This story begins as we leave for our great 10-day journey: the first stop is Chicago, which is also the first stop of Chinese dictator Jiang.
We began in Chicago with a press conference, followed by a magnificent march through the city accompanied by mounted police who seemed to know and fully appreciate the Falun Gong practitioners. We stopped in front of the Chinese consulate where the police were also present; they appeared almost puzzled by the calmness and serenity of the many practitioners, as though asking themselves why any police presence was necessary for such peaceful people.
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The next morning was the day of Jiang's arrival and we decided to go out for a walk near our hotel, which was next to the dictator's, and admire the local landmarks. As we passed the main hotel entrance, we saw hundreds of silent practitioners taking up a position opposite the hotel. The scene greeting us was so impressive that there was a lump in my throat and I was so moved that I almost shed tears. Little by little, a number of Jiang's supporters arrived and intermingled with the practitioners on the sidewalk. The students, especially, waved their little red flags and soon began to shout slogans. What a contrast with the group of practitioners who, while holding magnificent banners, remained completely silent!
It was difficult to look away from this scene. But soon we noticed that the various access routes to the hotel were closed and that Jiang must be on the way. The police took up their positions around the hotel, blocking the main entrance. We decided to stand near one of the bends of the main road and within seconds the atmosphere changed and cars arrived at high speed. Practitioners stood on either side of this main avenue with their banners reading "Falun Dafa Hao" ["Falun Dafa is great"]. Jiang could not fail to see them.
Afterwards we joined the crowd of spectators, to learn of their impressions. My companion asked one of the Chinese journalists, who was watching the two groups, "What do you think of these people?" He replied, "They are all good people; it is the Chinese Government that is not good."
As for Houston, our second stop in the United States, the Swiss practitioners again had the good fortune to be next to Jiang's hotel. Hundreds of practitioners stood silently, sending forth righteous thoughts for more than a kilometer on the main road and opposite his hotel. That night, we formed relay groups and throughout the night practitioners remained by the road. Some also gathered in hotel rooms to send forth righteous thoughts.
The following day, after a day of heavy rainfall which nonetheless did not prevent us from remaining outside to send forth righteous thoughts, we left our hotel at 1 a.m. to travel to President Bush's ranch where the meeting with the Chinese dictator was to take place.
The atmosphere was unusual and the weather somewhat cool for Texas, but we gathered a few kilometers away from the ranch to send forth righteous thoughts continuously throughout the day. A few hundred practitioners sat at the edge of a forest. It was impressive on account of the powerful silence. I think that even the forest will remember the day when such strength emanated from this place. We truly formed a single body and the atmosphere was solemn.
At the end of the day we returned to Houston from where, on the following day, we took leave of some practitioners who were returning to Europe and continued on our journey to Mexico. We now numbered 5 to 10 women and 5 men. We arrived in Mexico and rented two rooms in a youth hostel. Meanwhile, we decided to meet in the evening and go out and find the venue of the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference in which Jiang was participating. We took the bus and made the most of the opportunity - since two of us spoke Spanish - to explain the truth to the people we met. The people to whom I spoke seemed very moved by what I told them and also very interested in Falun Dafa. They also seemed curious about our reasons for traveling to Mexico and spending our holidays clarifying the truth in their country. Many congratulated us and told us that we should continue to speak out. Even though life is not a bed of roses in their country, they showed a lot of compassion for the practitioners in China, persecuted simply because they believe in Truth - Compassion - Tolerance.
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During the two remaining days in Mexico we had many adventures and each time we thought that we had finished our tasks for the day and could go home, we bumped into more people who wanted to learn the truth. Throughout our stay in these two countries, one main thing became apparent to me -- apart from the strength and united heart of the practitioners, which was something that cannot be described in human words -- was our physical endurance. It is true that righteous thinking makes an enormous difference. Most of us did not sleep in a bed for more than one night in a period of over 10 days. It was a veritable achievement for me and above all I felt even closer to the practitioners in China--to the suffering that they experience in their daily lives. I could never have imagined beforehand going for so many days with so few hours of sleep. It was paramount not to allowing oneself to let up. If we thought, "Phew! That's it for today; we have finished," exhaustion would appear and immediately overwhelm us.
Here in a few words is the marvelous experience I wanted to share with you. There remains so much more to be said some other time.
Category: April 25 Events
