Voulunteer at Hai Tien Pagoda - 2019
Hai Tien Pagoda wasn’t just a place of worship — it was a sanctuary of warmth disguised in laughter and rice bowls.I didn’t arrive there as a leader. I arrived as another pair of hands. My tasks were simple: cooking, serving, listening. But somewhere between chopping vegetables and tying aprons for the younger kids, I realized something unexpected:Compassion doesn’t always come from deep philosophy — sometimes it’s as simple as refilling someone’s bowl without being asked.One girl tugged at my sleeve while I was setting the table. She didn’t say anything — she just pointed to her empty cup. When I filled it, she whispered “con cam on” so softly I almost missed it. It wasn’t the gratitude that struck me, but the trust. The unspoken belief that if she asked, I would respond.
That’s when I realized:
Volunteer work isn’t about giving much — it’s about giving gently.
At Hai Tien, I saw kindness practiced not as charity, but as rhythm — passed from one person to another like shared breath. No one made speeches. No one claimed credit. Service was simply part of the air we breathed.
By the time I left, I hadn’t just helped serve meals.
I had learned that true generosity doesn’t seek to be remembered — it simply seeks to continue.
