Tuesday, January 01, 2013

2013 New Year's Greetings and the TAIPEI "101" Firework


2013 Taipei 101 firework- Source: China Post 1.1.2013
TAIPEI - The much-anticipated firework (The Taipei 101 tower fireworks was announced as one of the top 10 New Years firework worldwide this year) finished its extravagant display in 188 seconds yesterday and according to reports in front of more than 800,000 spectators in Xinyi District. 

Jonathan felt it was too short.  But we all agreed its was great. For us an interesting year with several great experiences with the LORD has come to a close. The new year had began.
    
President Ma Ying-jeou wished a cheering crowd a happy 2013. The Tourism Bureau as a promotial piece used the LED lights in English and Mandarin characters to display "Time For Taiwan," "Taiwan - the heart of Asia" and "Time for celebration" on the tower's walls. According to local news many Chinese from the PRC tried to come to Taiwan to attend this event. As for the fireworks show, the French firework team kept its promise to keep audiences "seduced and enthusiastic." In its first act, themed "Farewell to the Past," the firework displayed colors of red and blue symbolyzing the good and bad endeavours of 2012. The following second act, used colored sparks of red, blue, green, purple and gold to resemble the hope of a New Year; the third act, was devoted to the topic "Challenging the Extreme" which was demonstrated with long high shot streaks into skies of fireworks. 

Representatives of Taipei 101 emphasized that this year's carbon emissions from the fireworks did not exceed 4.5 metric tons. This is only two-thirds of the emissions of the past four years. In addition the cold luminescence and low emission fireworks was imported from Spain, because it has a low smoke level. 

The final act was a great "Salute to the Future."   While the firework was really great it was not long either and adjusted to a cut budget. The Chinese New Year is only a few days away and then probably even more can be expected. 
With the new year 2013 in place we send our best wishes to all those who pray for Taiwan and its people, who invest in the ministry of hope with SEND Taiwan and would like to invite more friends to join and see why the gospel of Jesus as remembered at Christmas is so important for Taiwanese and the future of this nation. 

The chosen new bible verse for the Year 2013 is out of Hebrew 13: 14: "For there is no permanent city for us here on earth; we are looking for the city which is to come."
From this understanding we want to enter a new slot of time and shape our plans and strategies, but at the same time see at those in need who also need to understand where real hope for the future is. 

No comments: