Bringing Warmth to Monks and Aid to Earthquake Victims in China

By Chinese Relief Team (Originally is Chinese)

In 2013, responding to Master’s loving request, The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association Centers in China shared Master’s heartfelt care and concern across the country in many different ways with the help of RMB 221,788 (US$35,646) provided from Master’s relief fund. As well as traveling to remote and freezing areas to provide winter relief to wandering monastics and others in need during the cold, our Association members also helped to rebuild homes and provide vital supplies for earthquake victims in Xinjiang and Yunnan Provinces, and purchased clothing for disadvantaged children in Hubei Province. Animal friends were remembered with the purchase of medicines and the building of new dog shelters in Shanxi Province.

Jilin Province

On January 17, our Association members from Jilin distributed essential food items to seven of the most disadvantaged families in the mountain area of Tonghua City, where the cold temperatures were severe. On February 3, the day of traditional “Chinese Little New Year,” our Association members went to the Orphan School of Jilin Province to comfort the children, and also visited a less-privileged family and shared gifts of clothing, vegan New Year’s food and children’s snacks. The team members felt God’s blessing during all the activities and were grateful to Master.

Qinghai Province

Our Association members in Qinghai Province distributed cotton-padded coats, trousers, shoes, cloaks and robes to 30 homeless people living in a social relief shelter, to nuns in remote temples, and to homeless individuals in the city. All recipients felt deeply touched by God’s Love. The relief effort took place from December 12, 2012 to January 5, 2013.

Hubei Province

Our Association members from Hubei Province found out that the monks in small temples in the mountains were in hardship, without winter clothes. It was cold and rainy in the mountains, and heavy snowfalls threatened to block the mountain roads at any time. Given the urgency of the situation, they began the relief work promptly with full faith and trust in God.

On December 23 and 24, guided by our local Association members, the Hubei team visited 13 temples and several wandering monks to distribute warm cotton flannel clothes, cotton-padded coats, cotton-padded trousers and warm flannel gloves. Miraculously, the rain cleared and sunshine blessed their two-day relief effort. A lay Buddhist practitioner who lives in a temple said, “Amitabha Buddha, the sunny people bring sunshine.” The Hubei relief team received amazing blessings from this relief work, and felt God was with them all the way.

Although there was no snow in Wuhan City in December, the weather was wet and extremely cold. The Hubei relief team purchased outdoor sleeping bags capable of withstanding minus five degrees Celsius temperatures, and then distributed 21 of these to homeless people living in bus stations, railway stations, bridge piers and underground passages. Upon seeing the pure, smiling faces and contentment of the recipients, the relief team understood Master’s teaching about the importance of giving. Another team distributed a total of 40 cotton quilts and cash to homeless individuals they found as they drove around the city. Solemn faces turned to smiles.

In Huangpo District, the Hubei team distributed cash and supplies of cotton quilts, rice, cooking oil and other food items to 18 impoverished families in the village. An elderly mother cried after receiving the gifts, and gripped the hands of the relief team members in deep gratitude.

During the New Year time, the Hubei relief team supported the public welfare initiative, “New Year, New Clothing”, designed to help less fortunate children by providing them with new clothes. On January 1, 2013, the team delivered 50 sets of winter clothing to Qianzhong Morning Newspaper ready for distribution. On January 5, they delivered 38 sets of winter clothing to Yangtse Evening Post for delivery to disadvantaged areas in Gansu Province. Furthermore, on January 6, they delivered 35 pieces of winter clothing and 20 pairs of socks to Jiangxi TV station for distribution to students in primary schools.

Xinjiang Province

Our Association members from Xinjiang Province cooperated with lay Buddhist practitioners in Lianchi Temple to deliver relief in northern and southern Xinjiang. They distributed flour and cooking oil to victims affected by a snow disaster in Zhaosu County of North Xinjiang. Then, in Ruoqiang County of South Xinjiang, our Association member relief team helped earthquake victims by purchasing and distributing red bricks so those affected could repair their damaged homes. The government had already distributed food and clothes to the victims. The relief team also sent consolation money to the very disadvantaged families to fund their building repair costs.

From this 24-day relief effort, the relief team gained much experience. The victims were touched by the help provided, and the team was often moved by the pure hearts of the recipients. The relief team intends to keep cooperating with Xinjiang public welfare organizations and humanitarian groups in their relief work to do their best to keep conveying love.

Yunnan Province

A magnitude 5.5 earthquake in Eryuan County, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture on March 3, 2013 affected 160,000 people and left 30 individuals injured in 11 villages of five counties. Twenty-one thousand people were urgently evacuated. Eryuan County was the most severely affected and had 50 emergency tent shelters erected.

On March 7, our Yunnan relief team purchased and transported 100 military cotton quilts to Eryuan County. The team went to the most seriously damaged Qiandian Village of Liantie Township and visited the village council. With the help of government officials, they distributed 100 cotton quilts to the students who stayed in temporary buildings, RMB 300 to each of 67 families in Xinjian Village, and RMB 100 to each of 28 families in Xiajiang Village. The recipients asked to convey their gratefulness to all the people involved in the relief effort. Government leaders also expressed their thankfulness.

Shanxi Province

Our Association members from Shanxi Province brought love and kindness to a stray dog shelter in Taiyuan City called Love Home. On January 24, our Association members purchased building materials, which were then used for the construction of five new doghouses. On returning a few weeks later to visit the new shelters, they donated medicine worth RMB 1,500 for the dogs. Our Association members are thankful for the help of the media and other benevolent people whose support enabled the improvement of Love Home.

Expenditures by Supreme Master Ching Hai and Her International Association for Cold Weather and Earthquake Relief Work in China