Bringing Material and Spiritual Foods

Over the last few years, deforestation in Thailand has adversely impacted the flooding that occurs during the annual rainy season. In early September this year, the heavy downpours triggered more flash floods and inundated villages and farmland in north and northeast Thailand, affecting thousands of families and damaging roads, bridges, schools and government offices. Hearing the devastating news, Supreme Master Ching Hai immediately contributed US$15,000, which was used to prepare 3,600 relief packs containing drinking water and rice for the victims.

On September 23, 2008, our Association in Bangkok formed a relief team and went to Amphoe Ban Mi in Lop Buri Province, one of the most affected areas, to distribute relief supplies to 1,000 households. The next day they traveled to Amphoe Kabin Buri and Amphoe Si Maha Phot in Prachin Buri Province, where the water levels had been 0.5 to 1.5 meters high for a week. There they delivered by boat the urgently needed relief packs to 1,300 more households. In Amphoe Si Maha Phot, thanks to doctors and nurses sent by the Crown Prince, the injured citizens were treated in time. On September 29, the relief team set off to Tambon Ban Kod, Amphoe Chonnabot, in Khon Kaen Province, where the rice fields had been severely damaged by floods, and brought another 1,300 loving packs to the local people.

The villagers thanked Master for Her compassionate help and a lot of them showed interest in Her sample booklets. Some even came back to the initiates and asked for more so they could share with their relatives and friends. In Amphoe Kabin Buri, the father of a local lawyer who helped coordinate the relief work, learned the Convenient Method of meditation together with the owner of a hotel.

Four days after the flood in central Thailand on November 4, the relief team from the Bangkok Center set off to Tambon Ban Kum, Amphoe Bang Ban in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province where people suffered food shortage due to road blockages. With Master’s contribution of US$10,000, they distributed rice, drinking water and sweets to 1,160 families and their children. The next day, with help from Councillor Tanong Lerdlimchalalai and Assistant Councillor Chokchai Jareonsin, they provided aid to five more communities. At many places, the villagers had to row boats out to receive the aid because water levels had risen to nearly the second floor of houses. According to a local official, this was the worst flood they had experienced in many years.

Our compassionate Master again offered US$15,000 to assist the relief effort. From November 18 to 23, the relief team went to Ang Thong and Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Provinces, where they distributed rice and drinking water, sweets and soy milk along with SOS flyers and sample booklets to over 8,000 families in total. The local people were all very appreciative of Master’s loving concern and gave their thanks to Her. In Tambon Ban Luang, a lady showed great interest in the urgent climate change message. She said she would like to join the effort in saving the planet and will help share this news with others. Our prayers for the soon recovery of the people in Thailand as we all soon choose greener and more compassionate lifestyles to balance the climate.

Expenditures by Supreme Master Ching Hai for the Flood Relief Work in Thailand

Description	Amount (Baht)	Receipt
Food (rice, soy sauce, vegetable oil, instant noodles, bread, soymilk, sweets)	1,286,473	A
Drinking water	58,166	B
Miscellaneous expense (car rental, gasoline, banner)	14,095	C
Total	Baht 1,358,734 (US$ 39,375)

* Throughout the relief operation, fellow initiates paid for their own transportation, food and accommodation expenses.

To view the Humanitarian Relief Activities by the Supreme Master Ching Hai and Her International Association, please visit: http://www.GodsDirectContact.org.tw/humanitarian
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