Conveying God’s Love to Victims of Typhoon Morakot

Typhoon Morakot struck Formosa on August 8, causing causalities and severe damage to many parts of the southern region. Greatly concerned about the situation, Supreme Master Ching Hai immediately allocated funds and frequently inquired about the progress of the relief work. Our Association’s relief teams very quickly went to the affected areas to access the needs and promptly provided urgent assistance to the victims. They also visited families who had lost loved ones, bringing them comfort and love.

On August 12, fellow initiates from Kaohsiung set up a temporary food station to provide hot vegan meals for the affected people. The station also served as a command post for the relief operation in the devastated area. From August 13 to 18, they offered 10,000 delicious meals each day to relief workers, including soldiers and working staff, as well as the victims. An SOS flyer was attached to each meal box, reminding people of the real cause behind this catastrophe. Many media reported on the loving endeavors by our Association.

From August 21 to 25, the Kaohsiung initiates distributed Master’s sample booklets, SOS flyers and relief cash to the victims. They also visited the injured people in Chi Shan Hospital. Not forgetting our animal co-inhabitants, they contributed a quantity of vegan food to the Animal Rescue Team Taiwan (ARTT), for the cats and dogs under the care, as well as financial aid to cover repairs to their premises and for veterinarian expenses.

On August 9 and 10, Tainan fellow initiates prepared several hundred packages of dry food, mineral water, plus other items and distributed them to the rescue workers and those affected by Typhoon Morakot. On August 11, at the food station set up in the Xuejia Town Office, they provided more than 6,000 vegan meal boxes, rice dumplings, soy milk and mineral water to the victims and soldiers participating in the rescue work.

On August 21, they visited 21 families who had lost their loved ones to the disaster, offering them financial assistance and relief materials as well as Master’s publications. Comforting them, they prayed that their heartfelt sadness would soon be eased.

In the evening of August 8, fellow initiates from Taitung braved the heavy rain and wind to get to Jialan Village, the most severely affected area. After identifying the needs of the victims, they rushed to the hypermarket to purchase the items including light blankets, flashlights, batteries and other necessities which they distributed along with SOS flyers to those staying in the temporary shelter. On August 14, Taitung initiates climbed mountains and crossed rivers to visit a tribal village in Dawu Township, carrying with them more than 700kg of rice, instant noodles, candies, SOS flyers and News Magazines. They were warmly welcomed by the 300 households in the village, as the initiates were the first charitable group to reach them overland.

From August 9 to 17, Pingtung fellow initiates served 1,700 vegan meals to the victims in Linbian and Laiyi. They also assisted the Pingtung County Rescue Center with their relief work by providing a variety of materials including warm sleeping bags, cushions, mineral water, toiletries, rice, flashlights, daily necessities and dry food.

During this relief mission, apart from participating in on-site rescue work, fellow initiates from Chiayi contributed 14 generators to 11 schools, and 56 tents to the victims in need. Vegan soy proteins and moon-cakes were also given to the teachers and students in the elementary schools.

On August 21, Changhua Association members visited the surviving family of Mr. Zhang Xun-fa, a rescue helicopter pilot who lost his life while carrying out his noble duty. They offered Mr. Zhang’s family monetary assistance as well as Master’s publications while conveying Master’s deep heartfelt love and concern for them.

Expenditures by Supreme Master Ching Hai
for Typhoon Morakot Relief Work in Formosa

Description	Amount(NT$)	Receipt
Food (rice, instant noodles, dried noodles, rice-flour noodles, bread, dry food, mineral water and rolled oats)	278,816	F1
Daily necessities (tents, sleeping cushions, sleeping bags, thin quilts, blankets, pillows, mosquito nets, flashlights, candles, towels, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, slippers, toilet paper and stationery for elementary school students)	795,191	F2
Meals, over 70,000 servings	1,503,490	F3
14 generators with cables	596,260	F4
Financial aid to families who lost family members	2,541,817	F5
Financial aid to the Animal Rescue Team and for vegan dog and cat food	212,000	F6
Total	NT$5,927,574 (US$183,345)

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

The Long Yan Lin Foundation in Formosa recently launched a “Saving 10 Dollars a Day to Let Love Expand” campaign, aiming to improve the living conditions of disadvantaged families and to help underprivileged children fulfill their dreams. Piggy banks were placed in many elementary schools to collect monetary gifts. After discovering this, a grade one student, Cai Jing-yu, took out ten dollars from her own piggy bank every day and inserted it into the Foundation’s piggy bank as soon as she arrived at school. Her money was earned by helping with house chores at home. Jing-yu’s charitable act, though performed quietly, was noted and appreciated by school teachers and the Foundation. Only when she received an accolade from the Long Yan Lin Foundation did her parents learn about her good deed.

Upon hearing the story, Supreme Master Ching Hai awarded US$1,000 to Cai Jing-yu to encourage her loving act in helping others in August, Golden Year 6 (2009). Our Association members also gave her two of Master’s books on animals. With her big heart, Jing-yu generously contributed the whole amount to the Long Yan Lin Foundation. Touched by Master’s compassion and encouragement, the Foundation replied with a Certificate of Appreciation. It is obvious that love is spreading around the world and reverberating inside people’s hearts.