(Clearwisdom.net) Before July 20, 1999, there were 25 Falun Gong practitioners at the practice site in our village. We used to encourage each other to study the Fa and practice the exercises. Our health improved and our xinxing gradually and steadily improved. We felt really good.

On July 20, 1999, Jiang Zemin, due to his jealousy, tried to eradicate Falun Gong and started the persecution. We tried hard to be good people following the principles of "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance," but we were under persecution. Depressed about the persecution and the slanderous propaganda against Dafa, five practitioners, including myself, decided to walk to Beijing to appeal to the higher authorities. On our way we were stopped by the County Public Security Bureau and sent back. We were detained for one day and one night. Then they transferred us to the compound of the county government, where we were detained for another several days. Each of us was fined 300 yuan before we were released.

After we came home, we were frequently harassed by the authorities. The village sent people to monitor us, and our family members also watched us closely. With Master's help, several practitioners who lived close to each other had a discussion, "We cannot let it continue. We are Dafa disciples and will stick with the cultivation practice, no matter what other people say." Soon after, we broke through the obstacles and resumed the group Fa study.

At the beginning, we did not have any truth clarification materials. We printed Master's articles and posted them up on the electric poles in the village market. Seeing that group after group of people gathered around and read the articles, we were very happy. Since then, we've made truth clarification materials ourselves. We print them during the day and put them up at night. This continued for a year. Later on, some practitioners from another village discussed with us about coordination. They offered to make the materials and then we would put them up. We cover 6 to 7 villages with our truth-clarification materials. In the villages where there are no practitioners, we post more materials.

At that time the evil was rampant and Master had not yet told us about sending forth righteous thoughts. Each time before we went out, we would discuss and plan a different route together, so that the authorities could not find our pattern. We were not interfered with much. Later on, when we had a good amount of truth clarification materials, Master told us about sending forth righteous thoughts. Before taking off to post the materials, we would send righteous thoughts and then we would go in pairs to each village to distribute the materials.

Once, when one fellow practitioner and I went to hand out materials, we were identified. The man took out his cell phone to call the police. I was nervous. The fellow practitioner said: "We put up the materials to help you understand Falun Gong. It is for your benefit." I did not know what to do, but I remembered what Master said about sending forth righteous thoughts, so I held up my palm. Soon the man said: "You may leave, as I think you are good people."

After I came home I was not able to sleep. At sunrise I asked myself, "How can I be so scared like this? I dare not to make truth clarification materials any more." I then said to myself, "No, I am a Dafa disciple. I should not be afraid." On the second night, the fellow practitioner and I went to another village to distribute truth clarification materials.

During the past five years, with Master's help, we have continued with our group Fa study and sending forth righteous thoughts. No matter what the weather is, no matter if we were busy or not, we have continued posting truth clarification materials. When there was no electricity we would use candles, and we'd wear boots and carry umbrellas in the rain in order to continue putting up materials. Currently, there are four new practitioners in our village. With the help from fellow practitioners, quite a few veteran practitioners who were too frightened before have also stepped forward to help in the truth clarification.

We have not done anything special. We have just done what we should do. We are far from Master' requirements, compared with other fellow practitioners. We need to improve, especially in clarifying the truth.

Master, please rest assured. We are your disciples, and we will make up for our shortcomings and continue on the cultivation path until the day of consummation.

December 09, 2004