Rekindling the Fire of Hope

The continuous downpour during the rainy season in 2008 caused severe flood damage to most of the towns and cities in Northern and Central Âu Lạc (Vietnam), destroying crops and properties and separating families. To help relieve the distress of the afflicted people, Supreme Master Ching Hai generously contributed US$40,000 in financial aid. Fellow initiates in Northern and Central Âu Lạc set aside their busy schedules before the 2009 Lunar New Year to carry out this relief work and rekindle the fire of love and hope in the hearts of the people.

The relief team first went to Nguyệt Đức village, Yên Lạc district, Vĩnh Phúc province. With the help from different levels of local government and agencies, they distributed 50 New Year gift packages that including fruit jam, cookies, sweets, seasoning powder, cereal powder, winter coats and 19,700,000 VND. More gifts were shared with suffering aboriginal families in the Hầu Thao and Sứ Pán communities as well as disabled persons and orphaned children in Sapa City. In Central Aulac, the relief team traveled a long distance to bring much-needed food supplies and monetary gifts to 3,100 families in eight provinces: Huế, Quãng Trị, Quãng Nam, Quãng Ngãi, Bình Định, Phú Yên, Phú Hòa and Khánh Hòa.

The people were very surprised and touched upon receiving the timely gifts of love from Master. Many organizations and individuals expressed their appreciation and well-wishes to our Association and Master for the New Year. Mr. Ngô Quý Phúc, president of the Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front of Phong Bình Village, said during an interview, “Representing the Party Executive Committee, the People’s Council, the People’s Committee of Phong Bình Village, we thank Master Ching Hai for helping and supporting our people in the New Year of the Ox. We respectfully wish You and all families good health, happiness and prosperity.”

Members of the relief team were deeply touched by this experience. They feel honored to have had the privilege to share Master’s love and blessing with those in need. They wish everyone a peaceful, happy and comfortable New Year.

Caption: Thank you letters from the communities receiving Master's relief funds.

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

Description	Amount (VNĐ)	Receipt
Food (cereals, instant noodle, dried foods, corn flour, and rice cakes)	395,853,000	A1~A2
Funds for the victims and local government	298,064,000	B1~B2
Transportation (truck rental, gas, etc.)	10,073,000	C1~C2
Total	VNĐ 703,990,000 (USD$ 40,228)

* 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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