12/5/2003

(Clearwisdom.net) Before July 20, 1999, many residents, retirees, and young people alike who lived in the same apartment complex practiced Falun Gong. After July 20, 1999 many of them gave up Falun Gong out of fear. During the last few years, practitioners have become more mature through clarifying the truth and standing up for Dafa. They have come to realize the importance of improving as one body. They have talked to those who gave up the practice, and gave them Dafa truth clarifying materials. Practitioners also talked to those who assisted in the persecution of Falun Gong. They convinced many to stop aiding the persecution. As a result, some have resumed their practice. The following are some of their stories.

Head of the Neighborhood Committee Now Practices Falun Gong

The head of the Neighborhood Committee previously cooperated with police to ransack practitioner's homes and take Dafa books. She told them the books would be burned. Practitioners sought her out to clarify the truth to her. She understood very quickly. One day, she went to see a practitioner and asked, "Do you need the books? Who wants the books? I can give them to you." The practitioner was very surprised and asked, "Why do you have books?" She answered, "When I ransacked practitioners' homes, I did not hand over the books, nor did I burn them. I saved all of the Dafa books. If you need them, I can hand them out."

She has now started to read Falun Dafa books and go to the group practice sites. Even her husband has started to read the books. One time a neighborhood policeman wanted her assistance in monitoring Falun Gong practitioners. She refused. She said, "Don't bother about Falun Gong in this neighborhood. They are all good people. We don't have what you want here."

Relatives Who Know the Truth Protect Falun Gong Practitioners

A few years ago during the smear campaign by Jiang's regime, many adult children of retirees could not understand why their parents continued to practice Falun Gong. Some tried to stop them from practicing. After the past few years of truth clarification efforts, many adult children now understand the truth and are supportive of these efforts.

One practitioner's son is a policeman. Now he understands the truth about the persecution. He tries to protect the safety of the practitioners in the apartment complex. Whenever there are new initiatives against practitioners he calls to warn them so they can avoid arrest.

The husband of a Falun Gong practitioner used to watch his wife very closely to keep her from practicing. He has come to realize the beauty of Falun Gong. He now lets Falun Gong practitioners come to his home to practice and relax while he keeps watch outside.

Two Dozen Police and Government Workers Learn the Truth from an Elderly Couple

An elderly couple living in the apartment complex used to suffer from bad health. The wife had cancer and was given 7-10 years to live by the doctor, after surgery. The couple's health improved tremendously after they began practicing Falun Dafa. Their children were very happy for them and began to practice too. When the persecution started, a local police officer went to this couple's home to harass and threaten them so they would give up the practice. Their children were sent to a detention center and forced labor camp. The two elderly people continued to clarify the truth to them. Once, a neighborhood policeman came to the house to convince them to give up Falun Gong. The policeman was speechless after an hour or so. In the end, he said, "I cannot stay here any more. If I stay any longer, I will have to practice Falun Gong too." The police never came again.

For the past four years, no matter how bad the persecution was, the practitioners in the apartment complex never stopped their group study. They have, as Teacher Li instructed, become one body and a good team. This has improved the environment in the neighborhood.