The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.116)

2019 • 11 40 the perfect ideal of a meaningful career of selfless service: on the one hand, I would be able to fulfil my dream of serving Third World countries with my medical expertise; on the other, I anticipated the prospect of dedicating myself to Tzu Chi’s missions in Mozambique. InMarch this year, Cyclone Idai struck three East African countries, resulting in widespread destruction. News footage of the post-disaster ruins and media coverage of the timely disaster relief efforts of Tzu Chi volunteers from Mozambique stirred within me a budding urge to leave immediately for the disaster site to do my part, but practical considerations made me think twice. The disaster came at a critical time when I was close to completing my medical specialist training; I was busy with assignments and preparations for final assessments, all of which I would have to pass in order to qualify as a general practitioner. I was concerned that participating in disaster relief efforts would affect my chances of graduating successfully. But at the same time, my heart ached for the Mozambican children displaced from their homes, laying their soaked books on a patch of land to dry. In the end, I was motivated by the Master’s spirit of never hesitating to commit to virtuous deeds. I settled all remaining tasks on hand and boarded a 33-hour flight from northern Scotland, where I was based, to Beira, a hard- hit area in Mozambique. Although Beira is considered the fourth largest city in Mozambique and is home to the nation’s second largest hospital, it is a relatively underdeveloped region. Tzu Chi volunteers extended continuous post- disaster support beyond Beira to the villages of Tica and Lamego, where the living conditions were appalling. I recall participating in a student exchange programme organized by the Rotary Club over a decade ago. Through the programme, I spent seven months in India carrying out community service in rural areas. I thought the experience had exposed me to the poorest, most deprived corner of the world, but the trip to Mozambique redefined poverty for me. A true test of character On theseconddayof arrival inMozambique, the volunteers saw a child with a bloated stomach inavillage and suggested that I evaluate the child’s condition to see whether threadworm medication was necessary. I picked up my medical kit and entered the village with a local volunteer who acted as a translator. As soon as I set foot in the village, a group of children crowded around me. I was startled; almost each and every child had a bloated belly and scrawny limbs. The local hygiene conditions were worrying. The children were clad in filthy, tattered clothes, while their palms and feet were stained with mud. In theUK, doctors areblessedwith relatively comfortable working conditions. We have a steady supply of patients by appointment and a lobal Presence Disaster victims who were displaced from their homes were housed in temporary shelters where a clean supply of water is scarce. [Photograph by Hsiao Yiu-hwa]