The world of Tzu Chi February 2021(Vol.131)

2021 • 02 40 Everyone needs care and blessings Thanks to the volunteers’ care, Soh Sin Fook felt love in the world. He expressed his intention to help the needy and participate in Tzu Chi’s activities. By Tan Kim Hion Translated by Jilly Bong Photograph by Yong Mun Fei “W hy Tzu Chi volunteers did not drop by my place to offer their blessings?” Sixty-eight-year-old Soh Sin Fook could not help but wonder why the Tzu Chi volunteers skipped his house and went to distribute blessing packages to residents on the other row of houses. Just as he sadly returned to his house, another few volunteers appeared at his door and greeted him warmly. Overjoyed, he said chokingly, “I thought you all have forgotten me and that I won’t get your blessings.” Upon realizing the misunderstanding, volunteer Chew Peng hurriedly clarified that the volunteers were divided into 27 sub- teams, with each assigned a specific route and affected families to care for. Only then Sin Fook’s doubt was cleared. He accepted the blessing package with tears in his eyes. When volunteers tried to console him, thinking that he was sad over the damages to his home, he explained that they were actually tears of joy. About six weeks ago, both his mini market and hardware shop were razed by fire. He was devastated not only by the incident, but also the fact that some people took his goods away from the ruins. He felt both natural disaster and humanity were merciless to him. Now, his house was submerged in water. Looking at the house full of mud and damaged furniture post-flood, he did not think anyone would come to his aid. “To my surprise, on January 6, a few people clad in their uniforms came to help shovel the mud. Even when it started to rain, they put on raincoats and continued their work. There was a girl among them. They did not stop for a few hours until the mud was fully cleared…” Despite feeling the warmth in his heart, Sin Fook did not know where they were coming from. He only realized that they were Tzu Chi volunteers from a friend later. Sin Fook shared that the volunteers’ initiatives have convinced him that there is love in the world. Pulling out the bamboo coin bank from the blessing package, he expressed his intention to save in the coin bank for charitable causes and participate in Tzu Chi’s activities, to reach out to the needy along with the volunteers. pecial Feature