The world of Tzu Chi Jan-Feb 2022 (Vol.139)

2022 • 02 16 pecial Feature A Tzu Chi donor, 68-year-old Lee Nguan Lan, lives alone in Taman Kinrara, Puchong. When volunteers came to visit her in the morning, they found her house in a mess. The floor was stained with mud. Hence, 30 volunteers joined hands to help out. Lee used to collect items that she has bought as well as those that were discarded by others, leaving little room to move about. The volunteers assisted her to wash some clothes, followed by providing her with lunch, biscuits, bread and mineral water. Then, they started to clean the house. It was not a simple task. It took the entire afternoon to get the house cleaned and tidied. The senior citizen’s mobile phone was also damaged in the flood, and she could not recall the telephone numbers of her relatives. Thankfully, the volunteers managed to find the contact of her sister, a nun serving at an old folks’ home, through the Internet. When Lee finally got in touch with her family member, she was moved to tears. That afternoon, Lee’s sister brought along two nuns to assist in the cleaning. Her sister said, “I am thankful to Tzu Chi volunteers. If I were to help her, I would not be able to get her to part with her hoarded items. Moreover, so many of you are here. Even the heavy items are already cleaned. I am very grateful to Tzu Chi volunteers.” Grateful to Tzu Chi volunteers Translated by Yew Siew Yong Photo by Leong Chian Yee