I participated in a volunteer activity in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. It was part of the “Mother’s Street” cleanup campaign, held with the heart of a mother to care for the global environment. Local ASEZ members, along with male adults, female adults, and students of various ages, gathered at Teluk Likas Beach at 8 a.m. Among Kota Kinabalu’s many scenic spots, Teluk Likas Beach is especially popular with locals.
From afar, the beach looked beautiful, but up close, it was covered in trash. Plastic bottles carried by the waves, scraps of cloth wedged between rocks, and even a discarded tire buried in the sand—seeing the beach suffering under so much waste was heartbreaking.
We immediately put on gloves and began picking up trash. Waste that had been buried under sand for a long time did not come up easily. In the hot and humid weather, sweat dripped down, and our energy was quickly depleted. My back began to ache from constantly bending over to collect trash.
I glanced around. Everyone else must have been tired too, but no one showed it—they all wore cheerful smiles. Watching my fellow volunteers quietly and diligently continue their work gave me renewed strength. As we carried sacks full of trash together, I couldn’t hide my sense of pride.
By the time we finished, the beach looked much cleaner. I felt as though my heart had been purified too. Passersby stopped in their tracks, watching us curiously. Some even applauded and gave us a thumbs-up.
The next day, a local newspaper in Kota Kinabalu published an article about our activity. Seeing how a small act to protect the environment could touch others made me realize the powerful impact of volunteering.
Until now, I had always thought of volunteering as something I did for others. But through this experience, working with people from different backgrounds overseas, I came to realize that volunteering is an act for myself as well. It teaches me how to come together with others and share love. Now that I’ve learned the true meaning of service, I will strive even more to protect the green nature that God has graciously given us wherever I may be.