Floods in Chennai, India

Chennai, a densely populated city in South India over the last trhee weeks has been violently hit by floods, produced by what experts consider the most violent storms of the last hundred years.

With more than 300 dead and thousands evacuated, the town is completely on its knees, submerged by water and mud, with impassable streets, hospitals and infrastructures out of service, without electricity and with driving rain which does not look like it is going to stop soon.

Facing to so much suffering the Sri Prema Charitable Trust, which makes charity and volunteering his main Mission, could not stand by and watch. With volunteers led by its President Luigi Ferrante, a man who in the past has already led with dedication and spirit of sacrifice several humanitarian missions, the Trust has managed to bring a concrete help providing basic necessities to the local population.

There is still much to be done for the Chennai population, for thisreason the Sri Prema Charitable Trust will continue its voluntary action and a fund-raiser the proceeds of which will be sent to the President immediately and utilized for a tangible help aimed at an exhausted population.

Luigi Ferrante from Chennai – 19/12/2015

The beauty of the service…

…After listening to their dramatic story, I offered to help them…, I also found a temporary arrangement in the church, as they slept in a makeshift tent. After this meeting and while continuing to distribute aid to the hundreds of people who continued to arrive from all over, I thought of the words of the Master, “… the ideal ofservice and the inner compulsion to implement it, is the very heart filled with love. Pure love is its greatest manifestation. When you decide to do the service, go to places where you can find the poor and bring them the message of hope and strength in their hearts. Be thankful when they welcome you and give you the opportunity to serve them. No matter how many people you manage to feed, maybe ten, a hundred or a thousand, know that you gave an example of kindness and love, and by the time others will follow these deeds of love … Your happiness depends on them, be loving, proud to serve them, because the same Sai that resides in you resides in them. I will be at your side, working side by side with you and I will be proud of you. This is the prayer I like best. Through the service you prepare the way of truth and righteousness. Remember, God is the refuge of those who do not have a place to rest. Be aware that you are love in action. Awareness is life and therefore, be aware of your innate inner strength and glory … “

“…The accumulated wealth is not yours, while the riches that you have distributed will belong to you forever…”
Sai Ram
Luigi

Luigi Ferrante from Chennai – 15/12/2015

Thoughts, words and actions…

These days, with the help of the police and the intervention of God, we were able to give relief to 2,210 flooded families. Families who have lost what little they had left, the force of the water swept away everything… In the most affected area of Chennai, Saidepet and its suburbs, Madhavaram, Ottechery, Velachery, Tambaram people are grouped in makeshift accommodation or rather fortune accomodation…In these and other villages there are many people who are either too old or too weak, or with some physical defect, lame, deaf, blind or with polio that are hard to find livelihoods. Some of them also have families to look after. What they are able to scrape together is really inappropriate and especially these days that prices have soared… The only time these people can forget these thoughts and tragedy is the evening when they get together and come at our field to collect food and everything they need, cooking stoves, pots, rice, dhal, flour, oil, milk and cookies for the kids… and while we distribute, I look at their faces, their sad eyes and you feel powerless facing to so much despair…! But at the same time I realize that, with humility and ‘love, and with respect to those we serve, we can elevate the humanity of man and make him feel alive…
Thanks to all of you who support us and thanks to your love that we can give much Love.
“…Let melody and harmony rise up from your hearts, and let all reap joy and love that you express through these genuine actions of love…”

Luigi

Luigi Ferrante from Chennai – 12/12/2015

Service with Love…
So much suffering among the people, and here in Chennai, afterthe flood, desolation and sadness dominate the individual and the air we breathe …We must find out why terrible things happen in the world today. It seems that this is due to the lack of self-denial and love for oneself and for others …Only love and service strengthen the mind and intelligence, putting the individual in a position to act correctly.
“…It is the dedication to others that leads the individual to higher levels of life. You can get in touch with others only through love…”
Love is the primary factor in this process … Love is all!
Luigi