October 5, 2005

Dear Supporters of the aboriginal ministry in Hualien, Taiwan,

Three powerful typhoons have hit Hualien in 2005. The third one, called Longwang (Dragon King) had the highest wind speed recorded in Hualien in 57 years. Longwang hit on Sunday, October 2 at 3:00 a.m., a typhoon with sustained winds of 230 kilometers per hours. The wind and rain of a typhoon usually hit just one side of the house, but this one hit all four sides at different times because the eye of the typhoon passed over us. We have never experienced anything like this before in our lives. As the typhoon approached, an earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale rocked our house. Some people rushed to the streets in panic despite strong gusts and torrential rains brought by the Longwang.

After three powerful typhoons, we have begun to doubt that it is worth it to have a mission center so near the oceanfront. We feel like we have spent too much time taking care of it, doing repair after repair, replacing many things. It is not easy to get helpers to clean up right after the typhoon. Everyone has his own problems to take care of. Furthermore, Yen Hee and I are not young any more. By ourselves, we can’t lift broken trees. We have lots of trees around and in the center, which makes for a beautiful center. We think that former PC(USA) missionaries planted them for future missionaries. But now they actually seem like a burden because they have caused problems like breaking windows, air-conditioners, water heaters, etc. Repairing and replacing the same things over and over has become a financial burden.

The major problem caused by the last typhoon was the destruction of the floor mat in the multi-purpose room. The heavy rain came into the room, and water stood on the floor for about a day. A desktop computer in the office got wet and cannot be used again—not to mention all the information in the computer. Two years ago, when we moved into this new center, we built a steel roof for the outside activities. Now we have to repair it. We also bought a new Ping Pong table at that time, which was completely destroyed—Choon’s favorite sport. We have to repair and replace all the electrical lines as well.

Now you understand why we sometimes doubt the wisdom of having a beautiful oceanfront center. On the other hand, we don’t believe that God gives us something we can’t handle. So we still thank God that we are all right. In troubled times, we get closer to God than ever before. We thank God for the opportunity to let us experience it. Therefore, we praise God in the midst of all the troubles.

Briefly, we report to you our ministry work. After officers’ training in the beginning of September, the fall semester began. We also started the college worship service on Sundays and every college group’s activities on weekdays.

Fall semester’s programs

October 15 – Worship service and party to welcome new students
November 25-26 - College retreat
December 3 - Praise night at the Taroko Tribe Church
December 16 - Christmas party and election of new officers

Faithfully in mission,

Yen Hee and Choon Lim from Hualien, Taiwan

The 2005 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 253