Amidst COVID – How Do They Find, Where Do They Teach?

A classroom in a church building. A table at the nearby 7-11. A few seconds at a stop light. Riding a bike down the sidewalk. Standing in line at a grocery store.  Video chatting from a phone.  Waiting at a street corner. Meeting up at a friend’s home.

Finding. Teaching. Testifying. Baptizing. Friendshipping.

It’s all happening. Amidst the COVID-19 restrictions worldwide, missionaries in the Taipei Taiwan mission are sharing the message of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ in every way imaginable.

 

Although Taiwan is nearly COVID free, the missionaries are still careful to mostly focus on people they already know or have connections with. Going door to door is not encouraged, out of "an abundance of caution". Face masks are encouraged, and even required in some spaces (Church meetings, public transportation, stores). Still, even with the cautions in place, people are still reaching out to learn more and to be taught about Jesus Christ.

One missionary said a woman began asking her about the Church while they were standing in line at a market. By the time they were through the line, they had exchanged contact information and were making plans to meet again.

Missionaries strike up quick conversations at stop lights, street corners, and elevator rides.

It is common for the missionaries to often do their scripture study at a local 7-11 store. And they meet the most interesting people. Even those wanting to bring them treats – “just because they are missionaries.” 

          

7-11 stores: It’s worth a mention here. There are over 5,000 7-11 stores in Taiwan! These convenience shops are more like little neighborhood cafés. With free WIFI, air conditioning, clean restrooms, and several tables and chairs set up for customers, what is there not to like?  

 At 7-11, you can buy breakfast snacks, sip fruit drinks, get a microwave meal warmed up and delivered to your table, and dine with friends.  You can also pay utility bills or parking fees, make photo copies, print photos, conduct business, do homework and study with classmates. And you can have a missionary lesson from your local missionaries!

And if you're not teaching at a 7-11, you might be teaching at the local restaurant around the corner.

                                          

The majority of the missionaries here are from Taiwan. The balance is made up of foreign missionaries. The mix is a good blend. And once the foreign missionaries who have returned to Taiwan are out of their strict 2 week quarantine, they are more than ready to "hit the road" and begin teaching. 

We are mindful of those missionaries who, in some places around the world, are required to stay in their apartments or have minimal physical interaction with people because of COVID-19. We are grateful for their sacrifice, patience and service. We pray for relief from the COVID restrictions. We recognize that not every country is as open and free to teach as is Taiwan. We love you all.

Thank you, everyone, for your service!

Quarantining in Taiwan - Missionary Style

What is quarantine for missionaries like? It depends on who you ask.

When we arrived back in Taiwan, we quarantined in one of our senior missionary apartments for two weeks. It wasn’t bad. We enjoyed the quiet time to do many of our computer photo projects, family history, read, exercise, watch Netflix movies, study and prepare. We had the run of the apartment, and as long as we didn’t leave the apartment, we were compliant with the law of the land.

For the younger returning missionaries, however, it is a totally different experience.

Two missionaries quarantine in one apartment, but they must stay apart from each other the entire time. Their apartments have at least two bedrooms and two bathrooms.  One bedroom must have an attached bathroom.  One of the missionaries gets to stay there, inside that bedroom, the entire two weeks. The other missionary is the designated cook and cleaner. That person cooks meals and brings them to the other missionary. He or she will wash clothes, and do the other necessary household tasks.

Elder Coffey and I are outfitting three new missionary apartments that have been designated as “Quarantine Apartments”. In anticipation of the last two returning missionaries who arrive next week, as well as what we hope will be many more new ones coming later in the year, these apartments need to have special arrangements.

These new quarantine apartments are already furnished (beds, desks, tables, chairs, closets), and we bring the rest. 

This week we’re hauling bedding, (pillows, blankets, sheets), towels, microwave, rice cooker, toaster oven,  pans, cooking utensils, cups, plates, bowls, silverware, mixing bowls, toilet paper, soap, detergent, broom, mop, floor fans, dryers, ironing board, iron, and CO monitors to outfit these apartments. We also install the mission water filter system for clean drinking water.

Much of it we had to go buy. Much of it we already had in storage. All of it had to be organized and assembled and delivered.  Thank you to the fine two office elders and others who helped us load, carry and deliver all this!

We outfit the apartments with enough food for two weeks, plus offer a “mid-way quarantine re-stocking” for fresh items needed and also take away the garbage. We include wonderful snacks like ice cream and other treats to break the monotony. We also offer menu guidelines for how to use what is provided.

The designated cook gets to learn skills he or she never knew they had!  From curry to corn dumpling soup to fried rice – the missionaries have fun exploring new talents and culinary experiences. They get to take what ingredients are provided, and create meals for two people for two weeks. It’s no easy task. Here are some of the dishes our latest quarantine elders have come up with: 

The “solitary confinement” missionary gets a mini fridge in their room, which is stocked with snacks, water, etc. The doors of each bedroom remain open at all times, and the missionaries try to position their desks so that they can at least see each other for studies or talking. Or just for human interaction. 

Those younger missionaries who have been through the quarantine period sometimes described boredom, a sense of loss, discouragement, and depression. Especially for the one in “solitary confinement”. It’s a long two weeks.  They try to keep each other’s spirits up. Some sing and dance from across the hall with each other. Some have long chats together. With no computer to explore on, and just a mission-owned phone with limited access, there just isn’t much to do. But some love the time to bond with each other, talk and get to know each other. Much of the time they read scriptures, study Chinese, and prepare for their upcoming missionary service. 

And they emerge as heroes in our eyes, extremely ready to go to work. They’ve been through a lot.  They were all given basically an emergency evacuation back in April to return to their home countries. They spent months not knowing what the next step would be for them. Then through the graces of the Taiwanese government, the relentless efforts of the mission president to get his band of stripling warriors back, permission from Church authorities, and the grace of God, they were allowed to return to complete their missions, with strict face mask travel requirements and then this long two-week quarantine.

Indeed, they are “firm and undaunted."

And for those still on their way, their apartments are ready and waiting! We are excited to have you join this stripling band of warriors ready to serve the Lord in this part of His vineyard!