Ms. Diana Chontos - Acknowledging the Creator of an Animal Heaven

On March 2, Golden Year 5 (2008), fellow initiates from the Fresno Center, California, USA presented a Shining World Compassion Award to Ms. Diana Chontos, founder of the Wild Burro Rescue Sanctuary in Olancha, California, on behalf of Master and our Association.

In 1991, upon learning that the government was planning to destroy the wild camels in the area of Death Valley because it was thought they would use water designated for human and livestock consumption, Ms. Chontos immediately took action. Out of compassion for the animals, she raised funds, enlisted volunteers and hired professional caretakers to rescue all the wild camels in the vicinity, as well the wild dogs and old, weak wild horses.(Please refer to News magazine#193 for detailed story.)

After traveling for over five hours on curving mountain roads, the initiates arrived at the 20-acre Sanctuary and were warmly greeted by Ms. Chontos and her eight surprisingly gentle adopted wild dogs. The animals did not bark at their guests, but instead happily welcomed them by wagging their tails. Ms. Chontos was then presented with the Shining World Compassion Award, a gift of US$5,000 from Master and Master's DVDs, CDs and books. Filled with emotion and happiness, Ms. Chontos expressed her deepest gratitude to Master. During the conversation, the initiates learned that Ms. Chontos, her staff and their gentle wild dogs are all vegetarians, and their compassionate qualities are no doubt reinforced by their vegetarian diet.

The visit ended with a cozy dinner the initiates had prepared in advance. During the meal, Ms. Chontos and her staff said that they had been vegetarians for a long time, but this was one of their best meals ever. Although simple, the food was tasty and full of God's love and mercy. May God continue to bless the Wild Burro Rescue Sanctuary, a wonderful animal heaven created by Ms. Chontos and her team.