by Kevin E. Porter, past president, TABCOM Board of Directors
with commentary by Rev. Dr. Benjamin Chan, IM area director for East Asia, India, Hong Kong, China

Christmas is a time for reflections and a time to look at how those in our lives have affected us and how we want to support those in need.  I have been fortunate to be able to make two trips in 2009 and 2011 to the orphanage and school that TABCOM and IM are committed to support.  As I reflect on the needs of these children who live in challenging conditions at the “Top of the World,” I realize that we all share the human heritage and need to commit to our Christian beliefs of serving all people.  These children have had challenges few of us have had to endure, and yet they offer their smiles and optimism of how life can be in the future.

At the Jatson Chumig School & Orphanage, I have encountered children with severe physical handicaps, severe overcrowding, and sanitation issues that most of us have not had to deal with.  However, I have seen these same children work together as a tightly knit family, working to do well in school, supporting each other in overcoming challenges they face, and treating each other as equals.  The staff is compassionate and zealous in their commitment to these children and each other.  I have seen children turn into adults and decide to stay at Jatson Chumig to work in their handicraft shops to generate income for the younger children at the school and orphanage.

One of their challenges is to improve the overcrowding issue by having a new dorm built, and another challenge is to improve the sanitation by building a new public toilet house.  We have pooled our funds with the Jatson Chumig Educational Corporation to construct these buildings.  Although we have had success in reaching our 50% mark by building one dorm and toilet house to date, we have a tougher challenge for raising the remaining funds to construct the second dorm.  Through the building of the first dorm, we saw that budgets, time lines and quality were all achieved and ensures that we have the proper team assembled to finish this effort of building the second dorm.

We continue to spread the message of this mission project to the ABC family and those that support the Christian value of “loving your neighbor” and treating them as you would like to be treated.  The message of success in this first half of the effort is renewing our spirit in completing the project and providing the means for these children to be successful in life.

In May 2012, I will be leading a third mission trip to China to see the success of your American Baptist International Ministries missionary, Judy Sutterlin, in Nanjing and then continue to Lhasa, Tibet to visit the Jatson Chumig School & Orphanage to visit with the children in the classrooms and in the Therapy Room.  Our last mission team made great strides in helping the handicapped children that comprise one-third of the student population and to further the therapy protocols that are needed for each child.  Our team was also able to communicate with the students on the geography and life in the USA as an educational experience. 

Would you like to join us in May 2012 to connect with the students in the classroom, in the Therapy Room, and visit major sights in Lhasa, Tibet?  If you would like more information, please contact me at kep@tiac.net.

A commentary by Rev. Dr. Ben Chan:

“IM provides strong support of the Tibet mission project of TABCOM, by giving input and on-sight assessment through Rev. David Wong, Special Assistant of Benjamin Chan, and the promotion of the project and related mission trips.’

 “Despite the rapid economic growth of China, the gap between the rich and the poor has been widened. Many families, especially children, in the rural area, have not benefited an equal share of fruits of the prosperity. The Tibet Mission Project provides hope and opportunity to the children in Tibet to receive life-skill/ vocational training, and may dream their dreams.’

 “IM strives to change the lives of under-served people in China. IM has provided financial assistance to primary health care workers and has built 25 clinics for the rural villages in Ningxia and Gansu. Through the ministry of IM missionary Judy Sutterlin, IM has provided spiritual and financial support to the orphans whose parents died of AIDS in Henan. And now IM is engaged in changing the lives of the children in Tibet through partnership with TABCOM.’

 “I am touched by Kevin and TABCOM colleagues of their enthusiasm and commitment to the children in Tibet. They bring not only much-needed funding to the Jatson School, but also their passion and friendship.” – Ben Chan