Written by Ling-Lan Ke Photographed by Jin-He Zhang
Translated by Mindy Chen Proofread by Grace Wang

On Sep 9th 2019, volunteers of the Logistics Team arrived in Hualien at 10 am from northern branches, all ready for providing services during the annual TIMA event. A meeting was held at 10:30 am in the campus cafeteria to brief the volunteers on important information about their tasks assigned. After lunch, volunteers started carrying out their duty - cleaning up the dorms for TIMA attendees and the Guest House for the international lecturers, media personnel and other guests.

Wang May-Li, an elderly volunteer, put the nylon ropes away in the Tzu Chi Global Dormitory. She mentioned that the segmented ropes can be reused to make things like hand bags.

After being certified as a Tzu Chi commissioner, Guo Chun-Ying from Beitou joined the Logistics Team and eight years quickly went by. With her partner in the team, they take the task of cleaning toilets. Once in a camp, she was praised for doing a great toilet clean-up job, that none of the contract cleaners can be on a par with her. Chun-Ying Guo expressed that she always feels extremely joyful whenever she fulfills her duty. Moreover, she attains dharma-joy when the camp attendees express their gratitude for the clean and shiny toilets.

Since it’s summer, thin blankets and pillow covers are prepared for the rooms. Volunteers worked out together to figure out a way to fold the thin blankets well. Cai Yu Gui-Lan, the contact person of the Logistics Team, said, “We regard Tzu Chi as our home therefore we take care of people as our family members and deal with all matters like family matters. Base on that thought, the way we communicate with people on the team and take care of all matters gets better and better.” If we can minimize ourselves and respect others, people will respect you as well. She thinks that whatever camp one attends, it is always a kind of learning and at the end, the more you work the more you harvest.

Zhan Ting-Ting from Neihu is the contact person of the Guest House. She joined Tzu Chi because she thought she can help people through Tzu Chi’s works. Now however, she realizes that it’s not others but herself that is being helped. If one can give and ask for nothing in return, one receives more because of selfless giving. As a contact person, she simply does what she can do diligently and mindfully. She stated, “As long as we reach an agreement, we respect everyone’s own way of dealing with matters. We regard the Guest House like a Hotel. My partners feel excited about managing a HOTEL; it’s a new experience for us. At the same time, we will treat the guest house like our own homes and do the cleaning works perfectly.” The members of the Logistics Team usually act behind the scenes. Although they get sweaty and tired doing the cleaning, they all want to put in every effort to let the guest feel at home in the Guest House.

TIMA’s special guests include international lecturers, media personnel and VIPs who arrive in different times because of transportation schedule and different arrangements like trains or flights. Therefore, the welcoming plan must be flexible accordingly. Zhan Ting-Ting expressed that it’s important that the special guests can experience Tzu Chi’s humanistic cultures and feel being cared for, through the gifts and the cards with Jing Si Aphorism which were prepared by Dharma Masters of Jing Si Abode and placed carefully in their rooms by volunteers.

Zhan Ting-Ting served as a Logistics Team member in TIMA Annual Convention three years ago. Back then she was still working as a company worker. However, she managed time well and frequently participated in Tzu Chi voluntary services in Tzu Chi Hospital, communities and camps. She was quite busy however she shared her experience, “when you are determined to fulfill a mission, you will make time for it no matter how busy you are!”

Volunteers of the Logistics Team arrived in Hualien from northern Branches on Sept. 9th. They cleaned up the dorms and the Guest House. The photo showed that they were attending a meeting to get briefing of their tasks.

Volunteers delivered blankets, pillow covers and thin blankets to all rooms of the dorm. Senior volunteer Wang May-Li(first right) put nylon ropes away to be used again later.

Volunteers of the Logistics Team worked behind the scenes. They cleaned up every corner of the rooms. Volunteer Guo Chun-Ying from Beito (behind), who was praised for her neat job; none of the Contract Cleaners can be on par with her.

Ting-Ting Zhan, who is from Neihu, is the contact person of the Guest House. She carefully placed the gift from dharma masters of the Jing Si Abode, a card with Jing Si Aphorism at the bedside.