Dear Buddhist Town property owners, members, and friends, greetings!

Since July, we have been actively communicating with government agencies on several construction bottlenecks, especially regarding onsite wastewater treatment and the widening of Lemon Street. While our design plans have received warm affirmation, this project is unprecedented, and in a small Christian town, it’s inevitable that a Buddhist project would raise questions. Although the new City Engineer is unfamiliar with our project, her proactive attitude toward solving problems is refreshing. 

Fortunately, the support of our two new advisors—both former city council members and mayors who strongly back our project—has helped us gain the confidence of City Council members and staff. Through their efforts, several innovative solutions are currently being proposed, going beyond the scope of a typical project. These include negotiating with the Victorville Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority to solve the wastewater treatment issue and proposing shuttle buses to connect with the future high-speed rail station to alleviate concerns about traffic. While these non-traditional solutions come with many uncertainties, we will move forward step by step with unwavering faith, as we have done all along, looking for breakthroughs soon.

The cultivation of the Lotus Pond has been quite frustrating, with new sprouts frequently becoming a feast for ducks and geese! Last year, we decided to change our strategy by planting them along the shore temporarily for them to get established first, then gradually inching them toward the center of the lake. Fortunately, the lotus plants along the shore have flourished this summer. So, on August 18th, we conducted a lotus dividing and repotting activity. Much to the volunteers’ excitement, we nearly doubled the number of plants! 

The task isn’t difficult; once you grasp the key factors, it’s rather easy and fun to do. First, we lay down 10-gallon flexible fabric pots, fill the pots with clay, which doesn’t disperse in water and can fully provide nutrients to the lotus roots, and mix in fertilizer. Next, we take the existing lotus pots out of the pond, separate the roots into 2-3 individual plants, and replant them in new pots. Finally, we place the new pots back in shallow water. That’s it! Next June, we’ll repeat the process of repotting earlier, and the Lotus Pond will gradually come in shape!

To provide an opportunity for those interested in volunteering and engaging in future operations, the Event Committee is planning a gathering at Holy Heavenly Lake on October 26th and 27th. This event will combine Wiser-ball, camping, stargazing, outdoor vegetarian BBQ, lakeside cleanup, as well as discussing and obtaining feedback to jointly plan next year’s activities. This is our first experiment with an overnight camping and stargazing event, but it will have to depend on weather conditions.

We will also be giving away to our volunteers the 2025 Holy Heavenly Lake desk calendar, which features stunning seasonal lake views from past years. We welcome your enthusiastic participation and suggestions for this event!