Week 5: Jan. 26 - Feb. 1
- George Vasilyev
- Feb 3
- 5 min read
Disclaimer: This week was a doozy!
TOUFEN, MIAOLI, AND A SPECIAL SURPRISE
Our team was asked to help two separate churches with their youth camps. We didn't know too much about either, nor did we know how exactly to "do a kids camp". It was God's grace that we had two Norwegians on our team who knew quite a bit (and would primarily lead our camps, structure-wise, moving forward).
After a half-days rest, Sunday evening we packed light and headed straight to Toufen House Church via taxi-vans. Through long stretches of country road, we were surprised to arrive to a beautiful coffee shop arrayed with gorgeous paintings along the walls and windows. These incredible hosts would feed us 3 meals a day and take care of all housing needs - we just needed to show up!
Another incredible part of this church is their gift of worship and the prophetic - praying and painting visions that their team had received. They would then give these paintings out as gifs.
Here, Pastor Patricia hands Tuukka a painting that deeply moved him, along with an encouraging prayer and blessing.
As for the camps themselves, our team prayed into the vision for what Taiwanese youth should receive and collectively landed on the following:
TOUFEN: VISION FOR TAIWANESE YOUTH
Jesus is Love - I Am Loved by God
Ephesians 3:17a: "...that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith..."
On arriving, our team was warned: Taiwanese children are quite clever and they are insatiably competitive! I found this to very true;
To make things more interesting, we leveraged our cultural identities to form teams for playing games. The kids loved the competition! We also sang songs and made crafts; all centering around the core themes we'd prayed for.
I have a newfound respect for those running those kids camps. Though a joy, we ended each day totally spent!
"...but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven."
Matthew 19:14
We will miss you Toufen. Onward to Miaoli County!
The rural atmosphere was exactly what our team needed. It was healing not having wifi. In addition to their terrific hospitality (treating us to breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the church), I even got to play around with the espresso machine each morning!
Saying goodbye was difficult - a common theme as we moved around in Taiwan. We were continuously humbled by warm welcomes and generosity; refusing any compensation for room and board. Our leader eventually would give a donation to their church instead.
ECCENTRIC MIAOLI
If Toufen is considered a small town, then Yuanli, Miaoli County would truly be out in the sticks. Opened after following a sign heard in prayer, this TKC church branch is right off of a country highway, north of Taichung. Here we would follow Pastor Ray's lead onto our next kid's camp.
Toufen house church was the perfect training ground for us to learn to actually work together in the context of kids camps. However, this camp in Miaoli was in a government school where sharing the gospel is strictly prohibited!
In this massive elementary school, which housed kids for miles, we managed to minister by leaning heavily into our culture and national aspect, rather than changing our core message.
We still told children how valuable and precious they are - something Taiwanese youth may not hear often.
" THE MIRROR "
The most powerful message came from an illustration by Tuukka, who'd brought with him a small box. In great length he'd explain how valuable the treasure was inside the box. At the end, children would come one-by-one to finally peek into this box, only to see a mirror - and understand that they are the greatest treasure.
As other kids waited, our team members would quietly pray over them.
Many children and teachers cried when they truly understood the message, though the tears made the other kids in line even more curious.
" I'M LOVED AND PRECIOUS "
The exercise would end with children writing this phrase next to their names and listing at least 3 things they enjoyed about themselves.
This camp experience showed me how we truly are the salt and light in the world, and that God can speak to them by just showing up - even without a religious agenda.
14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
Matthew 5:14-16
" KEVIN "
At Miaoli TKC Church, there is a brand new believer who offered his country home to host all 13 of us. This 6 month Christian is a Taichi master, swordsman, saxophone player, software engineer, drummer, and the list goes on!
He kept us on our toes with wild stories, strong coffee, and a Daoist shrine room right in his house (though he was in the process of removing it). This felt like real outreach.
Below is Kevin, showing off his swords and posing next to Pastor Ray and Pastor Patricia.
GOOD OL' STREET EVANGELISM
Beyond more shared meals with new believers, we served the rest of our time in Miaoli doing street evangelism in the local community. We gave performances, manned a prayer table where many witnessed healing, and held flower/coffee giveaways - all of which the locals received warmly.
I have such fond memories from Miaoli. We were hosted so well, made many friends, and of course had a heart-wrenching farewell before heading back to Taichung.
Onward to Taichung and Kiaoshiung!
Oh, but one more thing...
Thank you for the birthday wishes! I was celebrated 4 times over, as every single host caught wind of the occasion, and by the time we got back to Taichung, I ended up with 5 cakes! I received many texts from you all back home, and my Norwegian teammates lifted me up in a special birthday chair! But the best gift of all was being prayed over.
Thank you all, and God bless you. This massive jam-packed week would not have been possible without all of your support!
Your brother in Christ,
George