UNDER THE STAR IN SRI LANKA

Star Link reader, Elizabeth Vicary, writes about her work with the charity Star Action, spreading the Star Light in Sri Lanka

Star Action is a small charity, quite separate from the White Eagle Lodge, set up by Jenny Dent after the tsunami to bring aid and support to suffering families in Sri Lanka. (It has expanded since that time).The work is strongly under the Star and the focus is on helping people to live independently and support their families. Four supports joined Jenny and Stuart for a two week tour in February, dividing time between meditation in the Little Temple for World Peace near Negombo, enjoying visits to some of the cultural and historical centres of Sri Lanka, and visiting Star Action projects and others in need of help.

At all times we focussed on the star, tuning in wherever we were at "the magical hours" and feeling the light and love from the star blessing us and all those we met. The Little Temple has become a powerful "lighthouse" and a magical place for tuning in to the great angel of Peace to bring love and harmony to this beautiful country. We felt so strongly that this temple has a vital role to play in the healing of Asia and felt a strong link also with Africa. To sit in the temple, gazing out to sea as the sun sets is specially memorable.

Our holiday tour took us to the tea-growing hill country of Nuwara Eliya; to magnificent Buddhist temples in Colombo; to the ancient rock fortress at Sigiriya, and to the Buddha rock caves at Dambulla - these last two being wonderful inspiration for meditation. A special visit was made to the Elephant Orphanage at Pinnawela -wonderful animals with very individual personalities and revered in Sri Lanka.

Visiting Star Action projects meant driving to the east coast through various checkpoints (because of LTTE activity) but we felt totally protected in the star and knew we were meant to go. We met those who are already benefitting from Star Action funding: ladies with sewing machines, shopkeepers, divers, fishermen who are now able to earn a living. They gradually repay their loans to recycle the blessings! All this is under the kind and watchful guidance of our agent, Upali Perera, whose home is the heart and soul of the community. We saw schools which Star Action has helped and will help further: school bags for all; sponsorship for gifted pupils; help to set up craft workshops, and much more.

We were taken on a mystery tour on the west coast to visit a school without its own water supply or toilets; divers and fishermen living in considerable poverty; a family in desperate need of a new roof; and the biggest surprise of all: a family living in a temporary shack among palm trees where mother has given birth to girl triplets (almost unheard of there) who are now 3 months old. The couple have two other daughters but father earns less in a day than the cost of the baby milk. A lovely little family who will receive some assistance from Star Action. It was a very moving day.

The star is very powerful and we hold all these people in its protective, loving light; and will do what we can to help. It was a profoundly affecting but very happy and harmonious tour. Star Action is really Love in Action.

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A Star Thought from White Eagle…

"If we can think of ourselves us being composed of countless millions of tiny six-pointed stars, we come to realise our own power, not exactly our own - but of the power of God within our individual form."

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