Recently, two other initiates from the
Los Angeles Center and I participated in flood relief work in Costa
Rica. Before joining in the project, one of us had a vivid vision of
flood waters overflowing like a small river on a road, and fish swimming
leisurely in the stream as children innocently played in the water.
Around the same time, another member of our group had an inner experience
of a brilliant rainbow and a group of aboriginal people. Inwardly, the
initiate also heard the question, “Did you get enough?” Some days
later on January 15, 2005, a Lacsa Airlines jetliner carried us to Costa
Rica to join local initiates in relief efforts for victims of the country’s
heaviest flooding in over forty years.
Immediately after landing in Costa Rica, we began buying supplies for
the relief effort. And after over 2,000 relief packages were prepared,
a truck convoy bearing the supplies left the Costa Rica Center and began
plowing through heavy rain toward the city of Limon. Verdant trees from
opposite sides of the road reached toward each other, resembling church
steeples as waterfalls gushed down a mountainside, splashing over large
umbrella-shaped leaves. Occasionally, bright red birds flew by and blue
butterflies the size of human palms fluttered in the bushes while clouds
hung low in the sky—a spectacular scene typical of Central American
rain forests.
Being anxious to personally distribute the relief packages to the victims
in the shortest time possible, we stayed awake throughout the night
wondering how we could best accomplish our mission. In the distance,
the constant echo of monkeys chattering and birds chirping was occasionally
punctuated by strange sounds as if the animals in the jungle were attending
night school!
That night we prayed diligently, saying, “Dear Master, this land
is foreign to us. We’re unfamiliar with the people, their ways and
their language. Would You please send us those who are most in need?”
By 6:00 AM, all the relief workers had awakened and begun preparing
for the long day ahead. The group included missionaries who had volunteered
to help, policemen to ensure the workers’ safety, a local minister
to guide the convoy and the relief team from our Association, all of
whom were prepared to work, but no one knew exactly what lay ahead.
Upon reaching the next destination, Sixaola, our team was able to smoothly
distribute the relief materials. While the work progressed the rain
stopped briefly and the sun appeared, but then the downpour resumed
and the potholes in the local roads began filling with water. Despite
the unpredictable weather, everyone remained steadfastly dedicated to
the task at hand; still, there was an unsettled feeling in the air.
At 5:00 PM, after many hours of work, evening slowly began to approach.
And realizing that only one fourth of the relief packages had been distributed,
we became concerned and prayed silently to Master, saying, “Dear Master,
it seems that the goods have not yet reached those most in need.”
During the project, Mrs. Dulcelina Páez Mayorga, a representative
of the area’s indigenous people, was very patient. She arrived early
in the morning, waited for her turn to meet with us and said, “I prayed
to God a lot last night.”
Two large trucks filled with relief goods had already left to provide
relief for the aboriginal community under Mrs. Páez’s charge. But
how could the vehicles reach their destination when the two bridges
leading to the village had collapsed? The police were quite worried
because due to the rain, the road going up the mountain where the village
was located was very slippery, and so they warned us not to proceed.
Yet, we felt that Master was deeply concerned about the homeless flood
victims in serious need of relief and comfort. Being aware of this critical
situation, we were determined to travel on the road together and appealed
to Master to make the best arrangement.
Then night fell and the rain continued. When the last car began leaving
the food storage compound to join the relief convoy, suddenly, emerging
out of nowhere in the sheets of rain, a truck full of passengers could
be seen coming down the mountain toward us. “Who are these people?”
we wondered, and soon realized they were none other than the mountain
aborigines! They had managed to fix the road, bring their people to
a safe area to wait for the relief goods, and find a truck to come right
to us and receive the packages.
Upon seeing the mountain people, we were so moved that we could hardly
hold back our tears. Silently and sincerely, we gave thanks to Master,
saying, “Dear Master, how could we ask You to perform such a difficult
task? Nonetheless, You’ve arranged for those victims who were experiencing
the most hardship to come to us despite collapsed bridges, torrential
rain, a dark sky without moonlight and stars and slippery roads devoid
of light. We came here from a faraway corner of the world, unfamiliar
with this land. The local people have been without food for nine days,
their rations not amounting to more than a couple of bananas each for
an entire day. And yet, in all Your grace and glory, You still answered
our prayer: ‘Dear Master, would You please send us those most in need?’”
Then, after their truck had been loaded with relief packages one of
the initiates asked the recipients, “Did you get enough?” “Yes,
we did!” the villagers happily replied.
Next the truck carrying the aborigines and their relief goods promptly
departed and soon joined the convoy ahead of it. The aid distribution
process had gone perfectly, and in our hearts we knew that the gifts
we had brought to the local residents were from God and that we had
been greatly honored to bring them to their rightful recipients.
That night, on the way back to the place where we were staying, one
of the policeman said, “In my entire twenty-seven year career, I’ve
never witnessed an occasion filled with so much love as this one is!”
And the next morning, a young police chief assisting us said, “I’ve
never prayed to anyone before, but last night I prayed to Master to
give us a sunny day.” And miraculously, after days of incessant rain,
golden sunlight broke forth that morning, moving the police chief to
add, “I plan to learn Master’s Convenient Method of meditation.”
When it was time for us to return to Los Angeles, several local initiates
went with us to see us off. And although we had been together for only
a few days, we already felt like true brothers and sisters. On the way
to the airport, as we looked up at the warm, sunny sky, we saw two magnificent
rainbows arching across the horizon. Upon witnessing this sight, a local
brother said, “I’ve lived in this area since childhood and have
never seen such beautiful rainbows as the ones that appeared today!”