The world of Tzu Chi September 2023 (Vol.147)

TZU CHI 147 25 Stella had been a licensed tour guide since her 20s. She had visited numerous countries and collected a plethora of clothing items and souvenirs during her trips. Memories of the past returned as the volunteers presented these items to her. “These are casino chips. Each chip could be exchanged for RM200. I remember having over 200 of them. When you clean up, please look out for any remaining chips. This string of prayer beads is my favourite. I had been searching for it for a long time. There are a few more. Please bring them to me if you come across them…” While speaking, Stella’s gaze fixed on the volunteers, telling them to look out for her many cherished belongings, including a foldable piano she had bought from China for a few hundred Ringgit. She also informed the volunteers that there were two mice hidden in the clutter. The moment she finished speaking, the living room echoed with shrieks as the volunteers discovered not just two, but multiple mice scurrying around, causing them to dodge in alarm! Unintended consequences Reflecting upon the past, Stella revealed, “It has been 29 years since I purchased this house. Alongside my then-husband and our son, we shared a happy life under this roof. However, as time went on, my relationship with my then-husband deteriorated. In a moment of frustration, I made a misguided decision. I began buying things and scattering them throughout the house, intentionally neglecting any tidying efforts…” Stella’s marriage eventually ended, and her husband took their only son away from A volunteer carefully wiping off the dirt and dust covering the fan.