Edward Artis, chairperson of Knightsbridge International, and Walt Ratterman, also from the same organization, were both certified by Master Cheng Yen on January 26 as new Tzu Chi commissioners. After the Master gave them their certificates, the audience enthusiastically applauded the two "American brothers" and welcomed them into the big family of Tzu Chi.

In January 2002, when Artis was in Afghanistan with Stephen Huang, director of the Tzu Chi Department of Religious Affairs, he asked Huang how he could become a Tzu Chi commissioner.

According to Tzu Chi regulations, a person who desires to become a commissioner must undergo training for at least one and a half years. Artis and Ratterman have worked with Tzu Chi since 1998 in bringing relief goods to Afghanistan. When Master Cheng Yen agreed to certify Artis and Ratterman as commissioners, Artis stated that he and Ratterman were very tired after delivering relief goods to Afghanistan, but as Tzu Chi commissioners, the relief distributions have brought the love of every Tzu Chi member from around the world to Afghanistan. Artis further remarked, "Because we have the same heart, we can become Tzu Chi brothers." Now a disciple of the Master, Ratterman also indicated that he would go anywhere the Master might ask him to go.

The Master informed them that Tzu Chi still needed both of them to go to Afghanistan and continue their work. The Master also indicated that every Tzu Chi member would pray for their health so that they could do even more good deeds.

Second anniversary of Tzu Chi Turkey liaison office

On January 20, more than sixty students, Tzu Chi volunteers and businesspeople from Taiwan, China and Turkey sang "Sprinkling the World with Love" in Arabic, Turkish and Chinese to celebrate the second anniversary of the Tzu Chi Turkey liaison office.

It all started on August 17, 1999, when Turkey suffered a major earthquake that measured 7.4 on the Richter scale. Tzu Chi members delivered relief supplies and helped build three hundred houses in Goluck and a school in Tersane. In November of the same year, Turkey suffered another earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale, and Tzu Chi helped set up two hundred tents for refugees in Duzce.

Many local people were touched by Tzu Chi's assistance to refugees after these two major earthquakes, and thus a Tzu Chi liaison office was set up with Hu Kuang-chung, a Taiwanese immigrant, as office chief. He and other volunteers continue to distribute relief goods to refugees.

On the eve of the second anniversary, the liaison office had just finished its tenth distribution of daily necessities to refugees living in the Tzu Chi houses. A little girl presented a bag stuffed with all kinds of crops to our volunteers. On the bag, she wrote "Taiwan" in Turkish.

Hu observed that it was difficult at first for the liaison office to raise money, but he and others overcame all obstacles and gradually expanded their services to orphanages and nursing homes.

Tzu Chi houses in Sacacoyo, El Salvador

On January 13, 221 families moved into the Sacacoyo Tzu Chi Great Love Village. On the same day last year, these people were made homeless by a major earthquake that measured 7.6 on the Richter scale.

Sacacoyo is in La Libertad Province, El Salvador. The Tzu Chi Great Love Village was constructed in two phases and has a total of 340 houses. The Salvadoran government provided the land and Tzu Chi helped blueprint the construction. The first batch of 119 houses was completed in August last year, and the second batch of 221 houses was completed in January this year.

On January 13, the Salvadoran president, vice president, all departmental ministers, and ambassadors from the United States, Japan, Germany, Mexico, Guatemala, and other countries were also present at the ceremony. They stood in silence for one minute to mourn the people who died in the earthquake. Then in his speech, the mayor of Sacacoyo remarked that although many people had become homeless after the horrible disaster, they could stand up again because of the light and hope provided by Tzu Chi.

After the ceremony, each family received the deed and key to their house, rice, red beans, laundry detergent, and other daily necessities.

After the major earthquake last year, Tzu Chi dispatched five teams to deliver relief goods and provide free clinics for survivors. In all, Tzu Chi delivered one month of food to more than thirty thousand people, and the free clinics treated seven thousand people. Furthermore, Tzu Chi helped build houses in Sacacoyo, and more are under construction in Chanmigo.

The earthquake last year killed thousands of people, but it also brought out many local Chinese to help Tzu Chi rebuild the damaged areas.

Floods in Jakarta, Indonesia

At the end of January this year, Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, suffered serious floods which forced thousands of people from their homes. Local Tzu Chi members immediately distributed drinking water and food and provided free clinics.

November to March is usually the rainy season in Indonesia. This year, however, heavy rains destroyed a dam and many water gates. Furthermore, drainage ditches were clogged by garbage. As a result, close to eighty percent of the city was under water.

On January 31, Tzu Chi volunteers distributed relief goods along highways, major streets in the city, and places around the Tzu Chi office. The next day, with help from the navy, volunteers used trucks and rubber boats to deliver drinking water, food, biscuits, and other important items to people trapped by the floods.

The navy sailors who drove the rubber boats were very brave. It was not easy for them to navigate their boats when tons of debris floated on the water. Sometimes they even had to jump into the water to pull the boats forward. Touched by the spirit of the Tzu Chi members, one sailor promised that he and his comrades would help as long as Tzu Chi volunteers were carrying out relief efforts to help their people.

In one week, volunteers handed out 13,000 bottles of mineral water, 2,000 boxed meals, 2,000 loaves of bread, 5,200 boiled eggs, 100 boxes of cookies, 200 bags of milk powder, as well as 800 pieces of clothing.

The floods also caused serious illnesses among many flood victims. Free clinics were held on February 17 by local members of the Tzu Chi International Medical Association in Kapuk, a village north of Jakarta.

Canada branch receives community service award

Jenny Moss of the Canada Red Cross visited the Tzu Chi Canada branch office in Vancouver on January 14 to present the Community Service Award for the long-term services of Tzu Chi volunteers in local communities.

Moss said that in November two years ago, a group of tourists from Taiwan were involved in a major car accident in the province of British Columbia. Tzu Chi volunteers immediately went to the five hospitals where the injured tourists were being treated and offered their services. The volunteers also helped the victims' families with funeral arrangements. Moss was deeply touched by the compassion they displayed.

On behalf of the Canadian Red Cross, she also invited the Tzu Chi Canada branch to join a community service committee, hoping that its participation would help improve services in local communities.

Hot Meals for Street People

On the last day of 2001, Tzu Chi members in Hawaii and members of the Brother George of the Ohana Network church provided hot meals to the homeless in Aala Park to bring them warmth and to welcome the New Year together.

At ten in the morning, people were already waiting in the park. Brother George members gave them hugs to welcome the arrival of the New Year. Tzu Chi members cooked hot, delicious meals and served them to the street people.

After the 9-11 terrorist attacks, the economy in Hawaii deteriorated rapidly and many people lost their jobs. The government also cut back financial support to street people and single-parent families. Thus, many new faces showed up in the lines this time. The street people were quite happy with the hot meals. The sick could also go to the Tzu Chi free clinic center for treatment.

Brother George of the Ohana Network has been helping street people for over ten years. Church members felt that since Tzu Chi was carrying out the same ideals that they were, the two organizations could work together.

Parents' love

At the end of last year, the Australian Disability Service Commission referred a case to the Tzu Chi liaison office in Perth. Sean Steward and his wife had three children. The two older ones were attending school, but at the age of four their youngest girl, Rebecca, suddenly developed spasms that made breathing difficult. She also lacked the ability to control the muscles on her neck and four limbs. She needed attention twenty-four hours a day.

The Stewards felt that the hospital could only provide their daughter physical care, but not spiritual care. They decided to take her home and take care of her themselves. When Sean finished his night shift, he would rush home and take over the work from his wife Rojanee, so that she could get some rest.

Rebecca's spasms often stopped her breathing. With an oxygen monitor to help her breathe, Sean and his wife would be able to get some more rest. The oxygen machine would cost the couple more than AUS$3,835 [US$1,968]. The Stewards, however, could only afford $200. The local community raised $1,300 for the couple, but they still needed $2,335. Thus, they turned to Tzu Chi for help.

On December 3, the date scheduled for the Stewards to receive their check from Tzu Chi, Rebecca was sent to the hospital once again for surgery. Tzu Chi volunteers went there to visit the couple and their daughter. They pray for Rebecca and her loving parents and sincerely wish them the best.

A new overseas Tzu Chi school

Since 1995, Tzu Chi has been helping Chinese refugees stranded in northern Thailand. The original plan included rebuilding houses and providing agricultural assistance. In March this year, aid was expanded to building a Tzu Chi school in Ampur Fang, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Local Tzu Chi members believe that access to education is the most important step in improving the life of people in remote mountain areas. In 1997, the Thai government allowed schools to teach Chinese and supported Tzu Chi's plan to build a school.

The new elementary and secondary school will occupy 19.4 hectares [47.9 acres] of land in Ampur Fang, a city about 153 kilometers [95 miles] from Chiang Mai. Construction will begin in April this year, and the schools will start accepting students in May 2003. The student population will consist of both Chinese and Thai students, who will be taught in both languages. Master Cheng Yen's book Still Thoughts will be included in the curriculum.

Love to a leprosarium

Tzu Chi members in Kuala Lumpur have been visiting and helping residents of a leprosarium in Swangsi-Maulu, a suburb of Kuala Lumpur. Several decades ago, most people had very limited knowledge about leprosy, so patients were isolated from the society for the rest of their lives. Although the disease is not contagious, the patients have locked themselves up psychologically.

After Tzu Chi volunteers started visiting the institution about six years ago, however, residents there slowly opened themselves to outsiders and gained the courage to step out of their homes.

The volunteers' compassion encouraged residents to do good deeds as well. Every month, they collect money and donate it to Tzu Chi. Some collect recyclable paper boxes, which Tzu Chi trucks away every month.

February 24--San Francisco Tzu Chi Day

February 14 was St. Valentine's Day, but San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown also declared it "San Francisco Tzu Chi Day."

The Tzu Chi liaison office in San Francisco held an appreciation luncheon for police officers in the Sunset district. State Governor Gray Davis and San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown were both invited to attend. The governor stated that the excellent contributions by Tzu Chi members had become a model for all people, and the mayor declared February 14 San Francisco Tzu Chi Day. This brought enormous joy to all people present. A volunteer indicated that Master Cheng Yen had taught Tzu Chi members to use local resources to help local people. Following the words of their master, local Tzu Chi volunteers were all willing to help needy people in San Francisco, as well as those around the world.