2000-09-15
Bell’s First week in Taipei, Taiwan – 9-15-00
Hello from Eastern Asia!
We praise God and thank you all for the prayers on our behalf this past week. The flight was long, yet smooth. We arrived with all ten pieces of luggage intact and passed through customs without a hitch. Arriving in Taipei around 10 pm Friday Eve (your 9am Friday) we were joyously greeted by our guest hosts Hal & Cynthia and their co-worker Bill F. (whom we had met in Virginia).
Cultural shock hit as we neared the apartment complex when Hal pulled the van into a narrow alley and two-way traffic maneuvered past. (It is common here for autos and mopeds to drive within a couple of inches of one another.) Pulling in the basement garage of our new home, we loaded the elevator and arrived at our 6th floor apartment. The apartment is very nice and we are very thankful for all Cynthia has done on the mission’s behalf to set up our home for the next three years.
Immediately thrust into our surroundings, we’ve begun to familiarize ourselves with the area shops, eateries, and transit systems, etc. For the most part, we will walk. If people here speak English as the books said, we’ve yet to discover where those folks hang out. The smells of Asian food and pollution have our noses also in cultural shock. While walking just a few minutes, one can easily smell a dozen different smells.
On Sunday afternoon, while site seeing at CKS (Chiang Kai-Shek) Park, we observed about a thousand Buddhist young people practicing a ceremonial dance for Tuesday’s family festive holiday. We felt 3 consecutive quivers underfoot. (Yes, on our third day here, we experienced our first earthquake.) Talk about a weird feeling. A Chinese fellow near-by turned to Hal and said something. Hal translated. “It was a 4″. The dancing Buddhists never skipped a beat even though it probably stirred memories of what they call the 9 21 (Sept 21) earthquake (7.0) last year that killed so many. Hal explained how it is good to have small quakes because it eases the underground pressure. Had we been in our 6th story apt, we would have felt it more strongly than just standing there on the concrete brick park floor because the buildings are designed to sway. Many architects/builders have been charged with manslaughter for skimping on the buildings that killed thousands last year. I’m pretty amazed at the peace I have about all this, because there are no doubts to God’s calling us here. Returning on the subway, we looked like sardines & could only stand in the doorway. The first time it stopped, the 4 of us turned sideways & held on tight as what felt like a school of fish passing by to get out. Everywhere we go it is crowded!
On Monday, we rode the subway to the mission office where we met the staff that handles all the administration for East Asia. We were the honored guests at a formal family style Chinese meal that introduced us to foods we’ve never tried. Some I couldn’t quite bring myself to sample, but most of it was tasty. The heavenly chicken (fried frog legs), shrimp, and fresh water fish were excellent!
We’ve been welcomed by several missionaries, and have been comforted by experiencing home cooked American food and conversation with them. On Thursday afternoon, we met many who serve Northern Taiwan for a time of prayer and heard a little about the work going on in our area. Although we attended an all-Chinese worship service last Sunday, we anticipate visiting a bi-lingual service this weekend and expect to get a glimpse at the student ministry.
In closing, we’d like to share that the spiritual darkness is blatantly on the streets here. Small family temples are set up to burn money for ancestral worship and animism. These folks make sacrifices to appease the spirits of darkness. They worship out of fear not love. It breaks your heart to realize they could know the One True God of Grace, who could set them free from the bondage of fear.
We hope to have our web page ready soon where you can see photos from our first week in Taiwan.
Praise God for our safe arrival and for the rapid improvement of my eyes.
Please pray for a keen ability to learn and adapt as we begin language class on Monday.
Please pray for a glimpse of how we can be used to minister to others for Christ.
Thanks for your support.
In Christ’s Love,
Jackie & Fran
