Ma Shwe was kind and treated Maung Po as a member of her family. She was a spirited woman, and with the experience she had gathered over the years, in the course of her relationshp with friends and family, she had learned to remain flexible in her attitude toward others, while she and Cecil loved and cared for Andrew, no less than she loved and cared for Sarah, her birth child. 

     One of Ma Shwe’s concerns was to influence her husband to perform certain essential acts of charity, hoping that he would some day build a pagoda, in order to mitigate the penalty of sinning and, in turn, slow down the cycle of rebirth.  Such was her line of thinking, having been exposed to the philosophy of Buddhism as well as the observance of its basic tenets.

      Maung Po was furnished his own quarters behind the bungalow, vacated by the old gardener. When the chores of gardening were done for the day, he would voluntarily get involved in other chores, such as shopping, running on errands, or assisting the chef in the kitchen.   He was an experienced cook himself.  His culinary knowledge, especially in the preparation of Burmese delicacies, was quickly recognized and praised by Ma Shwe and Cecil.  He also volunteered to do the maid’s work when she was sick or absent.  His versatility brought him even closer to the family. Within a short period, Ma Shwe thought it was time to match his skills with a well-deserved raise in his salary.