Notes From A Canadian’s Truth Clarification Journey in Eastern Europe

December 22, 2001

Preparations: packing and rearranging materials for trips to Sarajevo, Bosnia and Lujbljana, Slovenia. Thinking about how our practitioners are doing in China- a solemn day. Last minute phone calls to Sarajevo to make arrangements for introduction classes. It's surprising and yet not so surprising how people are just waiting for the Fa [principles of Falun Gong] to come to them- waiting so positively.

December 23, 2001

We stayed up until 3 or 4am preparing and left at 6am to go to the airport early enough to meet with the third practitioner. We missed the plane flight. It could be because we pursued our comfort to stop for coffee. Next time we will focus only on our trip. We took it as an opportunity to give out Chinese books and fliers at the airport. Our Chinese practitioner was so surprised to see all the Chinese at the airport. She coached me to say in Chinese that I feel sad I can't say more but I thank them for their culture of Falun Dafa.

December 25, 2001
The centre town of Ljubljana in Slovenia is like a fairyland. At this time coloured Christmas lights decorated the trees in the parks everywhere. We exercised in the centre of a cobblestone square in front of a statue. Later we changed location and exercised on a busy cobblestone walkway so that many people came and took fliers. It was so bitterly cold yet they came to take the information. We searched out the Chinese restaurants. Two were closed but the third lady was very happy to receive a book. She wanted us to stay and talk about China but we had to leave for a meeting elsewhere.

December 26 2001

We were on our way to Sarajevo, Bosnia. We had met an Iranian man earlier on our journey who had taken an interest in Falun Gong. The Iranian man said the sun never shines in Sarajevo. I told him that Falun Dafa always brings the sun and yes there was a brilliant sun shining as we landed in Sarajevo. We went to meet another practitioner who was waiting for us. She had come from Sweden.

December 27 2001

Three of us Chinese, Swedish and Canadian took a taxi and delivered SOS letters to at least 12 top officials and the Canadian Ambassador in Sarajevo, Bosnia. Our taxi driver stayed with us all morning as we went from address to address. He said that he had read our materials and what we were doing was very good and he would support us right to the end. We met an Austrian practitioner and walked up and down the streets handing out fliers. It snowed all day. I had left my warm hat and gloves in the taxi but even though my hands felt frozen now and then I was amazed how little the cold affected me as I watched the happy faces who took the fliers.

Everyone in Sarajevo smiles when they see the Falun Dafa Truth Walk banner. We even had pictures taken this time. As we handed out fliers everyone first looked at what it was and their face softened and they took one. A few wanted to take classes right away. We went to a Chinese restaurant for tea. It was run by Malaysian people. They were happy to hear about Falun Dafa and took a few fliers for friends.

As we exercised on Friday in a park at a central square in full sun and snow, a squad of 4 policemen and one serious businessman came and told us we must stop because we needed permission to be there. This spot was under their jurisdiction and certain proceedures were required. Our compassion was aroused and we felt it was a great opportunity to let others in the police departments know about Falun Dafa. One officer behind a counter said if we get permission for 4 to practise he will come and be the 5th to learn the exercises. We were sent from one official to another in different buildings and different offices. Everyone got the chance to learn about how good Falun Dafa is. It was time for our Chinese practitioner to go back to Vienna. We went to a Chinese restaurant. The Chinese lady there was so cheerful to us and accepted our Falun Dafa fliers.
That evening 9 ladies came to learn the exercises. For 3 1/2 hours they practised and we were
so moved that they were so interested. They made plans to come the next morning at 11 am to repeat the class.

December 29,2001

The man at the hotel where we were living was shocked to learn of the persecution of Falun Gong. How come I didn't know about it? he asked. We said that's why we're here to tell you. He had lived in Sweden and spoke Swedish. The man at the desk had finished reading Falun Gong and had a few questions. The Swedish practitioner answered them all. The man said he knew this book for hundreds of years and was very surprised that a Chinese man wrote it because the information could only be known by Westerners.

Someone said I shouldn't have come there to change their government but should have stayed home to change the Canadian government who still makes war machines and bombs. I smiled and said I was there to offer Falun Dafa peacefulness for the people and not to get involved with any government because Falun Dafa is not political.

December 30. 2001

We arrived in Ljubljana, Slovenia and the lady that we met last time was very eager to have us stay with her. She prepared a delicious dinner and her 2 sons and their friends listened to the stories about the Falun Dafa Truth Walk and immediately wanted to learn the exercises. They did them with ease. They wouldn't go on until every one of them did the double lotus [one leg on top of the other in sitting position] for the 5th exercise. Two of them had no problem and the other 2 just kept trying until they too did it. They liked all the pictures and were disturbed about the torture going on in China. They said they hope China doesn't kill me too and I told them I too hope China doesn't kill me. One of them played guitar and sang for me. It was very touching. They took fliers and pictures home and promised to return for more exercises in the morning.

December 31, 2001

3 practitioners, 1 from Austria, 1 from Sweden and 1 from Canada awakened in a kind lady's apartment in Ljubljana, Slovenia to show the exercises to the young boys from yesterday. Then the lady drove us to deliver letters to the President, and important members of the church and we will get one to the Minister of Foreign affairs tomorrow.

A Canadian Practitioner