The world of Tzu Chi October 2020 (Vol.127)

TZU CHI 127 33 with the hope that they could acquire the right knowledge and right view, to be able to face life enthusiastically. The vocational training for the Great Love Farm and Sewing Class is to teach volunteers skills so that they can be self- reliant. Taking good care of body and mind, and livelihood, are equally emphasized to enable these Mozambican volunteers to walk on the path of transforming their lives. In a journey that was full of dedication, extraordinary efforts, sweat and love, emotion abounds and there can be no shortage of tears. However, to witness the volunteers removing their past bad habits and trauma along the way, for Denise, it is already the biggest gain and a wonderful real-life experience of serving among the masses. Step-by-step, in less than ten years, Denise took the local volunteers from a courtyard setting to the eventual establishment of the Tzu Chi Mozambique office. Spreading from a humble beginning of one community to 28 communities, then to over a hundred of villages; from husband and wife to more than 4,000 local volunteers, this result was achieved due to mindful and relentless cultivation. Denise said, “Doing Tzu Chi’s work in Mozambique is like a sparrow fetching water to save a huge fire. People may think that we’re stupid, but we soldiered on with confidence, with direction, and with hope. Precisely for the reason that it’s exceptionally rare to be born as a human, to have the opportunity to comprehend the Dharma, and to meet a good and wise teacher, we must not slack off in our execution. Only then we can purify the mind and transform Africa.” The “Tzu Chi home” is where the Mozambican volunteers converge for community services. Besides, fellowship- cum-spiritual cultivation session is held weekly, and volunteers from different groups will attend as per scheduled. [Photograph by Lin Wei-yang] Transforming Africa With Love