Text/ Chen Li-Ying Photography/Guo Xue-Zhen Translator/ Shannon Thong

2018 Annual TIMA Convention, 86 volunteers of 3-in-1 News Team carrying out documentation involving article-writing, photography and video recording with great teamwork.

In Tzu Chi’s world, a group of volunteers interested in recording videos, photography and writing articles are regarded as 3-in-1 News Team by Dharma Master Cheng Yen. They are actively involved in the four missions and eight footprints, as well as carry out detailed documentation in order to preserve the footprints of living Bodhisattvas, educate the general public in treasuring the blessings when witnessing the sufferings, and inspire the loving-kindness of everyone.

A total of 86 volunteers from the 3-in-1 News Team have grasped the good opportunity of documenting the touching stories of TIMA participants during the TIMA Annual Convention this year.

Liao Yao-Ling, a volunteer of the 3-in-1 News Team, shared that more than half of the participants are first-time participants who hope to learn the humanistic culture of TIMA through this Convention. As such, 3-in-1 News Team must record the humanistic culture learned by or heart-warming moments of the participants as a documentation of Tzu Chi history.

The volunteers of 3-in-1 News Team have chosen to assume the function of documentation for 5 or 6 days instead of celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival with their respective families. They are under pressure to submit the reports on a timely basis as the news are time sensitive. Nevertheless, despite coming from different locations, they don’t feel alienated in this Convention and are able to collaborate well with each other, while sharing their knowledge and enhancing their professional skills. Their wisdom lives have also grown through learning from those heart-warming stories.

Hong Jia-Ying was in the US for 22 years, from pursuing further studies till subsequently getting married with her own family. She has a promising career and is fluent in English. About 5 years ago, she relocated back to Taiwan to take care of her father who had suffered 3 times of strokes. When she just came back to Taiwan, she was shy to look at Dharma Master Cheng Yen directly as she felt that she didn’t do well. After the past 5 years, she feels more at east and steady at heart now as she takes care of her parents. She has no regrets as she is being filial.

Hong Jia-Ying said that she was very joyful for being able to take up the role of writing articles during this TIMA Convention. When interviewing the participants, she learned their life stories as if learning from different sutras of Bodhisattvas. She is grateful for being able be more open-minded and to grasp this valuable “good cause”. However, she has to go home to company her parents after the assignments on 22 September. One should not be hesitated in doing good deeds and being filial, and should grasp and carry out good causes.

Volunteers of video recording in group discussion or focusing on editing the videos.

Hong Jia-Ying was feeling joyful for being able to assume the function of article-writing.