人間菩提--援輸海地雲來集
Bringing Aid and Care to Haiti
Tzu Chi volunteers in Haiti, thank you
“Greetings”
It’s finally connected. That’s great.
We’re communicating via two ways.
Thank the dharma masters at the Abode for sending the messages to us via instant messaging when we lose reception so we were able to know what Master was saying and take her words to our hearts
It’s really great.
Yesterday, I had a meeting with our volunteers from the U.S. the Dominican Republic, and Saint Martin.(who had just arrived in Haiti the day before) via videoconferencing.
I saw these living bodhisattvas gathering together in Haiti
It testified to the way Tzu Chi members are one in heart while each carries out work in different parts of the world at the same time.
But our hearts are one.
Truly, all day yesterday, I was very concerned about how the distribution was going in Haiti.
Just now, I received news of how our first day of distributions went, and the news set my mind at ease.
Our first day of distributions went relatively smoothly.
Over 1,000 impoverished school children’s families came to receive goods.
Then on January 16, local time, the second day of distributions will be held with an estimated 1,800 families to be aided.
So, the first day of distribution went quite well
However, despite everything going smoothly our volunteers were a bit concerned because the school where the distribution was held is very small and there were a lot of people coming to get the supplies.
So, a lot of people had to wait outside.
Fortunately, there were security guards form the company OECC, UN peacekeepers, and the local police who were there to maintain order.
(and make sure everything went smoothly)
This, of course, required a lot of manpower.
Moreover, to make sure that the distribution could go smoothly the street leading to the school was cordoned off so the residents there would be inconvenienced.
However, our Tzu Chi volunteers truly handled this with great wisdom and love as they had taken all this into consideration.
So before the distribution, they went door-to-door and visited the residents (to express thanks) and gave each family the gift of a thermal blanket
(They likewise gave such a gift) to people doing business on that street.
These people all understood that this group of people (our volunteers) came from another country to provide aid to their fellow countrymen in Haiti.
So, they were all very understanding especially since our volunteers had visited them beforehand one by one.
So, they willingly bore with the inconveniences caused by the distribution.
The elementary school where the distribution was held is not very big and the grounds are very uneven as it is covered in rocks and pebbles.
As Tzu Chi volunteers wish to present the recipients with a clean and tidy environment to show our respect towards them our volunteers set out to clean the school grounds.
When the children saw Tzu Chi volunteers cleaning their school grounds, they voluntarily joined our volunteers in cleaning up the place.
They were all very happy doing this.
Isn’t this education on keeping a clean environment?
This is the first time that Tzu Chi volunteers have held a relief distribution in Haiti and it can be said to be a pilot project.
(to see how we can help there) since it is such an impoverished country
Apart from distributing aid supplies this time, we also wish to learn more about their medical and, more importantly, their educational needs
In November of last year a school in Haiti collapsed and killed nearly 100 students.
It was because the school was constructed.
(with hardly any structural steel or cement)
(I heard that only five days after the incident,) another school there also collapsed partially.
Only a few people were injured that time
So, for our trip this time, apart from distributing aid supplies to help the impoverished what’s most important is to explore possible aid projects for the future.
So, the mission this time serves to help us pave the way for future missions
I’m truly very grateful.
In the world of Tzu Chi our work is carried out without top night and day because just as volunteers in one place are about to call it a day those in another are getting ready to begin the day’s work
Just as we’re about to begin with our day’s work here in Taiwan it’s already evening there in Haiti.
While they are making preparations to distribute aid the next day we’re also about to begin our day’s work here
That’s how Tzu Chi volunteers worldwide alternate to continue Tzu Chi’s work day and night.
Everyone’s hearts are as one as they carry out Tzu Chi’s mission in a continuous relay following the rotation of night and day.
Remember 10 years ago, we had first formed affinities with Haiti
(When Hurricane Georges devastated the country)
I hope that our affinities with Haiti can continue and seeds of love can be spread on that land.
It’s great to share in your joy of gratitude.
Hopefully, these seeds of love will take firm roots in the local area.
(so that we can nurture local volunteers) who will help lift this country out of poverty by carrying out our missions such as Charity. Medicine, Education, and Environmental Protection.
(I believe these are needs that the country has)
Indeed, as I just said on the same day wherever our volunteers may be, and whatever season it is there, Tzu Chi volunteers are giving of their love (to those in need)
For example, on January 9, a group of our U.S. Tzu Chi volunteers left for Haiti (for the aid distribution)
On that same day, another group of our U.S. volunteers went to the flooded areas in Seattle of the state of Washington in the U.S.
When the local people saw how Tzu Chi volunteers made it there despite all the difficulties that must have been experiencing along the trip, they were all very grateful, although it has already been many days after the flood hit.
They were grateful because Tzu Chi was the first aid group to be there.
Usually, before Tzu Chi volunteers provide aid they’d visit those affected from door to door to determine what help people are in need of
So, when our volunteers came back from Seattle, the CEO of Tzu Chi U.S.A. immediately mobilized over 50 volunteers to conduct surveys and to see what supplies the flood victims needed.
After visiting over 100 families, our volunteers began to prepare the supplies for them.
On January 17 local time, our volunteers will be going there to give out cash cards and blankets among other things
See, during the same period of time, be it in the U.S. where it is icy cold or in Haiti where the weather is warm.
Tzu Chi volunteers are there giving of themselves to care for the suffering
It is very touching to see
Meanwhile, in Malaysia, Kuching and nearby areas have also been hit by floods.
Even today, Tzu Chi volunteers are still providing hot meals and supplies to those affected by the flood.
This is in Southeast Asia
See, with so many disasters happening around the world which place haven’t Tzu Chi volunteers set foot on?
That’s what I am very grateful for every day
So, within the same day, at the same time, my spirit travels to many parts of the world as what’s happening around the world.
(at every moment deeply concerns me) and I need to know how we can help
At every moment, my heart is filled with gratitude and I am deeply moved.
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