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. 

1100 Kids - Santa and Options to Contextualize Christmas in Schools of Taiwan.

"Weihnachtsmann" in 1897 on a German Postcard

As every year the Santa culture in Taiwan is repeated, although it is quite unknown who's birthday is celebrated on Christmas. No wonder. Everywhere the number of Santas give the impression Christmas is about Santas. The around Christmas business apparently profits from it. There seems to be a cultural fight between "Santa" and the Christian tradition to remind people on Jesus' birthday. Yet our recent experience as TECC Team in two schools showed us this is not necessary the case. The  red-white Santa or in German "Weihnachtsmann" according to the "Thüringer Allgemeine " originates from Germany, as a large collection of postcards gathered by Mrs. Christl Hütten in the Thuringian Eichsfeld confirmed. Here the oldest card ever found with a Weihnachtsmann ("Santa") was discovered. The card with the nice red-clothed man dated as early as 18. December 1897 was sent with Christmas greetings to another place in Germany and shows an elderly man in red cloth walking through snow (see picture). - Up to not so long ago the U.S.American soda company Coca Cola claimed to be the inventer and developer of "Santa". Evidence shows this is no longer likely, however Coca Cola still managed to be efficient in spreading Santas picture all over the country to advertize its drinks in a time of economic depression in 1931. 

One class has about 25 kids

Sharing presents 

For our TECC team all the background history did not matter, when we visited two schools, one in the country site, the other  in Neili to share the Christmas story to over 1100 kids just last Friday. - Because of the many classes we planed to see we did split our team into two groups. The two Indonesian women in Alains group taught how to say "Merry Christmas" in Indonesian and quickly we could see where the kids with Indonesian immigrant background where. - "Christmas is a globally well known festival", this message on this background could easily be understood. - In one case the whole class was so happy for a bit program, that they were dancing for us three times! Wow! - In all classes after a short message and a class picture with Santa the kids got small presents, reminding us on Gods most precious present to humanity: Jesus Christ. This way this kids heard about Jesus and now understand the importance of the day a bit better. 

The "2012 TECC Santa Team"

Hopefully, one day or in eternity will see even a bigger success than Coca Cola had in 1931 when they were using Santa to advertise good drinks, but see how these over 1100 kids learn about Jesus and tell other friends about him and find out where to find eternal satisfaction for their inner thirst! (Jo 4). Remember for many of them it might take a long, long time until they will hear something about Jesus again! That is also why we all gave them a "Christmas letter" for the parents, with more information about the gospel of Christ and how to celebrate Christmas with Jesus. - Thus even a Santa tradition can help to bring the Good News about Jesus, provided certain actions like giving away presents, explaining the real meaning of Christmas and a letter for the parents are part of what they take home.