Report from USA
Ohio
Warming the Cold Winter Days
with Divine Love
By the Ohio News Group (Originally in English)
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Fellow initiates serve food and distribute
gifts to the homeless. |
Brand new sweatshirts ready for packing into
gift bags for the less fortunate at Christmastime. |
On December 26, 2004, initiates from the Ohio chapter of The Supreme
Master Ching Hai International Association brought Master's Christmas
love to hundreds of homeless people at the Drop Inn Center in Cincinnati.
This year the needs of the local underprivileged population were greater
than ever as the area experienced record cold temperatures during
the holidays.
The shelter manager only asked the initiates to prepare
200 gift packs for the facility's homeless residents. However, in
the past many more of the less fortunate came to the facility on the
days when the Ohio initiates served lunch. So this time the sisters
and brothers brought a total of 350 Christmas gift packages containing
warm sweatshirts, cookies and sweets. Besides these gifts, the work
team prepared 400 spring rolls and 20 large trays of fried rice, as
well as fresh fruit, salad and drinks.
The Ohio Center initiates have become a familiar presence
at the Drop Inn shelter, and are always greeted warmly by the residents
and staff. Moreover, on each visit people standing outside the shelter
rush to offer their assistance in carrying food and gifts inside as
soon as the initiates arrive. So it was no surprise that soon after
the sisters and brothers came to the facility on the 26th, the building
began filling up quickly with the homeless and other poor residents
of the surrounding neighborhood.
The next two hours went by in a blur as the work team
continuously served food and distributed gifts. As the day progressed,
everyone felt Master's blessings in the calm atmosphere, which was
remarkable considering the crowded hall and long lines of people waiting
to be served meals. During the visit everyone remained patient, with
many people expressing interest in the picture of Master that was
standing at the end of the gift table. And afterwards one of the shelter's
staff members said, "This is the first time so many people have come
to the shelter to receive food and gifts!'
Everyone at the Drop Inn Center expressed their deep
appreciation for the Supreme Master's divine love. Seeing their less
fortunate brothers and sisters so happy to receive the food and Christmas
gifts, the Ohio Center initiates thank Master for Her great arrangement
in helping them again learn about serving, sharing and love.
California
Helping Others
Brings Boundless Joy in Return
By the San Jose Newsgroup (Originally in English)
On the crisp Sunday afternoon of December 19, 2004,
a group of initiates from the San Jose Center set out for St. James
Park, in the center of the city, to visit and share Christmas presents
with God's homeless children.
Although the San Jose Center has been conducting its
annual winter gift-sharing activity at the Park for many years, a
city ordinance now forbids public distribution of goods to the homeless
without prior government approval. A police officer at the Park
informed the initiates of the new rule, and advised them to go to
a nearby church instead. One of the homeless men at the Park
overheard this discussion and hurried to the church before the rest
of the group, where he explained the situation to the pastor, whom
he knew personally. When the initiates arrived, the pastor asked
them about The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association
and their intentions, and then enthusiastically granted his permission
to distribute the gifts in the church parking lot. The pastor
was supportive and pleasant, and personally came out to help organize
the event so that it would proceed in an orderly fashion.
The sisters and brothers distributed almost 100 large
sleeping bags, as well as bright, colorful gift bags containing thick
socks, sandwiches and cookies. Upon receiving his gifts, one
gentleman said, "I didn't believe in God before, but now I do!"
Seeing the joyful expressions on the faces of this man and the other
homeless brothers and sisters, the initiates too felt happiness in
their hearts, realizing firsthand what Master has long taught—that
we are all intimately related, that helping others is truly helping
ourselves, that others" happiness is indeed our own, and that we are
all one.
The San Jose Quan Yin family is grateful for the opportunity
to have shared Master's love and light with others during the 2004
Christmas season, and feels deeply blessed to have the greatest and
most glorious gift of all, the divine presence of a living Master
in our world. Thank You, Master.
San Francisco, CA.,
Bringing Holiday Cheer
to the Hearts of the Homeless
By the San Francisco Newsgroup (Originally in English)
On December 18, 2004, San Francisco initiates distributed
much needed supplies, including sleeping bags, warm jackets, hats,
socks, soft drinks and boxes of hot chow mein, to the homeless throughout
the city. Each gift bag also contained fortune cookies containing
Master's pearls of wisdom and a sample booklet so that the homeless
could benefit both spiritually and materially.
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The recipients" surprised looks and heartfelt gratitude
inspired the practitioners in their efforts as they realized that
the relief was penetrating deep into the hearts of their homeless
brothers and sisters. As the initiates distributed the supplies, the
homeless made comments such as "Now I believe in God!" or "I now believe
in Santa Claus!" On several occasions, the practitioners witnessed
heartbreaking scenes of destitute people lying on the ground with
only their clothes and a thin sheet to protect them from the harsh
elements. In the hope that these people could someday be given a home,
the brothers and sisters at least provided them with a modicum of
comfort through the relief items. Although it was unfortunate to see
so many of the less fortunate living on the city streets, the number
of homeless seemed to have decreased over previous years.
After
working late into the night, the fellow practitioners managed to distribute
virtually all the supplies they had on hand. Though the work
was difficult and tiring, Master's blessing was ever present, and
so the initiates worked with joy and happiness as laughter often filled
the truck they used to transport the goods. Thank You, Master,
for another wonderful experience of Your love in action!
Texas
Walking the Way of Love
with the Disadvantaged
By Diana Nguyen, Houston (Originally in English)
Every Christmas season Houston Center initiates team
up with the Bread of Life Church Foundation to bring holiday cheer
to the less fortunate. On December 23, 2004 the initiates continued
this tradition by distributing donuts, coffee, blankets, socks and
towels and also presenting Master's video Walk the Way of
Love at the Foundation's homeless shelter. Many of the needy
people who watched the video and listened to Master's loving words
were visibly touched, as were the initiates. After their visit to
the shelter the sisters and brothers took to the streets and handed
out additional items to people living under highway underpasses.
Then, on December 30 the practitioners returned to
the shelter and distributed more aid consisting of blankets, socks,
crackers and towels. Along with supporting the needy in their
hometown, the brothers and sisters raised US$12,000 for the Indian
Ocean Tsunami victims and on January 7 sent the funds to Indonesia.
The Houston initiates thank Master for Her love and
guidance, which they felt all during the 2004 aid distribution project
for the homeless, and also wish to say that every kind thing we do
for the less fortunate, which we could not accomplish without You,
comes from our inner love. In addition, we promise to continue praying
for world harmony, for Your good health and for purity in our thoughts,
speech and actions!
Florida
Enthusiastically Sharing
the Christmas Spirit with the Needyy
By the Florida Newsgroup (Originally in English)
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Florida fellow initiates pack Christmas gift
bags for their needy friends. |
Florida initiates celebrated Christmas, Golden Year
1 by spreading Master's love to those in need. On the night of December
18 before group meditation at the Florida Center, a local brother
spoke on the phone with a Costa Rican initiate, who enthusiastically
described the Costa Rica Center's Christmas relief project. The initiate’s
enthusiasm was like a contagious burst of energy for the Florida sisters
and brothers, who became charged with a desire to conduct their own
relief work by supplying essential items to homeless people in their
area. Thus, local vendors were contacted and within a few hours all
the relief supplies were purchased. In addition, the initiates had
glorious Christmas cards printed featuring a picture of Master, and
these were included in each gift-care package. All these arrangements
were made in one night, just in time to take everything to the Florida
Center before group meditation.
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The following day, after group meditation, the initiates
prepared the care packages, which contained toiletries, socks, Christmas
cards and Master's sample booklets and everything was ready to deliver
on Christmas day. However, the weather changed suddenly that day and
it became extremely cold so blankets were also quickly purchased for
the recipients. And through Master's blessing, the initiates found
a wholesaler who sold blankets at only 25% of their normal market
price. The brothers and sisters thus managed to obtain the blankets
just in time for Christmas.
In addition to its homeless gift distribution project, the Florida
Center held a traditional gift exchange and then a one-day retreat
to pray for the victims of the Indian Ocean Tsunami. Throughout all
these activities the Florida initiates experienced the joy of giving—creating
a true Christmas in every sense of the word. Everyone was saturated
with Master's omnipresent love. Thank You, Master!
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