On April 14, Golden Year 4 (2007), a group of Polish initiates went to visit Irena Sendler at her home in a Warsaw nursing home, to present her with the Shining Word Leadership Award along with a 19,000 zlotych ($5,000 Euro) contribution. We also brought some gifts especially from Supreme Master Ching Hai that included a box of SM Celestial towels, blanket, hats, bed cover, slippers, etc., and a box of sweets.

During World War II, Irena Sendler together with coworkers put her own life at risk to save Jewish children from the Holocaust. Dressed in a nurse’s uniform, she would take the children out of the Warsaw ghetto and place them in secure homes with non-Jewish families or in orphanages or convents where they could live safely with newly given identities. Approximately 2,500 children were saved in this way. In 1943, Irena was arrested, imprisoned and tortured by the Gestapo, but no one could break her spirit, and she revealed nothing. Sentenced to death, she was saved at the last minute by members of Żegota, the Council for Aid to Jews. Her heroic actions were depicted in the 1999 play “Life in a Jar,” which was presented over 200 times throughout the United States and Europe.

Irena Sendler welcomed us with an exceptionally bright and warm smile. She was touched and had tears in her eyes, saying that she could not find proper words to express her gratitude to Master for the Award and the gifts. To show her thanks, she offered her book, “Mother of the Children of Holocaust – the History of Irena Sendler,” with a handwritten dedication to Master. Her second gift for Master was a picture showing a beautiful old park in Warsaw.

Irena Sendler spoke in a gentle, kind voice. In spite of her age of 97 years, she has a clear-sighted mind. She was very interested in Master Ching Hai and in our Association. Mrs. Sendler said that inside she does not feel she is any hero at all. During our conversation she mentioned, “I was always taught by my parents that if someone is drowning, one should give him a helpful hand. I love all people. It is necessary for the world to be better and in order to make the world a better place, one needs to love all people, be tolerant and be humble. These are the three things I follow.”

Of the many awards Irena Sendler has received, she said that the two most important to her are the one from Supreme Master Ching Hai as well as the one received from Pope John Paul II.

During our entire visit with Irena Sendler, we felt Master’s blessings as emanations of love, joy, and thankfulness to God. Being able to participate in this meeting was a big happiness for all of us.

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