20190814 荒漠義診湧甘泉Love in the Desert
As to our medical outreaches in Jordan this time, our Tzu Chi members have shared what they’d carried out during those few days. It was truly hot and dry in the desert. Yet, our Tzu Chi members, who give with love at all times, strove to relieve suffering there even though they had to pay everything out of their own pockets, sacrifice their own time, make a round trip of nearly 10,000 km, and endure the sultry weather.
Some people there suffered various illnesses, but couldn’t access any medical resources. So, our medical team brought aid there. Yet, how did those patients come to our free clinics? Many of them lived far away. It was even harder for the disable and the elderly who lived alone to come to our free clinics. Giving with love, our Tzu Chi members helped them into wheelchairs and drove them to our free clinics. They all left the love of our Tzu Chi members.
Also, our medical teammates not only cared for the patients with love, but also offered support to one another. Seeing a doctor sweat all over in offering diagnosis and treatment, those nearby would use cardboards to help dissipate the heat. The love they gave was like tiny dews sprayed on the dry, hot desert land.
It was very hot. Yet, Tzu Chi members helped dissipate the heat with cardboard for me. That brought me great joy. Although the venue was still very hot, my mind had cooled down.
Our Tzu Chi volunteers also pitched in to help, checking if there was electricity at the venue and where lights or water pipes should be set up. And as water is required in dental clinics, dental tubing was prepared. Medical chairs were also brought there. Regardless of many difficulties, our Tzu Chi members worked together with wisdom.
They found ways to provide medical care despite the hot weather, scarce resources, and language barriers. They also respected the patients’ cultures. For example, if the patients were Muslim women, they’d try to follow their religious codes. It was truly very hard to hold free clinic there.
Although there are Tzu Chi volunteers in Jordan, there are not many of them and Jordan is a vast country after all. So, although our volunteers there bring care to the needy, they can only provide limited aid and help and can’t reach out to everyone in need. This time, many Tzu Chi members went there to provide medical care. Their aid and care were truly like dews that nourish the desert. Although they couldn’t reach out to everyone, they’ve brought aid to those most in need. With different specialties, many Tzu Chi members who had gone there worked together to offer medical care to the needy.
I’ve also heard our volunteers shared that many children there are in great suffering. The desert lane is very hot, but some children have no shoes. There was a boy who wore only one shoe rather than a pair of shoes. When he was asked why he did so, his relpy was very intriguing. He said that this way, his pair of shoes can last longer. Suffering is not something new to children there. Their feet often get injured.
Our volunteers and doctors feel deeply for them. Since they have been living like that, even if they feel pain and suffering, they think that’s the way life is. Their life is truly one of suffering. And as they’ve been living in suffering, they do not know what blessings are. My heart truly goes out to them.
As we enjoy abundant resources in life, we must help those in suffering through giving. When every small donation is pooled together, it can become great help to those in suffering. This is how we inspire love in many people to give and bring aid to those in need.
I often say that no matter where our Tzu Chi members go to serve, they always pay everything out of their own pockets. They take leave from work to do Tzu Chi’s work, but they never miss a chance to serve with Tzu Chi. This is the genuine love of our Tzu Chi members. To them, serving for the greater good is more important than doing their own work. Although they always give without asking for anything in return they feel relieved after helping the needy.
Although they could only help a little more than 1,000 people during the medical outreach this time, offered them medical care, thereby gaining inner peace and ease. This world is indeed filled with much suffering. Our Tzu Chi members dedicate themselves selflessly to freeing all living beings from suffering. They are truly living bodhisattvas.
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