A Speedy Relief Mission Accomplished through God’s Grace

Due to Master’s immense love and compassion, on May 20, 2009, a relief team from Florida, USA, and Costa Rica traveled to Guatemala to help the victims of a powerful hurricane that had left many homes damaged or destroyed. After a 12-hour bus trip, they arrived the following day at the first stop, Chisec, in the Alta Verapaz district. Having consulted Mr. Ricardo Tut, Director of the Local Municipal Planning Office (OMP), and Mr. Artemio Lima, Mayor of the Chisec Municipality, they then spent approximately US$6,000 on 600 sheets of metal roofing material, which was most gratefully received by 50 families most in need of repairing their houses. When Mayor Artemio Lima spoke, in the local language of Q’eqchi’, to the people about Master, the relief team members were so deeply touched by God’s blessing that they shed tears despite not understanding what was said.

On May 22, the relief team traveled to the second stop, Poptun, in the Petén district, where they learned that the hurricane had struck directly in the center of town, followed immediately by a hailstorm. They spent US$4,000 on 416 food packages which were delivered to the neediest families the next day, with the help of the National Coordination for Disaster Reduction (CONRED), Lieutenant Colonel Mauricio Noches Burgos, soldiers from the Army Training Center (CAE) and the Poptun Municipality as well as its mayor, Mrs. Angel Kilkán Ochoa. When the children received the sweet treats, they ran around with joyful laughter. The people of Poptun were so grateful for Master’s care that they hugged and kissed the relief team members, humbly and sincerely sending Master their love, thanks and good wishes.

Expenditures by Supreme Master Ching Hai
for Hurricane Relief Work in Guatemala

Description	Amount(GTQ)	Receipt
Metal roofing material for the victims	46,200.00	A
Food (flour, beans, cooking oil, salt, sugar and rice)	32,909.05	B
Miscellaneous expenses (airline tickets, car rental, gas, translation, flyers, bags, etc.)	15,983.76	C
Total	GTQ95,092.81 (US$12,037.04)