theme "Celebration for the Children," a party was held for both half-initiated and non-initiated children to mark the occasion of the Mid-Autumn Festival. During the party, each child lit a traditional lantern in tribute to the Mid-Autumn festivities. The children played together and celebrated in a very blissful manner under the blessing of our Master. The only thing more beautiful than the glow of the lanterns was the warm, soft spiritual glow emanating from each tiny, beautiful face.

In Austin, Texas, adults join the children as they form a circle around the local Center each carrying a brightly lit lantern.

◆ Austin, TX, USA
(Originally In the Au Lac Language)

Due to Master's wonderful blessing power, this year's Moon Festival at the Austin Center was a great success. After enjoying pure and delicious vegetarian food and moon festival music, all the Center's children and adults were given lanterns in various shapes and bags of candy, and asked to line up and display their lanterns. The children's faces lit up with joy as they walked around the Center with their lanterns, talking endlessly to each other.

In the state of Minnesota, dazzling smiles light up the faces of the children.

◆ Minnesota, USA
(Originally In English)

Thanks Master for the blessing food and toys that You provided. The sisters, brothers and children in the Minnesota Center all had a very good time. We all also thank You for Your thoughtfulness and love.

We are sending You a photo of all Your happy-face children in Minnesota, with all our love.

◆ Costa Rica (Originally In Spanish)

With a lantern, moon cakes and red envelopes of lucky money, Costa Rica's fellow initiates and children cheer and enjoy a romantic oriental festival.

For those of us who live in the Western Hemisphere, the Moon Festival celebration activities were something new and very interesting. We are very glad to have had this opportunity to gather together, and share the blessings and good fortune bestowed by Master. Everyone got a red envelope (containing lucky money) according to the oriental custom. Also, we shared a special moon cake dessert prepared by Chinese fellow initiates especially for this occasion, and then watched the bright moon above us.

Seizing this opportunity, initiates cut a red ribbon to inaugurate the newly relocated Costa Rica Center. Amid the playing of Master's audio taped music, we all felt joyful, friendly, peaceful and united at this spiritual family meeting.

Joy abounded among the children. They received balloons, toys, candy and cookies, and were the ones who most enjoyed this special occasion. As for the children of poor families and orphanages, fellow initiates brought them toys, envelopes with money, and food packages.

◆ Perth, Australia (Originally In English)

To our dearest, darling and romantic Master,

Thank You very much for giving us a wonderful present, that is, our recent Moon Festival Celebration. Everyone enjoyed it, especially the children. They were very happy to receive the lanterns, books, stationeries that were especially prepared for them. When we had the beautiful and nutritious moon cakes, we could not help thinking of You and missing You, though we knew that You were with us spiritually there and then.

◆ Sydney, Australia (Originally In Au Lacese)

In New South Wales of Australia, the Mid-Autumn Festival this year fell on the same day as Labor Day, a public holiday in Australia. Fellow initiates organized a three-day camping activity at the Bents Basin Park, where they were joined by fellow practitioners from other states. At the camp ground, they held regular meditation sessions, but most of the time, they were free to enjoy all kinds of activities including a barbecue, singing, and swimming in the river. Each child received a gift packet of candies, biscuits and a lantern. All the participants sang joyously and blissfully around the campfire.

◆ Auckland, New Zealand

The Auckland Center received Master's loving directive the night before the Mid-Autumn Festival. Fellow initiates immediately went to purchase assorted gifts, and many of them spent the night preparing moon cakes and sumptuous snacks for the occasion to be held on the following day. Their efforts were meant to ensure that the children of the Quan Yin family could savor the love of their merciful Mother.

The celebration fell on the monthly one-day retreat held at the Auckland Center. After the meditation, many fellow practitioners from other places came to rejoice in the occasion with us. The Center was filled with joy. Children came one after another to receive the gifts prepared for them, and their joy was written on their faces. What made us especially feel Master's immaculate love was the extra pocket money that She had arranged for the children from less fortunate families.

Like blooming flowers, each child burst into radiant laughter, while the newly initiated brothers and sisters took this precious opportunity to exchange insights and ideas.

◆ Surabaya, Indonesia (Originally In English)

Marvelous Master continuously pours Her love on us. After receiving Her instruction, motherly love, we happily prepared sweets, jellies, biscuits, fruit, moon cakes, and toys for the children who would come to the Mid-Autumn Festival. Many new initiates took part in packing the gifts. A dinner was held at the Supreme Master Ching Hai Vegetarian House. Many children came to celebrate, feeling very happy and exulted to receive cute toys and pocket money from Master. They were very grateful for Master's love and concern for them.

When some of the fellow initiates and guests knew that the event was arranged specially by Master, all were very touched and said: "Master really loves the fellow initiates."

◆ Seoul, Korea (Originally In English)

Seoul - The energy, innocence, and purity of the small children in Seoul, Korea brighten up a joyful and heavenly time for the adults.

The first special party organized for youngsters by the Seoul Center in celebration of the Moon Festival attracted many children of initiate and non-initiate parents to the S.M. Vegetarian Buffet Restaurant. Many enjoyable games were arranged for the evening and the children innocently showed off their talents in many respects, their cute and lively spirit drawing bursts of laughter from all those present. While both parents and children enjoyed the party, they also thanked Master sincerely for arranging such a wonderful gathering. The event was indeed a "heavenly time" with the little angels.

Pusan initiates celebrate the Moon Festival with little children from an orphanage.

◆ Pusan, Korea (Originally In English)

On the day after we received Master's fax instructions, we happened to make a regular visit to an orphanage on the outskirts of Pusan. In our conversation with the director of the orphanage, we learned that no activities had been arranged for the children on the day of the Moon Festival. Thus, we invited them to join in our celebration. To this, the director responded happily, "These children have been very curious about our Center and have been eager to visit it with me when I go for group meditation. Their longtime desire is about to come true and I am very happy for them."

When these young guests arrived at the Center on the day of the Moon Festival celebration, they first watched some performances videotaped during a retreat before enjoying a wonderful dinner with fellow practitioners. After the dinner, fellow practitioners put on a show to entertain everyone. The children and guests received gifts prepared in advance, and some of the children bowed before Master's picture as a token of gratitude. On the way back to the orphanage, a twelve-year-old girl said, "I will be a vegetarian from now on." Fellow practitioners and their families stayed on at the Center, sipping tea and watching the moon, enjoying the wonderful moonlit night arranged by Master.

Laughter and songs beside a campfire provide fellow initiates in Taejon, Korea with a beautiful Moon festival night.

◆ Taejon, Korea (Originally In English)

The Mid-Autumn Festival celebration party was held at an initiate's house set in a beautiful, scenic rural area. On that day, initiates who had time came to the venue early to prepare a barbecue party and vegetarian food. More brothers and sisters arrived later with their children. Each child received special gifts loaded with Master's love. We sat around a campfire, shared food, and set off firecrackers, which elated us to no end. We had a wonderful time with our children singing songs together. Late at night, we said good bye to each other under the golden light of the full moon, and then headed home carrying Master's love with us.

◆ Singapore (Originally In English)

The Singapore Center celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival this year in the form of a family day. Two chalets near the sea provided the venue for the activity. They were decorated with beautiful balloons and lanterns that enhanced the festive mood of the occasion. Knowing that Master had instructed that gifts and pocket money be prepared for the children, they were all excited. Fellow practitioners and their family members arrived at the venue late in the afternoon. Awaiting them were lots of yummy vegetarian delicacies and moon cakes. Everyone enjoyed the food very much. At sunset, the true fun began.

Children play games with their parents at the Mid-Autumn Festival celebration.

Adults and children gathered in front of the chalets and started to play games. These included Chinese and English riddles, musical chairs, and some games designed for parents to play together with their children. When the games were over, we started to distribute Master's presents to each child. The gift pack included toys, stationery, sweets and a lantern. All the children were very happy to receive the gifts. With lanterns in hand they marched around the big field, while some of them played with sparklers and raced around with their friends.

The evening ended on a happy note when balloons were distributed to the children to take home. After that, all of us went home in bliss.

Fellow practitioners in Malaysia invite children from orphanages and destitute families to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival together with them.

◆ Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
(Originally In English)

Apart from fellow initiates' children, we also invited children from orphanages and destitute families to celebrate the Mid-Autumn. The children all were very excited about the toys and gifts in great variety, displayed on the stage. They were very happy and had a good time together watching one of Master's video programs. The whole venue was cheery and lively.

When the festival ended, some felt that it was over too soon and expressed their wish to participate in future festivities. Thank You, Master, for giving us a memorable Mid-Autumn Festival and an opportunity to learn to give and share the love of God with others.

◆ Macau

The Macau Center held its Mid-Autumn Festival celebration on Sunday evening. It was raining, but in a serene and blissful atmosphere, everyone enjoyed delicious festive food while watching Master's lecture videos. Especially excited were the children, who attentively opened their special gifts blessed by Master's love. Both adults and children had a peaceful and happy evening.

◆ Hong Kong

Together with their children, fellow practitioners in Hong Kong joyously decorated the Tian Shan Center with beautiful balloons and streamers to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. A pure and lovely atmosphere pervaded the Center. Family members of fellow practitioners were also invited to the Center to share Master's love. When the young fellow initiates and guests received Master's gifts, they held onto them tightly and would not let go. One of them happily announced, "Finally I have a new pencil box." Master surely knows what is in the children's minds; that was indeed the happiest day of the year for the children.

◆ Formosa

A mountain of candies, biscuits and gifts, yet not as great as Master's love for the children.

Many children were very excited when it was announced at the group meditation that gifts from Master would be presented to them in Hsihu on Sunday. Very early that Sunday, the children anxiously urged their parents to take them to Hsihu; apart from their anticipation, they were also permeated with Master's sweet love. Especially happy were those parents with newborn babies, who looked forward to receiving a symbolic and auspicious gift for the babies born in the Year of the Tiger.

Normally, many fellow initiates cannot join the major group meditation at Hsihu on Sundays because they have to look after their children. However, that Sunday was an exception; the disciples all brought their children "home" for the occasion. Nearly two thousand children gathered at Hsihu Center, which reverberated with innocent laughter. It was a noisy but delightful sight! Some children were specially dressed in traditional Chinese costumes. The Center was decorated with colorful balloons, and sitting under a tree was a big statue of the legendary Jade Rabbit believed to be in the moon. Immediately it became the main attraction of all the children who had great fun playing around it.

After lunch, the children wasted no time queuing up in excitement. Each received a big package of delicious candies and biscuits, as well as toys, stationery and books commensurate with their age. Children from families that were not so wealthy received extra pocket money from Master. It has been a very long time since the Formosan children last saw Master. Therefore, they especially cherished the gifts they received from Her. Their innocent faces could hardly conceal their joy and gratitude!