| Tsunami
Relief Work Diary - by Canadian Tzu-Chi youth Zhi-Yuan Hsu
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The final
stage of our relief work was food distribution, which took place
today. It was an unforgettable experience for me.
By seven o'clock this morning, a crowd had
already gathered, waiting patiently and quietly at the entrance
of Hungama School at Ambalantota. When we arrived, we found
the tidy preparations that the school students and volunteers
had set up the previous day. Flags and work-tables were set
up and ready for use, Tzu-Chi and Buddhist flags surrounded
the school athletic field where the food would be distributed,
and a huge Tzu-Chi relief banner was hung up.
Before handing out the food, a ceremony was
held. As the ceremony began, all volunteers were invited onstage
where they received a warm applause from the audience. We started
with a reading of a letter from Master Chen-Yen expressing her
condolences and benedictions to the tsunami survivors . Later,
all volunteers sang two Tzu-Chi Foundation songs. The first
one was "The Three No's" (which expresses a sentiment
of Dharma Master Cheng Yen that there is no one in the world
whom she cannot love, whom she cannot trust, and whom she cannot
forgive) and the second was "The Prayer". I felt the
climax of the ceremony was the sign language performance of
the song, "The Three No's," and when the music of
"The Prayer" was played, all the volunteers pressed
their palms together, praying sincerely that there would be
no more suffering in the world. It was so touching that it moved
everyone to tears. At that moment, I was struck with a feeling
that having the ability to serve and contribute is truly a blessed
thing.
The food distribution work began immediately
afterward. Food was distributed in five lines. There was a glimpse
of hope in each food stamp that was held tight in the hand of
each person waiting in line. On the food stamp was the Tzu Chi
Logo for this disaster, which consisted of a huge Bodhi Leaf
which had in the center a Tzu Chi logo that had two holding
hands in its center; the entire picture was held up on the bottom
by two more hands cupped like a lotus flower. People took this
white ticket along with their fingerprint stamp to receive food.
Each household received a standard bag containing two cans of
oil, sugar and milk powder. In addition households were given
10kg of rice for each member of the household. Students of Hungama
School helped carry the rice, while volunteers and those receiving
the food exchanged their mutual gratitude and blessings. Everyone
beamed with smiles that had been absent for so long. Each volunteer
felt their heart warmed.
While the distribution work continued, I returned
to the supply station and worked with the local children who
were helping organize food into proper packages for the dispatch
lines. The children were so innocent and lovable, and they worked
very hard. Most of them were about ten years old and could carry
four 10kg bags of rice, which amazed me. Every child was an
angel, always shining with the brightest smile.
The distribution lines were highly efficient
assembly lines. Everyone was arranged in a row, relaying rice
and food bags from inside the supply station all the way out
to the front of the line. The whole process, including cleanup,
was completed before noon. After that, there was a little "thank
you" ceremony for the junior volunteers and local volunteers.
We gave junior volunteers two bags of preserved sweet rice,
three different bags of powdered drinks (made in the Still Thoughts
Abode), and a stuffed toy. For local adult volunteers, the same
gift was provided, but sans toy. Everyone was delighted and
full of joy. Local residents and volunteers continued to stay
with us and seemed reluctant to leave. They only started to
head home when we finally got on the bus and left.
This has been a very special milestone
in my life. I actually did international disaster relief work
with my own hands. I saw the great love of the Tzu-Chi spirit
planted and grow in this devastated land of Sri Lanka, and I
felt the immense joy of serving others. Today, the temperature
remained around 90 degrees (Fahrenheit) throughout the whole
food distribution process. I was soaked with sweat and my blue
uniform was soiled with a white stain. Yet, the smile on my
face came from the bottom of my heart. I saw the sincere effort
and devotion of everyone. A tremendous sense of gratitude and
respect grew out of my heart. I sincerely hope that all the
tsunami victims will soon walk out of the shadow of catastrophe
and trauma. I also wish to help those who are still in need
and spread the universal great love of the Tzu Chi spirit to
every corner of the world. I greatly appreciated the opportunity
to be part of the effort to "grow" and "fertilize"
this land, which is like a farm of blessings. I pray whole-heartedly
that the calamities visited upon all human beings be extinguished,
that those who suffer be blessed, and that their afflictions
may be comforted.
