My calves are tight from yesterday's excursion: climbing Duli Shan, "Independence Mountain". The air is always hazy in and around Chiayi city, so the mountain was only a massive outline in the sky until we reached its base. I'd like to think that it was the altitude that made me stop and gasp for oxygen at each new set of stairs that climbed to the top... I'm sure I would have been the first one to the top if I hadn't taken pictures all the time! ;) Okay, in all honesty now... I thought I was going to die. What a way to be broken in! I would have given up if it wasn't for the team. They didn't have to say anything; they were just there, always putting one foot in front of the other, and I wanted to be there with them at the top. From my perspective, it was a neat picture of our Christian walk and why missionaries need work together in a team. Being able to stand on the peak was a huge sense of accomplishment, not to mention the great view. If this is what we do during our time off, I think I will be in the best shape of my life!
Flora: impatiens, hibiscus, and cherry blossoms everywhere! Cultivated tea plants and beetle nut trees that look like tall thin palm trees. In the first half of the 20th century, the Japanese had control of the island and stripped the mountains of its natural trees. The bare mountains were later planted with beetle nut, which produces a substance used like chewing tobacco. These trees have really shallow root systems and cause many avalanches on the mountains of Taiwan; last year, a city was completely wiped off of the map because of these trees! Fauna: SPIDERS! Huge ones, at least the same length as the span of my stretched fingers. I'm not used to being able to spot spiders from 50 feet away. Snakes, rodents, geckos, and other bugs I'm okay with... but spiders! I think I'll be okay-- as long as they stay out of my bed.
Click >>here<< to read more about Duli Shan.
After our hike yesterday, a lady from the church named Joann took us to see some local Taiwanese artists, both traditional pottery and contemporary abstract art of various media. It was intriguing to see the culture represented in art. Taiwan is a blending of cultures, more Chinese by location, while also influenced by the previous Japanese occupation, and a touch of early Dutch exploration. The Japanese influence accounts for more of the simplistic, minimalist, earthy art, whereas Chinese art tends to be more ornate. They certainly understand how to create a sense of peace in their art.
Last night we went to karaoke for our friend Amanda's birthday, but I was so exhausted! I don't think jet lag has been an issue; I've had NO trouble sleeping at night. In fact, I feel like that's all I want to do right now!
On the way to church this morning we passed a parade celebrating a god's birthday, and we saw people on the street burn fake money and set out fruit as an offering. When we arrived at church, it was refreshing to see the palms, the smiling pastor dressed in normal Lutheran pastor garb, and to hear the choppy sing-song language following the melody of familiar hymns where English always used to be. I thought of Christians singing hymns in the same language in a country not too far from here-- but in basements, hiding from national police. One of the members translated the sermon for us through a headset system, but I didn't need translation for the liturgy or the words of institution; I knew exactly what the pastor was saying when he told me I was forgiven, that this is Jesus' body and blood.
I always thought I wanted to travel to discover more independence, but instead God is teaching me deeper levels of dependence. Like 1 Corinthians 13 says, my gifts and talents mean nothing if I do not have love, and God is the only one who can enable me to love like that. In previous mission experiences, I always leaned on sharing my gifts of music and languages. But I did not come to play songs, and I didn't come to learn Chinese. There are others on the team who play music for church, and everyone's Chinese is BY FAR better than mine! And I'm okay with that. It's kind of a strange blessing, not to be needed for your gifts and talents, but to just be a blessing with your heart. God may be stretching me and showing me other avenues in which to love people, because that's what it really comes down to.
Pray for:
- humility. I really need it right now.
- my Taiwanese colleague, Janice, who is not a Christian.
I hope and pray all is well back home!
Anna
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