By San Paulo News Group In January, 2007, some regions of Southern Brazil had experienced heavy rains causing mudslides or flooding. Master was concerned about the people most seriously affected, and instructed to help in whatever ways possible.

On January 10, two fellow initiates from San Paulo Center first went to Nova Friburgo in the state of Rio de Janeiro, the worst affected area in the state, to check out the situation. According to the personnel at the Social Assistance Secretariat in this city, the victims were still very much in need of basic items, such as food and personal hygiene products.

Later that day, the brothers went to Sumidouro, also in the same state but about 40 km more northwest of Nova Friburgo. Thanks to God’s arrangement, almost immediately they were able to talk to Ms. Cecilia Maria Lucas de Araujo, the local chief of Health and Social Promotion Secretariat, who informed them of the items that were most needed.

On the morning of January 12, six fellow practitioners came to Rio de Janeiro, capital of the state, where it would be easier and more accessible to buy products in large quantity. After settling down in a hotel, through God’s wonderful blessing, the brothers met its manager, who is a good friend of the chief of the Social Assistance Secretariat of Nova Friburgo, Ms. Maria Jose Vieira. This manager then called her and asked some representatives of the secretariat to wait for the relief items which would be delivered that day, although not knowing exactly when they would arrive.

Then after buying R$20,000.00 (about US$ 9,345.00) of rice, kidney beans, spaghetti, tomato extract, soy oil, coffee, salt, sugar, scrub sponges, detergent, toilet paper, hand soap, disinfectant, household bleach and trash bags, the brothers set off in the early afternoon to deliver the materials to Nova Friburgo and Sumidouro.

Even though it was around 8:00pm when they arrived in the first city, Ms. Maria Jose Vieira and other personnel were still waiting there to receive the relief items on behalf of the victims of this city. These local people eagerly helped to transfer the items from the truck to a place that was being used to temporarily store the relief materials.

A receipt from the Social Assistance Secretariat in Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro

Without stopping to rest, fellow initiates continued on to Sumidouro. Because the only direct highway from Nova Friburgo to Sumidouro was damaged, they had to take a longer route arriving in the second city at about 4:00am of the next day. They then went to a school sheltering about 120 victims. More than 20 people woke up and promptly helped to transfer the relief items to the dining hall of this school.

Although the heavy rain has stopped and the emergency situation has passed, there are still people in need of some help. The group will continue to bring Master’s comfort to the needy and the report will be in subsequent issues of the News magazine.

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