The world of Tzu Chi Nov-Dec 2022 (Vol.144)

2022 • 12 42 my hand to her cheek and said, “We, Tzu Chi volunteers, are here. We are here for you.” Sharada reached up to touch my hand, then said to Brother Jupiter, who was interpreting for us, “This hand is so soft.” Her hand soon moved to the bracelet of Buddhist prayer beads I was wearing on my wrist. Jupiter told her many Tzu Chi volunteers wore such a bracelet. Sharada responded with a smile, saying, “The beads must be very precious.” We told Sharada there was a picture of Master Cheng Yen on the largest bead on the bracelet. As soon as she heard that, she stopped smiling and the expression on her face turned solemn. She bowed her head, and then touched her forehead on the picture of the Master, clearly showing her respect for the Master. We were surprised and touched by her sudden gesture of reverence. From that day onward, every time we visited, Sharada would walk out of her room with a big smile on her face and look for the bracelets on our wrists to pay her respect to the Master. A decision We called on Sharada and her family again the next month, on June 19. Between our visits, we had returned to Malaysia and come back to Nepal. I asked, “How would you like us to help your family?” Sharada answered after a short pause, “You should know by now what my family is like. We are all illiterate; that’s why we cannot even calculate our own age. I am shy to ask Tzu Chi of anything, but I do have one wish: I hope my daughter can go to school.” I patted her hands, saying, “We heard you.” Afterwards, we found out from Manoj Dhawal, a community coordinator who had accompanied us to Sharada’s home and who was also taking Tzu Chi volunteer training courses online, that there was a private school close to Sharada’s home, and the registration fee and tuition fee for three months would cost lobal Presence Tzu Chi volunteers asked how old Sharada was on a visit to the family on June 19, but no one seemed to be able to give a definite answer. Even neighbours joined in the discussion. [Photo by Lee Meow Hong]