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.

Self Care

I finally did it. After 8 months, I finally picked up yoga again. I hesitated to join a yoga class when I arrived here; I told myself that the classes were too expensive, I didn't have enough time, I didn't want to go out once I got home; all the regular excuses. Then for some reason, after my trip back to the U.S., I felt motivated. Last Tuesday night, I went to the class, and I sweated. I was a bit worried about a pain that I have, not knowing if the stretching and twisting would make it worse. When I got home after my first class, I actually felt a bit better. So now I have a new schedule - Sunday evenings at 7, I'll be doing yoga.

Back in Taipei

After having been in Taipei for 7 months, I went back to the U.S. at the end of May for a 2-week mission orientation held in Staten Island. The most unexpected and missionary experience was the communal laundry. One night at the beginning of the 2nd week of our orientation, while one group was getting dinner ready, and another was setting up the dining room, another group was in the laundry room getting laundry done for 20 people with 4 washers and 4 dryers. After 5 hours, everyone had clean clothes again.

I took a 2-week vacation after the orientation; traveling to Boston, Toronto and Nantucket. All the moving around must have gotten to me because towards the end of my vacation, I actually forgot and left my AA-battery charger in Nantucket. Now I have to find out whether it is more cost effective to have it mailed to me or buy a new one. I hope this is not the beginning of a new pattern of mine.

On June 30th, I arrived back in Taipei. It is nice to be back, but a third of my congregation has also gone on vacation. In the next couple of weeks, a few more will be leaving for their summer vacation. I look forward to the middle of August when many of them will return. In the meantine, I treasure the time that I have to make preparations for the new year in the fall. Please keep me and the congregation in your prayers.