The world of Tzu Chi March 2021 (Vol.132)

2021 • 03 48 lobal Presence “Those are the poorest places. We can’t not go.” Kolkata is large, and some remote areas can only be reached by boat. The villagers understand the nuns’ compassion for the poor, so they voluntarily give up their seats to allow the nuns to bring supplies across the river. The supplies are then unloaded onto carts that the villagers physically drag to the distribution point. Whatever the nuns have, they share them with the sick and helpless, not leaving much for themselves. Although they wear protective equipment and are careful while distributing supplies, twelve nuns were suspected to have contracted the coronavirus, and two of them passed away. Their fellow nuns said that the two sisters did not leave this world with regret, and they would continue to pray for everyone in Heaven. The Abbess of the Missionaries of Charity said that Tzu Chi was the first non- Catholic organization to assist them when help was most needed. Although the transportation of supplies was fraught with difficulties, everyone worked together to overcome those challenges. The missionaries believed that Tzu Chi was an angel sent by God, that the Master and Mother Teresa are significant religious figures of today, illuminating the darkness in the hearts of those who suffer. It reminded me of the words of Father Baby Ellickal of the Camillians: “The Master and Tzu Chi’s love light a lamp in the darkness for the poor people of India. Every time supplies were distributed, one could see the suffering in its numerous forms: the lonely and the old, the widows who were left to support their families and raise their children single- handedly, and the untouchables who struggled for food. I hope that inter-faith cooperation will continue. Not only in the name of God, but also that of the Buddha and Tzu Chi, we bring love to people in need because we respect life and believe in the phrase ‘All for one and one for all’.” The pandemic has placed the world under lockdown. The Master said that Tzu Chi has not reached some countries and thus cannot contribute directly in those places, but it must find ways to contact humanitarian groups or medical organizations it had worked with in the past. Therefore, through the French organization Médecins du Monde (Doctors of the World), Tzu Chi sent supplies to 26 countries including South Sudan, Benin, Iraq and Madagascar. As Thai and Malaysian Tzu Chi volunteers have an established working collaboration with the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), it helped to establish channels of love for the relief effort too. There is no distinction between “you” and “I” as people of various spiritual faith assist one another during this critical period. To do good, you will inevitably face challenges. Although we were mentally prepared, we still encountered many difficulties in sourcing and transportation. However, because we knew that those who had it the hardest were the poor, so we gave it our all. Tzu Chi expects to provide food that will last half a year to the poor in India. However, the Master has instructed that as long as the pandemic persists, affecting more and more middle- and lower-class families, our relief efforts will not stop. It is our sincere wish that donations from caring people worldwide, which accumulate drop by drop into a sea of merit, will help the poorest people survive in the direst situations!