The world of Tzu Chi (Vol.107)

TZU CHI 107 47 Volunteers, David Raj (right) and his family decorating the Christmas tree together. one for his family using a chopped down little tree. Then, when their children grew up and requested for a Christmas tree, David decided to make their dream a reality. He saved up to purchase a purple Christmas tree. However, it was damaged two years ago and the year after, David was paralysed. Since then, the family has been celebrating Christmas without a Christmas tree. Knowing that David enjoys decorating a Christmas tree and that a Christmas tree carries significant meanings to her family, Pushpam voiced her wish to the volunteers. Eager to grant Pushpam her wish, Sock Peng requested the volunteers at the Tzu Chi Ayer Keroh Recycling- cum-Educational Centre to be on the lookout for a Christmas tree. However, there was none by the end of November. Then in a conversation with her husband, Wong Fok Nyin, who is also a Tzu Chi volunteer, Sock Peng mentioned about Pushpam’s wish and her husband suggested that the volunteers could share the cost of a tree if it was within budget. Sock Peng was very pleased with this idea and they, together with a few other volunteers, bought a Christmas tree for the family. A volunteer also sponsored fairy lights for the tree. When Sock Peng’s colleagues learnt about it, they too, chipped in the kind act by buying Christmas gifts for the family of five. When all were ready, Sock Peng rang Pushpam to convey the good news and invited the family to decorate the Christmas tree together. “I was just asking casually and did not expect it to come true!” exclaimed a delighted Pushpam. Reigniting hope and love The day came for the volunteers and David’s family to decorate the Christmas tree. Everyone was excited but did not know what to do with the decorations. David then advised everyone to wrap the tree with fairy lights before putting on the decorations. It was a delightful experience when the tree was lit up amidst Christmas carols in the background. Pushpam recollected that there was a year that David stayed up the entire night to decorate the whole house with fairy lights so that he could surprise the family in the morning. This year (2018), the same feeling returned to the family. Now that David is able to move and even decorate the tree, they can go to church together. Volunteers then presented to each family member a Christmas gift, while Sock Peng presented the family with a handmade Christmas card made by her daughter. Then everyone