"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!