“I used to be very pessimistic, I thought life was bitter and I didn’t know how to value life…”
After attending volunteer work, South Africa Tzu Ching Belinda Van Berg, found her own meaning and value of the ‘Rainbow Nation’. Under the encouragement of volunteer workers, using the youth and clarity in her eyes, she wrote down what she saw and what she felt.
- Translated by: Sandy Lu -
- Story by: Global Tzu Chi Network -
(For full story click HERE)
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| Photo from: Tzu Chi Global Network |
"I am lucky because I have feet to walk“; "Using your feet to walk a good path” may sound like an easy aphorism, but to actually do it is difficult. In the world we live in there are many sufferings and only a few of those are lucky enough be led by the righteous knowledge. Those led by the righteous knowledge have humanity and love, for example, Tzu Chi volunteers.
As a Tzu Ching, we should think of these volunteers as our teachers and learn from them, they are pure, beautiful, selfless, they dedicate their lives to the community, changing sufferings to happiness. The lives of the volunteers are the same as the care recipients – simple, but their hearts are much happier as well as benevolent; they are happy to share their stories, in hope of helping those that are lost, to help them walk out of the darkness and suffering. Both poor but some complain while others give back.
Today I met some people, their homes were made from metal, they had no electricity, no food, only the winter bringing them cold temperatures. They have to walk many miles to Ntabankulu, an orphanage centre, before they can receive the warm food. Here at the orphanage centre, the volunteers have prepared warm food. Orphans can also receive the warmth and love that they lack.
The volunteers also hold a briefing, where locals can come and listen to Master Cheng Yen’s dharma through videos which are translated from mandarin to English and lastly, to Zulu.
Although today is a Sunday, a group of young people, could have chosen to gone shopping or go out with friends, but instead they chose to wake up early, change into their uniforms and go with volunteers to hand out winter distribution goods – they are Tzu Chings.
With a compassionate mind, they volunteer their time and energy, whether it’s folding blankets, counting stock, carrying a bag of ten kilograms of rice, everyone has a smile on their faces. I know in their hearts they are selfless. With love different races will come together Outside Ntabankulu, the orphanage, volunteers play with the children, sing a song with them, One Family, and share happiness and love. For me to witness this power of love was a beautiful and warm experience. The volunteers having different culture amongst them sang the national anthem which in turn made me feel more of the power of love and collaboration because my nation is the rainbow nation; an example of different culture integrating.
At this moment when the children look at us with innocent eyes of experiencingthe different cultures - where there is no political matters, no fear and no prejudice. I used to think that hope was fragile, but now I see that hope with love is the most precious – an inexpensive gift.
Genuine love changed the student to be less ashamed. A girl named Queen Ngobeseis an orphanage, her mother passed away last year and her father passed away in 2006. She is the eldest in her family, so she needs to look after her little sister. The sharing of the volunteers made her realise Tzu Chi’s idealology, which moved her. She said she did not feel ashamed of receiving the relief goods, because she knows it is with love. The happiness when everyone is together.
After the distribution at Ntabankulu, the volunteers crowd into the bakkis, moving on to their next destination, Folweni. Today is a really cold day but there is nothing that can dampen our spirits, even the bumpy roads cannot stop the volunteers’ smiles and songs.I feel that I am lucky to meet these volunteers. I also realised that Tzu Chi is a road that I want to take, and it’s like this is what I was born to do.
The difference between Folweni and Ntabankulu is that, here, there is no orphanage centre. If they can build a centre here that will mean that they can welcome many more volunteers. It seems that I can see Tzu Chi’s future which is a beautiful picture.In front of me the residence of Folweni welcome us warmly, I feel very fortunate to visit their homes and gardens. Later we went to another place called Mpusheni, there the people greeted us with the same warm. This is the last place for today, the warm welcome the residences made me a little reluctant to leave.
Giving love every time is a new experience, even though I have been a Tzu Chi volunteer for a long time, it doesn’t matter if it is an old or new village, I always feel like it is the first time and every time is a new experience .To me Tzu Chi is not just a relief organisation but an organisation full of humanities. Tzu Chi is a big part of my life, it is also where my heart can take refuge. Although I have spent a lot of time to realise this point but I think that everyone needs to go experience life and find out your own individual future.
Even I have often felt that in my life I am not alone which has a lot of people guiding me through right paths. Therefore in Tzu Chi, it doesn’t matter what work you do, I believe it has meaning to it.
I used to be very pessimistic, I thought life was bitter and I didn’t know how to value life, I lost a lot of rational thinking; but when I went back to Tzu Chi, I started to believe again. Although life is not perfect, however with a firm belief everything will be successful.
I actually never thought that I would by myself finish an essay because I could never express myself; still I realise, if I can give more than I must work hard for it. Sister Yuan (note: DBN Senior Tzu-Ching) told me to use my heart to write. Hence I wrote down what I felt and finished this essay.
