Humanity - a flame that never goes out in the midst of historical floods

'To live in this world, you need to have a heart. For what purpose, do you know? To let the wind carry it away…' (Let the wind carry it away - Trinh Cong Son)

During the days of October, when floods and natural disasters covered the northern provinces, a gloomy atmosphere covered everywhere, the earth and sky seemed to be silent before the pain and loss of people. Among them, Thai Nguyen was the most heavily affected locality - struggling in the midst of a historic flood. The entire steel land seemed to be submerged in water, the streets turned into rivers, the roofs swayed in the vast waves. But it was also in those difficult days that people saw a miracle - the light of compassion. In the midst of storms and calamities, people came together, gave each other warmth and lit the fire of belief: that human love, love of life is always beautiful; that where there is human love, hardship will pass.

The water can wash away many things, but it cannot drown out the beauty and power of kindness. The flame of sharing still burns quietly in every challenge, warming people's hearts amidst storms and hurricanes. It is not the bright lights of the city, but the simple light that radiates from the heart, from the human heart. That light shines and manifests through every small action, every call, through the hand holding the hand in times of danger. It is that - and nothing else - that has helped hundreds of Thai Nguyen people have a place to stay, a bowl of rice, a bottle of water in the darkness of the rain and flood.

When the heart opens and leads the way

On the afternoon of October 7, the streets of Thai Nguyen gradually turned into rivers, Mai Thao Nguyen 's phone rang continuously. People asked for accommodation, people asked for temporary shelter, people asked for help. Without hesitation, she and her husband cleaned up all 40 rooms in the family hotel, welcoming people to take refuge. " As long as there is a dry place for people to rest, if there are many people, sharing a room is fine, as long as it is safe, that's all that matters ," she said.

In just a few hours, the small, cozy hotel became a home for more than 120 people. The elderly, children, students, and workers far from home all found shelter. Nguyen and her husband and staff worked like tops: arranging blankets, boiling water, making milk for children, cooking noodles for the hungry. At night, the light of oil lamps and laughter mixed with the sound of falling rain. In difficult times, strangers suddenly became familiar - because they shared the same roof, the same heart.

Ms. Nguyen's small hotel became a shelter for hundreds of people.

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR

Not only that, her family also stocked up on hundreds of liters of generator oil, along with instant noodles, drinking water, and dry food to prepare to welcome more people.

Fires in the Rainy Night

While people were rushing to fight the flood, in another corner of the city, the phone of Ms. Tran Thi Thai , 48 years old, kept ringing. As the head of a volunteer club near the Gang Thep Stadium, she and her members were used to such urgent calls.

" We mobilized everything overnight to start work tomorrow morning ," she said.

It was the cooking of relief rice. Since hearing the news of heavy rain, Ms. Thai's group had an urgent meeting. Some people gathered rice, some washed pots, some transported gas stoves, all hurried in the sound of rain. Because she understood that a bowl of hot rice in the middle of a flood night could save a life .

Last year, after Typhoon Yagi , her group cooked more than 23,000 meals and gave away 30,000 gifts including drinking water, life jackets, and dry food. On a peak day, the kitchen cooked up to 6,000 meals to supply isolated areas. " As soon as we heard about the flood, we lit the stove right away. We didn't wait for anyone to call us ," she smiled gently.

In the middle of the night of October 7, when many people had not yet found shelter, her volunteer kitchen was already on fire. Dozens of large pots of rice were boiling, the aroma of rice mixed with the smell of rain and earth. Cold, wet hands were still busy wrapping rice, measuring water, labeling, and delivering goods to the relief team.

Ms. Tran Thi Thai and the volunteer group are busy preparing thousands of portions of food to send to flood victims in Thai Nguyen.

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR

They say that miracles do not come from magic wands but from people, from hearts that know how to give.

"Free driving" and meaningful shipments

In Phu Xuyen commune (formerly Dai Tu district), hearing the news of rising floodwaters, 33-year-old Trieu Van Bo could not sit still. He posted a short status: "I accept free driving, transporting relief goods to flood-affected areas. Anyone in need, contact me."

Just a few minutes later, his phone rang continuously. Someone asked for water, someone needed rice, someone was looking for life jackets for children. Without any hesitation, he rushed out in the pouring rain. Mud, rushing water, the road was cut off, but each trip of his and his group of friends still tirelessly crossed the slippery slopes, carrying full loads of goods to supply people in flooded areas. "If I can save someone, help something, I'm happy, the most important thing right now is filtered water and sealed bags of popcorn - because they can be kept for a long time. Rice or candy spoils easily , " he shared.

Every bag of rice delivered, every barrel of water delivered to the people is a time when he deeply feels the value of living for others . It is so simple, but it warms people's hearts - because in the midst of the raging flood, there are still people quietly doing kind things.

Along with that, many other convoys from all over the provinces of Ninh Binh, Hai Phong , Thanh Hoa... loaded with rice balls, drinking water, necessities ran all night to support people in flooded areas. Ms. Dang Thanh Trang (Ninh Binh) organized a call for everyone to join hands to cook to help people in flooded areas, some contributed money, some contributed rice, utensils, some contributed labor... each person contributed a hand and a foot to quickly and promptly help people not go hungry.

About 10 km from the city center, Ms. Nguyen Hang , 31 years old, posted an ad offering free parking for people in flooded areas. " My yard can accommodate nearly 100 cars, everyone can bring them here until the water recedes ," she wrote.

Not only does she keep cars, she also prepares 3 bedrooms to welcome 20-30 people, with priority given to the elderly and children. All night, Ms. Hang does not sleep, constantly answering messages, guiding strangers to leave their belongings, and finding a place to stay. " In times of trouble, I will try my best to help anyone ," she shared.

Compassion - a miracle in everyday life

Mr. Ngo Anh Tuan, founder of the crowdfunding platform GiveNow, once said: "In natural disasters, what people need most is not only food, but also sharing - because only sharing can help them stand up after loss."

Indeed, hot meals, clean water bottles or shelters not only save people in the moment, but also contain the humanity wrapped in them and kindle the belief that: no matter how big the storm is, people will always be each other's support . " Kindness is a language that the blind can 'read' and the deaf can 'hear'."

While the authorities were trying their best to rescue, hundreds of volunteers from all over volunteered to contribute. Those with money contributed money, those with strength contributed strength, those with vehicles contributed vehicles. Each person is a drop of water, but when combined, they create a vast ocean to water life.

And then, when the water recedes, the traces of the flood will gradually be erased, but the stories of kindness will remain forever - like sparkling streaks of light in collective memory, becoming examples to inspire future generations that: there was a time when Thai Nguyen people not only fought floods with human strength, but also with human love. And, when we know how to live for each other, know how to open our hearts to the pain of others, we are continuing to write the most beautiful story of humanity - the story called "kindness".

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tinh-nguoi-ngon-lua-khong-bao-gio-tat-giua-con-lu-lich-su-185251026205312807.htm