Christmas is one of the most important and joyful holidays in western society. As Christmas was quickly approaching, the people of Moscow became busy preparing food and presents and decorating their homes. Regardless of age, people all enjoyed the fun. In the noise and excitement, there was a group of people who celebrated the holiday in a rather unique way. They came from various backgrounds and walks of life, including professors, engineers, musicians, business owners, homemakers and students, and they all cherished one identity: Falun Gong practitioners.

Practitioners hold group study during the Christmas holidays

Practicing the Falun Gong exercises

Meditation

"This is what I want to do most"

One practitioner was a young man employed by the Environmental Protection Agency of Moscow. He said that practicing Falun Gong made him energetic. His face was always glowing with health. Using the money saved from his modest income, he had a professional printing company print a set of exquisite greeting cards. On the cards was the sentence he wanted to say most, "Falun Gong has been recognized by the entire world as the best meditation method for improving the health of body and mind." He distributed five thousand cards to fellow practitioners, citizens of Moscow, and the Chinese people. Knowing that he would need to live on the limited income, fellow practitioners offered to share the printing costs. The young man said in an earnest manner, "No thanks. This is what I want to do most."

Delivering the Most Precious Gifts to the Chinese People

Another practitioner is an engineer who has been involved in engineering design for a long time. Practicing Falun Gong has brought about tremendous physical and mental changes to him. In addition to going to work every day, he needs to take care of his elderly, illness-stricken mother. He deeply remembers Master's request to the practitioners, grasping the time to save the precious Chinese people. During recent years, along with another young practitioner, he has persevered in distributing leaflets on the international trains that run between Moscow and Beijing.

It was 9:30 in the evening on December 29, the busiest time when people were shopping for the New Year, by the time this practitioner left the Falun Gong exercise practice site. In his backpack he carried a bundle of leaflets. He rushed to the train station as he didn't want to miss the opportunity of giving these precious gifts to the Chinese people, who are on their way home for the New Year. It was truly an extraordinary opportunity. Soon after he stood at the train station, people began to ask for leaflets from him. A whole bundle was completely given away in a short time. He felt very grateful and gratified. He was grateful to Master for giving him the precious opportunity to save the world's people. He was gratified to see the changes and awakening of the Chinese people.

Mrs. Xu is an older woman who graduated from the Department of Geology of Qinghua University fifty years ago. After graduation, she came to Moscow for advanced study. She married a Russian, who is now an academic in Russia's Academy of Sciences, and she has many children and grandchildren. Mrs. Xu was introduced to Falun Gong by a former classmate who lives in the U.S. Not until 2003, did Mrs. Xu find a practice site in Moscow. However, she cherished Falun Gong very much and was very persistent in promoting Falun Gong and clarifying the truth. She has been very diligent in exposing the persecution to the Chinese people. Utilizing the convenience granted by her status and her ability to speak Mandarin, Mrs. Xu frequently distributes leaflets in markets, schools and train stations.

On January 2, 2006, Mrs. Xu went to the train station alone. She distributed Falun Gong leaflets to the passengers on an international train between Moscow and Beijing through Erenhot (a city in China located at the border with Mongolia). The train arrived in Moscow at 2 o'clock in the afternoon from Beijing, and was scheduled to set off for the return trip at 8 o'clock in the evening. Mrs. Xu stayed at the train station during the six-hour time span, distributing leaflets to the Chinese passengers and other passers-by. She said, "There are more and more people who are willing to accept the leaflets. Many of them said thank you to me. Some of them even said, 'Falun Gong is good!' The only regretful thing is that the train conductors from China did not dare to take the materials. I feel very sorry for them."

A Gathering for Group Study and Experience Sharing

While most people were still celebrating the holidays, Falun Gong practitioners in Moscow organized a gathering for group study and sharing practice experiences. It was enthusiastically attended. More than a dozen practitioners exchanged their practice experiences obtained over the past year. They also offered suggestions and measures of overcoming laziness, calming the mind, perseverance with exposing the persecution and intensifying their efforts in saving the world's people. Practitioners said, "Russian practitioners will live up to Master's great expectations. We will do the three things well so that more people can be saved. We will walk well and righteously our every step on the journey of our practice."

On Saturday, January 7, 2006, Finnish practitioners arrived at the pedestrian precinct of downtown Kouvola, a city located in eastern Finland, to promote Falun Gong and clarify the truth. They hoped to bring the wonderfulness of Falun Gong to the people of Kouvola, and to expose the brutal persecution that the Chinese Communist regime has carried out against Falun Gong practitioners over the past six years. The practitioners called upon the general public to help end the persecution.

People enthusiastically sign their names to support the anti-persecution petition

Although it was in the middle of the harsh winter and everything was covered by ice and snow, the sunshine at noon on this particular day was extraordinarily bright, and there was a constant flow of pedestrians in the precinct. Upon seeing the information boards about the truth of Falun Gong, many people stopped to read. A lot of them accepted the truth-clarification materials from the practitioners, and started reading them right away. Some of them walked directly towards the table to sign their names to support the anti-torture petition.

People show concern

A young practitioner hands out truth clarification materials

Two girls were shocked by the brutality of the photos, and they asked who the victims were. After practitioners explained to them that the victims were Falun Gong practitioners cruelly tortured by the police in China, they questioned, "How could this have happened?" After browsing through all of the information boards and gaining a deeper understanding about the situation, they said, "We are not eighteen yet. Can we sign our names?" Practitioners replied, "Yes, of course." They immediately signed their names.

An elderly woman listened to the conversation between the practitioners and the two girls. She commented, "It is truly unimaginable that such things are still happening today!" She also carefully looked at all of the photos and informational materials, and asked for various kinds of truth clarification materials.

This elderly woman shows concern over the persecution

A young girl signs her name to support anti-persecution efforts

The largest local newspaper dispatched two staff members to interview the practitioners and photograph the group exercise demonstration. They read the information boards earnestly as well.

Many people were attracted by the exhibit. They were enthusiastic in signing their names to support the anti-persecution petition. People inquired as to whether there were any local practice sites in Kouvola, and also questioned why the media in Finland failed to provide news coverage about the persecution.

The practitioners also gathered together to exchange their experiences shortly before the activities were wrapped up. They concluded that a practice site should be established in Kouvola as soon as possible, to meet the needs of the public in learning Falun Gong.