Love in Action

Report from Taipei, Formosa

Divine Love Shines on Homeless Friends

By the Taipei News Group (originally in Chinese)

On September 2, 2005, the day after typhoon Talim swept across Formosa and as the Moon Festival approached, Taipei initiates of The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association paid three visits to their city’s homeless population in hopes of sharing Master’s divine love with their less fortunate friends.

In the morning, the sisters and brothers went to Jhonghe Shelter for the Homeless, operated by the Taipei City Bureau of Social Affairs and were warmly greeted by Director Chen Xuecheng, who helped them bring seventy-five gift bags into the facility. On seeing the practitioners, the residents smiled happily, and in a touching show of pure-heartedness, several elderly men asked to have photos taken while holding Master’s picture. One resident, 61-year-old Uncle Zhan Yuchun recalled, “I used to drive fellow practitioners to the Hsihu Center on Sundays,” adding that he was always deeply moved by the Center’s grand Sunday scene as nearly a hundred tour buses were parked on the grounds and fellow initiates sat happily on the grass in the absence of magnificent buildings. During that period Uncle Zhan also saw Master and enjoyed listening to Her lectures. Remembering these experiences, he said, “Master had an elegant bearing and a pleasant voice as beautiful as renowned Formosan singer Deng Lijun’s.” Before he became homeless Uncle Zhan had owned several of Master’s audiotapes and was so inspired by Her teachings on virtuous living that after retiring he worked for some time as a volunteer at Taipei’s Creation Social Welfare Foundation for paralyzed patient.

That afternoon, the initiates visited The House of Concern and Care for the Homeless, a remodeled military barracks housing destitute residents who wish to start their lives anew. The facility also serves as headquarters for the Volunteers’ Service Association, established by volunteer workers from twenty-nine townships and cities in Taipei County. The House’s director, Ms. Huang Meiying, a kind, wise and loving lady with ten years’ experience in helping street people resume self-reliant lives, said, “I became acquainted with Master through the TV program A Journey through Aesthetic Realms and greatly admire Her compassion and teachings.” Director Huang then showed the initiates around the facility while explaining its history and development.

Many residents of the House of Peace remove copies of Master’s spiritual information from their gift packages and begin reading them attentively.

Ms. Huang next briefly described the work of the Volunteers’ Service Association and cited several successful cases of rehabilitation, including a drug addict’s son who had been on the streets for ten years and made the Taipei Main Railway Station his home. After many nighttime visits with the young man, workers from the Service Association finally persuaded him to move to The House of Concern and Care for the Homeless and start his life afresh. He now earns a decent income at an environmental protection company. Ms. Huang also said that each month the facility invites experts to teach basic vocational skills to help such individuals become self-supporting. And regarding difficulties such as lack of funding, she added, “I believe these to be tests of our wisdom and love and that God will take care of everyone. Over the years, difficulties have been surmounted one by one, and I’m grateful for Master’s universal love and deep concern for the less fortunate.” All the Association’s staff members are volunteers who share the same goals and make up for a lack of funding with sincere, loving hearts!

In the evening the brothers and sisters visited the House of Peace in Taipei, a shelter for the elderly, weak, disabled and homeless run on a government commission by the Catholic organization Congregatio Immaculati Cordis Mariae (CICM). A young volunteer worker at the facility named Wang Honglun said, “Most of the street people here resume working and gradually integrate themselves back into society after receiving instruction.” Then, on seeing the smiling faces of the homeless residents, the disciples felt truly welcomed as they distributed gift packages, shook hands and

had their photos taken. The initiates also shared Master’s sample booklets, which many accepted happily and began reading. The sisters and brothers felt glad that their homeless friends had enough affinity to come to know a living Master, as the visit ended perfectly with an exchange of good wishes.

Two weeks later on September 15, on behalf of the street people from twenty-nine townships and cities in Taipei County, Director Huang Meiying of the local Volunteers’ Service Association held a simple, solemn ceremony to thank The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association for its caring activities before the Moon Festival, during which a total of 548 gift packages were distributed. In a heartfelt speech, Director Huang said, “For many years I’ve seen the Supreme Master’s benevolent deeds in sharing the truth and benefiting people on TV, but this time I witnessed firsthand your group’s volunteer workers following Her example by caring for the needy. I feel deeply touched and grateful!”

After the ceremony, the initiates visited the Protestant Good 119 Center, which supplies lunches and dinners for the homeless in the Banciao district of Taipei. The practitioners were warmly welcomed by their street friends, who came forward to express their greetings. The disciples in turn conveyed Master’s concern and presented them with surprise gift packages. That afternoon, the initiates traveled to the homeless hangouts of Datong and Sinyi Parks in Sanchong. On receiving their gift packs, the underprivileged folks residing there removed the News magazines inside and read them carefully as other Park residents nearby expressed great admiration for Master’s loving work. Some even asked for more copies of Her sample booklet and News magazine on their own initiative.

Through this series of caring activities, many of Taipei County’s street people experienced warm feelings as Master’s compassion and the fellow initiates’ sincerity touched their hearts and kindled interest in Her teachings. All the brothers and sisters who participated in the project realized that Master’s power was guiding them all along the way as they brought God’s love and good news to countless longing souls.♥