| Love in Action |
On April 13 and 14, 2009 northern Âu Lạc experienced a heavy hailstorm and tornado. A few days later, a relief team comprised of our Association members arrived in the most severely affected areas of Yên Ninh village, Phú Lương district and Minh Lập village, Đồng Hỳ district, Thái Nguyên province. The team provided material and monetary aid to 292 households. Supreme Master Ching Hai contributed a total of US$12,800 with US$11,750 in cash being given to the needy people and the remainder used to purchase food, including 1.1 tons of rice, 70 boxes of instant noodles and 20 boxes of rice cakes.
At the central hospital in Thái Nguyên province, the team members consoled those who had been injured or lost family members, and also gave funds to the villagers of Cà Phê 2 hamlet, Minh Lập village, Đồng Kỷ district to rebuild their cultural center, where victims come for spiritual and emotional support. Then on May 26, torrential rains caused flooding in the mountainous Tương Dương district of Nghệ An province. As a result, five people lost their lives, 20 homes were destroyed, and 205 dwellings were damaged along with roads, bridges, schools and a hospital. The damage to rice paddy fields and crops reached 400 hectares. In July, the mountainous provinces of Northern Âu Lạc experienced constant, torrential rains and flash flooding that caused mudslides, destroyed villages, and seriously damaged roads, leaving many destitute. Carrying Supreme Master Ching Hai’s boundless love and another US$10,300 in financial aid, our Association members from Northern Âu Lạc traveled to Cao Bằng and Bắc Cạn, the most severely affected areas, reaching Cao Bằng province on July 9.
In Pác Miều, Bảo Lâm district, the relief team offered Master’s caring words of encouragement and gifts to those in need, touching and warming their hearts. Like Pác Miều, Đức Quang and Vĩnh Quang villages in Bảo Lâm district, Cao Bằng province also suffered heavy damage from the flooding. The team gave food and financial aid to the Peoples’ Committee of Bảo Lâm district for distribution in these difficult to reach areas. After receiving Supreme Master Ching Hai’s aid, the local officials and residents of the devastated areas were deeply moved by the compassion and concern She had shown to the people of Âu Lạc, and expressed their deep gratitude. We hope that Master’s love and warmth will continue
to pervade every corner of our precious planet, and that the Earth
will forever be in peace and filled with Her divine grace.
Expenditures by
Supreme Master Ching Hai
* Throughout the relief
operation, fellow initiates paid
for their own traveling, food, and accommodation expenses. 
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The
relief team encouraged and comforted the affected people while distributing
Supreme Master Ching Hai’s gifts, which included US$6,300
in cash along with US$500 worth of instant noodles, candies and
cookies. Feeling Master’s love, many were rendered speechless.
A bridge to the local children’s school was washed away by
the flooding, so the relief team sent money to local officials to
rebuild the structure so that the children could get to their school
safely. Master’s total contribution came to US$11,120.
