![Aunt Chiong cutting the ribbon to mark the ‘opening’ of the newly constructed toilet. [Photo by Koo Han Wu]](/images/Articles/CS/2023/20230528__2569_.jpg "Aunt Chiong cutting the ribbon to mark the ‘opening’ of the newly constructed toilet. [Photo by Koo Han Wu]")
Aunt Chiong, who lives alone in an orchard, faced the challenges of living without a toilet in her home. Recognising the inconvenience she endured, a dedicated team of Tzu Chi volunteers got together to construct a toilet for her.
Chiong Swei Hiong, 69, who lives alone, shared, “After my husband passed away a few years ago, I have been tending to this orchard all by myself.” Her voice trembled, revealing her deep longing for him.
During their younger years, Aunt Chiong and her husband frequently relocated for employment purposes. To allow them to focus on their livelihoods, her sister-in-law took their child to live with her and study in Bintulu. As their child grew up, got married, and started his own family, his busy schedule made it difficult for him to visit the elderly couple regularly. Despite having sisters, Aunt Chiong hardly got in touch with them.
With their hard-earned savings, the diligent couple purchased a three-acre plot of land in Sibuti, approximately an hour’s drive from Miri. They left behind the bustling city life and ventured into the mountains, clearing the land themselves and cultivating fruit trees, embracing a farming lifestyle.
Initially, they built a simple wooden house to reside in. After it was damaged, they constructed a new one, leveraging her husband’s previous experience in construction work. While Aunt Chiong’s husband cut and sawed trees on the mountain, she carried the logs down the slope. Building their home within the orchard proved to be a time-consuming endeavour.
Due to the considerable distance from the city, there was no access to electricity or running water in the orchard. Despite this, they led a content and cosy life together.
◎ Embracing a simple rustic life
Not long after the completion of their house, Aunt Chiong’s husband became physically unwell, and his health gradually deteriorated over time. After his demise, Aunt Chiong decided to remain in the orchard, as she was reluctant to let go of the orchard that she and her husband had painstakingly built together. However, the vastness of the orchard proved too much for her to manage alone. As a result, certain areas became overgrown with weeds, and she could only rely on nature for the growth of the fruit trees.
In the afternoons, after hours of hard work in the orchard, Aunt Chiong would fill her time sewing patchwork quilts or reading books. She has become accustomed to cooking over a firewood stove and utilising rainwater for drinking and cleaning, as the mountainous region lacked the convenience of running water and electricity.
Throughout the quiet evenings, her sole companions were the gentle moonlight and the chorus of frogs and insects. As a devoted Buddhist, she made it a practice to recite the Buddha’s name each night after dinner, finding solace in her faith before retiring for bed.
◎ A chance encounter leading to a meaningful connection
Volunteer Ling Teck Ling recounted a serendipitous encounter that brought him into Aunt Chiong’s life. He shared, “At that time, I had purchased a piece of land nearby to cultivate durians and stumbled upon a trail. Driven by curiosity, I decided to follow the trail and see where it led to. That was when I discovered Aunt Chiong, living alone in the orchard.”
Upon learning about Aunt Chiong’s circumstances, Teck Ling felt a deep sense of empathy for her. Since then, he started visiting her several times a week, bringing her daily necessities and food, lending a helping hand with weeding, or just checking on her well-being.
Aunt Chiong’s gratitude towards Teck Ling shone through her words. She expressed, “Ah Ling takes such good care of me. He even installed solar lights so I could have illumination during the night. Whenever he visits, he always brings something along.”
Their relationship developed in a manner reminiscent of a mother and son. Aunt Chiong would affectionately address Teck Ling, saying, “Ah Ling, it is scorching today. Please cut some coconuts for our Tzu Chi brothers and sisters to quench their thirst...” or “Ah Ling, is that soursop ripe? Please pick some for everyone to enjoy...”
◎ Bound by Great Love, we bring love together
Upon hearing about Aunt Chiong’s situation, Teck Ling’s friend and fellow Tzu Chi volunteer, Yeo Shu Ting, joined him in visiting Aunt Chiong on a regular basis. Eventually, they brought her case to the attention of Tzu Chi.
During one of their visits, the volunteers discovered that Aunt Chiong’s late husband had intended to build a toilet for their home but was unable to fulfil the plan due to his deteriorating health. Consequently, Aunt Chiong had to trek a distance to use the toilet in their old wooden house and bathe by the well in the orchard.
After careful discussions, the volunteers made the decision to construct a toilet for Aunt Chiong. Teck Ling and Shu Ting took on the task of procuring the necessary building materials. Additionally, upon learning about the cause, several friends contributed donations towards the materials. Meanwhile, workers were enlisted to dig a pit using an excavator, install the cesspool, and prepare the cement floor in advance.
On May 28, 2023, the volunteers embarked on their journey to the orchard in four-wheel-drive vehicles. After an arduous hour-long drive along the mountainous roads, they arrived at their destination, where Aunt Chiong eagerly awaited their arrival outside her home.
Following a briefing, everyone assumed their respective roles, equipped with their tools, and began their work. Male volunteers focused on constructing the toilet while the female volunteers started a fire to grill corn and potatoes, preparing refreshments and lunch for everyone. Laughter and the sound of hammers filled the previously tranquil orchard.
Aunt Chiong herself was not idle. She taught the volunteers how to start a fire and cook using firewood, sharing bits and pieces about her daily life. At the side of her house, there were stacks of firewood she had collected from the woods for cooking, as well as a few large blue barrels—one for cleaning purposes and another for filtering rainwater for drinking. According to Aunt Chiong, who skilfully lit a fire and cooked, food prepared with firewood always tastes better.
◎ Finding joy in acts of kindness
Volunteer Chung Ming Mei extended an invitation to Dr. Loo Guo Hou, a surgeon from the Klang Valley serving at Miri Hospital, to join them in the construction mission. Dr. Loo had expressed his interest in participating in charitable activities after being introduced to Tzu Chi by the hospital’s welfare officer and learning about Tzu Chi’s assistance to needy patients. He remarked, “I have never experienced living in a place without water, electricity, and telecommunication services, let alone without a toilet. It must be challenging to live in such an environment.”
On this occasion, Dr. Loo set aside his surgical instruments and instead picked up a hoe, joining the volunteers in digging ditches and removing soil. As someone who rarely engages in manual labour, it was a unique experience for him. He shared, “I now understand the arduous life some people face every day. Although the work we are doing today is tiring, we were able to accomplish it quickly through collective efforts.”
Volunteer Ling Su Yien, a busy accountant, cherishes every opportunity to contribute to charitable causes. She rarely misses Tzu Chi’s activities, including this construction mission. Despite the profuse sweat and physical exertion of shovelling and moving dirt under the scorching sun, she expressed, “Today’s work is physically demanding, but everyone is filled with joy.”
Volunteer Yii Hee Hung reflected, “When I first visited Aunt Chiong to provide care, I learned that she lived alone in a secluded orchard and there was no toilet in her house. That’s why I came with fellow volunteers today to assist her in building one.” To Hee Hung, Aunt Chiong is like a cherished elder in his own family. Hearing about the challenges she faced in life saddened him, and he hoped that the newly constructed toilet would bring greater convenience to this elderly lady’s life.
Ling Heng Jie, who frequently tags along with his father, Teck Ling, during visits to Aunt Chiong, possesses a kind heart just like his father. He expressed, “Now that the toilet is built, Aunt Chiong no longer has to struggle. I am genuinely happy for her.”
Teck Ling, a construction contractor, had meticulously planned and prepared for the construction of the toilet. He actively participated in the construction process, despite the scorching sun that turned his face rosy. Seeing the toilet ready for use brought him immense relief.
Aunt Chiong shared her heartfelt gratitude, saying, “Every night, I would sincerely recite the Buddha’s name and sometimes silently ask the Buddha and Bodhisattvas why they had not noticed or taken care of me. But one day, I dreamt of the Bodhisattvas. The experience felt so real, and it filled me with overwhelming joy and deep emotions. Today, when I see how everyone cares for me, especially Ah Ling, who visits me almost daily, I believe that this is how the Bodhisattvas would care for me. I am truly grateful to everyone.”
Aunt Chiong’s words resonate with the teachings of Master Cheng Yen, that by personally entering the lives of those in need, alleviating their suffering, and bringing forth joy, we embody the spirit of Bodhisattvas in this world.
