![Zarinah (second from left), a Myanmarese refugee, is immigrating to the United States with her family. Tzu Chi volunteers organised a farewell tea party at her home prior to their departure, and she embraced volunteer Wong Pooi Wan, feeling reluctant to part with her. [Photo by Lim Chin Shein]](/images/Articles/PPL/2023/KL20230521_lzs01_050.jpg "Zarinah (second from left), a Myanmarese refugee, is immigrating to the United States with her family. Tzu Chi volunteers organised a farewell tea party at her home prior to their departure, and she embraced volunteer Wong Pooi Wan, feeling reluctant to part with her. [Photo by Lim Chin Shein]")
“Besides saying thank you, I am at a loss for words. I am incredibly grateful to all of you,” Zarinah expressed with deep emotion as she gazed at the volunteers surrounding her and her family. She embraced volunteer Wong Pooi Wan while repeatedly expressing her gratitude amidst tears. In that moment, an indescribable mixture of gratitude and reluctance to part filled the air…
On May 21, 2023, Tzu Chi volunteers arrived at the home of Zarinah Sultan Ahmad, a Burmese refugee. “We are here! We have brought a lot of things! We are here to organise a tea party!” The volunteers greeted enthusiastically, carrying large suitcases, as well as boxes and bags of food.
Zarinah and her husband, Mohd Usman Abdul Rahman, eagerly welcomed them. When Zarinah saw volunteer Heng Wa Seng approaching with four large suitcases, while the other eight volunteers entering the house with boxes and bags, her face lit up with a smile. She quickly gathered her family members to come out and greet the volunteers.
◎ Hope to stay connected with Tzu Chi
Upon seeing Zarinah, volunteer Wong Pooi Wan, who has been regularly visiting and caring for Zarinah for almost two years, embraced her and handed her the Tzu Chi donation receipt. It turned out that Zarinah and her family have been donating the money they have collected in a bamboo bank as charitable contributions on a monthly basis.
“This is the English edition of the Tzu Chi magazine for you. When you arrive in the United States, you can use this magazine to ask people around you. If someone happens to know Tzu Chi, you can then get in touch with Tzu Chi volunteers there and seek their assistance whenever needed.” Pooi Wan sincerely hoped that Zarinah, who will be immigrating to New York on the following Tuesday (May 23), can reconnect with Tzu Chi.
Meanwhile, Mohd Usman handed their bamboo bank to Pooi Wan, indicating that it contained the family’s donation for the month. Despite their impending departure, they did not forget to contribute and perform good deeds.
Before the farewell tea party began, Pooi Wan and the volunteers eagerly presented their respective gifts to Zarinah, conveying their blessings and sharing the joy.
“I am giving you this oatmeal produced by Tzu Chi, which is highly nutritious. If you feel hungry on the plane, you can use hot water to make a drink with it.”
“A business owner heard that you will be on a flight for more than 20 hours and was concerned that your children might get bored. So, she prepared a big bag of snacks for you to enjoy on the plane.”
“And here, a keychain with a Jing Si aphorism, a red envelope of blessings and wisdom, and a string of prayer beads. We hope you have a smooth journey to the United States and can start a new life.”
As Zarinah received each gift and blessings from the volunteers, tears welled up in her eyes. She was overcome with emotions and struggled to find words. Mohd Usman listened intently as the volunteers shared about the significance of the red envelope of blessings and wisdom. Learning that it carried blessings from Master Cheng Yen to Tzu Chi volunteers and members of the public worldwide, he immediately asked, “If we show this red envelope to people, will those who have contact with Tzu Chi definitely recognise it?”
Although Wa Seng had already provided Mohd Usman with Tzu Chi’s contact number and address in New York, it remained uncertain whether their accommodation would be nearby and whether they would be able to establish contact with Tzu Chi. Therefore, Mohd Usman treasured the red envelope and expressed his intention to keep it safe, as the red envelope and the Tzu Chi magazine would serve as their “tokens” for seeking out Tzu Chi in the United States.
Mohd Usman expressed that once they arrive in New York, he and his son-in-law, Mohammad Amran Munir Ahmand, hope to find Tzu Chi as soon as possible, as they yearned to participate in Tzu Chi’s activities and engage in recycling activities, just as they did in Kuala Lumpur.
◎ A farewell gathering filled with laughter and joy
Aware that there were no large tables or spare chairs in Zarinah’s home to accommodate the food and seating, Pooi Wan had the volunteers arrange the boxes of food on the living room floor, with everyone gathering around them. The volunteers then enthusiastically introduced the delicious food to Zarinah and her family.
“Today, we have brought homemade pastries. We have pandan coconut rolls, ‘angku kueh’, mung bean cake, pumpkin cake, curry puffs, agar-agar jelly, as well as this big cake, tangerines, and bananas. These are all the foods you can enjoy.”
Pooi Wan proceeded to fill some plates with a variety of food before serving them one by one to Zarinah and her family. The volunteers also leisurely savoured the food. Pooi Wan highly recommended the specially customised large cake and began serving slices of it to those around her.
The volunteers expressed their concern for Zarinah and her family, acknowledging the long flight duration of over 20 hours, and preparing them for the prospect of an entirely different life in New York. When Mohammad Amran mentioned the five-year wait for obtaining formal citizenship in the United States and expressed uncertainty about finding a suitable job in the new place, the volunteers reassured him that five years would pass by quickly. They suggested that he and Mohd Usman could consider returning to their familiar construction work or explore opportunities in agriculture. The volunteers offered various suggestions, filling the conversation with hopeful anticipation for Zarinah’s family’s life in the United States.
“Today, we are here to bid farewell to Zarinah and her family, but it feels like you all (volunteers) are the ones going to the United States,” Wa Seng teased the volunteers, observing their joyfulness and excitement.
The volunteers chuckled, appreciating the humour. For Zarinah, moments of laughter like today were rare since she left her home country for Malaysia. Life has been filled with more bitterness than sweetness during her 11 years in Malaysia.
◎ Unburdening the pain and worries in her heart
Zarinah, 42, is a mother of five daughters. Her two eldest daughters have started their own families and have children. Currently, she and her husband live with their third daughter, son-in-law, and young granddaughter, as well as their fourth and fifth daughters who are still studying.
Reflecting on her journey to Malaysia, Zarinah could not hide her feelings of sadness. In 2012, she and her family borrowed money from their relatives and friends to escape from Myanmar and immigrate to Malaysia illegally. Her husband, Mohd Usman, took on construction work and various odd jobs like painting and plumbing to support the family and repay the borrowed money. Life was incredibly challenging.
In 2017, after finally paying off their debts, Zarinah thought she could finally breathe a sigh of relief and live a relatively stable life. However, she began experiencing frequent back pain, dizziness, and vomiting. A friend referred her to Tzu-Chi Free Clinic, where the doctor referred her to a government hospital for further examination, suspecting a severe condition. The diagnosis revealed that she was in the late stage of kidney failure and required immediate dialysis.
The monthly dialysis cost added to the financial burden on Mohd Usman, exacerbating their already difficult circumstances. In their distress, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Malaysia offered assistance, subsidising half of Zarinah’s dialysis expenses and seeking support from Tzu Chi for the remaining half.
“Since I started dialysis, Tzu Chi has been helping me consistently, without fail, for six years. Tzu Chi volunteers also visit my home every month,” said Zarinah, who may not be articulate but sincerely expressed her gratitude for the agreement reached between UNHCR and Tzu Chi last year, which led to Tzu Chi fully subsidising her dialysis and Erythropoietin (EPO) injection expenses.
Pooi Wan recounted her experience of caring for Zarinah for the past two years. Despite the language barrier that made communication with the volunteers challenging, they found ways to interact with the help of Mohammad Amran, who had better command of the Malay language.
Even during the COVID-19 movement control order period, Pooi Wan had persistently provided care. Upon learning that Mohd Usman and Mohammad Amran had both lost their jobs, she often delivered rice and provisions to ensure the family would not go hungry. She also assisted Zarinah in purchasing medications for hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, and inflammation, which Zarinah needed to take daily.
Later, as the pandemic situation improved and life slowly returned to normal, Mohd Usman and Mohammad Amran found new jobs. Whilst, Pooi Wan and the volunteers continued to visit Zarinah’s family monthly. “Perhaps due to her kidney condition, Zarinah seldom spoke during our visits, and her brows were always furrowed. Yet, I was unsure how to comfort her.”
Pooi Wan found the way during a charity activity, where she heard fellow volunteers share stories of how a care recipient had transformed from being an aid recipient to becoming a giver. She was inspired to guide Zarinah to give, as it could help alleviate the burdens and troubles in her heart.
◎ Committed to environmental conservation despite challenges
With a pure intention to care and love a little more, Pooi Wan brought a bamboo bank and shared the inspiring story of Tzu Chi’s Bamboo Bank Era with Zarinah and her family.
Amazed that even small amounts of change could make a difference in helping others, Zarinah and her family started depositing their loose change into the bamboo bank. Every month, they would pour out the collected money and count them together with the volunteers. Whether it was just a few ringgits or more, their contributions had the power to make a positive impact on others. Zarinah felt a sense of purpose and realised that she and her family could also play a part in helping others.
This change in mindset brought solace to Zarinah’s troubled heart, and she began to smile more. She would use her limited Malay language to share her joy, telling Pooi Wan how she showcased the bamboo bank to her friends and fellow countrymen, sharing stories of Tzu Chi’s compassionate work during their visits. She delighted in the fact that her visitors would contribute loose change to the bamboo bank in response.
Pooi Wan was touched by Zarinah’s desire to help others. She took the opportunity to introduce Tzu Chi’s efforts in environmental conservation and encouraged Mohd Usman and Mohammad Amran to visit the nearby Tzu Chi recycling point. When the volunteers took the two men on a tour of the recycling point, they noticed that many of the volunteers were actually elderly people.
Mohammad Amran was deeply moved by the sight of these elderly volunteers tirelessly carrying and sorting recyclables without showing signs of fatigue. He questioned himself, “How could I, a young man, not join them?” He also learned from the volunteers about the concept of saving the Earth through environmental conservation efforts. Inspired by their dedication, he and Mohd Usman both decided to commit their time to participate in the monthly recycling day.
Over the past year, Mohammad Amran and Mohd Usman became increasingly enthusiastic about environmental conservation. Rain or shine, they showed up every month and even brought along their fellow countrymen and friends to join in. When the volunteers expressed gratitude for their contributions, Mohammad Amran sincerely replied, “I have witnessed how Tzu Chi volunteers help my family unconditionally. For six years, they have never given up or complained. I am extremely grateful. Even if we were in our hometown, I doubt anyone would provide such long-term assistance. Since Tzu Chi volunteers have helped us, we should also help others. We are not the only ones in this world facing struggles. Many others are also facing challenges and illnesses. We must lend a helping hand whenever we can.”
Although Mohammad Amran only married Zarinah’s third daughter and moved in with the family in 2020, he had already heard about the volunteers’ acts of kindness and was deeply touched by their efforts. Through further interactions with the volunteers, he grew to believe in their kindness and love even more.
Every month, when Pooi Wan and the other volunteers visited, Mohd Usman and his family would share the joy they experienced from doing good deeds. Over time, the relationship between the family and the volunteers had grown into something resembling a family bond.
◎ The long-awaited good news
After nine years of waiting, Zarinah and her family finally received the long-awaited good news from the UNHCR at the end of last year. All seven family members, who lived together, were approved for immigration to New York.
Within a few months, they completed all the necessary procedures, including medical examinations, vaccinations, and training courses. Their departure was scheduled for May 23, and before leaving, Zarinah asked if the volunteers could take her family to visit the Tzu-Chi Jing Si Hall. The volunteers gladly arranged for a visit on May 14, which coincided with Tzu Chi’s annual celebration of Buddha Day, Mother’s Day, and Tzu Chi Day. Although Zarinah was not feeling well on the day of their visit and could only stay for an hour, the opportunity to see the majestic Jing Si Hall brought her deep satisfaction.
When Pooi Wan learned that Zarinah needed to purchase three months’ worth of medications to bring with her to the United States but was facing financial difficulties, she assisted her in applying for emergency financial assistance from Tzu Chi. Accompanied by volunteers, Mohd Usman went to the pharmacy to purchase the necessary medications.
Furthermore, upon discovering that Zarinah’s family lacked large suitcases, Pooi Wan and the other volunteers obtained three brand new and practical large suitcases from the recycling centre. However, as these were still insufficient to pack the clothing and personal belongings of all seven family members, the volunteers looked for four additional large suitcases and presented them during the farewell gathering.
As they bid farewells after moments of joy and laughter, Zarinah tearfully embraced each volunteer sister. When hugging Pooi Wan, she murmured, “You all are kind-hearted and good people, my dear sisters!”
Pooi Wan and the other volunteers also took turns giving high fives to Zarinah and her family, offering their support and blessings. As they waved goodbye at the doorstep, a strong sense of reluctance brought tears to Zarinah’s eyes once again...
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After the family’s expected arrival in the United States, the staff at Tzu Chi KL & Selangor Chapter made several attempts to contact Mohd Usman to check on their well-being. However, they were unable to reach him, which raised concerns among the volunteers. It was not until May 29 that they finally managed to get in touch with Mohammad Amran, who informed them that Zarinah was not feeling well and had been admitted to a hospital for dialysis upon their arrival in the new country.
Despite this, the volunteers felt relieved to learn that the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) had provided timely assistance to the family. They sincerely wished for Zarinah’s speedy recovery, and for her and her family to quickly adapt to their new life, free from the constraints of their refugee status.
