August 2 to August 6 is the annual Monroe County Fair in upstate New York. Each year, the fair attracts tens of thousands of people. This year, with the support and assistance from the Fair's organizer, practitioners from both Rochester and Buffalo got an early start in preparation and, successfully, brought the Hongfa and the "clarifying the truth of Falun Gong to people around the world" activities to the Fair.
What's new to this year's fair was the program called "Heritage Village". The program invited people from different ethnic backgrounds for an on-stage performance of their heritage in the village. Falun Gong was invited as the very first performer right after the opening ceremony. Five practitioners, in their golden yellow exercise uniforms, solemnly and gracefully demonstrated the five sets of the exercises on the stage. Off stage, one western practitioner provided a brief narrative of each exercise. After the 20-minute demonstration, practitioners invited the audience to participate by teaching them the 2nd set of the exercises. It was a lively performance.
As a result of our joint efforts, the organizer assigned us an ideal location. It was far away from the loud outdoor activities, but right next to the main entrance that connects the outdoor activities with the indoor exhibits. Practitioners carefully prepared many picture/photo exhibitions. From many different angles, they showed the brief introduction of Dafa; illustration of the five sets of the exercises, Dafa's spreading around the world, the real story of Dafa, and the persecution of Dafa practitioners in China. In the meantime, practitioners held frequent exercise demos near the exhibit. The five-day event has attracted a good number of people, many with predestined relationships to Dafa.
Two Western practitioners, M and E, actively participated in this event, from the preparation at the beginning to the daily Hongfa activities. They also provided the Chinese practitioners with many useful tips, such as dos and don'ts while spreading Dafa to Westerners. These have help us tremendously in opening up our minds, breaking up many preconceived notions, yet maximally conforming to the everyday human society, to best spread Dafa to the Western society and clarify the truth of Falun Gong to people around the world.
On the 2nd day of the event, as we were getting ready to close, one practitioner found that a China Falun Gong on display was missing from its table. We tried to find it but were not successful. Then every one said it's a good thing. It must be someone who's interested in Dafa and took it. The next day, an elderly man approached our table and asked to talk to one of the practitioners. He said that he tried to call that practitioner many times but was not able to reach her. He figured we probably were still busy with our event here so he came back again to look for us. He told us that he stayed at our table for a long time watching us doing the exercises the day before, and before he left, he took all the handouts and the China Falun Gong. As soon as he got home, he started to read and could not put the book down. He didn't finish until 3AM the next morning. He was very excited about what he had read; much of which had provided answers to many of his questions. He told us he wanted to read Zhuan Falun next and learn the exercises as well. Since we did not have a spare instruction tape, we asked another practitioner to bring a copy when he came. A few hours later, he appeared in front of our table again and gladly took the instruction tape from us. As we were watching him walking out the door, we were gratified to know that another person with predestined relationship had attained the Dafa. Once again we felt the enormous benevolence of the Teacher.
Our Hong Fa activities have also attracted many Western children. They were especially interested in the fifth set of the exercises. Many of them were very eager to learn and asked the practitioners to show them how to do the lotus position. Led by a young practitioner, they were absorbed in the learning. A few of them were able to do the full lotus position right away.
Through this event, we have also discovered that there are still a large amount of Westerners who, either had never heard of Dafa, or had known very little of Dafa. We still have a long way to go in spreading the Dafa in the Western society. The event itself has also provided us with many opportunities to improve our Xingxing. We further understand the importance to study the Fa.
The five-day Hongfa activity came to an end rather quickly. Practitioners' excellent performance at the Heritage Village, the quality display of our presentation, our civilized behavior and attentiveness in social service, especially our respect for and the cooperation with the organizer, were all very well recognized. We were elected, by the organizer, the winner of the Best of the Show in the Not For Profit category. We were awarded with a $50 prize money as well. Practitioners donated the money to a scholarship fund funded by the organizer.
P.S. During and after the Fair, we received many phone calls. Some want to know more about Falun Gong and the persecution in China. But most of them expressed their eager desire to learn to practice Dafa. A few of them have already joined the local study group. Others have invited the practitioners for seminars in their local area. We believe that participating in the local event is an effective way of spreading Dafa.
Prize Certificate
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Category: April 25 Events
