Ministry plans for 2012

It is hard to believe that our family has already been back in the US for over 6 weeks! Time has gone by so quickly! There are 2 main reasons why we are home assignment for 2012: To take care of Tyler’s medical needs and to have an extended time of rest. Tyler has his first surgery on March 2…less than a week away! So far, it seems like everything is going as planned as far as insurance goes. We have also raised all of the money that Tyler needs for his $8500 co-insurance payment! We will be sure to post something new once Tyler gets out of surgery.

Young Tibetans dancing during a school performance

Since we have been in Asia for 90% of the past (almost) 9 years, we are in need of a real time of rest. Most people don’t realize that the times we have been home in the US, our time is ANYTHING BUT RESTFUL! Usually we end up being at least as busy as we are in Asia as we are during our time in the US. This year, starting in mid-March, our family will be taking an official Sabbath rest for about 3 months. During this time of rest, we will still continue meeting with friends and family and will be active in our home churches, but we will not be doing any speaking engagements or other ministry activities. After our time of rest, we will continue to be in the US until the end of the year, but will be actively working with several different ministries.

Tibetan nomads standing in front of prayer flags

Here are some of the ministries we will be working with while we are home:

1. Our home church of Westwood in Olympia has a Missions Conference each spring. For the weekend of March 9-11, we will be giving a presentation to the church on our ministry among the Tibetan people. We will be explaining the challenges of working with Tibetans as well as our future plans on the high plateau.

2. Each year our home church in Olympia has a huge children’s program called Summer Hummer. Over 900 children from across the area come  participate in a week long bible camp during the day. Our older son Josiah, who is now 5 years old, will be part of Summer Hummer. Both Tamara and I plan to work at Summer Hummer as camp counselors. Summer Hummer begins on July 9th and lasts for 5 days.

3. Every year, the 900+ children who attend Summer Hummer give small donations towards a missions project. In 2008, the Summer Hummer donation of $12,000 went towards buying an entire nomadic community new winter clothes for all children aged 5 to 12 (325 children total). This year, the Summer Hummer project will be going towards the Yushu Feeding Project (YFP). The YFP started in 2011 and provides 3 meals a day to 100 children who were orphaned by the April 2010 Yushu Earthquake. This year, we hope to raise between $10,000 and $12,000 through the Summer Hummer donations to help fund the YFP. In late August or early September, I (Jamin) will return to Tibet to and will go deliver the offering to the YFP in the earthquake zone. I plan to be back in Tibet for about 3 weeks.

4. After our Sabbatical rest ends in June, we plan to start speaking on Tibet and the need for missions among unreached people groups. We plan to speak to many churches, Sunday School classes, youth groups and home bible study groups. If you or your church, Sunday School class, home group, etc are interested in having us come speak, please contact us at 206.295.5406. We NEVER charge for speaking and would love to share with you about our ministry in Tibet.

5. There is a small Tibetan community that lives in the Olympia area. I am not sure on the exact amount, but there are at least 5 to 8 Tibetans, who were born in raised in Tibet, who live in this area. We are trying to reach out to this small community. please pray with us that we can build relationships with these people while we are home.

6. The Olympia Chinese Church in Olympia has been friends with us for many years. We plan on being more a part of that fellowship while home, specifically in meeting with the young college students that they disciple. The college students come from China to attend St. Martins University for 2 years. We plan to assist them in working with these exchange students.

7. Tamara is currently working on getting her doula (birthing coach) certification. She plans on using this to help deliver babies when we return to the Tibetan Plateau later this year.

8. Tamara has been working with the private English school that she worked at for many years in bringing a group of 15 students to Olympia for a cultural exchange program. The plan is to bring these students here to Olympia for 18 days and, along with doing a cultural exchange, introducing the Gospel to these children. These children will be between 10 and 14 and will speak English well. If you are interested in being a host family for 2 of these students, please let us know.

So, as you can see, we will be quite busy while we are here in Olympia! We do ask that you continue to support our ministry financially and prayerfully as you did while we were in Tibet. We plan to return to Tibet as a family at the end of this year. 

A Tibetan woman praying in front of a Buddhist temple in Lhasa

A horse drawn cart in western Tibet

 We appreciate everything that you all do for us! We have had an amazing time the past 6 weeks in the US and look forward to seeing as many people as possible. If you are interested in having us over for a meal/coffee or would like for us to speak to your Sunday School class or home bible study, just let us know. Call us at 206.295.5406.

Blessings!
Jamin, Tamara, Josiah and Tyler