"Material goods can help people, but the love you give is priceless. May God bless you and continue to protect you." The elderly person in a nursing home in Chile emotionally held the Tzu Chi volunteer, Fernanda Wu (吳惠蘭) . Years of longing and joy were evident on her face, and the embrace spoke volumes beyond words.

Due to the prolonged pandemic, it had been nearly four years since the Tzu Chi volunteers were able to visit the Hogar De Ancianos El Atardecer, the twilight nursing home in Chile. Finally, on July 8, 2023, the volunteers resumed their care, bringing relief supplies, heating subsidies, and heartfelt gifts. They designed attractive group activities, laughing and sharing precious moments with the elderly and allowing them to relive beautiful memories of the past. This warm bond continued to surround them, proving that love had never left their hearts.

Warming Hearts in the Cold Winter

As the pandemic raged on, the Hogar De Ancianos El Atardecer, an evening nursing home, had to temporarily suspend all care visits; the regular visits by volunteers were repeatedly canceled. However, the concern for the elderly never left the hearts of the volunteers. Finally, with the easing of the pandemic, the long-awaited opportunity to visit the nursing home arrived. The volunteers hastily planned their trip and scheduled their care visit for July 8. The preparations began immediately.

The nursing home currently houses fifty-one elderly individuals, who live alone and suffer from minor ailments or paralysis, with ages ranging from seventy to one hundred years old. With the cold winter in mind, the thoughtful volunteers prepared woolen caps, shawls, and scarves, ensuring that each of the seniors would receive a heartfelt gift.

On the afternoon of July 2, a group of ten volunteers gathered at the home of fellow volunteers Nelson and Cecilia to package the gifts. They meticulously crafted packaging bags and carefully paired the caps and scarves, leaving no room for sloppiness. Finally, they packed everything together, along with love, and their task was complete.

To make their companionship even more warm and meaningful, Nelson and Fernanda designed a game using recycled cardboard to create paper paddles. They practiced playing the game repeatedly, pouring their hearts and emotions into every moment.

With everything prepared, in the early morning of the 8th, braving the chilly temperatures, everyone rushed in and out. Fernanda carried bags of eighteen-kilogram rice and loaded them onto the vehicle. Local volunteer Katherine overcome her physical discomfort and rushed to help.

Cesar silently carried the supplies onto the vehicle; Nelson, who had suffered from hearing impairment in recent years, completely lost his hearing in his right ear. Despite these difficulties, he was determined to bear the responsibilities he wished to undertake. Moises, a volunteer from Peru, had been consistently present whenever the volunteers extended an invitation for help, and today was no exception. Rocio and her classmate Florencia, young and passionate volunteers, also joined in the effort, bringing their energetic presence and overflowing love.

The volunteers' quiet dedication allowed the elderly in the cold winter to feel warmth and care. They poured their love into every detail, igniting a flame of warmth that enveloped the Hogar De Ancianos El Atardecer and reminded everyone that love had never left their hearts.

Reunion after a Long Separation

"Today is a very special day, thank God. The elderly can see you again, and you can see these old friends. Everyone has been eagerly awaiting your visit since early morning," said Ivonne, director of the nursing home, as she graciously received the relief supplies from Fernanda Wu and expressed her joy and gratitude.

Upon entering the familiar facility, the volunteers were greeted by Sister Rosa, whom they had known and cherished for many years. She warmly exclaimed: "A great amount of love, deep admiration from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for frequently visiting the nursing home." After not seeing each other for several years, she sighed softly: "I truly missed you!"

"Dear Bodhisattvas, it's been a while. How have you been?" The volunteers prepared low-sugar cookies and juice, carefully serving them to the elderly. With each greeting, love was awakened, and many seniors with limited mobility emerged from their rooms, joyfully coming together.

"Whether young or old, ladies or gentlemen, let's enjoy our meal. It is great. Being vegetarian makes us live longer!" Under the relaxed melody of Being Vegetarian is Awesome, the volunteers, along with Tzu Chi youth, wore fruit and vegetable costumes that resembled cartoon characters. Their lively and playful appearance, combined with rhythmic sign language, filled the room with great joy.

Amidst the happy moments, there were also heartfelt arrangements. To establish a connection through love, the volunteers performed the song We Are Family using sign language, to convey their profound care and affection.

"My happiness comes from your laughter, and, if you shed tears, I will feel even more heartbroken... Because we are family, relying on and trusting each other, grateful for one another's presence... Because we are family, sharing burdens and joys, in each other's lives..." The  stirring melody of We Are Family flowed gently, while the volunteers expressed the lyrics through sign language and sincere gestures, emphasizing that "Love is simply because we are family!"

"I want to repeat my gratitude to you once again. This is a beautiful event. The way you express yourselves and communicate with us is filled with sincerity. We are truly moved," said the elderly, their eyes welling up with tears and no longer feeling lonely.

"This is the first meaningful event I have attended after the pandemic. Through your sign language, I received the message of love you conveyed. Thank you," shared another touched grandmother. A nearby elderly lady also expressed her gratitude to the volunteers, saying: "I'm very grateful to all of you. I consider myself lucky to have known you before. The sign language song We Are Family touched me deeply. It's so moving. Thank you for your companionship and care today." Sister Rosa also spoke with gentle determination, "Every year, ‘we are  family.' This love knows no boundaries and remains ever fresh."

The reunion of the volunteers with the elderly created a profound sense of family and unity. Through their meaningful interactions, heartfelt gestures, and the power of music, love transcended language barriers, creating a truly heartwarming experience for everyone involved.

The Innocence of the Elderly

"Let me wrap the scarf around you!" The volunteers individually presented their heartfelt gifts. In the chilly weather, they adorned each person with shawls, scarves, and woolen caps, gathering warmth from all sides. Fernanda Wu gratefully embraced two centenarian elders; she felt an overwhelming sense of happiness and respect.

Moises kindly offered his gift to the elderly gentleman, while Nelson, ever compassionate, cherished every moment spent with the seniors. Grandma happily accepted the gift from Cecilia, unable to contain her joy as she exclaimed: "I'm so happy to receive your love. Thank you so much!"

Due to the long absence caused by the pandemic, volunteer Chen Shu-zhen (陳淑真) seized the opportunity to serve the elders. With keen eyes and swift hands, she replenished their juice, providing thoughtful service. Tzu Chi youth Florence and her classmate patiently helped the elderly open their gifts, all while expressing their gratitude to Fernanda Wu, saying: "I love participating in caring activities. It brings me so much happiness and fulfillment!"

To liven up the atmosphere, the nuns joined the volunteers in enthusiastic singing and dancing. The elderly responded with clapping and cheerful participation. The entire venue exuded vibrant energy, blurring the line between volunteers and the elderly.

Next, the volunteers brought the highlight of the event—the "Clap Ball" game. Cesar explained the rules, and four volunteers accompanied the seniors. This physical and mental challenge tested the coordination between the brain and hands. Sitting on chairs, they focused on using the paper paddles on their hands to hit the balls thrown by the volunteers into the boxes on the ground. The number of successful shots determined the winner.

The game, both challenging and entertaining, brought joy to everyone. People seemed to forget their age and reverted to the innocence of their childhood. The volunteers busily counted the balls in the boxes, eagerly awaiting the announcement of the champion. However, looking at the smiling and carefree faces, it was clear that everyone was a winner.

The cheerful atmosphere and heartfelt interactions created moments of pure happiness. In the embrace of love and companionship, the elderly shed their worries and embraced their inner childlike innocence.

We Will Return

"With much love and care, we present the heartfelt intentions of Tzu Chi." Chen Shu-zhen, representing the Tzu Chi Foundation, presented a check to cover the heating expenses of the nursing home. With sincerity in her voice, she conveyed this genuine gesture of goodwill.

Sister Ivonne, the nursing home director, could not hide her gratitude upon receiving the check. She said: "Thank you to the Tzu Chi Foundation. Although they have many recipients to care for, they have never abandoned us or forgotten about us." In addition to providing supplies and gifts, the foundation also covered the heating expenses of the nursing home, totaling 1.5 million pesos (approximately US$1,838.57 ). Love arrived just in time during the harsh winter.

Moments of joy always pass too quickly. The volunteers did not forget the bedridden elderly. Guided by the director, they entered each room, listening to the frustrations expressed by the seniors. Bending down to their level, they shared their empathy. The nursing home has five residents over the age of 100. The volunteers offered gifts to express their care, and love flowed into each person's heart, quietly blooming with smiles.

The volunteers cherished every second of their time together. Moises, a skilled gardener, took the opportunity to make a positive impact. He assisted the nuns by tidying and trimming the trees, flowers, and plants in the garden, creating a more comfortable and serene environment for the elderly.

"Thank you so much! The gift includes us as well. This gesture is heartwarming, especially in the cold winter. It is both warm and beautiful, filled with your abundant love." Among the sixty heartfelt gifts, there were also tokens of appreciation for the nine nuns. The director gratefully accepted them, expressing indescribable emotions of being moved and amazed. She said, "You are always welcome to visit the elderly. The doors of the nursing home are forever open to you."

"When will you come to visit us again?" In the farewell moment, reluctance filled the air as the elderly gently held the volunteers' hands and asked. The volunteers promised, "We will definitely come again." They hoped to continue the cycle of caring for the elderly, as the elderly cared for the young, and to warm every lonely heart with their compassionate presence.

A Jing Si Aphorism says: “To be kind and loving, we must be friendly and amiable. To be wise, we must be humble.”

Join Tzu Chi. Let us spread Love to the needy.

Story by Fernanda Wu and Wu Xiu-ling from South America |2023/07/15