After Tzu Chi held its first relief goods distribution event on May 15 at Shwebaukan town near Yangon, Tzu Chi held its second distribution on May 17 at Nyaung Thong Pin, a town about 40 min by car southeast of Yangon. These volunteers delivered love from Tzu Chi members around the whole world directly to the hands of the disaster victims. On the 18th, Tzu Chi volunteers returned to Shwebaukan to look after families in the Nganeoyeik shelter.

The distribution on the 17th at Nyaung Thong Pin was held in two venues. The volunteers first arrived at the temple of Master Uninkathaya, giving away supplies until about 11 am, then quckly arrived at another distribution venue at an Indian temple. Throughout the day, the volunteers distributed supplies to 907 affected households, who each received 20 kg (44 lb) of rice, a bottle of oil, two bags of Indian red beans -- a local staple -- and 600 g of salt. Recipients of these daily necessities all walked away with long-awaited smiles.

This distribution, on a day with bright sunny weather, was completely different from the one on the 15th. At 7:30 in the morning, Tzu Chi volunteers headed to the temple of Master Uninkathaya in Nyaung Thong Pin. When the volunteers arrived, they were joined by fifty employees of the company of Shu-Hua Lin, a local volunteer in Myanmar. The fifty employees entered the distribution venue in a very neat queue. Tzu Chi volunteers were inspired by their orderliness, reminiscent of Tzu Chi's entry and exit formations.

These local volunteers were simple yet rich in love and eager to help. Their level of efficiency was as good as disaster relief volunteers and cooperated very well. After the work tasks were divided, each took their post to distribute rice, cooking oil, Indian red beans, and salt, all lined up neatly.

Local volunteers noticed that the relief distribution was located on mud, and they spontaneously used brick remnants and sand to pave the ground. With attention to details, the volunteers used hands and feet to ensure a flat surface. Volunteers were moved by this concern for the welfare of the disaster survivors.

After all the preparations were made for the distribution, volunteers near the entrance of the relief distribution location lined up in two queues, waiting the arrival of the survivors. As soon as survivors arrived, no matter whether they were local volunteers or volunteers from international posts, everyone put their palms together in respect and greeted people with "Mangalaba" (Hello), who in return put their palms together in response.

Before the relief distribution officially began, the entire distribution was packed with people. Tzu Chi volunteers invited monastery abbot Master Uninkathaya gave a brief talk, blessing the people. He told the survivors that Tzu Chi volunteers had not only brought tangible goods, but they brought an intangible spirit of great love. He told the survivors to eliminate the greed, hatred, and ignorance in their hearts, and with a heart of gratitude accept and cherish the donated goods. He shared a sense of solidarity with the volunteers' spirit of giving, and expressed his gratitude for the care and love for survivors by the volunteers. Finally, he led the volunteers and survivors in a prayer of blessings for all sentient beings suffering from the disaster.

After the prayer, Tzu Chi volunteers provided Master Cheng Yen's message in Chinese and Burmese separately of care and support for all present.

Finally, in the process of the relief distribution, each volunteer respectfully used both hands to offer the goods, and expressed their gratitude, respect, and love for the survivors. A volunteer carefully helped an elderly woman carry rice. One volunteer noted his joy upon seeing the smile of survivors as they received their goods.

As other survivors waited to receive goods, volunteers led the survivors to perform sign language songs together. Initially bashful, the local soon broke out in smiles and laughter.