The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.115).

TZU CHI 115 47 Siew Hwa is able to empathize more deeply with the care recipient after having undergone a life-changing blow herself. Siew Hwa’s flexible work schedule enables her to dedicate more time to Tzu Chi. In 2017, she enrolled in the volunteer training course, in addition to assuming leadership roles in her community and various Tzu Chi divisions. She is grateful to Tzu Chi for granting her opportunities to serve the community and practise the teachings of the Dharma. The lingering impact of a life-changing event compelled Siew Hwa to participate in home visits. She is thankful to Lay Heong for encouraging her to step out of her comfort zone and open her eyes to the suffering of others, allowing her to truly appreciate the creature comforts she is blessed with. Care recipient Leong Teik Hong, who is diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, left a lasting impression on Siew Hwa as he radiated optimism that belies his debilitating disease. When Siew Hwa first met Teik Hong, the latter teased that she bears a resemblance to a celebrity. The volunteers were tickled by his remark. “I’ve always expected the volunteers to be the ones bringing joy to the care recipients, but Teik Hong showed me otherwise. I’ve learnt a lot from him,” she professed. Serving on the committee of the charity division gave Siew Hwa ample learning opportunities, including preparing applications for various welfare benefits and compensation claims for a care recipient, as well as evaluating the eligibility of a care recipient to qualify for care. “Mee Hong would remind me not to stretch myself too thin, lest I exhaust myself too soon and give up on Tzu Chi,” she offered. Composing home visit reports is familiar territory to Siew Hwa as she used to assist her husband with office paperwork, making her the ideal candidate to accompany elderly volunteers on home visits. Furthermore, she would offer to fetch the elderly volunteers in her car and assist them in bureaucratic processes when dealing with government agencies as she is conversant in the Malay language. Siew Hwa lives a fulfilling life packed with Tzu Chi activities. She believes in taking a step back and viewing life from a different perspective when faced with challenges. Therefore, admitting defeat is not an option for her whenever she encounters a stumbling block on her Tzu Chi journey. She remains steadfast in her conviction to serve Tzu Chi’s cause and progress on the Bodhisattva Path. Siew Hwa has emerged from the trials and tribulations with renewed strength to move on. She is ever grateful to have found a sense of belonging in her Tzu Chi family – her spiritual anchor on the turbulent seas of life.