They left Taiwan and traveled thousands of miles to Lesotho, a tiny nation surrounded by South Africa. While they were building their dreams, however, the Taiwanese businesspeople in Lesotho also experienced much hardship.

Small clay huts were sparsely scattered along the hills. The only solidly constructed building was a small church, which stood several feet higher than the huts. On the lawn which extended from the church, seven or eight kids lay prone with their small hands propping up their heads. They looked curiously at the Tzu Chi members, their thick, curly eyelashes like open curtains. Villagers stood in line to receive relief materials. When they received their packages, they couldn't wait to open them. They stepped aside, took out the clothes and immediately tried them on. The quiet village was suddenly filled with noise and infectious laughter that could magically pierce through people's hearts. There were smiles on every face.

Lesotho is known as the "Kingdom of the Sky." Precipices and steep cliffs provide spectacular scenery. In the 30,000 square kilometers [12,000 sq. mi.] of land, there is no place lower than 1,000 meters [3,300 ft.] above sea level. In the central and northeastern areas are the Maluti and Drakensberg Mountains. In the west, there is a narrow strip of land that is about thirty-two to forty-eight kilometers [20 to 30 mi.] wide, where two-thirds of the population is clustered.

Sweet corn, sorghum and vegetables are planted on the limited fertile land. Since the agricultural products are insufficient to meet the needs of the whole country, raising sheep and goats has become the means of support for many families.

Taiwanese businesspeople left their native land and traveled thousands of miles to this tiny, barren kingdom wholly surrounded by South Africa. While the Taiwanese were building their dreams in Lesotho, they also experienced a great deal of hardship. Since the Tzu Chi liaison office in Lesotho was established in October 1995, however, they have been instilled with great love and have been able to share the laughter and companionship of the people of Lesotho.

The Riot

In describing Tzu Chi people's misfortunes in Lesotho, we have to trace back to a riot which occurred in 1991. That year, a woman was mistaken for a thief and was subsequently beaten to death. That incident was intentionally exaggerated by agitators and, like a prairie fire caused by a spark, a riot broke out. Taiwanese businessmen were seriously affected.

Sister Cheng Shu-feng remembers that time. "There were already several robberies that night. The following day, we opened our stores and kept on working. Shortly after 10 a.m., there was chaos at the bus station. About twenty buses drove into Lesotho from South Africa. The situation was very critical. We hurried to close our stores, but it was too late."

There were two to three hundred ruffians from South Africa, each one with a machete or an iron bar in hand. As soon as they got off the buses, they started to wreak havoc. Some Chinese store owners threw cash out onto the streets, trying to discourage the mob from breaking in. Some Taiwanese were able to escape to South Africa. Those who lived further away from the border could not leave the country. Crazy mobs beat Chinese whenever they encountered them.

Even after so many years, Shu-feng's eyes tear up when she speaks of the past. "I was at home with my child. Whenever we left our home, we were approached by people. We could only hide in the house. I could see the ambulance carrying away other people. After waiting a long time, the ambulance finally came back to get us. When I saw my other children at the border, I couldn't help but hold them and cry. I guess it was the relief of knowing that we survived."

Through the arrangement of the municipal government of Ladybrand, a town in South Africa near the Lesotho border, the victimized Taiwanese temporarily stayed in army barracks or on a playground. When the riot was finally over two weeks later, the Taiwanese went back to their homes and businesses which they had so arduously built. When they saw their gutted, vandalized stores, they couldn't help but feel very sad.

This hardship was very difficult to swallow and they felt bewildered. Some people left the country, and some moved to the border of South Africa. About seventy families moved to Ladybrand.

Even though they settled in South Africa, Taiwanese businesspeople still returned to Lesotho to run the stores. "We must get back up whenever we fall down," Wu Hsiang-huang said quietly. Although he showed no fear while he was speaking, his exhausted face still revealed the difficulty of starting over.

Getting Over the Fear

While the Taiwanese were working to rebuild what they had lost, their fear subsided, but they did not really regain their peace of mind until they met people from Tzu Chi. In 1995, Mr. and Mrs. Wu Wen-chang read in the local newspaper about the establishment of the Tzu Chi South Africa liaison office. They immediately contacted the person in charge, Wu Kuo-jung, and became Tzu Chi members, along with some other Taiwanese businesspeople. Mrs. Wu said, "I came to Lesotho empty-handed, but I have always worked hard and done business honestly. I have gradually built up a good reputation. I bought a house and my children started school, yet I seldom did any good for others. Now I feel it's great to help other people a little."

In May 1995, the Tzu Chi Foundation sent fifteen containers of used clothes from Taiwan to South Africa. Several commissioners participated in the distribution. At that time, people in two villages in Lesotho were fighting and burning each other's property. In Johannesburg, Tzu Chi members who were distributing clothes heard the news. As soon as the fighting was over, they immediately rushed to distribute clothes in Lesotho. Mrs. Wu said, "The distribution actually activated the love in our hearts."

In October 1995, the Tzu Chi Lesotho liaison office was established and Wu Wen-chang was elected leader. Three-quarters of the Taiwanese businesspeople in Lesotho became Tzu Chi members. They had always hoped to do good deeds, but they just hadn't found the proper channel. The Tzu Chi office was like a lamp showing them the way.

They asked the city government of Ladybrand to give them a list of names of five hundred poor people. On July 16, 1995, they made the first distribution to poor people living near a trash dumpsite. Too many people came. Some people who had already received relief supplies went out the back door of the assembly hall and came back in the front door. Tzu Chi members, who still had lingering fears from the 1991 riot, became frightened and decided to leave. The women and children left first. The men handed over whatever materials were left to the government officials and promised that two weeks later they would make up for the 150 people who did not get relief supplies. Then they hurried out.

At that time, the Tzu Chi people were not familiar with distribution procedures. When there were surrounded by so many people, the fear of rioting came back to them. Now when they recalled that incident, they could talk about it and laugh. As they spoke, they patted each other on their shoulders and laughed until they cried. Wu Hsiang-huang wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and said confidently, "Now we know how to handle it." Standing beside him was Chang Che-fu, a simple, honest man whose smile could still be seen. He shook his head and said firmly, "We just do it."

In addition to making relief distributions, Tzu Chi members have also provided assistance to other charity organizations and the poor. In order to correctly understand the needs of the people of Lesotho, Tzu Chi members asked priests and community leaders to help them screen those families who needed long-term care the most.

"I am in charge of the district of Teyateyaneng, a city to the north of the capital, Maseru," said Mrs. Wu. "First we asked the local leaders to find out who needed long-term care. After we received the list of names, we went to meet each one of them. The people of Lesotho speak Sesotho, which I don't understand, but my husband and his local partner would visit them. Gradually the people came to know about Tzu Chi and they also began to recognize our lotus flower logo."

Wu Hsiang-huang regrets that they can't do more. "Lesotho is a very poor country. Many people need help here. We have only about eighty Taiwanese businesspeople here, so our burden is heavy. We can only do our best."

Right now there are forty-two families that receive long-term care from Tzu Chi. Each family receives a subsidy of fifty Maloti each month [about US$10]. Local Tzu Chi members have a strong tacit agreement among themselves to support each other. Wherever there is a shortage of something, they make up for it quickly. Right now most Tzu Chi charitable activities are sponsored by the Taiwanese community, but many local people also want to join in. Wu Wen-chang's local partner, George Mphafi, has participated in each distribution. He also helps Tzu Chi people communicate with the people of Lesotho. "If we want Tzu Chi to grow here, we have to recruit local people," emphasizd Wu Hsiang-huang.

We Are the Beneficiaries

Although they are helping more and more people now, Tzu Chi members in Lesotho feel that they themselves are the real beneficiaries. "In the past we spent our leisure time eating and playing. By doing the work of Tzu Chi, we have upgraded the image of the Taiwanese. The most important thing is that we are tightly united together." Chen Jui-hsiang has been in Lesotho for thirteen years. She said that she did not know much about the culture of Lesotho until she joined Tzu Chi. She found out that many people needed help.

In addition to understanding more about the local situation, joining Tzu Chi charitable activities is another way to develop spiritually. "In the beginning, I did Tzu Chi work for fun," Wu Hsiang-huang said. "But now I find it more and more meaningful." Although he was born in Hualien, he visited the Abode of Still Thoughts for the first time in May 1996 when he took part in a spiritual seminar with Tzu Chi members from all over the world. Seeing others so dedicated to charitable activities, he couldn't help but feel ashamed of himself. "I saw others working so hard for Tzu Chi, and I thought that I just had to join this wonderful foundation."

"Having been in Tzu Chi for two years," Wu continued, "I feel I have made so much progress in my moral cultivation. For instance, when we give relief supplies to the poor, we say 'thank you' to the recipients. Those two words, 'thank you,' have had so much influence on me. I used to be an army officer, and when I gave orders to my subordinates, it made me feel that I was superior to the people around me. Now that I am a Tzu Chi member, I have to speak softly. The first time I went to collect donations, I felt pretty uncomfortable. But I had to overcome it. Now I am all right."

His wife added that Tzu Chi members are so gentle and speak so softly. It makes her feel very good. Her son is in the third grade. He once wrote a composition about "My Father," in which he said that his father was very changeable, just like the weather. Mrs. Wu has seen her husband's disposition improve, so she gives him her full support. In the past her husband could not let go of many things, but now he is much more open-minded.

The riot in 1991 cast a shadow which can never be removed. However, after joining Tzu Chi, people feel much safer. Mr. and Mrs. Wu observed that the contributions made by Tzu Chi people to the local society have obviously changed people's impressions of Taiwanese businesspeople.

On February 12 this year, there was a serious conflict between police and strikers in Maseru, the capital of Lesotho. Given their past experience, many Taiwanese businesspeople quickly left for South Africa. After one and one-half days, Chen Jui-hsiang received a phone call from a friend, who expressed his concern for his Taiwanese friends and said that everything was fine and they could come back. Wu Wen-chang remarked that the riot made them feel that Tzu Chi had not done enough and that they had to work harder.