Bae Sihyeon (left) with the women in the village harvesting oranges. - Photo: Bae Sihyeon
I live with the Atayal community, who call me by my aboriginal name, MaHong. I serve in the eight churches which make up the parish nestled in the mountains of the Hsinchu diocese, Taiwan. As a member of the parish team my ministry includes celebrating Communion services, visiting parishioners in hospital, facilitating youth activities, community gatherings and house prayers.
Most indigenous people make a living by growing various varieties of fruit such as persimmons and peaches and growing vegetables. In the past, roe deer, wild pigs, and flying squirrels were hunted and eaten as staple foods, but now the tradition of hunting continues only for recreation or special celebrations.
Sometimes I help the parishioners with their work to understand them better. In the beginning, it wasn't easy, and I felt anxious because I had no experience, but it was an excellent way to be with parishioners and get to know them.
Recently, I harvested oranges for the first time. We gathered very early in the morning and headed to the top of the mountain, where the slope was steep and narrow. When we reached there, we began picking oranges. Oranges are harvested from mid-November to mid-March. This is good for the people’s livelihood because oranges are very popular and in demand during Lunar New Year.
Since it was my first time, I only took oranges from low-lying branches. I noticed how firmly each branch bore plentiful fruit, reminding me of the sturdy way these farmers, as parents, also care for their own children. Looking at the parishioners, their families are like these oranges - the fruit are like their children, each varying in size and colour, and yet all coming from the same tree. At that moment, I remembered the heart of God. How amazing it was for God to take care of each person, each piece of fruit. It became an enriching and meaningful time for me, harvesting oranges and feeling gratitude to God.
Enjoyng the harvested oranges. - Photo: Bae Sihyeon
During our lunch break, we enjoyed a simple, yet delicious “bento” lunch box. After finishing our meal, I was surprised to see everyone heading in different directions. When I asked what we were to do next, one parishioner said, “MaHong, rest!”. After watching them find shade and stretch out on paper boxes, I followed their lead and also laid down on the ground. The gentle breeze lulled me to sleep. In that moment, that same breeze made me aware of God’s subtle presence.
After our nap, we went back to work. After harvesting, we packed the oranges in a well-organised group effort, wherein each person was assigned various tasks such as sorting, checking each orange, filling, and marking each box. Each task is important to keep the process going quickly. My part was to check that the oranges were separated by size. I had to keep pace with the rest while watching each take up their allotted task. It gave me great comfort and strength to share the joy and reward of our hard work together this way. Afterwards, we gathered to celebrate the day’s work with snacks, drinks, and shared stories.
I learned about the parishioners gratitude to God for the abundance of the harvest, humbly aware of how much they relied on God for their livelihood. Being with the aborigines has enriched my life and taught me the importance of gratitude. They have experienced difficult times, like the fire that destroyed one of the churches a few years ago. We began finding ways to make rebuilding the church a reality. Now, six years later, we have only raised half of the funds, so we continue our efforts in fundraising, despite setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The community’s resilience and constant faith is inspiring. Living with the aborigines, I have learnt about God’s love for a neighbour who is sick, prayer for others in times of difficulties, and sharing our burdens. I appreciate how our meetings and farewells consist of the common Chinese Catholic greeting of praying to God to bless the other - “Tianzhu Baoyou” (May God bless you and protect you) - and the local Atayal greeting “Lokah” (Cheer up!). Through the lives of the parishioners, I can feel the living God and learn to practise love. For me, this is a significant gift from God, and it brings me joy and happiness as I continue living as a missionary.
Columban lay missionary Bae Sihyeon lives and works in Taiwan.
Listen to "A letter from Taiwan"
Related links
- Read more from The Far East - August 2024
