Though we're all under the same sky and are all living on this earth.
(but look at their conditions). It's heartbreaking
I don't know what methods could effectively help the people suffering such tragic circumstances
It makes me feel a real sense of powerlessness.
But I am also filled with gratitude because now in
They came into contact with Tzu Chi last year and since then, they resolved to
(care for the local people with Tzu Chi's spirit)
I am also grateful to our volunteer from the
Next, Tzu Chi members in
South Africa Tzu Chi members shouldered the charge of guiding the newly-inspired
They passed on Tzu Chi's principles to them and also accompanied them on missions to distribute aid and care for people in need.
In
The currency exchange rate is constantly changing.
This morning, I received news that the rate today is US$1 equals Z$100 million.
Every day, the exchange rate changes dramatically.
There is political upheaval, hyperinflation, and a continually changing exchange rate.
Moreover, there has been drought which has led to food shortages.
There's widespread hunger and now, on top of that there is a breakdown in the country's basic systems needed for functioning.
There is no one to remove garbage and the water system has collapsed.
(so, some have to drink from)
(contaminated wells and streams)
The sanitation and health situation is very bad.
There is severe poverty. Meanwhile, there is political turmoil and instability.
(The country is in serious trouble)
The conditions are so bad that it confounds us as to how the people can be helped.
But, speaking of this, I am very moved by (the spirit of our volunteers in
In
The sanitation problem is difficult to resolve
There is also a shortage of medicine and the shortage of clean water is still a problem.
So, I asked or two Tzu Chi members in
These two volunteers truly (embody the spirit of bodhisattvas)
They cannot bear for others to suffer and their sole concern is others' welfare.
Our two volunteers are committed to remaining in
So, we must still search for ways to help.
On top of that, we have received two letters from
One is from local authorities in
The other is from a civic organization also seeking humanitarian aid.
Prior to this we were already planning to aid them.
It was just that we didn't know how
Seeing the conditions there now, we are truly very, very worried.
To purify water, they're using water purification tablets.
One tablet purifies 20 liters of water.
However, one package of tablets only contains eight tablets.
(and there aren't enough packages in stock)
What we could get was not even enough for our local volunteers to use, much less all the people who are under the threat of cholera.
Moreover, the disease is spreading
Some of those with cholera have already fled across
Those who are healthy have also crossed the borders into neighboring countries.
We asked our volunteers in
Setting out from
(to reach the border town of
The supplies they can bring with them is very limited, not to mention the fact that we do not know how many people are in need how dire their circumstances are or what exactly they need.
Our team of volunteers arrived yesterday.
They first visited clinics or health providers to better understand the situation.
They saw that there is already a garbage problem a sanitation problem, lack of clean drinking water as well as shortage of food and medicine.
Already, they've found so many problems.
Today, we will be trying to find a solution.
Meanwhile, in the
Tzu Chi volunteers in the
Over 100 people with tumors came to seek treatment.
Our doctors were able to treat around 60 patients on site.
But around 100 or so patients needed to be operated on at a hospital.
One of these patients was a man who is 42 years old.
He had a tumor on his upper arm.
He started having this tumor twenty years ago.
It was a small tumor back then.
Because he was poor and had to work to support his family of five, he did not go to seek medical treatment.
In November of this year, his friend told him.
(that Tzu Chi might be able to help him)
Through Tzu Chi, his tumor was removed (at the local hospital)by Dr. Sy and Dr. Lao,
two doctors involved in our medical assoc., TIMA.
The tumor was
Just think, for the past 20 years, he has had to carry around this heavy tumor.
How difficult it must have been for him.
So, I'm very grateful to the doctors of our Tzu Chi international Medical Assoc. (TIMA)for helping so many poor people in their local area.
(Though the poor in the
Those in the more stable country versus those in the politically turbulent country face very different fates.
In one, as long as we have the will to help and the manpower to carry it out, we are able to aid the people in need.
But in the other, despite having the will to help and manpower, it is very, very difficult to carry out aid and help the people.
How can we overcome this difficulty?
How do we effectively help people while also ensuring our volunteers' safety?
It's very difficult challenge.
But seeing the people's conditions, we really can't bear for them to suffer like this.
In
Instead, we should think about how to use our money to help people in need.
That's the humanitarian spirit.
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辛國之患難止息
疫情蔓延撲群黎
匱乏醫藥亟待援
護己救人止悲吟
非洲國家辛巴威通貨膨脹，社會動盪，還爆發嚴重的霍亂疫情，同在地球村，儘管相隔遙遠，但人傷我痛，人苦我悲，辛巴威子民的際遇令人相當同情，當地政府以及民間機構已經發出信件，請求國際援助，南非、美國及辛巴威當地慈濟志工也全力動員，展開發放與協助。上人感恩這群志工感同身受當地人之苦，不因災難心生退轉心，依舊守護當地。
街頭堆滿垃圾，有人餓了，就從垃圾堆裡找尋食物來吃。昔日有非洲糧倉之稱的辛巴威，因為社會動盪，導致通貨膨脹，人民悽涼悲慘的度日，加上衛生醫療體系瓦解、水資源汙染，引爆嚴重的霍亂疫情，讓當地居民的處境更加雪上加霜。
霍亂疫情持續惡化，當地政府與民間機構已尋求國際援助。面對險峻的局勢，辛巴威、南非和美國等地的慈濟志工紛紛前往當地展開關懷發放行動，並到八百公里外的南非和辛巴威兩國邊境關懷從辛巴威逃出的難民，長途奔波，就是基於一份不忍之心。
苦難國度，無辜的百姓受苦受難，藍天白雲尋找援助對策，發心立願，相信再大困難都會克服。
2008/12/13
Regards, Jenny
Today's Jing Si Aphorisms: True goodness is to reach out naturally without the slightest hesitation
今日靜思語: 真正的心好,應該是非常自然,沒有一絲一毫地考慮,馬上伸出援手去扶助別人
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