Supreme Master Ching Hai International relief news update from Guatemala.

In early October, torrential rains along with mudslides struck the country, claiming the lives of two children and affecting 40,000 people. With parts of the country still recovering from other storms occurring at the end of September, many people were rendered homeless, especially in the Department of Petén.

Expressing her condolences and prayers, Supreme Master Ching Hai donated US$5,000 and asked that our nearby Association members please check with local governments and agencies to see if help was required. Including contributions made by our Association members, the combined US$8,800 donation could purchase US$79,000 in needed supplies acquired in the United States, based on Guatemala’s cost of living.

Our Association members from Costa Rica and the United States formed a relief team to go to the most affected areas, covering their own travel and related expenses of about US$3,000. Per Supreme Master Ching Hai’s requests for updates, the following is their report. (Relief report originally in Spanish) October 2010 Most Compassionate Master, After evaluating the disaster with the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED) representative in the Department of Petén, Yobani Martinez, we learned that the municipality of La Libertad had not yet received food from anyone. Ten percent of all families in the town are homeless, while the other 90% has been supported by large agencies such as the United Nations World Food Program.

So on October 15, our team went to distribute food supplements throughout 9 communities in Petén’s La Libertad, covering the entire 450 families of 7 members each for 7 days with food. Each packet contained rice, beans, oil, sugar, salt, cornmeal, Incaparina (soy milk for children) and a bag with an SOS flyer to share information on the vegan diet and climate change. Cookies were also given to all children from the 9 affected communities. People were rejoicing and very grateful for the unconditional love of our beloved Master. They sent messages full of good wishes to Supreme Master Ching Hai for the food and for her displays of love and concern for the Guatemalan people.

Once again, members of the relief team from Costa Rica and the United States are grateful for the opportunity provided by our beloved Master to learn about the great lesson of love and sharing with our less fortunate neighbor brethren. With all our love, Relief team in Guatemala

VOICE: Supreme Master Ching Hai replied to our Association members' letter as follows: Thank you for your love and care for the afflicted. Please check to see if we can buy some more urgent items, such as clothes and blankets for children and those much in need. I include US$10,000 more. All my love and tears of prayers. God bless you and the people you serve. (h) (h) CH

VOICE: We appreciate Supreme Master Ching Hai’s permission to share these details, as well as our Association’s Foreign Group for providing this report. Our thankfulness, National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction personnel and helping agencies such as the UN World Food Program for your timely support as we also send our gratitude for Supreme Master Ching Hai’s unconditional assistance. We pray for the Guatemalan people’s soon recovery of their productive everyday lives as we boost our own efforts to restore the balance of our planet.