(Clearwidsom.net) On July 13, 2001, a group of Falun Gong practitioners from Texas traveled from Dallas to Washington, D.C. on an urgent rescue mission, sending out righteous thoughts and cultivating xinxing along the way. Our group was among the many caravans that originated in various states en route to the nation's Capitol.
On July 16th, the third day of our northbound journey, we arrived in Birmingham, Alabama. With careful and thoughtful arrangement by local practitioners, we had a very successful press conference at "Freedom Park." Representatives of human rights groups and major local press and television stations attended the entire two-hour long press conference, parade, and candlelight vigil. "Freedom Park" is a park dedicated to the spirit of freedom and human rights.
Practitioners found two extraordinary statues in the park: one statue was of carved figures of an adult and a small child standing inside a jail. The statue has the inscription: "For freedom, I am not afraid of imprisonment." The other statue depicted a ferocious policeman leading a German Shepherd, which was leaping onto an innocent young man. The inscription read: "A courageous and righteous man facing evil persecution." This was truly a portrayal of the Dafa practitioners in China who are directly facing the evils of brutal persecution. It seems it was not a coincidence that we chose this park as the place to clarify the truth.
Practitioners from different districts joined us as we proceeded on our journey toward D.C., so our team grew bigger and bigger. Like fragrant blades of grass, covering various corners of the earth, practitioners joined caravans to make the journey to Washington.
The only non-practitioner in the team, a reporter from the Dallas Observer, Ms. Rose Farley, is worthy of mention. She journeyed with us from the very beginning until we reached Washington D.C. Since it was very short notice when she learned of our plan of driving to D.C., she could not get as much of the usual financial support from her company. But she still decided to bear the hardships and join us on our journey northward. She is a very sincere, honest, and quiet young lady. She would always silently observe our every act and every move, and continuously took notes. Sometimes Ms. Farley took out a downloaded version of Zhuan Falun and read it. She listened very carefully to practitioners recounting experiences and stories of practitioners in China during Fa-rectification cultivation. She was often moved to tears by the steadfast, persevering and fearless spirit, as well as great compassion manifested by Dafa practitioners in the face of vicious persecution and brutal torture.
The tight travel schedule would not allow us to be more attentive to Ms. Farley. Often we did not have meals at regular hours, nor did we have much time to rest. Sometimes, we ate leftovers from two days prior; however, she did not show an ounce of complaint. In response to our apologies, she expressed that she would try her best to cooperate with us, record our views and thoughts concerning the purpose for the caravan, and would try not to give us any trouble. With these few words, she expressed her sincere and kind heart. After the candlelight vigil on July 20th, Ms. Farley bid us farewell. She was moved to tears as she said, "I will miss you."
In this lifetime, we either fulfill our wishes or form ties of predestined relationships. This will only happen because we are lucky enough to be bathed in the rays of Dafa. The Enlightened beings are yearning so much for our assimilation into the great everlasting principle of the universe, "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance." Especially during this serious yet glorious historical moment of "Fa rectifying the cosmos," our righteous thoughts and righteous actions could become the most magnificent testimony in all history.
Aug. 13, 2001
á Editor's note: The article written by Rose Farley: Unlocking the Gong
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