In preparation for the 2024 New Year Gala, the fairies of the Thai Home started practicing dances a month ago to get ready for the event. Having lived in the community for 14 days, Lanka needed to temporarily leave the community on the 7th of this month to attend to secular matters. To enrich Lanka's experience of community life and culture, we decided to hold the gala on the morning of the 7th. In the two days leading up to the event, besides preparing performances, everyone collectively worked efficiently to fertilize several hundred seedlings in the Orchards Hui Guang and Lanka also completed the framework for the composting toilet in the Mango Orchard.
Abbot,knowing about our New Year celebration, specially drove to deliver pizzas and various snacks the day before, offering his congratulations in Chinese he had just learned, which touched us with its lovely tones and made us both laugh and feel moved.
The gala was hosted by Jiao E, who began by leading everyone in a prayer, expressing gratitude to the Greatest Creator, the guide, the community, and all brothers and sisters.
Thirteen community members presented a total of 28 wonderful performances. Brothers and sisters sang and danced, blossoming like flowers, and their enthusiasm lasted for four hours. Whether it was backstage preparation or on-stage performance, the seamless coordination and joy were evident. Yu Lin got up at four in the morning to do everyone's hair, Qu Dan hung lanterns, Yang Le was the sound engineer, Hui Guang prepared props and printed texts, and he also made a delicious breakfast for everyone in the morning. Ya Qian was the photographer throughout, Hui Guang shot the entire video, Bai Chuan, Yi Xian, Jie Jing, and others took random shots, and Qian Zi served as Lanka's translator. Jiao E hosted the event, eloquently expressing love and beauty, immersing the entire gala in the artistic and joyful atmosphere of the celestial culture.
The gala concluded successfully, with everyone holding hands to make wishes and sharing their beautiful New Year's resolutions. Lanka expressed his wish that a property could be bought in Canada, and he hoped for the emergence of new branches in other places. Lanka also shared his feelings after experiencing 14 days in the community, He had been following the community online before and finally got to experience real community life this time, which turned out to be even better than he had imagined. In gratitude for this experience, he expressed his thanks to us and apologized for any shortcomings during his stay. In reality, it was his first time working on a farm, and he approached the tasks with dedication, diligence, and a considerate and polite manner. We all felt that he did an excellent job, and Jiao E mentioned that he is a born community member.
In the afternoon, everyone bid farewell to Lanka with hugs, reluctant to part but looking forward to a reunion in the near future.
2024-2-8
