The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.114).

TZU CHI 114 43 mother tongue, the Kenyah language, reminds Aunt Rose of home and is always a pleasant surprise, as the number of Kenyah speakers is in decline. The close friendship betweenAunt Rose and volunteer Yiap Choo Boi, 70, is testament to the power of a shared language in forging connections. Choo Boi, who learnt the language from her Kenyah friends at a young age, hit it off withAunt Rose when they first met, breaking into traditional folk tunes on a whim. On September 30, 2018, Ming Mei and Wee Yong drove Aunt Rose to the Christian cemetery where Ajang was laid to rest. She had only visited him once in the two years since his funeral. The volunteers initially planned to ferry Aunt Rose to Ajang’s grave on her wheelchair, but a damaged segment of the road obstructed their path. Once Aunt Rose made the crawl to Ajang’s resting place, she could no longer conceal her grief and broke down in sobs. Her tenacious and amiable persona seemed to melt away as her vulnerable side took over, letting her guard down on the trials and tribulations she endured alone all these years. “I’m finally here to see you, with my friends from Tzu Chi. Leave all your worldly cares behind and don’t worry about me. Just follow God’s path to heaven,” Aunt Rose confided tenderly to her beloved. The volunteers were deeply moved by Aunt Rose’s longing for Ajang to stay by her side through thick and thin. Aunt Rose continues to be an inspiration to the volunteers, as Ming Mei testified, “Aunt Rose moves around on all fours, yet she exudes optimism with her head held high. She is a rose that blooms despite the odds.” Aunt Rose visited her late husband’s grave in the company of several volunteers to honour his memory. Watch the video at: