NOTE FROM SQJ: Like with Kim… this post by Audrey was written a few weeks ago. Sorry I’m so slow Audrey!
After meeting my team and enduring many sleep-deprived hours of travel, we finally arrived in Taipei. I remember feeling almost giddy to finally be here. I was and still am so excited to learn about the culture. This is my first time in a place where some form of Christianity was not dominant. Our second day in Taipei, we visited a Taoist/Buddhist temple. Scott explained to us that the people of Taiwan mostly believe that there are many gods, such as the land god, the mountain god, the money god, etc. As I entered the temple, I had a sudden feeling of uneasiness. All around us, people were burning incense and offering food to their gods. They toss wooden objects called prayer blocks into the air to find answers to their questions. If both face down, it means yes. If both face up, the answer is no. If one is up and one is down, it means maybe, and they may go with the best three out of five. I watched one girl in particular who was tossing these prayer blocks in such desperation. She needed an answer, she needed assurance, and most of all, she needed hope. I stood watching her cry out to her false gods as I prayed to the one true God that she might find Him. She didn’t know it, but I had the Answer she needed.
God has shown me many things throughout the first few weeks of this trip. Whether it be holding newborn babies in the orphanage at The Home of God’s Love, or walking down the street in Taipei praying for the 96% of the Taiwanese people who have never felt the love of Jesus, I am seeing more and more the need these people have for Christ. They live in such fear, because they have not experienced the Love that casts out all fear.
I am so excited to see what else God has in store for us in the next two weeks. I love getting to know my teammates better and also getting to know the culture here. I love going to little breakfast places to order steamed bread. I love eating mangos and trying to learn how to say impossible Chinese phrases. I am so thankful to God for bringing me to Taiwan, because He is teaching me to love Him more and also to grow in my compassion for His people.
-Audrey
