The Supreme Master Ching Hai
By Formosa Relief Team (Originally in Chinese)
On February 6th, 2018, a strong earthquake of over 6-magnitude struck Hualiean, Formosa at 11:50 pm, causing several buildings to collapse or tilt. Sadly, 12 people have lost their lives, 279 injured, and 5 missing. Currently, a total of 727 people are receiving emergency accommodation at Hualien County Stadium, Chunghua Elementary School and other shelters.
Upon learning of the disaster, Supreme Master Ching Hai immediately instructed our Association members to go to the afflicted areas to visit the injured. She also contributed TWD 600,000 (USD20,000) for the purchase of relief materials and expressed Her sorrow, sending Her condolences to the injured and survivors.
Early in the morning of February 7, a team formed by our Association members set out for the relief mission. Upon arriving in Hualian at 9:30 a.m., the team entered the first disaster area, Marshal Hotel, reported to the command post and asked whether emergency supplies were needed. The commander in chief told the team that the supplies were sufficient at that time, so the team members left the contact information for future communication when necessary. At 11 a.m., the command post called and informed the team that they needed mineral water urgently. The team members then quickly sent the much needed water to the disaster area.
At 1:30 pm., the team arrived at the second disaster area, Guosheng 1st Street. A building here was tilting 60 degrees due to the strong earthquake. The on-site rescue work was still ongoing, enduring heavy rain. Around 3 pm., a Golden Retriever dog was rescued from the fifth floor. Our team members provided it with love, comfort and water, after the Retriever calmed down, we handed it over to Red Cross staff.
Our relief team also went to a shelter located in Chunghua Elementary School where donated supplies were stored in an atrium. We met a visitor from Brazil, currently teaching English in Hualian. For fear of an aftershock, he decided not to go back to his residence for the time being. We stay with him and offered some Loving Hut vegan chocolate cookies. He was very grateful for our care, and shared the cookies with other victims.
On the evening of the 7th, team members went to the Hualien Hospital of the Ministry of Health and Welfare as well as the Mennonite Christian Hospital to comfort the people who were injured by the strong earthquake. We learned that most of them had returned home. One Japanese man was still receiving medical treatment, his wife told us that the earthquake shook him off his wheelchair, causing multiple bruising. We gave them Supreme Master Ching Hai’s book From Crisis to Peace – The Organic Vegan Way is the Answer, and offered some consolation money. They expressed their wish that we would give the money to people who needed more help. We were greatly touched by their selflessness and love. We conveyed Master’s care to them, and wished the gentleman a speedy recovery.
On February 8, we met an earthquake-affected person sheltering in Hualien County Stadium. We conveyed Master’s care, and gave him Supreme Master Ching Hai’s book From Crisis to Peace – The Organic Vegan Way is the Answer, cash assistance of TWD 3,000, and some vegan chocolate cookies. After that, we went to Chunghua Elementary School and met the Chief of the Guosheng Village, Mr. Zhang, who compassionately provided us a list of earthquake-affected families.
In the afternoon of February 9, Chief Zhang, accompanied us to visit 155 earthquake-affected families. Thank you Chief Zhang for your help, efforts and dedication. We conveyed Master’s love and care to them, expressed our sympathy, and gave each family cash assistance of TWD 2,000, which reached a total of TWD 310,000. In addition, we shared with each family Supreme Master Ching Hai News Magazine, Master’s book From Crisis to Peace – The Organic Vegan Way is the Answer, and The Key of Immediate Enlightenment Sample Booklet. We plan to distribute to family members of those who lost their lives consolation money TWD 10,000.
We thank the relief team for sharing an overview of the current relief work and will continue providing updates of the relief work in progress.
(to be continued….)