Taiwan Day #8 - Lost In Translation, But Found By Jesus

Chad Edwards and his wife Alicia are just amazing people.  They have been missionaries in Taiwan since they graduated college 14 years ago (sorry guys for dating you).  I have been blessed to get to know them and help lead our Family Group together this week.  They are the kind of people that young or old can relate to and are people you want to get to know.  They are committed to the people of Taiwan and you can see the passion in their eyes as the interact with each child and adult.  You can tell it is not a job, but it is a passion and a calling. 

As the week is drawing closer and closer to an end, the desire to have the kids start telling us how they are doing with all that they've heard this week increases.  We took some time last night in our Family Groups to see if any of the kids would like to share about either their Faith or about what they have been thinking this week.  Chad decided to see if the kids were willing to open up and open up they did. 

At first, I was so bummed when a few kids started sharing their stories in Chinese.  This whole experience in Taiwan has really made me feel like a foreigner more than ever before.   Mainly do to being lost in a sea of language I can't understand.  You could tell that these stories meant something to them more than the games we play or the Pokey Ice-pops we eat every night, but I couldn't understand a word they were saying.  I mean, these were glimpses into their lives on a deep level and I was missing it.

Then Alicia was kind enough to sit by me and another US leader and fill us in.  It felt like a veil had been lifted from my eyes as she began to tell us what was being shared by these awesome kids. 

Here are 3 of their stories.

• Vincent told us he was a chubby and awkward little boy when he was younger.  You would never guess that was possible looking at this lanky and tall 16 year old now, but needless to say, kids were not always the nicest to him.  Next to his school though was a church and they had a program going on one day.  According to the age limits, he was too young to be in it, but since he looked older they let him in.  He told us he just started to read the Bible and the things in their just made sense so he became a Christian.  Now his sister and mother have both become Christians and his dad has started going to church with them!  Not bad for a awkward kid with a little bit of chunk. 
• Mickey is in a family where school is their religion.  He takes classes from 6:30 am - 11:00 pm every day.  By the time he comes home it is 11:45 pm and he still has homework to finish.  The reason his day is so long is because on top of his normal class schedule he takes cram school for English, French, Japanese, Thai, Chemistry, and 2 other ones that I can't remember.  He is an awesome, awesome kid who if you ask him will tell you that "I don't have it so bad...there are many other kids who have it worse."  Mickey is the only Christian in his family.  You can tell he loves being at sports camp so much, but you also know that he goes home to a very lonely world.  The good news for him is that God is with him every step of the way and he is never alone.
• Joy is a quiet and unassuming girl.  I asked Alisha how old she was and she thought she was in 9th grade.  Turns out...she is going to be a freshman in college!  Believe me, she will be getting carded at the movie theater for a long time!  Joy's father was a business executive and worked very long hours.  The family never saw him and with the school work Joy had they were a scattered and distant family.  Her father decided enough was enough and quit his job.  Being a Christian, he decided he wanted to go into full time ministry.  Currently Joy and her father are in full time private school leaving her mother to support the family.  They make the equivalent of $1,000 US dollars each month.  "You would think that it would be hard for us to make it", she says, "but we have never wanted for anything.  We always have food, clothing, and all that we need.  We have even seen everything possible in Taiwan and the only way it is possible is through God providing."  Even through all of that she still said that she needed to believe in God for herself.  It didn't matter that her family was heavily involved in the church because she needed to see if God was really there.  She told a short story about when all of her extended family came to her house for a party.  Living in an older house they used old fans to help cool the rooms.  Joy was standing in front of one of the fans cooling off when all of sudden the fan exploded.  Pieces of metal flew everywhere, but she was not touched.  With tears in her eyes, she said it felt like "God had protected me from even getting a scratch."  That seemed to sparked the beginning of her belief in God and now she is living for Him forever.

For me, as the haze of the language barrier lifted, I was able to see these beautiful stories come into focus.  These kids are living breathing examples of what it means to be faithful in Christ and represent the next generation of the world we live in.  I just pray that they continue to follow Christ in all that they do and allow him to lead them.  I pray for strength to stand up against the weight of the culture they live in and find rest in the arms of Jesus.  These are amazing kids.

Fortunately I didn't get lost in translation. 

Thanks Chad and Alicia for helping me understand and thank you Jesus for loving us in all languages!!!

Comments

[Lois Young]

Brian, I am John and Melissa Marin-Hunter's aunt. I live in Bloomington, IL . Before leaving for Taiwan with you and the others on your team, they gave me info for your blog. I have been very interested in following you day by day. What amazing things have happened. I have been praying for all of you and will continue to do so through your safe return to IL. May God bless you all, Lois Young