The Supreme Master Ching Hai
By Chinese News Team (Originally in Chinese)
From mid-August to September 2013, according to official reports, Russia’s Far East was hit by the worst flooding in 120 years as unusually heavy rainfall swept the Amur River. Over 20,000 people were evacuated as the river swelled to record highs, bursting its banks and inundating homes and roads. With Her heartfelt prayers, Supreme Master Ching Hai requested our nearby Association members to please go help, adding that funds would be available for reimbursement.
As the Amur River water levels continued to rise in some areas, our Association’s relief team from Heilongjiang Province in northeast China contributed RUB 199,111 (US$6,058) for the relief work and quickly went to the severely affected city of Khabarovsk. The Russian government had already organized relief efforts and arranged for daily distribution of water and food, as well as providing meals for the displaced people taking refuge at a shelter.
On the second day after our arrival, carrying Master’s abundant love and with the assistance from the Khabarovsk Red Cross, we went to a local supermarket to purchase the most urgently needed items such as winter shoes, towels, buckets and other daily necessities. We then delivered them to a designated shelter. The purchased items were soon distributed to the people in need. On our third day, we purchased bed covers, bed sheets, pillowcases, laundry detergent and hygiene products. In addition, we also bought three television sets and DVDs for children to watch. By the order of the Russian government, all the relief items were transported free of charge.
In the shelter, we visited the dormitory and asked several senior citizens and those with disabilities about their needs. An elderly woman told us that her clothes were worn out and she did not bring any other clothes, so we went to the market and bought a new outfit for her. Additionally, we purchased undergarments, thermal pants, trousers, shoes and winter hats that were requested by others at the shelter. The recipients were very appreciative of the items.
On the afternoon of September 8, we learned that the peak of the flood was over and that the water level in Khabarovsk was receding. However, the city of Komsomolsk-on-Amur requested relief aid because people were still in desperate need of rice, noodles and other food items. On the morning of September 9, the Vice Chairman of the Red Cross took us to the food wholesale warehouse, which was also part of the flooded area. We bought 200 packages of food, each containing rice, flour, sugar, salt, canned red beans and oatmeal. Together with other goods, they were transported to Komsomolsk-on-Amur by train.
In total, the relief work lasted seven days. We thank Master for giving us this opportunity to help others in their time of need. Although none of us had any previous experience in disaster relief, it all went so smoothly. We are very grateful to God for arranging everything while teaching us valuable lessons. We pray all those recovering from the flooding can feel the love and comfort of Heaven, and for their quick return to normal life.
Expenditures by The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association for
Flood Relief Work in Khabarovsk, Russia
| Description | Amount (RUB) | Receipt | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 bags of food (each including 2 kilograms of rice, 2 kilograms of sugar, flour, tea, salt, canned red beans and oatmeal), shoes, hats, pants, pajamas, undergarments and clothes for children | 134,210.00 | A | |
| 3 TVs, 3 DVD players and 6 DVD animated movies | 21,887.00 | B | |
| Kitchen supplies (water pots, tea sets, coffee sets, cooking pots, dish washing cloths and dish washing detergent), daily necessities (irons, buckets, towels, bath towels, laundry detergent, hygiene items and bed sheets and covers) | 43,014.57 | C | |
| Total | RUB 199,111.57 (US$6,058) |
D |
The relief team members paid for their own expenses.
