Life Wisdom: Leaving a Legacy of Love in Palu, Indonesia
Tzu Chi Indonesia has practiced selfless love by helping to build 1,500 houses and a school here. There's also a general building where people can do all kinds of activities. I believe that with these facilities, those affected can surely live a better life. We see that in Palu of Indonesia, a housing community we helped build has been officially inaugurated.
We helped build the houses in the aftermath of a major quake that struck in September of 2018. The quake also triggered a tsunami, causing much devastation and suffering. In the aftermath, our Tzu Chi volunteers went to survey the damage.
In Palu, they witnessed devastation everywhere. Many people there had lost their lives. Our volunteers purchased relief supplies quickly and volunteers far away from Palu also sent supplies there in no time. Indeed, while I'm describing how our volunteers strove to provide emergency aid, I've given rise to great admiration for them. With great compassion, our volunteers feel others' suffering as their very own. They went to the affected areas to help with rescue work, save lives, bring material aid to the survivors, and to comfort them so they wouldn't be afraid or sad.
Apart from bringing peace to their hearts, our volunteers also offered them food so they could regain strength. Our volunteers are truly loving and considerate. They provided those affected with everything they needed. And, not just bringing the survivors timely care and emergency aid, our volunteers also continued to our volunteers also continued to help them get on with their lives.
Where could those affected live? Our volunteers were very mindful. They looked for land, communicated with the government, and expressed how they were willing to help build houses for those affected. They asked the government to help them acquire pieces of land for the construction of the houses. Those affected were given the ownership of their lands and houses. As they were poor, we helped build the houses for them in the aftermath of the quake and gave them ownership of the houses so their children can also live there without worry.
We also helped build a school and other facilities in this housing community in Palu. There are over 1,000 or hundreds of houses in the communities we had helped to build. Before construction, we made sure that the government could provide the land and that the sites are livable and safe, and not too remote so the residents can do business and This is how we've helped them meticulously. This is also how we've been carrying out Tzu Chi's relief work. Our volunteers in Indonesia carried out relief with local resources and called on the locals to join the relief work.
They also called on volunteers around the world to give with love. volunteers around the world to give with love. Upon the call, volunteers in dozens of countries did all they could to help, making value out of their lives. The houses for those affected have been completed. They own the houses and can live there generation after generation. I'm very happy for them. This was made possible by our volunteers' love. I'm indeed very grateful. I've seen the houses, which are very sturdy. Seeing how happy they are, I'm full of joy too. We're even happier than them because they can live a stable life in the houses we built.
Our volunteers in Indonesia truly have accomplished a lot. They contributed money and efforts. Apart from applying for land acquisition from the government, they also encouraged everyone to give with love. They made donations and called on others to do the same. They also applied for large pieces of land and helped build housing communities so those affected can live there from one generation to another. This is truly remarkable.
A few decades or one hundred years later, if the future generations of those affected still remember, they can share with others what happened and what organization helped build the houses for them. We must not forget how we've carried out our relief work, for everything about the work can guide others and set a good example for humanity. How our volunteers have given selflessly with love and inspired love in many people can become part of human history. We must let the quake survivors' children know that many people around the world have brought love to their family.This is how we can sow seeds of love in these children. When they understand that the land and their houses were made possible by people's aid, they'll harbor gratitude within and their family will be filled with love.
Money can't buy love and we can all give with love simply by changing our way of thinking. When we look back and recall how we've given with love, we'll feel that we've truly lived out our value in life. I have faith that those who have helped build the houses mindfully are also listening to me now. They'll feel: "That's right. I also joined the relief work by" "contributing money and efforts." After looking back at what they've given in life, they'll feel they've lived out their value in life. So, everyone, please be mindful at all times.
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