| As of today, 72 SARS patients
have died and there are more than 500 probable SARS patients.
Due to the quick increase in the number of SARS cases and the
number of deaths due to SARS, 140 medical workers (doctors and
nurses) have quit their jobs. People reacted negative toward them,
saying, “What happens if firefighters and police decide
to quit in times of crisis?” They suggested revoking their
medical licenses. A major problem in Taiwan, as we see it, is
that the people disobey the government’s order. They should
follow quarantine orders100 percent. Violators should be fined
and jailed. The probable and suspected SARS people wander around
on the street and go on vacation, etc. That spreads the SARS to
other areas. We learned from this crisis that in a democracy,
public responsibility is greater than personal freedom. When Yen
Hee had a temperature of 38 degrees, she was willing to go to
a hospital right away not only fir her sake, but also for the
sake of others. She even asked me not to come and pick her up
because I might get the SARS from her. That is true responsibility
and love. I John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love. But
perfect love drives out fear.” With God’s love we
can overcome all fear. With the love we can drive out SARS. Please
pray for us keeping the love always.
For our campus ministry in the midst of the SARS crisis, we accomplished
all the planned programs. So we deeply thank you for your support
and prayers. As you see our annual events, on January 24-27 we
had the winter retreat at Danaiku near Ari Mountain. It took 10
hours to drive there. It is hard to describe in this report what
we did, but it was an unforgettable experience. We made a CD for
it. Next year (October 2004) we will show you that CD when we
are on our interpretation assignment in the United States.
On March 3-4 we did the special praise night and worship at the
Amis tribe church. It is about a one-hour drive from our center.
Eight local youth groups gathered and praised God together. It
was wonderful that 140 young people participated and listened
to my witness. There are only 3-10 young people in the aboriginal
local church in Taiwan. So this was the biggest number of the
young people who gathered for our praise night (we also have CD
about this).
On April 26 we held the first volleyball tournament in our HACM’s
history. Four out of six colleges in Hualien participated it.
We prepared beautiful plaques for prizes. The real prize was having
fellowship together.
On May 3-4 we trained HACM officials at Tienshan Mountain, the
same place where we held the same training event last year. The
aboriginal special speaker presented them with challenges on how
to face the 21st century as aboriginal college students.
These are what have changed in Hualien recently. Last Sunday
we washed hands, wore masks and then took our temperature before
going into a church to worship God. Last Monday, Thursday, and
Friday I wore a mask while leading Bible study and doing student
activities. Yesterday a senior told me with obvious disappointment
that there will be no college graduation ceremony in his college.
In this crisis, if someone asks me, “Where does your strength
come from?” Without any hesitation, I will reply “Do
not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.
Rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both body and soul
in hell” (Matthew 10:28).
In His Service,
Yen Hee and Choon from Hualien, Taiwan
As July 1, 2003, we are going to move to a new center. The address
and telephone number will be changed, but email and P.O. Box 21-49
Hualien, Taiwan 973 will remain the same.
The 2003 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.
181 |
