Written by Pin Hau Chiou
Translated by Ariel Chan
Edited by Jiali Liu, Andrew Larracuente
In the busy city of New York, amidst residents’ hustle and bustle for their livelihoods, a heartwarming story quietly unfolds.
Mr. Wu, from Yanbian Autonomous Prefecture in Northeast China, came to the United States over 20 years ago with hopes for a better life. Originally a manager at a Korean supermarket, he faced challenges in his new life, but everything went steady under his spirited management.
However, fate is full of ups and downs, and a sudden illness changed the trajectory of his life—hyperthyroidism and heart disease followed one after another. Due to residency status issues, he was unable to obtain medical insurance and afford expensive medical expenses. He found it difficult to seek medical treatment and ultimately had to give up his job. The once steady life became a thing of the past, and Mr. Wu fell into unprecedented despair.
He recalled, “2018 and 2019 were the most hopeless years for me. I even thought about ending my life.” In those dark days, he almost lost hope for life. Just when he was at a loss, Tzu Chi volunteers from the USA Northeast Region reached out to him, bringing a glimmer of light into his life.
“At the beginning, I was not in a good mood, and then Tzu Chi volunteers encouraged me to go out, saying, ‘Just come to relax; you don’t need to do anything at Tzu Chi; chatting is fine too. It’s not good to keep thinking about those things at home all the time.'” The volunteers not only helped Mr. Wu solve the problem of medical insurance but also encouraged him to go out and participate in community activities. Gradually, he emerged from the long-standing gloom in his heart. Volunteer Peter Chu said, “His biggest change is his mentality because he feels that he cannot give up with so many people caring about him.”
In order to help Mr. Wu become self-reliant, Tzu Chi volunteers emphasized his potential. Upon learning that he is of Korean descent, they encouraged him to make kimchi for sale to add to his income. Mr. Wu’s kimchi has been loved by many people, and this sense of achievement has strengthened his determination to get out of his adversities.
Nowadays, Mr. Wu works in the central kitchen of Tzu Chi Northeast, busy preparing hot meal bento boxes for elderly people in the community, wholeheartedly giving to those who are harder off than him, and experiencing the joy of helping others. He said, “I am very happy here, I don’t feel tired, and I also want to join Tzu Chi and hope to fully integrate into Tzu Chi’s community.”
Since joining Tzu Chi, I have realized that helping others is of great help to myself. When my mood improves, everything gets better.
Mr. Wu’s story is not only a personal transformation from despair to hope but also embodies the power of Tzu Chi’s great love. Volunteers helped a person in distress find direction in life again through practical actions, allowing kindness and hope to flourish in the bustling city of New York.
