By Nicaraguan and Costa Rican News Group (Originally in Spanish)
Due to weeks of heavy rain in the Nicaraguan Pacific coastal area and Northern Costa Rica in October 2008, tens of thousands of families in these two countries had suffered considerable material damage and many lives were lost. Out of Her deep concern for the afflicted, Supreme Master Ching Hai provided our local Association members with US$12,000 to carry out relief work. 
On October 7, with Master’s love, a relief team traveled to Granada, Nicaragua, bringing with them much needed food and supplies as well as spiritual upliftment in the form of Master’s sample booklets and SOS flyers. On October 21, a second team from Costa Rica went to Rivas, Nicaragua, where the flood had damaged several facilities and buildings. In coordination with the Mayor’s office, the team personally delivered emergency items such as food, blankets and clothes. And on October 25, together with the president of the SOPTRAVI Honduran Labor Union, Mr. Julio Hernández, and his assistants, a third relief team arrived in the southern part of the republic, Cubulero of Costa de Amates, with food provisions and clothes for more than 700 families. Afterwards, the remaining goods were brought to Agua Fría and an Adventist Church in Playa Grande. There the priest and the local people sent their heartfelt gratitude to Master for Her love and generosity. They believe that everything they received was a blessing from Heaven.
In Costa Rica, our initiates brought Master’s gift of US$20,000 as well as free sample booklets and information on climate change to Father Fabio Herrera-Flores in Talamanca. He had already known about Master and our Association from a previous relief effort (please refer to News #157 for a detailed report), and was deeply touched by Her love and compassion. Later in a thank you letter to Master, he reported that with Her financial aid they provided food, construction materials, tools and seeds to help people rebuild their lives. He wrote, “I believe that your contribution will improve the quality of life of all living creatures, especially human life and their dignity. I want to thank you especially for the friendship and support you have extended to Costa Rica, particularly toward the local inhabitants of Talamanca on the Caribbean Coast. On behalf of them, I personally want to thank you for your donations, which you have sent in 2005 and again in December 2008, showing your most valuable and timely help and care.”
May God bless all those stricken by these disasters, helping them
to recover quickly from their loss and resume a lifestyle in tune
with the merciful law of nature. Note: Details about the expenditures and relevant receipts will be published in the next issue. To view the Humanitarian Relief Activities by the Supreme Master
Ching Hai and Her International Association,
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On
January 8, 2009, the earthquake in Vara Blanca, Costa Rica, displaced
about 300 families who were then relocated to shelters provided by
the government. Two days after the quake, with the US$16,000 contribution
provided by our beloved Master, the local fellow initiates brought
much needed food and basic necessities for the needy people, as well
as veggie dog food for about 100 dogs also homeless due to the disaster.
Three weeks later, they returned with more clothes, blankets and sleeping
bags to keep the people in the shelters warm; school supplies for
children were also provided. Later, some people also received assistance
to rebuild their homes.
