"We haven't had such tasty buns in many years," said an old man after taking seven or eight of them. Hearing this pleasant remark, one of the Tzu Chi sisters replied, "Next time, we'll bring buns with other kinds of fillings."

Tzu Chi members in Thailand walked long on a rugged mountain path to the nursing home in Je Shui Tang, Chingmai. They carried blessings and red envelopes of money from Master Cheng Yen, and vegetarian buns that they had made themselves so that the disabled old soldiers could feel the warmth from their compatriots as well as enjoying the traditional, tasty Chinese snacks.

Right now there are 91 disabled old Chinese soldiers in Je Shui Tang, who were stranded there when the Nationalist government fled mainland China in 1949. There are only six attendants looking after them. Once their lonely eyes caught the sight of smiling Tzu Chi members in their blue and white uniforms, their faces beamed. They put their palms together and greeted the Tzu Chi people enthusiastically: "Amitabha!"

Brother Ming-chuan Chang conveyed Master Cheng Yen's regards to the old men, and he also distributed to each of them a red envelope from the Master, along with four additional red envelopes contributed by Tzu Chi brothers and sisters. Amidst the sounds of gratitude, Tzu Chi members led the old soldiers in singing the Tzu Chi song, "Three No's."

Sister Hsiao-ching Fang, a former professional singer who was taking part in such a visit for the first time, was requested to sing "Chao-chun Wang"* and "When Will You Come Again?" Sister Fang was very moved and said, "From the smiling faces of those old men, I could feel that I had developed my altruism. Chao-chun Wang was married to the sheik of a Mongolian tribe in the Han Dynasty to accomplish a diplomatic mission. Those old men fought bravely in the war in their early years. Basically they did the same thing: they fought for our country so that people could enjoy a peaceful life."

In order that the old men could have hot buns to eat, Sister Chi-hua Tsou and Sister Shou-mei Liu steamed 300 buns that they had prepared for two days. Sister Tsou laughed, "With making all that dough, my right hand was as swollen as the buns."

One old man stood up with tears in his eyes and said, "Today is the Lantern Festival. You came from so far away to spend this joyful occasion with us. Your warmth really moves us. I am not a good speaker. However, I can't help standing up to express our gratitude to you. Please tell your Master how grateful we are."

The Northern Thailand Three Year Relief Project is one of the long term projects in Tzu Chi's international relief work. It includes monthly allowances and medical subsidies for the disabled old soldiers in the nursing home. Tzu Chi members in Thailand help carry out that project. In addition, they also visit the nursing home when they can to show their care and concern for those old men.

*Chao-chun Wang was one of the four beauties in Chinese history. According to legend, she was chosen by one of the emperors in the Han Dynasty to marry the sheik of a Mongolian tribe, in order to appease that tribe which was threatening the northeastern border of China.

One who idles from day to day is a consumer of life; one who is active and useful is a creator of life.