(Minghui.org) Our town is located between the city and the countryside. We have a main market that is particularly popular with residents from both areas.
After the persecution of Falun Dafa began in 1999, practitioners began to hang banners, distribute flyers, and talk to people in the markets about the truth behind the persecution and convince them to withdraw their memberships in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
In the past two years, local practitioners have also distributed copies of the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party, as well as journals, calendars, and DVDs with information about Dafa and the persecution.
At first, people were not receptive and would not accept our materials. Some shoppers even reported us to the authorities. Over time, attitudes in the market changed, and many even helped and protected us. The following are accounts of some of our experiences.
We go to the main market and nearby towns and villages every day regardless of the weather. So many people have come to know us. We saw one particular fellow repeatedly. We had clarified the truth to him and given him brochures many times. He said, “I appreciate you. You are all good people.”
He would often help us distribute desk calendars and persuade people to withdraw from the CCP. He often yelled out, “Falun Dafa is good! Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good!”
When he saw us one day, he exclaimed, “Finally, I found you!”
He was out of desk calendars and wanted more. I had only a few left myself and did not want to give them up. But he pleaded anxiously, “I promised many people I would bring them a calendar. I don’t want to let them down.” I relented and gave him the few I had.
We asked an older gentleman selling vegetables if he had ever read the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party. He said he reads it often. He told us that he had a heart problem and noticed the more he read the Nine Commentaries, the better he felt. Since then, whenever I talk to people, I often tell them this man's real-life experience. Many people accept our information and agree to withdraw from the CCP and its youth organizations.
There is a couple from the northern region who sell baked sweet potatoes at the main market all year long. The woman is very talkative, so I decided to chat with her about Falun Dafa. She scorned me and began to repeat slander she had heard on state-run television about Falun Dafa. I knew she had a deep misunderstanding and told her that the information she saw on the television was propaganda. She would not listen to anything I said, however.
For many months, I did not want to speak to her again. One day, I noticed that no one was at her booth and walked over to talk. She was calm and pleasant as if she had completely forgotten our previous encounter. We talked about Falun Dafa, and she was eager to withdraw from the Young Pioneers (a CCP-affiliated organization). Her husband had never joined any CCP organizations, and he agreed with what I said. Now she cheerfully says hello to me whenever she sees me and will even ask for journals to display in her booth and give to customers.
I saw an elderly lady selling vegetables at the market. I could tell from her face that she had suffered much in life. The practitioner I was with started telling her about Falun Dafa, and she gladly withdrew from the CCP. When the practitioner gave her a pendant inscribed with a phrase about Falun Dafa, her worn face blossomed with a smile.
Then she opened up and told us about her life. Her home was in a mountain village far away. Her father was the head of the village, and she was the director. She was later sold by human traffickers to the locals here. She has never returned to her home or encountered goodness in her life until she met us.
One cold day, when there were not many people in the market, I saw an elderly man selling corn. I went over and chatted with him. He said he lived in a village five miles away and walked to the market to sell his corn. I told him about the goodness of Dafa, and he listened attentively. He told me he could read, so I gave him two journals, which he carefully wrapped and put in his corn bag. I saw him leave the market when we did and realized that he had traveled a long distance on this cold day to hear the truth!
With Dafa disciples’ persistently clarifying the facts over the years, more and more people have understood the truth and chosen a better future for themselves. Some people say to us, “I am a Falun Dafa supporter.” Some say, “In the future, this society must follow your path.” We've also heard, “Can you talk to my family? They don't know the truth yet.” There are still many people, unfortunately, who have not yet been told the truth. Regardless of the length of time and the changes in the environment, we will continue to let people know that “Falun Dafa is good!”