A Week of "Lasts" - Our Mission is Complete

Our 18 month now-turned-21 months mission is over. We have trained another couple in Housing responsibilities. They are capable and amazing. They were originally assigned to a temple mission, then after their COVID run, they returned as member leadership support missionaries for a local ward, plus self reliance and teaching English. Now they’ve been asked by the mission president to head up Housing. They shine wherever they are asked to serve.

It was a week of "lasts", and it was tender and sweet. We led our last English group - treats were provided and everyone wanted their photo taken with us. We will miss this wonderful experience.

Last baptism attended - the gal in the olive skirt is a member of our English group and was baptized on this day. The one in the green skirt was also in our English group and was baptized a few weeks earlier. 

Our English group friend, to whom we taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
He will be baptized this week.

Then there was the last dryer-fixing run for a missionary apartment. Last beef noodle soup. Last hugs to the English Ward YSAs. Last last dryer run- again. Last temple session.                                                                                               

Our missionary departure group after a temple session

Last time to sit in Yong Kang park and take in the smells and sights and sounds in this lovely neighborhood park. The mission president treated us all to one last zhuabing and one last CoCo passion fruit drink. We enjoyed these treats at the park while he found some nearby park-goers, and shared with them an invitation to learn about the Gospel. Ever our missionary example. 

Us with President and Sister Peterson. 
Mission office and home in the 
background

President contacting several people 
in the park

Four young missionaries and another senior couple completed their missions the same time as us. We returned to the country dedication site to report back to the Lord of our labors. 

This is where we all started our missions, and this is where we end. The feeling is sweet and tender. We knelt in prayer in private spots to report to the Lord and rededicate ourselves to His work throughout our lives. 

Taiwan was dedicated on June 1, 1959 for the preaching of the Gospel by Elder Mark E. Peterson, at this spot and on this very step (fourth step up from the bottom). This is the garden associated with the Grand Hotel. We closed with a round of "God Be With You Till We Meet Again."

Missions are hard work. Anyone who has been on one knows that. Even for seniors. The mission service is fraught with struggle - mental and physical, spiritual and emotional. But missions are also amazing. They are the brimmed to overflowing with miracles, tender mercies, light, truth, and testimony. Even for seniors. 

To sum up our past 21 months in a short blog post may not be adequate nor do it justice. Most of everything lies imbedded inside us now as part of our framework and compass. We are changed. We are more aware of God’s continuing hand in peoples lives. That which may seem small to the eye is usually the very greatest. We came, we served, and now we return. With a three month COVID-run in between. We are part of history - the COVID-19 history.

Missionaries bound for their home countries, 
ready to board the bus to the airport.

The COVID-run missionaries- those who came, were sent home because of COVID-19, and then were able to return. Or those who were called to serve elsewhere then reassigned back to their home country of Taiwan. And they came back stronger. Their testimonies shone. Their work continues, in spite of unprecedented barriers. They are the heroes. We have been honored to serve behind them - to encourage, help, support, and pray for them. These young missionaries are the heroes of our mission.

 These photos are from March 2020 as the COVID-19 exodus began.

They are also the miracles of this mission. Whenever we’d go to their apartments - whether for inspections or to do repairs, we ask them to share a recent miracle they’ve experienced. And in every case, their eyes lit up and they explained how the Lord led them to find someone with whom they could share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Or how a person’s heart was softened to allow their young adult son or daughter to finally be baptized. Or how their parents returned to Christ because of their missionary service and example. Hearing how the Lord worked through them reminded us that in small and simple means are great things brought to pass. 

___________________________________________________________

5:45 am - the soft jingling of the iPhone stirs my mind to consciousness. Our last day in Taiwan has begun. With our "within-three-day-negative-COVID-test" results in hand, we made our way to the airport. And then, just like that, we were home.

It's great to be back with family! It's great to be back in Colorado.

Happy Easter!

We will ever cherish the memories, the friends, the experiences of our Taiwan Taipei mission. We trust our efforts were helpful. We are grateful to the Lord for allowing us to serve there, and for the opportunity of representing Him and His sacred work. If you have questions about serving a senior mission, about Taiwan, or about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we'd love to hear from you. 

Email: coffey58@gmail.com

 

Worn out shoes, cracked and falling apart, glued back together. 

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Isaiah 52:7

The Year of the Ox has Begun

It's the Year of the Ox! 新蔫快樂 to all our friends!  The Lunar New Year has officially begun with deserted streets and closed up shops. Everyone has 'gone home.' Much like our Thanksgiving tradition of being home with family, Taiwanese will shut down operations a week before the new year, and travel "home" to be with parents or grandparents. Depending on time off availability from work, they might just get a few days off, or more commonly, a week to ten days. It's the single most important and beloved holiday of the year.

Courtesy of flickr - Nicholas Chou

And this year it is the Ox. The Chinese zodiac cycles through 12 animals, one each year, with related symbolism that is supposed to be a key indicator of what kind of personality you will have. The Ox - hardworking, honest, low key and never looks for personal praise. They think logically and make great leaders. 

Are you an Ox?  According to Chinese tradition, you are if you were born in one of these years: 1925; 1937; 1949; 1961; 1973; 1985; 1997; 2009; 2021

An "ox", by the way, is anything of the Bovidae family.  It can be a cow, bull, steer, ox, water buffalo, etc. But usually it is depicted here as a water buffalo.

Let the celebrations begin!

The Grand Hyatt Hotel in Taipei hosts an annual lion dance performance. The senior missionaries attended together and then were treated by the mission president to an amazing buffet lunch.

The dancing lion is very popular with the children - they all wanted to pet him. No wonder - he spews out candy!

A child rests on his mother's shoulders to get a better look at the dancing and leaping golden lion.

 This one spews out candy too! 

The pink cherry blossoms are out in full swing. People LOVE to photograph the blossoms. Wherever there are blossoms, you can find numerous photographers below their branches.

 

Food, of course, is an integral part of the Lunar New Year traditions. Lots of food. One meal was at a member's home who graciously fed 13 of us today, having already fed missionaries yesterday, and they came again today just as we were leaving - to be fed again. Members and friends will invite the missionaries to their homes for meals all throughout the Lunar New Year holiday. Some of the missionaries have up to 22 meal invitations - breakfast, lunch and dinner!  It's considered a "bringer of good luck" if you host family and good friends. 

Our host prepared over 12 dishes for our lunch today - everything completely homemade from scratch. Dumplings, thin pancakes to fill with thin slices of beef, vegetables dishes with pork, chicken, peppers, celery, cilantro, tofu, tomatoes and black rubbery fungus. Soup with squid balls and Chinese radishes. Red rose apples filled with tuna salad (!!). We were already stuffed when she brought out dessert - and what a treat - it was a Western dessert!  Large cream puffs filled with slightly sweetened cream and fruit. It was the perfect touch. THEN she brought out the cheese cake - as American of a cheese cake as one would ever find - absolutely delicious! THEN she brought out the walnut-filled dates and jujubes! We could take in no more. THEN, the final drink - a pot filled with lotus seed and white snow fungus drink. Actually, it was very good - fungus and all.    

We have less than 7 weeks left.  

Soon this will be just a memory. 

Not sure we have significantly changed anyone's lives for the better. 

But one thing is for sure - our lives are better for having been here. 

Especially during this COVID time. 

We've seen the gentle, kind, good people of Taiwan do their part.

We've seen missionaries, through the coming and going of COVID-run exoduses, demonstrate their faith and courage amidst an uncertain future. 

We've been in touch with some of the over 80 Taiwan-bound missionaries who were re-routed to other missions - whose pictures are still lined up on the board - a silent testimony to their faith that they are indeed ambassadors of the Lord Jesus Christ - and will go wherever He calls, even if it's not to Taiwan. 

We have been so blessed by just being here. 

Compliant and Free

As you probably know, Taiwan does not have a COVID-19 problem.

Taiwan has gone over 200 consecutive days without open COVID on the streets.

Courtesy of Flickr.com - Othree

But you know what?  You just can’t compare apples to…. well…. to noodles!  There is no comparison. None at all. You can't compare the situation in the US to Taiwan. For one thing, Taiwan is basically 1/3^rd the size of the state of Colorado. It is also surrounded by water. You have to fly or swim to get there.                            

Hualien coastline

Virtually the only way to enter the country is through the airports. You must have permission. You probably need a visa. To get a visa requires the country allowing you to come for a good reason. If you are from America and a few other countries, to get a visa also requires a “within-three-days-of-travel negative COVID test.”

Getting disinfected at airport

Once you arrive at the airport, even if you come with a negative COVID test, you are sprayed down with disinfectant, and whisked away to mandatory isolated quarantine for 14 days.

You do not leave your quarantine apartment. At all. Food is brought to you. The government checks on you daily. In many cases, you are required to undergo several additional COVID tests – just in case.  All this at your own expense. Anyone testing positive in these additional tests is immediately taken to a hospital for isolated observation and care.

If you continue to be COVID-free, only then are you allowed to enter the streets of Taiwan. Once on the streets, most people choose to wear masks full time but it is not required. Only on public transportation are you required to wear a mask. 

And at Church on Sundays -

 full two hours with everyone allowed at the same time.

The streets are safe.

Like I said, Taiwan is virtually COVID-free. No COVID on the streets. Completely safe. 

So, you know what Taiwan is going to do?

They are tightening the restrictions.

Yes, that’s right. Tightening the restrictions!

Starting December 1^st, masks will be required at the following places: medical facilities, mass transit, places of consumption, schools, exhibitions and athletic centers, entertainment venues, houses of worship, and business venues. That’s pretty much everywhere there are people.

Taiwan public announcement announcing new restrictions

Starting December 1^st, all travelers to Taiwan will be required to provide a “within-three-days-travel-to-Taiwan” negative COVID test.

A small child with a mask 
pulled down 

No one will complain. No one will riot. No one will protest. The fines for disobedience are steep (up to $526). In some cases, the punishment is prison. The people are just happily compliant, grateful for their near-normal life style.

I asked our local senior sister missionary if anyone has ever disobeyed the mask mandate on public transportation.  

She said, “Of course!”

Surprised, I asked, “How many people?”

She replied, “Just one. He’s in jail now.”