wfn.org | Morakot victims in southern Taiwan celebrate Christmas at barracks

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

>      Taiwan Church News

>3017 Edition

>December 21~27 2009

Morakot victims in southern Taiwan celebrate Christmas at barracks

>Reported by Li Hsin-ren

>Written by Lydia Ma

>Photo by Li Hsin-ren

“Spending Christmas at a barrack is indeed an

unusual experience!” said a resident from Nansalu in

Namasiya Township, and he wasn’t alone in his

feelings. Many residents from Namasiya are still living

in a barrack in Yenchao, near Kaohsiung County, after

Typhoon Morakot swept away their homes last August.

Aborigines living there lighted candles to thank God for

bringing them this far and prayed for the reconstruction

>of their homes.

Though it’s been four months since Typhoon Morakot,

there are still 427 Nansalu residents living here. This

barrack houses more Morakot victims than the other

three barracks in Kaohsiung area. Morakot caused so

much damage that at least half of Nansalu residents

have already been notified that they will never be able

>to return to their homes and reservations.

>Though it is fairly comfortable to live in a

>barrack, Aborigines still miss their own

>homes and Christmas season makes them

>feel especially homesick. That is why

>they decided to hold traditional Christmas

>celebrations as usual this year. To help them

keep their minds off their homesickness and enjoy Christmas,  Aborigines planned many activities, such as decorating competitions, pot  lucks, and a Christmas gala. For a moment, life returned to normal –  just like before the typhoon.

Mintzu Presbyterian Church also relocated to this

barrack after the typhoon struck and about 120 church

members live there as well. These Christians have

been meeting regularly for church services and

weekday group activities in the past few months.

>Gatherings between Christians have become an

>integral part of life in the barrack.

However, these Christians wanted to share the joy and

message of Christmas with others who lived or worked

at the barrack instead of keeping the gospel to

themselves. When they did so, they discovered that

this was the first time many officers had heard about

the real meaning of Christmas. Officers later joined

Christians in singing and praying to God and a barrack

became a surprise mission field during Christmas.

Military barracks remain a temporary housing solution

for Morakot victims who lost their homes. Some

residents from Nansalu will later move to Binlin

Township and live in permanent housing units the

government is building. Local authorities are still

evaluating whether some Aborigine communities are

safe for residents to return and rebuild their homes.

Their findings will be reported after New Year holidays

and many residents are weary about the results of this

>report. Mintzu Church has asked that churches

>continue to pray for these residents and for

>reconstruction efforts.

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