TAIWAN. China
During this Year of Faith when the church asks us to express our faith by witnessing to it in acts of love towards others, especially those who have less in life, the Taiwan TA International Volunteer Group just recently ended their summer program doing that.
Though not all are baptized Catholics, all knew that they were getting involved in a Catholic Church project and were open to follow its precept of “loving others.” Fourteen boys (8) and girls (6) from Taipei, Tainan and Taoyuan between the age of 13-17, gathered in our center in Tainan on July 1st accompanied by TA members (one ACIT and 3 AP) and an invited teacher, to get to know each other and to prepare for the summer service program to children in Jin Lun, who belong to one of the 14 aboriginal tribes in Taiwan – the Paiwan tribe. During the commissioning mass with some parents also present, the presiding priest exhorted each one “to express your love in truth, through actions, not just words.”
Before going to Jin Lun they spent a morning in a center for the severely handicapped to help in cleaning their premises. In the afternoon, they visited a home for the aged to entertain them. Both are located in Chiayi, just an hour north of Tainan.
On the fourth day, ready with their materials and program syllabus, they boarded the train to Jin Lun, Taitung, in an almost 4 hour ride going south and then to the east along the coast enjoying the view of the Pacific Ocean and the mountain ranges. This time, they knew each other more and were already formed into committees with different tasks: to teach Christian doctrine, to teach English and to create some artistic crafts, aside from the entertainment and guidance to the children.
The Jin Lun Catholic Church was the venue to meet the children and as the residence for the whole group while they did the service which was very much appreciated by the Catholic priest and his team. Jin Lun Catholics felt very favored being chosen and given this summer program without having to move the 45 plus children to another city. It was their first experience of being visited and served in their own parish church.
The first afternoon after settling their things, the whole group went around to get to know the place and its culture by listening to the orientation, visiting a cultural museum and by going around to see the river which once ravaged the area in one strong typhoon, and its development.
The following morning after welcoming the children and giving each one their identification card, our volunteer team started teaching a simple dance to all and thus bringing them closer to one another in their effort to learn the steps and go in unison with the whole group – an enjoyable activity hitting 2 birds with one stone.
The other activities in separate smaller groups of three included: English class, Bible stories and DIY (do it yourself) crafts. The afternoons were games all throughout the 3 full days. Every evening, before going to bed, the volunteers had their reflection guided by the teacher. The last day was a closing program where the Jin Lun children showed their talents in performing dances, playing the flute and a short skit to dramatize 2 Bible stories. They celebrated their experience of sharing and learning together as brothers and sisters.
After the love service to the children, the volunteers moved to another venue and had two days to process their experience and to enjoy the natural beauty of the place: the sea, sunrise and star gazing at night and have hot spring relaxing treat. Each volunteer had a chance for personal guided reflection.
The whole group felt the exhaustion after 10 days of training, growing as a team and putting love into action and group reflection and sharing to help each one find meaning in their own effort to reach out to others. The experience was also a growth as a team with a sense of purpose and as a community to care and to work harmoniously with each one’s individuality challenged and complemented. This in itself was a source of learning and satisfaction.
In their evaluation, many of the volunteers expressed how the whole event made them grow in their self-confidence and capacity to learn and to reach out. Others also acquired greater affirmation in their own talents in organizing and leadership skills. One girl was very pleased with herself to realize that she actually was able to serve and help others. Most of them expressed their gratitude for the way they were led, trained and guided to face challenging moments and come out achieving their objectives after making efforts to overcome their shyness and fear to handle difficult situations.
The organizing team realized that it is possible to attract young people who are always holding their mobile phones and entertaining themselves with it, communicating with those absent and not minding the one next to them. They are capable of putting aside their mobile phones and learn to actually care and serve, and to feel the joy and satisfaction in their achievements of “loving in action, loving in truth.” This was truly an experience of what our Founder St. Pedro Poveda once said: “the youth will be your source of joy and glory.”
Images of the 5th International Volunteer Program of the Teresian Association in Taiwan
T.A. in Taiwan