We landed in Taipei at 10 pm their time after a brisk 13 hours plane flight. Of the 71 rows possible in the plane we were row...70, but that didn't matter. It wasn't a full flight which normally would be a blessing. However, needing to stay awake in order to get on the right time zone it seemed more like a cruel joke this time. All in all it was a safe uneventful flight. For crying out loud they even gave you little slippers to wear if you wanted them!
Our missionary on island, Allen Messimer, was kind enough to pick us up and cram us into his minivan. Snug as a bug in a rug was his wife Cherry and their 3 daughters in Yonghe where we stayed tonight. By the time we got our bags, changed money over, and got in the car it was after 11 pm. As we drove I had my first experience with watching the madness known as driving here in Taipei. Scooters rule the roads it seems and swarm around you and other cars like flies on a dead animal. They are everywhere!!! It is crazy. I will try to shoot some video of that for you all!
We littered Allen with the usual questions about his journey to the Taiwan missions field. To him it probably was like pushing play to standard answers he gives everyone that comes through, but for me I ate it up! Here are just a few of the questions and answers so you get an idea.
Question #1 - How did you come to be a missionary in Taiwan?
- Allen's family were missionaries his entire life. In fact as a MK (missionary kid) Allen was born in Belgium and the at the age of about 9 his family moved to South Africa. Growing up in South Africa it seemed logical that he would continue in his father's footsteps there, but his Heavenly Father had different plans. As Allen put it, "I really needed God to 'prove' it to me that Taiwan is where we should be". Well He did, and after 2 years of learning Mandarin Chinese, he and his wife joined the Team Expansion Missionary team. 5 years later here they still are!
Question #2 - What has been the most difficult thing about living in Taiwan?
- Allen's responded "I have to narrow it down to 1?" He said the biggest thing has been coming to grips that you are in a place that you will never really blend into. Just that day they had been boxed in by another car by the COSTCO so that they family could look at their "white baby". The constant pointing and comments by people on the street can be frustrating, but he said sometimes it can be a great bridge to ministry. I couldn't help to think if this gives him a better appreciation of how minorities in the States feel?
- Making friends for the kids has been a challenge too he said. I was blown away by this and you may know this already, but the kids here are actually raised by their grandparents. So much so that in some cases the mother and father of the kids don't even live in the same town. They will visit the kids on the weekends and then kiss them goodbye for the week. That being said, meeting people at the park doesn't always lead into BFF necklaces or sleepovers for the kids. That would be tough...wowzers.
Question #3 - How long have you been doing the Sports and English Camps?
- This is the 5th year, but the first time that Allen is the Dean of the camp as well as the first time he has had actually professionals in their sport lead the kids! No pressure. Should be a blast.
Well so far I'm chomping at the bit to get going. Ok, honestly I'm Jonesing for some coffee pretty bad, but deep down I'm ready. Oh! And the Messimers are going to take us to their favorite breakfast place! Do I hear Honeyfields or Blackberries- Taiwan? Pictures for sure to come on this one.
Today we will drive the 2 hours to Taichung, Taiwan and the Morrison Academy Campus. We will mainly get settled with some orientation meetings and getting our feet set on what the week will look like. Hopefully a good night sleep on the gym floor and off and running for registration tomorrow!
I've already had to learn to go by the missionary golden rule of "be flexible" as all my worship preparations were for not. Allen decided he wanted to use me more on the teaching end for English. So...sorry Kevin, Debbi, and Joyce for all the hard work in finding songs and lyrics, but we can all get together and sing them just for fun. :) No worries though, teaching baseball, English, and preaching should keep me busy.
Well that is it for now. Gotta wipe some sleep from my eyes and figure out how to work this coffee pot.
Thanks for the prayers and I'll send more tonight...or in the morning...or tomorrow...or wherever I'm at.
Be flexible is a great rule. Hard to keep it front of mind but it puts our expectations right where God wants them, otherwise we push back. Press on brother, and have fun.
Posted by: Rex | July 11, 2010 at 07:23 AM