Text: Hsieh Ming-Fang, Huang Zhen-Yi Translator: George Lin Editor: May Lin, Erica Lee

The opening ceremony of 2018 Annual TIMA Convention took place on Sept. 22 in Hualien. Photo: Andy Hsieh

With the singing of the song, the participants of the annual TIMA Convention walked in sync into the Lecture Hall. Some participants who first joined the convention even took pictures with their cellphones.

"I am honored with everyone here. 2018 TIMA Convention officially starts now!" said EmceeTsai Ya-Chun. Dr. Chien Jui-Teng, vice superintendent of Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, then said "Let’s open the door to welcome all of our guests from 21 countries and regions!"

The opening ceremony of 2018 Annual TIMA Convention took place on Sept. 22 in Hualien. The participants are from 21 countries and regions, including Australia, Cambodia, China, Dominica, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iraq, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Paraguay, the Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, the United States, Vietnam, and Taiwan.

Lin Pi-Yu, vice president of Tzu Chi Foundation, Yen Po-Wen, CEO of Tzu Chi Charity Mission, Lin Chin-Lon, CEO of Medical Mission, Yang Jen-Hung, Dean of Tzu Chi University Medical School, superintendents and vice superintendents from the six Tzu Chi Hospitals, and the guests welcomed the participants.

The video plays the footprints of TIMA volunteers practicing charitable work in 21 countries and regions, each and every scene is the image of the Bodhisattva giving unconditionally with great compassion and love. Over the years, the TIMA members have stepped across 50 countries and regions, committing 280,000 medical personnel along with 510,000 Tzu Chi volunteers to conduct 15,000 free clinics, which has benefited more than 2.9 million people.

On behalf of charity, education and medical missions, CEO Lin Chin-Lon welcomed TIMA members coming back to their spiritual home. This year's theme is "TIMA Love over the Universe." CEO Lin mentioned that the major challenges on the earth today include climate change, natural and man-made disasters recurring often. "What kind of efforts has TIMA made for these issues? We have invited many distinguished professionals from domestic and overseas to share their thoughts. I hope that everyone will be able to reap the rewards and return fully loaded to their home countries to continue their functions."

The participant leader, Chien Rui-Teng, mentioned that medical staff not only heal patients, but also protect the earth as well as to safeguard the ecology. Therefore, in addition to the medical, surgical, Chinese medicine, dentistry, nursing, medicine project seminars and sub-disciplinary sessions, this year, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital’s academic team further coordinate the agenda to include the keynote speeches by the international professionals to disseminate issues such as vegetable diet, protecting environment, and commitment to love and respect our planet, anticipating to facilitate the participants to renew knowledge and learn from each other.

This year, the volunteer team was composed of 612 volunteers in total from Kaohsiung and other places in Taiwan. They were there to serve the 673 participants. “This is nearly ‘one-to-one’ service, we hope the participants can relax and enjoy the courses in these few days” said the participant leader, Chien Rui-Teng, with smile.

The representative of Paraguay greeted and waved to everyone. Photo: Andy Hsieh

The 2018 TIMA Convention opened and members from various countries greeted with one another. Photo: Joni Yu

The volunteers from each group went on the stage to greet the participants. Photo: Andy Hsieh