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Activities
 Humanitarian
Work
Belgium/France/Holland,
December 1993/January 1994 |
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Report from Belgium Provided
by Fellow Initiate Chen from Belgium The Gravest Flood Of The Century During December 1993, there was continuous rainfall for weeks in some European countries. The water levels of many rivers kept raising and as a result extreme flooding occurred. France, Germany, Belgium and Holland were all affected. The flooding of the River Meuse in Belgium was so serious that it was claimed to be the worst one in this century. Many cities were completely flooded and about 14,000 people had to leave their homes. The Belgian Government declared it a “national disaster”, and King Albert II personally inspected the affected areas. The Belgian army, the Red Cross and many non-government organizations all joined in the rescue and evacuation of victimized residents. As the water was receding, a cold front swept in. For the people who had lost everything, the conditions were most miserable, and help was urgently needed. Visiting The Affected Areas To Understand The Situation As soon as Master heard about the floods in Europe, She instructed the local initiates to go to the affected areas, to contact the local government, rescue units or the representatives of the victims and to find out what the victims needed most desperately, so as to provide them appropriate help in time. The fellow practitioners in Belgium immediately organized a “rescue team”, and contacted the local Red Cross of the Namur City – along the River Meuse. They found out that a small city called Anhee-Sur-Meuse had suffered badly from flooding especially because some families were too poor to buy the items they needed to return home. Through the arrangement of the Red Cross, our fellow initiates had a meeting with the officials there, discussing the practical needs of the victims. As the meeting began, fellow initiates made a brief introduction of Master, and their purpose of being there, to the Mayor of Anhee-Sur-Meuse, Mr. Pierre de Montpelier. Besides relating Master’s care and concern for the victims, they also mentioned the International Peace Award which Master had received in Hawaii, and Her relief activities to the flood victims in the U.S.A. They also presented the French version of “Immediate Enlightenment” to the Mayor and his staff. Having read Master’s book briefly, the Mayor said emotionally, “If all people were like your Master, there would be peace and no war around the world.” He also said, “With the exception of the Red Cross, you are the only organization which has offered help to us. Although the water in this area has receded, all of the heating systems have been destroyed. Especially for the people living along the river, where it is cold and damp, they virtually cannot live on in winter without heating. There are approximately 50 families who are too poor to buy new heating appliances. They also need pumps to drain out the accumulated water.” All Went Well In The Race Against The Clock After the visit, the information gathered was sent to Master, who immediately transferred the relief fund. Time was tight, because New Year was approaching and many shops would be closed for the holiday period. The utmost priority was ordering the goods. With Master’s blessings, the fellow practitioners finally contacted a company in Brussels. When the company was advised that the purchase was for the victims, they agreed to sell at the factory cost and delivered free to Anhee-Sur-Meuse. Thanks to Master’s help we won the race against the clock! In just a few short days, our fellow practitioners managed to deliver forty-one heating appliances and ten water pumps to Anhee-Sur-Meuse. At the official reception, besides Mayor Montpelier, Mr. Yves Mouton, head of the Public Works Department, Mr. Demcuse of the Finances Department, Mr. Collot of the sports Department, and representatives of the Red Cross were also present. There were some journalists present, such as those from the newspapers Lu Nouvelle Gazette, La Meuse/Nomur, Vers I’Avenir and those from the RTL-Tvi television station. They all received Master’s sample booklets and reference material. In his speech, the Mayor said, “The disastrous flood had resulted in shows of extraordinary solidarity, even from the far away China! The philosophical association gave us efficient help during these very difficult times and offered forty-one heating systems and ten water pumps to the victims suffering most. Our gratitude is great when we welcome today the representative of the Supreme Master Ching Hai and thank them for this generous help in favor of our people.” Afterwards, our fellow initiates were invited to give a speech, so one of them briefly introduced Master’s life and teachings, and Her efforts in helping those in need, which know no frontiers. The Small City Which Was Not Forgotten Each of the families who were present were invited to take the heating systems and water pumps as they needed. They also liked Master’s sample booklets that the fellow initiates provided, and took them all in no time. These families were so happy, and some of them were amazed, because they could not believe that heating systems were given free. They happily chatted with our fellow initiates, expressing their gratitude to Master. Some residents even invited us to their homes to see the damage done by the water. When the fellow initiates were leaving, the Mayor told us that he was very glad and grateful that this small city was not forgotten by the world. The Relief Effort Will Be Carried On Recently, a hundred and sixty families in Dinant became victims of the flood. Temporarily staying at the homes of friends or relatives, or in sheltering centers, they badly need everyday essentials such as blankets, warm clothing and food. Our fellow initiates have delivered noodles and canned food to the sheltering centers, and plan to provide more help as they find out more about their actual needs. We
recalled what Master said, “We must help those who are poor
and needy before we could understand the real meaning behind the sufferings
of humankind.” This is indeed true! For those of us who participated
in the relief work, we might be exhausted physically, but we are happy
and feel great!
Report from France The
Entire Country of France is Suffering by Fellow Initiate Hsiung from Paris, France
Catastrophic
News Came Frequently From All Directions
In the southern area of the River Rhone, the abruptly rising water damaged a dam. The water ran over the dam and flooded the area at the mouth of the River Rhone where houses over more than 2,500 acres were affected. The local authorities called up an urgent meeting to cope with the natural disaster. In the southeastern region of Carmargue, the Rhone had broken through another dam. Discharge from the River Dordogne was also increasing constantly, and the authorities had issued an alert warning to the residents. Due to continuous rain and deep snow, traffic routes to the Upper Polovons was closed. Sisteron was the most affected area as it was situated at lower level. Rescue organizations had carried out several advance evacuations just in time. In the west, the water level of the River Charente was rising in Sainte of Charente Maritime province, almost breaking the all time high record in 1982. President Mitterand personally inspected the flooded streets in a small boat. He urged the whole nation to care about their compatriots in the disaster areas. The northeastern region fared no better. The rising water level of the River Aisne came close to the highest record in the flood in 1924. Power plants in the Soissons area were forced to suspend electricity supplies, to ensure the safety of the residents and shops. Several provincial highways in northeastern province of Oise were bloked by flood water. More than a thousand residents have to evacuate in Compiegne and Noyon. Thirty two national highways were cut off by the flood. Master Compassionately Instructed To Commence Urgent Aid Upon learning that the disaster in France was serious, Master immediately instructed the local fellow practitioners to survey that situation at first hand, so as to gain a better understanding of the problem and be able to render the most practical help to the victims. The fellow initiates of the Paris center started right away, contacting the Red Cross Headquarters and the government departments of the most flooded areas, the north and west of Paris, and extended to them Master’s good intention to help. At that time, the rescue work was carried out by the military police and the fire department. In most cases, each town had to help themselves, but they could solicit assistance from the government when it was necessary. After making enquiries, fellow initiates found that only the small town of Eragny needed a rescue boat. They reported that to Master, who immediately transfer the funds to purchase the boats. Very sooner afterwards, fellow initiates were able to contact a supplier. However, their efforts were not required because Eragny had received help from the Parisian authorities that night. Towards the end of the year, our fellows went to Pontoise, and the city of Anvers-Sur-Oise, near the River Oise, to find out more about the flooding. During the New Year, the problem had extended to the east of Paris. On January 3, fellow initiates made telephone enquiries and learned that the situation was more serious in Esbly town, east of Paris. Immediately, they made an appointment to see Madam Jayen, who was responsible for the relief operation in the town. Providing The Most Urgently Needed Items To The Victims When our fellow practitioners arrived at Esbly, Madam Jayen welcomed us on behalf of the town mayor and the deputy mayor, who were engaged in a meeting at the time. Fellow initiates briefly introduced Master’s life and past deeds, and Her purpose of directing disciples to help in the disaster relief. Madam Jayen told us the situation of the disaster there. Ever since the flood disaster of the River Marne in 1983, this place had always been under infliction. The present disaster is even worse. More than three hundred families were affected. During the conversation, some victims came to the town council asking for urgent supplies. As suggested by the town council, fellow initiates decided providing food was the priority. On January 7, fellow initiates purchased food worth about FFr. 1,000, which included vegetables, rice, noodles and yogurt, and delivered to five families ins Esbly, to ease their urgent situation. The town mayor, Madam Poittiez Husson, met the fellow initiates and accepted Master’s sample booklet, video tape and news magazine. On January 8, fellow initiates delivered FFr. 12,000 worth of cleaning utensils (brooms, mops, gloves, detergent and garbage bags) to Esbly. At present, fellow initiates plan to
purchase ladders, rubberboots and cleaning equipment (for cleaning walls),
which are to be delivered to Esbly. They have requested US$30,000 from
Master, and She has already promised to send the money. Recently, the
southern and western parts of France have been seriously affected by
the disaster. Fellow initiates are collecting information, in order
to be able to contact with the disaster areas as soon as possible and
to continue the relief work.
Report from Holland Master
Provides Ferryboats Provided
by Fellow Initiate Chen from Holland
Visiting
The Affected Areas As Instructed By Master
Upon receiving Master’s instruction to start the relief operation, some of the fellow initiates and Quan Yin messenger in Europe immediately went to Holland to inspect the situation. After contacting the Dutch Red Cross and other rescue units by telephone, they learned that the water was receding, and the residents were gradually returning home to repair their houses and farms. Then they went on to visit Venlo, which was one of the most affected areas in southeast Holland. Besides extending Master’s love and care to the local rescue units, they also collected facts of the area’s requirements, and reported to Master. In order to expedite the relief work, our fellow practitioners tried to make an appointment to see the Mayor of Venlo, Mr. J. V. C. Eiland, to discuss the relief work, Mayor Eland had other engagements that day, and his secretary took our telephone number after realizing our intention. We received the Mayor’s return call very soon afterwards. Besides expressing his gratitude to Master, he suggested that we talk to Mayor J. I. M. Houben of a nearby city, Maastricht, who would understand the up-to-date situation better, being one of the principal coordinators of the relief work in the southeastern provinces’ disaster areas. Mayor Eiland was even kind enough to have made an appointment for us to meet Mayor Houben. Master’s Wonderful Power Turned Cloudy Days Into Sunshine According to the Quan Yin messenger’s investigation at the news media, the situation of the flood in Holland was getting better. The water was receding, and most of the residents in the affected areas had returned home to clean up and make repair. Most people had resumed business and gone back to work as normal. Even more fantastic was that the heavy rainfall and succeeding flood had reduced to ordinary rainfall, as reported by the newspapers. Fellow practitioners were most cheerful upon hearing the good news, and were glad for the residents in the area. Without Master’s power helping silently, there could not be such a dramatic change in just the three days after their report to Master. They were all extremely grateful to Master. Her love once again saved sentient beings from a catastrophe! Providing Ferryboats As Suggested As the Quan Yin messenger and the fellow initiates continued surveying the disaster situation, the next day, they went to Mayor Houben’s office in Maastricht. They explained their intentions, introduced Master’s teachings, Her honors such as “International Peace Award” presented by the government of the U.S.A, and Master’s disaster relief efforts in many countries. Mayor Houben expressed his wholehearted admiration of Master. He told us that Holland was one of the countries in the European Community which has the most comprehensive relief organizations in operation. The southeastern provinces received aid during this flood disaster. About 3,000,000 Dutch guilders had been donated by the local Red Cross, government and non government organizations. Each family received 10,000 guilders on average. After the flood, the authorities had distributed sufficient necessities, such as cleaning utensils, carpets and even heating equipment. Therefore, people were not lacking in these aspects. Mayor Houben suggested that, to facilitate rescue operations in future floods, we might consider buying small ferryboats for Itteren and Borgharen, the two most badly affected villages. Other aid was not required at that time. After the meeting, Mayor Houben asked the Quan Yin messenger to extend his sincere gratitude to Master for Her compassion and love which has no discrimination between nations. The Boat Giving Ceremony Later, Mayor Houben wrote to us listing, in detail, the items needed by the victims, including the small ferryboats. This was reported to Master through Quan Yin messenger. Master replied expressing Her care and encouragement. She also agreed to buy two ferryboats for the victims as requested. Mayor Hoben especially arranged a boat giving ceremony for this occasion. This meaningful event was to be held at one of the villages receiving the boats on January 20, at 6:00 pm... Master’s Love Embraced The Whole European Continent Now,
the relief operation in Holland has finally finished. Master’s
love provides for the needs of all sentient beings. She constantly listens
to cries for help from people in order to save them. She always gives
Her best to satisfy the urgent need of sentient beings. Because of this
suffering, the Dutch people have the opportunity to know Master. One
day they will realize that it was not only material help they had received,
but also spiritual elevation. Silently Master’s love has already
embraced the whole European continent, and nourished the souls of all.
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