The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.115).

2019 • 10 18 eature document the details of each care recipient. He has compiled the records of almost 500 care recipients. The elderly occupy a large proportion of care recipients in Taitung. Hence, Tian-ding would constantly advise the commissioners to be mindful in evaluating a care recipient and to handle cases with care. In other words, one should avoid adopting a care recipient on awhim and hastily concluding a case mere months later. Rather, due caution should be exercised in deciding whether to discontinue the provision of aid to a particular care recipient, even if he or she no longer seems to require assistance. The reasons for discontinuing aid should be the outcome of thorough consideration. Upon arriving at a care recipient’s house, Tian-ding and our fellow volunteers would enter the house to survey the care recipient’s living conditions – a fitting indicator of which was the amount of food supplies stocked around the house. Tian-ding would initiate a casual conversation with the care recipient, with the aim of easing him or her into disclosing his or her current circumstances. Following Tian-ding’s retirement, we realized that the ageing process started taking a toll on us, compelling us to hand over the care recipients under our supervision to other volunteers. Nevertheless, he remained ever willing to share his experience and knowledge, as well as take queries from other volunteers and provide solutions or suggestions. I have led a relatively smooth-sailing life. Yet, I have hadmy share of trials and tribulations too. I am grateful to Tzu Chi for offering solace to me and my family. Tian-ding and I joined Tzu Chi as volunteers together, but he was even more dedicated to Tzu Chi’s work than I was. I have also learnt much from him. I am now over 90 years old. My health has declined considerably after sustaining a fall several years ago, but I am pleased that my children have taken over the mantle. My son, Shou-rong,wasTzuChi’spioneer volunteer in the Chiayi region. Now that the younger generation is rising to the challenge of undertaking Tzu Chi’s charity work, I have no regrets. Wang Tian-ding and Huang Yu-nu, along with their second eldest son, Wang Shou-rong and daughter- in-law, Yan Yu-zhen are notable figures in Tzu Chi’s history in Taitung. [Photograph by Ruan Yi-zhong] Note: Principal Wang Tian-ding passed away in 2017 at the age of 95.