Taiwan Short-Term Mission Testimony
Jiangfuling
Since Brother Shiqin was invited to Taiwan by Xiangfu last year, I have had a strong feeling in my heart that I also wanted to be a part of this ministry. When Shiqin and Hongda returned, they proposed that the Xiangfu summer bilingual camp needed the cooperation of our church, and it seemed that God's calling had a clearer direction.
Between March and April of this year, Pastor Chen Wenyu, the General Secretary of Xiangfu Organization, came to ACCCN to preach the Sunday message. That evening, at Brother Yangyi's home for dinner, I gained a clearer understanding of Pastor Chen's vision, and I immediately pledged to lead this mission trip. For over a month until the registration deadline, I often felt a lack of confidence. However, I experienced God continually adding to me, and team members one by one appeared. The lunch sale organized by Brother Yangyi made the creation of this short-term mission team smooth. The six team members made enthusiastic preparations in a hurry and, under the commissioning of the church elders in late June, traveled to Taiwan in two groups.
Our work in Taiwan was divided into two phases, totaling fifteen days. On Saturday, July 1st, we reported to Dacun Christian Church in Changhua County, and for the following seven days, we lived in the church. Our mission field was Dacun Junior High School, and our target audience was the junior high students there. Pastor Lin Feng-chuan took meticulous care of us, deeply concerned that we, a group returning from America, might not be able to adapt due to being spoiled. Moreover, this summer was particularly hot in Taiwan, and these "little Americans" did endure some hardship, making us appreciate the love and hospitality of the pastor and his wife even more. We partnered with students from National Chung Hsing University, who, under the guidance of an English missionary named Angela, comprised a group of 20 students. They, along with our children, demonstrated a spirit of earnest cooperation without adult assistance, making the four-day bilingual camp a resounding success. Although Crystal injured her ankle and Kate injured her back during this time, the Lord's grace was sufficient for us, and they were able to continue into the second phase. During this period, I must especially mention our pastor and his wife, who, despite their own painful illnesses, traveled from Taichung to comfort and soothe my fearful heart. Loneliness was replaced by peace. Before we left, they insisted on giving us NT$10,000. Truly, we must marvel at God's grace and count our blessings, as I had only NT$600 left when I departed Taiwan. 
On Saturday, July 8th, reluctantly bidding farewell to the students and my hardworking colleagues from National Chung Hsing University, we headed to Dongshi Township in Chiayi County. At this time, the scorching sun had retreated behind the clouds, but the humid heat was even more difficult to bear. By the time we arrived, it was already a dim evening. The material conditions at Dongshi Church were rather basic. The children were experiencing mixed emotions of sadness and homesickness, coupled with the need to adapt to an unfamiliar environment. I truly must salute these young brothers and sisters. They continued to face their new tasks with dedication, building new friendships (our new partners were students from National Tsing Hua University). Our new students were from Dongshi Elementary School, ranging from 7 to 12 years old, with a wide range of English proficiency. However, all of this was handled appropriately. If not for a few team members falling ill during that period and a typhoon passing through two days before our departure, it could have been considered a smooth operation. The night before leaving Dongshi Township, when I announced that the tickets back to Taipei had been purchased, accompanied by the children's joyful expressions, the burden in my heart suddenly lifted. It was replaced by a sense of shame. This burden is so much lighter than the cross that Jesus asked us to bear.
The 鄉福 mission was successfully completed, from mission impossible to mission complete. We experienced God's presence. He led us step by step, heard the prayers of the 鄉福 coworkers, called to us brothers and sisters, and used the language abilities He bestowed upon us to carry out the ministry of loosening and sowing in Taiwan. The harvest may be as far off as 30 years, but on this bound land, a ray of light can be clearly seen. We praise our God and remember these faithful servants on the front lines. How can we cooperate and support their needs? ACCCN has taken the first successful step and must continue, stepping forward without ceasing. May God lead and bless.
Crystal Chiu
I have always felt an obligation to the people of Taiwan. Since I have the ability to speak Chinese, I feel that I should use my gift to communicate with the people and tell them about Christ. Village Gospel Mission allowed me to combine my love for working with children with my sense of duty. The Village Gospel Mission trip to Taiwan this summer deeply impacted my life. Without realizing it, my three weeks in Taiwan had become a memory of a lifetime. It wasn’t that the towns Da Cun or Dong Shih were unique or even special. It was the people that I met. It was the friends I made, and the fellowship with the college students we created. When we started preparing for this mission trip, being the slightly neurotic girl that I am, I thought that it would be an impossible task to accomplish. We arrived in Da Cun more than slightly clueless as to what exactly we were supposed to do. Yet, what we lacked, our Taiwan counterpart from Chung Shin University made up for. This trip taught me that I did not need to manage everything, but that I should have faith.
During the two weeks, I faced more frustration than I anticipated. First off, I NEVER expected to tear a ligament and be stuck on crutches for the whole trip. My physical disability became one of the hardest things I dealt with. My stress came not only from the mental tiredness from working from morning until evening, but also physical exhaustion at the end of the day. I never had to deal with four flights of stairs with crutches before, or asking people to help me with even the simplest thing like going upstairs to help me get something I had forgotten. Also, I felt awkward with my small group, since Alice and Ashburn (my fellow counselors) were really good friends. 
However, with time, Alice and Ashburn became friends with me as well. When I went to the hospital, both Alice and Ashburn accompanied me! Moreover, my impediment unexpectedly created a blessing. Since I couldn’t run around at play with the kids, I was able to use that time to create power points that we didn’t realize that we needed to make. One of my strongest memories was when one day after school was out; all the counselors spontaneously came over and prayed over me as a group. It was then that I realized that even though I was struggling, I wasn’t alone because everyone was there to help me. There is so much more that I want to share, but the space I have is limited. The people from Chung Shin University became my friends. The children I worked with were so excited to be there. They were there even when a typhoon was coming, and they waited outside half an hour before class started every morning. The children I taught became my friends as well. God blessed me. I pray that God blesses you.
