wfn.org | TCN: Typhoon victims grateful to find shelter in churches

["Taiwan Church News" <enews@pctpress.org>]

>Taiwan Church News

>3000 Edition

>August 24~30, 2009

Typhoon victims grateful to find shelter in churches

>Reported by Lin Yi-ying

>Written by Lydia Ma

“Compared to our church brothers or sisters who have been

staying at Fo Guang Shan Monastery, we are very lucky!” said

flood victims from South Bunun Presbytery who have been staying

at Fongshan Presbyterian Church since they were evacuated.

Fongshan Church is providing temporary shelter for 120 Christians

from Namasiya, Taoyuan, and Liouguei townships who are mostly

Bunun and Pingpu aborigines. The church not only provides three

meals a day and a place to sleep, it has also arranged for  children

to receive academic tutoring. Some church members have even

provided free haircuts, donated televisions, stereos, and brand

new clothes to help flood victims staying at Fongshan to feel  loved

>and comfortable.

With the help and coordination of Fongshan Church pastor Rev. E

Ju-tang, the entire Fongshan congregation came to the help of

their guests. Other local churches, presbytery leaders, and

volunteers also pitched in by replenishing supplies and

government agency workers came to offer services and care for

>flood victims as well.

Commenting on their guests, Fongshan Church’s Junior Pastor

Shih Hsiao-ling said, “They are our brothers and sisters in  Christ

and they are very courteous and organized. They sweep the floor

of the church in the mornings on their own accord and take turns

cooking meals every day. At night, an elder will come to pray with

>them. Their lives are peaceful now.”

According to reports, church members have also donated two 40

inch LCD television screens, PCT General Assembly has donated

two driers, and every classroom in the church is now equipped

with air-conditioning. Some mothers from the church offered free

haircuts, while a church deacon who owns an export business

donated brand new clothes to all typhoon victims staying at the

>church.

The church has also helped seniors with physical disabilities to

settle in classrooms on the church’s ground floor for their  own

convenience. Meanwhile, college students from Shou-Shan

Presbytery were recruited to help children with their academic

>studies.

Some victims living at the church have already gone out to nearby

towns and gotten temporary jobs. “It’s great to live at  church, we

are truly lucky!” said a typhoon victim because some  Christians

placed in Buddhist Fo Guang Shan Monastery after they lost their

homes reported they haven’t been feeling as peaceful. Some of

them even formed small groups to pray together inconspicuously.

In contrast, Christians staying at Fongshan Church not only get to

attend Sunday services but are also invited to attend small groups

activities organized by the church during weekdays and have their

own family gatherings on Fridays. “We are very thankful for  God

and Rev. E and all the brothers and sisters at Fongshan who have

embraced us and accompanied us through these times!” said a

>typhoon victim.

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