Leaving Toronto with a rather tight programme for Vietnam, I, Dieu Lien, felt more energetic this time. Perhaps what gave me more strength was the trust by Monk Thich Tam Hoa, the abbot of Phap Van Pagoda. On behalf of some Pagodas and Buddhists in Canada, he entrusted me with a large amount of funds so that I could work with monks and nuns in Vietnam and mobilize resources for the victims of the recent Xangsane storm. It was this enormous spiritual motivation and funding that urged me to go back with even more strength and joy. This was perhaps the first time when I had the most resources to help the poor.

Hardly had I started our programmes for the Xangsane victims after arriving at Hue when the Durian storm, or Storm #9, began to blow into the Mekong Delta, sinking thousands of ships and boats on the sea, destroying numerous houses, and taking so many lives. Amid this emergency, the monks and I decided to transfer a large part of the funding for the Xangsane victims to those of Durian. It was believed that this would be approved by the esteemed Buddhists and donors, because by so doing we would meet the most urgent needs of those in a disaster. This was also the very aspiration of the donors.

According to the weather reports, the storm was still raging in the southern provinces. Travelling was prohibited on many routes, such as the one to Phu Quy Island. Two repeated requests by Nun Nhu Minh for permission to access the island were turned down.

Despite hourly radio news on the direction of the storm and the damage it was causing, our relief group decided to depart in order to reach the destroyed places in time. Our group, including Nun Nhu Minh, Nun Dieu Dam, Nun Huyen Chi, Sister Cuc, myself, Man - the cameraman- and Trung and Hoan - the bus drivers, was small, because at every locality there would always be people from the pagodas and local Buddhists, the major human resources that would help with organisational matters, gift distribution and other follow-up activities.

Early in the foggy morning of 12 December 2006, our group departed for the south. Our meals and rests were all taken on the bus to save time. It was estimated that the relief work would last 4 days, because the monks and nuns still had to be present at their pagodas for their other important Buddhist work. It suddenly darkened in the afternoon with thick, dark clouds. Following Nun Dieu Minh's instruction, the buses followed a new route along the bypass towards the Mui Ne resort area. With the banners "Relief group for Storm #9" in the front to "facilitate" permission by the road police, our buses went through forests with no sign of travellers. Such banners can be good prey for forest robbers, who follow and have people steal relief money when conditions allow. Some relief groups travelling from the south to Hue were robbed on their way and came to Hue without any money left to give. Though our group did not bring cash since all money and in kind payments are prepared in each locality, and we wire money to pay debts after the relief, this would not prevent the robbers from committing the inhumane deeds if they were to meet the group. Everybody's heart was heavy, but nobody said a word so as not to dishearten the others on the bus; instead, we whispered to Buddha for help. At last, the group came to Phuoc Thien Pagoda safe and sound, though after midnight. In the dark night, nearly 20 young nuns were still up in the well-lit pagoda to welcome our relief group.

From the pagoda, the group went to Tan Thang Commune, Ham Tan District, Binh Thuan Province - the first place for gift distribution.  When we arrived, about 2000 people were there. The commune authority representatives, the provincial Buddhist Charity Committee, and people with relief coupons had filled the hall yard. There, Nun Nhu Nhu from Binh Quang Pagoda, the person in charge of charity work in Binh Thuan Province, had organised the gathering, with the help of local Buddist families, to arrange for 700 gifts. In the hall yard we saw many children and old people. In the wake of the storm, many houses collapsed and crops were destroyed.  Therefore, the main workers of the family immediately had to work harder to stabilise their daily life. Many of the elderly stood as far as the road, gift coupons in their hands, simply watching the wall of people around the gift tables without being able to make their way in. I brought them to the gift table to help them receive the gift; they were so happy that they held my hand very tightly, with a bright grin on their face.

With loving care, people gave and received,

In enriching fragrance of kindness and joy

Leaving Binh Thuan earlier than scheduled, we went straight to the south. With their mobile phones, the nuns "worked" when the buses were on the way to connect with people in other areas for gift distribution. The next destination was the Buddhist Charity Committee of Ben Tre Province. In the afternoon with some remaining sunlight, the buses stopped at Vien Quang Pagoda, which was also the office of the Ben Tre Province's Buddhist Standing Committee. We were welcomed cordially by Monk Hanh Tan. He invited us to have a simple dinner, and then he himself brought mosquito nets and blankets to the bedroom for us and showed us to the WC and shower room. He was so caring as to bring us many bottles of mineral water. His simplicity, sincerity, and caring deeds warmed our hearts.

After a sound sleep, we prepared to set off for Ba Tri District. The same morning, Vien Quang Pagoda received other charity groups that were going to provide storm relief. The monk assigned suitable places for each relief group fairly. Though we came to ease hunger and we worked hard, everybody's face was bright. Everybody talked, smiled, and laughed from the pagoda yard to the road while going back and forth as if this were a festival - in fact, it was a Festival of "Compassion.”

Everything in Ba Tri was in ruins. We felt so bad for the lives of the poor people at the sight of their collapsed cottages. Fear and misery were visible in their sad eyes and faces. The gifts, which had been prepared by Ba Tri District's Buddhist Charity Committee under the instruction of Reverend Thich Thong Ly, the abbot of Nguyen Chieu Pagoda, were presented to 300 poor families of Tan My Commune. Surrounding us, as instructed by the organisers, the compatriots listened to Nun Nhu Minh expressing regards. She said that living in the central area, which is stricken annually by storms and floods, we deeply shared their cold and hunger in the wake of these calamities. Therefore, despite the distance and dangerous route, with sincere hearts and the resources received from overseas Buddhists in Phap Van, Huong Dam, Vien Quang, and Bat Nha Pagodas, the Toronto Vietnamese Association, the Eyes of Compassion Fund, and the Buddhist Charity Committee of Thua Thien Hue Province, our group had set off in order to reach the storm-stricken areas in time, to hold their hands, to share small gifts, and to ease the pain of the compatriots of Tan My Commune. When the nun was saying all this, there were eyes filled with tears, though some young wives with babies in their arms embarrassedly hid their tearful eyes behind their conical hats. The compassion of the group was like a fire that warmed these destitute people on these chilly days.

Small gifts, great care,

Compassion's shared

Our home is here

When in need, human compassion is felt. After the gifts had been distributed, the people's committee of the commune treated us with coconut juice, and the secretary sang a song for us in return for Nun Nhu Minh's poem.

At noon, we left Tan My. On the way to Ngai Dang Commune of Mo Cay District, Monk Thong Ly phoned Ms. Ba, who owns a hu tieu chay (vegetarian noodles) pub, to ask for help in the way of 10 noodle bowls. Ms. Ba is a follower of the Cao Dai religion; however, she accords special respect to Buddhist pagodas. She is always ready to donate vegetarian noodles to monks, nuns and Buddhists on the way to fulfilling Buddhist work. The group was warmly welcomed right from the gate to the hall. The Buddhists of Nguyen Chieu Pagoda had taken care of arranging the gifts. This was a small commune with a small population; therefore, we sent gifts to just 150 poor households. What was special at this commune was that the executive board's members were all young, aged from 30 to 50, nice-faced, enthusiastic, and agile. They created a cordial and friendly atmosphere with us right from the beginning. When our group left the commune, a very young man in a white shirt, representing the villagers, came to stand beside me. His eyes showed he was truly moved: "... I don't know how to express my emotions at the visit of your group. Only 3 days after the storm, you and others have come and even brought gifts from benefactors overseas. Really, I don't know what to say to express my gratitude….”   I took this opportunity to thank them for their whole-hearted support for the poor.

 The last area was Cam Son Commune of Mo Cay District. This commune also has a small population.  Therefore, we gave only 150 gifts, mostly to those heavily stricken by the storm. The commune is poor; houses were largely damaged. We came to present the gifts caringly and did not forget to console them. All received the gifts of compassion from afar with boundless gratitude.

We have given 1,300 gifts directly to the victims of the Durian storm. Each gift had 10 kg of rice, a package of 32 small packs of instant noodles, 1 kg of sugar, 400g of MSG and $12 USD. Besides giving gifts, we visited families whose houses were badly damaged to provide moral support so as to facilitate them in overcoming immediate difficulties.

In addition to giving gifts to victims in their most needy moments, EOCVN often focuses on more long-term programmes. Therefore, during our days in Hue, a number of storm-and-flood-related programmes were started and are underway in many places in Vietnam.

1. Ða Nang: Buddhists at Buu Nghiem Pagoda are cooperating with us to restore and build 10 totally new houses in Hoa Khuong, Phuoc Hau, and Phuoc Thuan villages of Hoa Nhon Commune, Hoa Vang District. In addition, Mr. Phan Van Tien, the former headmaster of Hoang Hoa Tham School, and other teachers will help us do some work related to the recent Xangsane storm in Nam O, Da Nang.

2. Phan Thiet: Nun Nhu Tri, Thien Quang Pagoda, has agreed to help us rebuild 5 houses which collapsed in the Durian storm in Phan Thiet. After finishing these 5 houses, there is a plan for another 5. These programmes are highly feasible.

3. Ben Tre: Ven. Thich Thong Ly, Nguyen Chieu Pagoda, has agreed to help with constructing a bridge for Tan My Commune, Ba Tri District. The bridge will be near a school to avoid children's use of "monkey bridges” in the rainy season, which are dangerous to their lives. The programme still depends on many conditions. Feasibility is over 50%.

4. Ba Ria: Mr. Vo Dinh Xa at Toc Tien Commune has helped with rebuilding 20 cottages made of bamboo and alang grass, each costing only 2 million Vietnamese Dong. We had offered more money for stronger houses. However, it is a practice for local people to live in this type of cottage, thanks to their all-year-round sunny weather. Over several decades now, local people have not known of storms or floods; therefore, their houses are very simple. This programme was implemented immediately after the storm.

5. Hue: Tue Quang's group has agreed to restore 15 damaged houses and rebuild 5 completely collapsed ones. The programme has been 50% completed.

6. Quang Tri: Quang Tri Province's Buddhist Charity Committee has agreed to run the community improvement programme for An Binh village, Cam Thanh Commune, Cam Lo District. This programme has many schemes, with high feasibility. In the meeting on 20 December 2006, the Quang Tri Buddhist Charity Committee, representatives of An Binh village, and I discussed in detail how to implement the programme.

a. Developing a clean water system that reaches a majority of villagers there, because pollution of drinking water and water for daily use has become increasingly serious. Besides, villagers are desperately poor due to annual storms and floods. They have lost two successive crops.

b. Providing seeds and fertilizers so that villagers can restart their crops. Flooding and the recent Xangsane storm have also robbed them of all their crops.

c. Rebuilding the sewage system so that roads will not be seriously flooded as they are annually.

7. Nghe An, Thanh Hoa: Mr. Phan Dang Hoe, representative of EOCVN in the northern central area, has agreed to our collection of text books and books on "learning to be a human being" for local schools. The old books deteriorated during the flood caused by the Xangsane storm. 5 to 10 houses damaged in the storm/flood will be repaired. However, the house rebuilding programme may take time, because at present the strong rains in the northern central area of Vietnam are continuing.

Above are details of storm-and-flood programmes in Vietnam. With just a few lines to give an account to you, I hope that our relief work will be fully fruitful. I wish you all the best.

Hue, winter 2006

Ton Nu Dieu Lien