Love In Action

Report From Honduras

Follow-up Report On Relief Aid For Hurricane Mitch Victims

By Honduras Rescue Team
A glimpse of the disaster-struck
area in Honduras
Conveying Master's love to the
disaster victims

Immediately upon receiving Master's instructions, the Quan Yin messenger approached the Fundacion Maria headed by the First Lady of Honduras. When the First Lady learned of Master's plan to dispatch people to deliver emergency supplies to the flood victims, she showed great concern and asked, through her secretary, that we contact the COPECO (Comite Permanente de Contingencias) to arrange for the speedy delivery of provisions to the victims. When we arrived at the headquarters of this military relief group, many people readily approached us to fill us in on the details about the affected areas. Radio stations also aired reports on the relief activities by our group.

Lieutenant Castro Cruz earnestly introduces Master and our group

The first batch of the supplies was for the flood victims in Santa Rosa de Aguan in the northeast. The rest, and the major part, of the provisions were distributed in the southern province of Valle, the region considered most in need of help by the COPECO. We are grateful for the assistance from Lieutenant Colonel Meza Choto, Executive Officer of COPECO, and many others, especially Lieutenant Castro Cruz, who accompanied us throughout our trip, arranging transportation for the supplies and taking responsibility for our safety. His appreciation of our selfless action in serving the multitude was obvious. When the mission was accomplished, he asked to keep the yellow vest printed with Master's name as a souvenir of this operation. The Lieutenant is an experienced officer who had participated in many missions before. During the time he spent in our company, he realized that Master provided more than just material aid, that She was a source of spiritual help as well. Each time we arrived at a village, he was only too eager to introduce Master and our group to the villagers.

The relief team taking a photo with Catholic priests and nuns including Father Angel Sanchez (rear, second left) and Lieutenant Castro Cruz (rear, second right)

On our way to Valle, our team, traveling in a small pickup and three military trucks loaded with relief supplies, had a hair-raising experience. Lieutenant Cruz had asked us jokingly earlier whether we could swim or not because we had to cross a river with a broken bridge. We replied that we didn't want to swim at night. Throughout the journey, we were worried whether we could get the supplies to our destination safely or not, because we didn't know how deep the river was. When we were crossing the river, the pick-up got stuck in the middle of the water and refused to budge. The sky was growing dark. Inside the pickup, we could hear the waters rushing by while the nervous driver was at a complete loss. We concentrated our minds on silently repeating the Holy Names. Eventually, a tractor arrived and pulled the pickup out of the water. When we reached the opposite shore, the Lieutenant offered some tip to the driver of the tractor for his godsend help and fellow practitioners gave him a copy of Master's sample book. The driver did not accept the tip but took the sample book, saying, "This is the good thing!"

The Ambassador of Nicaragua in Hondrous (Second left) happily received the medical supplyies and Master's publications

As we proceeded on our journey, we ran into Father Angel Sanchez, who offered to guide the way and provided us with lodging for the night. Thanks to the important information he gave us about the regions most in need of relief, we were able to convey Master's love to several remote and forgotten villages.

The next day, we split into two groups. The first group, guided by Lieutenant Castro Cruz and a representative of the Alianza Municipal Government, distributed emergency supplies to victims in a number of areas. The other group, guided by Father Angel, went into a remote mountain area. Owing to the loss of communication and lack of food, the highland residents had been forced to drink unclean water and feed on decayed farm produce during the past fifteen days. Since the road was damaged, they did not expect any help from outside. When they saw vehicles carrying Master's name and the banner of our rescued team, they were delighted that there were still people who cared about their suffering and needs. Everyone helped to carry the supplies, walking two kilometers to the village over a sandy and rocky path that had just been cleared. Even women and children helped to carry the water. We also left some provisions for other villagers living further away who could not arrive that day. When all the supplies had been distributed, the residents expressed their gratitude and requested the representative of the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association to say a few words to them. We shared with them Master's love, telling them that material help could be very limited. It was more important to keep in mind Master's reminder about the ephemerality of this world and that only the Heavenly Kingdom is forever safe. Our sole purpose in life is to seek the God within. Once we are enlightened and connected with the God-power, we will lack nothing and will become forever free of disaster, illness, suffering, and war.

Upon our return to the capital of Honduras, we bought some medical supplies, half for Honduras and half for Nicaragua. The portion for Honduras was presented to the Cuban medical group providing free medical services in the capital, to Father Angel Sanchez who was responsible for medical and food supplies in Valle, and to a women's group, Centro de Estudio de la Mujer Honduras.

When we approached Nicaragua Ambassador to Honduras Jose Rene Gutierrez concerning our contribution of medical supplies to Nicaragua, he was very touched. He had not expected anyone in the more seriously affected Honduras to contribute medical supplies to his country. In a friendly exchange, we found the Ambassador and his wife to be highly spiritual persons, and the Ambassador had read Master's sample book. A more in-depth reading of Master's teachings later led him and his friends to request initiation into the Convenient Method. When the Ambassador accepted the medical supplies, he also arranged for reporters of the Nicaraguan press to take photos and cover the event. The relevant report would be published in the local newspapers when the supplies reached Nicaragua.

Throughout this relief operation, we felt that Master was the most hardworking member, because everything seemed to be done by Her. Although we were exhausted at the end of each day, we would become fully recharged after meditation, all set to begin a new day!

On our journey to San Marco Village in Valle, the heavy load of emergency supplies seemed to be bearing too hard on the truck, and a tire was beginning to go flat as we climbed uphill. In our hearts, we prayed for Master's help. (Poor Master, You have to do everything!) In exasperation, even the Father picked up Master's magazine and prayed: "Please help us, Master Ching Hai!" Indeed, without the help of Her power, we could never have delivered the supplies to the victims in one day's time.

According to a victim, when the hurricane struck, it was like the end of the world. All she could do then was to pray continuously to God. Her seven-year-old son was overjoyed to find that his best primary school classmate had survived the hurricane, and the two kids embraced each other and cried. The love of God shone pure and true from the hearts of these two innocent children then.

Many local residents shared with us their feeling that this disaster was a purifying force from God to remind everyone of Hiers great, selfless love. When the rescue team began its homebound journey, they saw a huge rainbow opposite the airport; God has again shown Hiers promise of hope. We wholeheartedly hope that the disaster victims of Honduras and its neighboring countries will grow stronger through this mishap and the essence of their life will flourish!


Appendix: Hurricane Mitch Disaster Relief In Honduras and
Nicaragua (Continued)

December 1998 Amount in US dollars

Description

Revenues

Expenditures
Receipt No.
Balance B/F

8,312.40

Medical supply  
7,510.00
A
Milk  
200.00
B
Fuel for the relief team  
112.00
C
Miscellaneous  
490.40
Total:

8,312.40

8,312.40

Appendix 1: Proof of relief expenditures for hurricane Mitch victims in
Honduras and Nicaragua (Continued from last issue)





Appendix 2
: Receipts and thank-you letters from various groups in
Honduras and Nicaragua acknowledging the receipt of relief provisions
(Continued from last issue)


A.Receipt for medical supply, issued by the Nicaragua Ambassador In Honduras
B.Receipt for medical supply, issued by various units in Honduras
C.Receipt for food and water distributed in Honduras

Follow-up Report On Relief Aid For Hurricane Mitch Victims A Mini Noah's Ark Merged As One In Master's Love Social Order And Social Responsibility Helping Others Is Helping Yourself