Covenant News

U.S. Volunteers Assisting Taiwan Summer Program

TAIPEI, TAIWAN (July 10) - A group of 20 volunteers representing 11 Evangelical Covenant churches in the United States began working today as part of the Taiwan Summer English Program, following several days of training and orientation.

"Everyone arrived safely," report Dave and Judy Dolan, regional coordinators for Chinese ministries for the Department of World Mission, in an email to Covenant Communications today. "Only one suitcase went astray and has since been found."

An orientation was conducted for a day and a half in Taipei to ease everyone into Taiwan culture, the Dolans note. The team was then picked up by Chinese co-workers and divided among eight Chinese Covenant churches from Taipei to the southern port city of Kaohsiung.

The Dolans also request prayer on behalf of team members as they adjust to the cultural changes. "It's extremely hot here in Taiwan, so drinking lots of water has been essential. There are also many cultural things to adjust to when teaching in a new place."

The summer program team includes five individuals who have served in previous summer programs – "they have been very helpful in sharing their ideas," according to the Dolans.

"Today we began visiting each location and seeing the teachers and classes in action," the Dolans report. "We saw kids with arms around two of the teachers and broad smiles on their faces at one of the churches in a poorer area, an area where the kids crave affection. That was an encouraging sight!

"Pray that God might use this program to His glory and . . . speak His love into the hearts of children here in Taiwan. And would you especially pray that each teacher stays healthy in spite of the heat?"

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