Day 2 第二天｜台灣短宣正式開始的第一天 The offical start of our Taiwan Mission Trip

今天正式是我們在台灣宣教的第一天。今天是星期四，天氣一直下著雨，看來我們這隊人真的把西雅圖的雨一起帶來了 。我們大部分隊員都是昨晚陸續抵達台北的酒店，但直到今天才終於有機會真正聚在一起。早上 8 點，我們先到街角一家非常熱鬧的本地早餐店，享用了台式蛋餅和蘿蔔糕。一開始，我們團隊就遇到了一點溝通上的誤會。不過很感恩，我們很快就彼此和好、重新連結。這其實給了我們一個很好的提醒和功課——學習作為在基督裡的弟兄姊妹，彼此合一，不讓小小的誤會成為我們之間的阻隔。之後，之後我們第一次一起來到 馨香堂，也終於正式與教會的同工們見面。我們參觀了教會和咖啡店，然後坐下來進行第一次正式的團隊介紹。

Today is officially our Day 1 in missions at Taiwan. It’s Thursday and the weather is rainy, seemed like our team have brought the rain from Seattle. Our team members had just slowly arrived to our Taipei hotel in yesterday evening but haven’t all met yet. Started with a local busy breakfast joint around the street corner for egg pancake and turnip cake at 8am, there’s a little bit of team miscommunication to begin our mission but we were quick to reconcile as a team. It was a very good lesson for us to be unite as brothers and sisters. We went up to Aroma Church for the first time together and got to meet the staff finally. We got a tour of the church/cafe and settled in with our first formal in-person team introduction.

Chris 牧師歡迎我們，並為我們作了一個簡短的介紹，同時帶領我們回顧之前的工作坊，讓我們更深入了解台灣的文化，以及 3D Gospel，幫助我們明白不同文化之間的差異，以及當地人的信仰和世界觀。其中一件令我們印象很深刻的事情，就是了解到台灣的寺廟非常多，甚至有人形容「廟比人多」。我們開始更深地看見，台灣，人們每天、到處都在接觸不同的民間信仰和敬拜。我們也開始真正明白馨香堂 在台灣所看見的異象——這間咖啡店不只是一門生意，而是一個 24/7 都可以成為人得著平安的地方，就像廟寺廟在這裡一樣，隨時向人開放。

Pastor Chris welcomed us with a quick introduction and workshop recap about Taiwanese culture and 3D Gospel to better understand local cultural differences and beliefs, one thing we learned is that there’s more temples here than people in Taiwan, there’s many demons that people worship here every day and everywhere. We really started to see the vision that Aroma have laid out for Taiwan, and this cafe business is 24/7 a place of peace like how the temple is 24/7 here.

下午｜龍山寺禱告行走 Afternoon ｜Longshan Temple Prayer Walk

下午，馨香堂的同工帶領我們進行禱告行走，來到著名的龍山寺。這是一個許多佛教及道教信徒都會前來敬拜的地方。我們首先搭巴士前往華西街夜市。當時正值農曆七月鬼月接近尾聲，也是中元普渡的時候，所以沿途看到很多商戶正在準備祭拜、超渡先人的儀式。街道兩旁和店舖門前，都擺放著各種供品、香火和祭祀用品。中午，我們先吃了一碗台灣的焿湯，當然也少不了珍珠奶茶 。在進入寺廟之前，我們先圍成一個圈一起禱告，求神潔淨我們的心思意念，打開我們的眼睛和耳朵，讓我們能夠看見和聽見神要我們看見和聽見的事情；同時也求神讓我們穿戴屬靈的軍裝，以憐憫和愛去面對我們在寺廟裡所觀察到的一切。

In the afternoon, Aroma staff led us for a prayer walk at the Longshan Temple, well-known Temple for both Buddhist and Taoist worshippers. We took a bus first to the Huaxi St. Night Market where many businesses are observing salvation ceremony for wandering spirits of Ghost Festival 中元普渡, nears the end of Ghost Month 鬼節of Chinese Calendar. There were many offerings and burning incenses set up on tables and on the streets. We then had 焿 thick soup and of course, boba for lunch. Before we head to the temple, we gathered in a circle to have prayers to clear our mind and open your eyes and ears, to put on the armor and have compassion on whatever we observe inside the temple.

就在我們走進寺廟的時候，原本只是下雨，突然變成傾盆大雨 🌧️。但即使如此，寺廟裡仍然有很多遊客和參拜的人。我們在裡面大約觀察了 45 分鐘，嘗試了解人們參拜的流程、行為，以及背後所代表的意義。之後，我們到附近的茶館，一邊喝著台灣非常著名的高山烏龍茶，一邊分享我們各自所觀察到的事情和內心的感受。那是一段非常有意義的交流。我們一起討論「拜拜」在台灣文化中代表甚麼，以及這些信仰和習俗如何影響一個人的生活，甚至如何影響一個家庭。其中最觸動我們的，是聽到馨香堂小同工自己的故事和生命經歷。他們願意分享自己的掙扎，也願意敞開自己的軟弱，但同時我們又看見他們在基督裡的勇氣、韌性和盼望。

Shower turned into torrential rain at this point as we walked in, but there’s many visitors and worshippers there. We were there for 45 minutes to observe the people and understand the process. We then shared our observations and thoughts at a nearby tea shop while enjoying sips of Taiwan finest Alpine Oolong tea. It was a very meaningful conversation with one another and our local staff in what worshipping 拜拜 means here and how it affects people and her family. Meeting the Aroma staff here was particular touching for us, hearing their stories and struggles but also seeing their vulnerability and resiliency in Christ.

晚上｜歡迎晚餐與禱告會 Evening ｜Welcome Dinner & Prayer Meeting

晚上，我們回到教會參加他們為我們預備的歡迎晚餐。台式餃子、更多珍珠奶茶 ，以及非常熱情好客的接待，讓我們有一個很美好的晚上。我們一邊吃飯，一邊聊天，慢慢認識彼此。晚餐後，Pastor David 帶領我們參加教會每月一次的禱告會。今晚我們實際操練了主禱文，並將禱告分成四個部分：

In the evening, we went back for welcoming dinner from the church. Taiwanese dumplings and more boba. They were very hospitable to us and we had wonderful conversation to get to know each other. To end the night, Pastor David led us their monthly prayer meeting. We prayed in the Lord’s Prayer in practice, breaking down into four:

宣告（Proclaim）

感恩（Thanksgiving）

認罪（Confess）

饒恕（Forgiveness）

這是一個非常有力量的操練。我們不只是一起禱告，也聽見了不同人的生命分享。這讓我們更深入認識彼此，也讓我們看見神如何在每一個人的生命中工作。當晚在傾盆大雨中，仍然有四位朋友來到聚會。其中很多人之所以來，是因為他們在過去的教會、工作場所，甚至自己的家庭裡，都找不到真正的安慰。這讓我們非常受鼓勵。雖然對我們很多人來說，這是第一次踏入宣教工場，但我們都看見，大家都沒有太多猶豫，就開始投入不同的服侍——有人主動接觸當地人，有人帶領敬拜，有人加入談話、聆聽和建立關係。我們越來越感受到，這支團隊是神親自組合在一起的。祂給我們每一個人不同的恩賜，也讓我們可以彼此配搭、彼此補足、彼此守望。所以，我們不需要把所有壓力都放在自己身上，也不需要靠自己的聰明去完成一切。不要依靠自己的聰明，乃要凡事仰賴神。我們要做的，就是跟隨祂。

It was a powerful practice that we got to hear people’s sharing, and a good opportunity to know our teammates more. There were four who came in the torrential rainy night. Many came because they couldn’t find comfort in their old church, at their workplace and even home. It’s very encouraging to see that even it’s many first time at a mission field, many of us didn’t hesitate to jump into different roles, like outreaching to locals, leading worship, join in on conversations. This team is put together by the Lord and blessed us each with our unique gifts, and to work as a team and got each other’s back, so that we shouldn’t be stressed and lean on our own understanding, but that it’s all up to God and we will follow.

因為：宣教不是關乎我們可以做多少，而是關乎我們有多少願意倚靠神，也有多少願意彼此倚靠。今天，我們當中很多人都被不同的當地人吸引，開始產生一些特別的連結。所以請繼續為這些新的相遇、連結和關係禱告。求神親自帶領每一段關係，也求祂讓我們的心保持柔軟、敏銳和敞開。更重要的是，請為我們整個團隊禱告——求神保守我們在基督裡持守合一，彼此相愛、彼此支持，彼此守望，在接下來的日子裡一起跟隨祂。

Mission isn’t about how much we can do but how much we can lean on God and one another. Many of us were drawn to different locals to reach out to, so keep praying for the connections and relationships we build. Pray that our team can stay strong and united in Christ and keep our hearts open.

今天是疲倦但非常充實的一天。有些隊員仍然在努力適應時差，也正在適應一個全新的地方和環境。但我們深信，這將會是一個非常豐盛、充滿神工作的星期。請繼續為我們禱告！願我們不靠自己的力量，而是每天更多地學習依靠神、依靠彼此，並且看見神在台灣所預備的一切。

It’s been a tired first day as some are still fighting jetlag and getting used to new places. It’s going to be a fruitful week, please keep praying for us!