(Minghui.org) I am 75 years old and practice Falun Dafa. I still remember one small thing that I did several years ago, that led to a big change in our village.

The utility company had torn up all the roads and alleys. They decided to connect new water pipes to every household. For a few days, people had to walk and could not drive their cars, or ride their bikes. The utility workers left after finishing the pipe installation, but they did not finish up, so all the roads and alleys still had ditches and piles of dirt.

Some people filled the small ditches leading to their own houses, but no one took care of the main street, which caused a large traffic jam for hours every morning. I thought, “Why didn’t the village committee hire someone to fill the ditches? Well, since I see the ditches, I will fill them.”

I took a shovel and started on one end of the ditch in the main street around four a.m. one day. Rarely was there anyone on the street this early. I worked until about seven a.m. This was when people went to work, and took their children to school.

I continued this routine for several days without telling anyone. On the fifth morning when I arrived on the main street, I noticed that many villagers were already filling the ditches. I greeted them and said, “It is great that you are helping! Let’s fill the ditches so people can get around easier.”

The ditches were quickly filled. When the work was done, a group of villagers surrounded me and one said, “Aunt, I wanted to cry when I heard that it was you, a grandma in her 70s, who was filling the ditches for our village.”

One said, “Do you know why? Aunt practices Falun Dafa!”

Another one added, “Falun Dafa is indeed very good. If all of our villagers would practice Falun Dafa, and everyone would consider the needs of others, no one would fight or petition! That would be nice!”

The villagers have since completely changed their view about me, and people listen when I clarify the truth about Falun Dafa. I only did such a small thing, and I didn’t expect that it would have such a big effect.

From this matter I learned that only by doing well and cultivating diligently can we truly validate the merits of Falun Dafa.