They trekked over mountains and through ravines to go deep into disaster areas. In a rural hospital in Bolivia, they worked on dilapidated operating tables with flashlights as the only light source to perform surgery on patients. They examined, listened, inquired, and took pulses, skillfully relieving lingering illnesses. In a makeshift medical tent in Haiti, their acupuncture treatment enabled an older man to stand without crutches after years of pain that prevented it. They persevered despite dangers and obstacles, traveling to towns and cities devastated by an earthquake in Mexico, making eight trips in three years, and seeing 25,000 patients. 

With their steadfast medical outreach efforts, Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA) USA chapter doctors traveled across borders to heal illnesses of the body as well as wounds of the heart. In Canoa, among the areas hardest hit by the 2016 earthquake in Ecuador, Tzu Chi rebuilt a beloved Catholic church and offered free clinics for disaster survivors of different faiths. In Honduras, Tzu Chi organized in-depth visits to disadvantaged and sick families and set up a local TIMA chapter to provide continued care. In the Dominican Republic, Tzu Chi launched a long-term dental free clinic initiative at the Tzu Chi School to make every child’s smile brighter. 

Through its free clinics provided internationally, the spirit of Tzu Chi continues to spread in people’s hearts, taking root and flourishing in many corners of the world.