Bringing Flood Relief and Sharing Love in Hubei Province, China

 By Hubei, China Relief Team (Originally in Chinese)

From June 1 to 15, 2015, Xianning City, Hubei Province, China, was inundated by heavy rains, causing flash floods that carried rocks across the mountainside of Xianning while the residents were asleep. Following Master’s caring instructions, our Association members from Wuhan City, Hubei Province, immediately went to the flood-affected area to examine the situation. The local government officials said that the scale of the disaster had not been seen in the region in 200 years. Overall, 1.2 million people and approximately 58 villages and townships were flooded, and at least 23 lives were lost. In addition, there was no local water or electricity, and roads were impassable.

Immediately after the disaster struck, county officials, military personnel, police officers and firefighters began a rescue mission. Relief rations were distributed, and most victims were transferred to safe locations. However, a small number of people living deep in the mountains still needed help since the roads to their villages were blocked. After gaining this information, we knew that the main objective of our relief mission was to bring God’s love to our fellow citizens in the farthest corners of Xianning who were most in need of help.

On the afternoon of June 17, our Wuhan Association members quickly formed a team and began preparing for the relief effort by purchasing and packing food and medicine, borrowing vehicles, preparing to go to the disaster site, and making vegan bread and snacks for the victims, in hope of bringing love and warmth to their hearts. In less than 24 hours, we completed all the preparations, and at noon on June 18, drove a vehicle loaded with the relief materials to Shicheng Town in Chongyang County, Xianning City, which had been severely damaged.

We prayed during the entire journey, and by nightfall arrived at the foot of the mountain near Shicheng Town. From the local government officials and residents we learned more detailed information, and determined the routes we should take. While staying at a local farmer’s house, we meditated overnight, followed our intuition, and decided to go to the deepest corner of the mountain. The hostess at the farmer’s house volunteered to guide us. Then, on June 19, while driving on the path to the location, we encountered a big fallen rock obstructing the way. It would have taken us two hours to clear the path so we immediately decided to carry the relief materials and continue our journey on foot. Shortly after, we met a man driving a motor tricycle. When we stopped him and told him our intentions, he said he was willing to take us further on the mountain. After transferring the materials to his motor tricycle, we drove from village to village delivering the relief items.

While distributing the final batch of supplies, we encountered a roadway whose foundation was being washed away by the flood. Not daring to cross the road with the motor tricycle, we put the relief materials on our shoulders and kept walking. About halfway up the mountain, we saw a family with a motorcycle and were able to borrow it to carry out the last part of our relief work. These events appeared to happen coincidentally, but we knew that they were all God’s arrangements. Thank you, merciful God!

Expenditures by The Supreme Master Ching International Association for Flood Relief Work in Hubei Province, China

The relief team members paid for their own transportation, accommodations and food.