Animals Taiwan

Ever since the founder of Animals Taiwan spoke at the English service in October 2007, Animals Taiwan has become an outreach ministry of the English-speaking congregation. Apart from being a holding center for stray dogs and cats, Animals Taiwan also focuses on its CNR (Capture, Neuter, Return) and education programs. In the last few months, it has been busy rescuing dogs caught by traps set throughout the city aimed. Members of the congregation go to the holding center monthly to bathe the dogs, walk the dogs, clean up the yard, and do just about anything that needs done.

In May, we sponsored Animals Taiwan to have an exhibit at the American Club in Taipei, a place frequented by expatriates. I took advantage of my special membership at the Club to help raise the visibility of Animals Taiwan in the expatriate community; at the same time to let this community know how we witness God’s stewardship. For this event, we and Animals Taiwan worked together on the poster and the article for the Club’s magazine. As a result, we have a closer relationship with Animals Taiwan, and it has a clearer and deeper impression of us.

One of the goals of the congregation is to let ourselves be better known, especially in the expatriate community, to help increase membership. I tend to feel that the most effective way to advertise ourselves is by showing people who we are, how we live as Christians, how we develop relationships outside of our congregation, and how we are different and yet a part of the community. In order to achieve the goal of increased membership, we need to see how we are witnessing God’s love and how we are developing relationships beyond the congregation.

Christmas Blessing

Christmas Blessing

I did not expect to have such a barren Advent this year; there was absolutely nothing ascetically to indicate that Advent or Christmas was here. The weather was warm, the city looked the same with all its commercial signs competing for attention, and even the church looked the same. I felt empty. But then, I did not expect this emptiness was God's gift for a rich and moving Christmas.

A children’s choir from the Hong Kong Anglican Church came to sing at our Christmas day English service. The entire group, children and adults, consisted of 112 people. I was a little leery of how that would affect the service. And since Christmas day is not a holiday, I also was not sure how many of our regular members would attend the service. I had this dreaded felling that I might be doing a service solely for these visitors.

On Christmas day; the choir group arrived early to give themselves time to get acquainted with the setting. As 9:30 a.m. approached, one by one I saw a number of our members arrived for the service; they had intentionally taken time off or the day off for this important day, and their action was good news to me. By 9:30 a.m., the church was packed.

9:30 a.m. and the service began. Everyone stood up for the processional hymn O Come All Ye Faithful, and everybody sang. I could hear different voices, yet it was also one harmonious voice. There was not one voice that was overpowering; the choir was not overpowering; it was one harmonious voice mixed with the congregation's. As I looked at this diverse group of people in the church, I felt like we were really going to Bethlehem to see the Messiah. We could all be from different parts of the world, but at this time, we were all on the same pilgrimage. I was so moved by that sense of togetherness and oneness in singing and worship that I felt a shiver all through my body. On this Christmas Day, I experienced what the birth of Jesus was supposed to do for God's people.

I couldn’t help but thank God for the grace of being in the wilderness during Advent, and the grace of such a rich experience on Christmas day. Without the barrenness of Advent, I probably would not have appreciated or noticed the significance of Christmas. I never could have guessed that what appeared to be barren and empty was part of a rich and moving Christmas experience; I did not even pray for this; I can only say that God knows better what I need, and this Christmas morning was absolutely amazing grace.

Unexpected Guests

Friday afternoon, December 21, 2007, I was working on my sermon in the office when I got a phone call from one of the church social workers saying there was a problem on the 1st floor and if I could go down to help. So I put my sermon writing aside and went downstairs to see what the problem was.

A couple, friends of the social worker, found 2 kittens on the roof of their noodle shop. The 2 kittens had been meowing all day; and according to the couple the cat mother did not come to feed the kittens. The couple took the kittens down from the roof, but not knowing how to take care of these 1-month old kittens, they decided to take them to their friend at the church.

The thought of me having to take in these 2 kittens did not look appealing to me even though they looked very cute. Timing was not good; I had Christmas Eve and Christmas day services to take care of; I did not have time to acclimate 2 kittens. So I called a member of the congregation who loves cats hoping she could take them in. She has 5 cats; so what’s 2 more kittens?

When the member said she has no space in her apartment for 2 more kittens, and suggested I could keep them temporarily. I did not know what to say. Interestingly the Gospel reading for the coming Sunday was about Joseph, and I felt like Joseph, not being able to say no. But were the 2 kittens to help me understand Joseph’s situation? Were these 2 kittens a Christmas blessing from God? Was God trying to expand my understanding of Emmanuel? In my heart I could not put these kittens out on the street again, but timing seemed so bad for me. On the other hand, there was no better time than the present to share God's love, however inconvenient it may seem. That's what being Christian is all about

The next day, I became these 2 kittens’ foster parent.

I am convinced now

Newcomers to Taiwan often are taken by the friendliness of the people here. Not that I disagreed with them, but sometimes I thought the newcomers were just making a big deal out of the friendliness of the people here. Sure they are friendly, but not that extraordinary; until I experienced the exception friendliness and helpfulness 2 weeks ago.

I was at a computer / electronics store looking for a memory / flash stick. I went to the computer department on the 2nd floor, looked around and could not see what I wanted. So I asked a sales person and was told I needed to go to the 1st floor. I went to the 1st floor and as I was looking for the item, another sales person came by to try to help me, and she told me I needed to go to the 2nd floor. Up I went again to the 2nd floor, and again I was told to go to the 1st floor. Down I went to the 1st floor, and the sales person on the 1st floor was surprised to see me. I told her I was asked to come to the 1st floor. So she asked me to wait while she talked to a young woman next to her. This young woman, who happened to be a customer, sensing that my English was better than my Mandarin, used her broken English to find out exactly what I needed. Then she accompanied me back to the 2nd floor, talked to one of the sales person, took me over to the right counter, asked for the different models, and explained to me the differences between the models so I could make a better decision.

Once I made my choice, she explained to me how I needed to pay first and then come back for the item. So she accompanied me back to the 1st floor to pay the cashier. When I was standing in line, she asked me if I had a membership card, and of course I didn’t have one. So she used her membership card on my item, allowing me to receive a discount. Then we went back up to the 2nd floor to claim my item. It was when I actually had the item in my possession that she left the store and went on her way.

Yes, I too am taken by the friendliness and helpfulness of the people here.

Practise What I Preach?

As a cat parent, I will unequivocally say that my cat teaches me a lot about God, and my relationship with God. But of course, it really is not just my cat that can do it, other cats have that power as well.

Last Friday, I went with 2 church social workers and 2 kindergarten students to visit an elderly woman in the neighborhood to wish her a happy birthday; and we brought with us a birthday cake. As soon as the birthday cake was out of the box, I heard a cat meowing, and I saw her coming over to us to see what was happening. Her fur was patches of ugly brown and black, and because of the color of her face, she did not even look like a cat to me. It was the ugliest cat I have ever seen. And like many pets here in Taiwan, she was skinny. A neighbor added that this stray cat was pregnant.

I felt sad that she was a stray and was pregnant; at the same time because of the way she looked, I did not want to get near her or touch her. I just stood at a distance watching her. The longer I watched her, the more I was aware of my fear of her because of the way she looked. And she forced me to ask myself - how do I love the unlovable? How do I touch the untouchable?

A couple of days later, I recounted this experience to a good friend of mine, and she laughed at me and said, "Then only when it is lovable would you love her?" Obviously that's what I am doing.

In many of my Sunday sermons, I talk about Jesus eating with the sinners, the unlovable; and touching the outcasts, the unlovable. I hold Jesus up as an example for people in the congregation to follow, and I myself have a long way to go.

A Love Story

For three days last week, I attended the fall clergy conference/retreat of the Episcopal diocese of Taiwan; held at Bunun, Taitung; an area that is on the eastern coast of the country and home to several of the aborigine tribes of Taiwan.

Unlike the western and northern sections of Taiwan which is urban and crowded, Taitung, along the coast of the Pacific Ocean, is well known for its natural scenery of both water and mountain, and for being the most beautiful area of the country. So for 2 nights, a group of urbanites were able to enjoy an escape to the middle of nowhere, surrounded by mountains and quiet.

Not unlike the experience of Native Americans, the aborigine people of Taiwan also experienced problems of unemployment, poverty, alcoholism, and a disappearing culture. Yet under 20 years of loving and dedicated care of Rev. Jerry Bai, the Bunun tribe now has the highest school attendance rate among all aborigine tribes, and also the best kindergarten.

Together with his wife Lee Lih Sueh, Rev. and Mrs. Bai have helped raised consciousness of the aborigine culture and instill pride in the people of Bunun of their art, culture and heritage. By developing tourism in the area to build self sufficiency and offer employment to people in the surrounding area, visitors to Bunun can now enjoy the village theater, restaurant, coffee shop, weaving shop, and its newest hotel like guest accommodation.

With the establishment of the Bunun Cultural and Educational Foundation, the environment will be protected, and the people of Bunun can now rely on themselves to take care of its own, especially the young and the elderly.

Even though the tribe does not offer start of the art facilities, the passion and commitment of Rev. and Mrs. Bai for the Bunun people is more powerful than the Google search engine. For me, their ministry is a testament that faith, hope, and love can overcome even social oppressions.

Wonderful surprises

Even when I feel I am adjusting pretty well here in Taipei, something always happens to remind me that I still have a lot to learn. But these are not all frustrating experiences. Sometimes I am surprised by the unexpected honesty and generosity of the people.

A couple of weeks ago on a Sunday morning, I felt I was running late for church so I decided to get a cab. Of all the cabs that were available, I got into one without air conditioning when the morning temperature was already 30 C. I kicked myself for being so “smart”. All the way in the cab, I was sweating. When we were 2 minutes away from the church, the cab driver told me that he would only charge me NT$1100 because there was no air conditioning in the cab; and he felt bad that it was so uncomfortable for me. The normal fare is around NT$125.

There was another time when 2 congregation members and I took a cab to a restaurant for lunch. I told the driver the address, and when he did not make a right turn at 2 possible streets to get to the restaurant, I wondered what route he’d take. Twice I asked him if this was how we could get to the restaurant. A trip that normally takes 10 minutes ended up taking us 20 minutes. The three of us whispered among ourselves that the driver must be taking us for the ride. When we arrived, he charged us NT$100 when the meter said NT$185.

Yet another time, I took a cab back to the church after a lunch appointment. When the cab got to an intersection, instead of making a left turn, he made a right turn. And he had to drive quite a distance before he could make a U-turn. When we got to the church, he charged me less than the meter.

There are definitely wonderful surprises here.