(Minghui.org) I am a Falun Dafa practitioner, and work as an in-home caregiver in New York.
Dispelling Misunderstandings about Dafa
A fellow practitioner, also an in-home caregiver, was assigned a job that was around the clock care, and she needed my help.
We worked together caring for an elderly lady who was originally from Taiwan. Her entire family were firm Christians. The elderly patient was in the last stages of lung cancer. She had three sons, but none of them lived with her. They were told that their mother only had days to live, so they decided to stop treatment and take her home.
Our patient slept most of the time. Once a day she drank a little milk and opened her eyes briefly, but she never spoke. On my first day with her, I read two lectures of Zhuan Falun, the main book of Falun Dafa, to her.
Whenever I was with her I told her to remember, “Falun Dafa is Good! Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is Good!” At night, I put headphones on her so she could listen to Master Li's lectures. Master Li Hongzhi is the founder of Falun Dafa.
The home care agency required that the patient be turned every two hours to relieve bed sores. I believed that it was not often enough, so I turned her every hour so that her bed sores could heal. I removed her comforter at the areas of the bed sores to let the air and sunlight reach there.
With the care we gave her, the elderly lady's condition improved. Her bed sores healed and she voluntarily drank more milk. She appeared more comfortable, and thanked me every time I turned her.
I kept reminding her to say, “Falun Dafa is Good! Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is Good,” and told her some facts about Falun Dafa and the persecution in China.
Her sons were happy to see their mother taken care of so well and expressed their gratitude to us often. They wanted to take us out to dinner.
The elderly lady passed away 20 days later. Her youngest son called us and insisted on treating us and our families to dinner.
The day we were to have the dinner, the other practitioner had something come up and couldn't make it. So I went with my husband and son. We brought three beautiful Shen Yun calendars for them. During dinner the sons again expressed their gratitude on how well we cared for their mother.
I said, “I practice Falun Dafa. We learn to be good people and always think of others' needs first.”
The eldest son was unpleasantly surprised. It was obvious that he had some misunderstandings about Dafa.
I began to tell them about Falun Dafa. Everyone listened. I told them how, after my husband and I began to practice Dafa, our health and behavior improved because we follow the Dafa principles of “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.”
I talked about the brutal persecution of Dafa by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and the staged self-immolation. I told them the reason why we left China – because the CCP harvests organs from living Falun Dafa practitioners for huge profits.
I was careful to not offend their beliefs when I spoke. The eldest son responded, “I am glad to know the truth about Falun Dafa.”
The youngest son continued: “You have shown me that skills are not the most important thing, rather, kindheartedness is all we need.” He added, “I called the home care agency after my mother passed away. I thanked them for sending us wonderful in-home caregivers, and told them they could use me as a reference.”
My son started playing the Shen Yun promotional videos on his iPad, and said, “I watch Shen Yun every year. The performances are excellent.”
They all said that they will support Falun Dafa.
Daughter and Son Learn the Truth about Dafa
Another company found me a part-time caregiving job. The patient lived with her daughter and son. I brought them the Epoch Times newspaper to read. The son was not interested, and would not accept anything I said about Falun Dafa and the CCP.
I completed my job with them feeling disappointed that I was not able to clearly tell them about Falun Dafa. I was then asked to work one more day for that patient.
When I arrived, the daughter and son invited me to the dinner table where they had several dishes prepared. They said, “There is no work today. Let's just sit down and have a meal.” They poured me a cup of homemade rice wine. I thanked them but had to decline, explaining that I do not drink alcohol.
I was thankful for this opportunity to talk and began telling them about Falun Dafa.
I told them why I started practicing Dafa and how I became healthy afterward. I explained how Dafa taught me to conduct myself by following the principles of “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.” I spoke about the ruthless persecution in China and why it is important for people to quit the CCP.
They listened carefully, and in the end the son agreed to quit. He no longer had negative thoughts about Dafa.
The mother and daughter had never joined the CCP. I told them to remember “Falun Dafa is Good! Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is Good!”
Helping a Professor Study Falun Dafa
My next patient was an elderly professor. He and his wife were both intellectuals. I brought them a copy of the Epoch Times newspaper every day.
I told them about Dafa's health benefits and the improvement of one's moral standards, but the wife was clearly not interested.
A few days later, I said: “After learning the Falun Dafa exercises my illnesses cleared up. Can I teach the professor? It could help him recover.” The wife agreed, but cautioned me not to tell anyone what I was doing.
I spent the next few days teaching the professor the exercises, and even helped him quit the CCP. I brought him a copy of The Great Way of Spiritual Perfection so that he could understand why we do the exercises.
The professor was a quick learner, and paid attention to detail. But he still insisted that he was an atheist.
I said, “But professor, would you rather believe you evolved from monkeys, or that you are made by God and came from heaven?” He remained quiet, so I told him more about Dafa and the persecution my husband and I had been through.
“You've suffered a lot,” he replied. “I'm so glad you're out of China. Whoever persecutes will suffer retribution.”
I thought about how to help him read the Fa.
The next day, his wife suggested that I help him to read out loud, so that he can practice speaking.
I said, “Sure, I have a wonderful book he'll enjoy.” I took out Zhuan Falun and began reading it with the professor. We studied Zhuan Falun regularly.
The wife often said to me, “You have brought us good luck. I will miss your presence when the professor is well. Should I need a caregiver again, I will want you!”
Every Job Is an Opportunity to Reach People
Through Fa study, I have come to realize that every job I have been assigned to gives me an opportunity to reach the people who have predestined relationships with me, and are waiting for me to tell them about Falun Dafa.
My behavior reflects my realm, and determines whether they can see that Dafa is precious.
I am aware that I am still far from the Fa's standards. I will work hard to study the Fa, conduct myself following its principles and its standards.
