Day 14 - 7/13/2016 - Time and Fallen Leaves

So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of the whole earth.

Genesis 11:8a

Autumn is a time of departures and endings. The beauty of summer and the warmth of peaceful companionship grow still and pass away for a year. In the same way, today marks our final day in Taichung before we depart tomorrow as well as the end of our daily interactions with the youth of the church. Yet autumn is also a time of anticipation, where hope for spring sprouts and animals hibernate to conserve strength for a new year. Even though we are leaving Taiwan, the memories of our hosts, students, and friends will never leave us, and we remain excited for the next year, when we can return.

When we woke up this morning, it was with the knowledge that today was to be our final day in Taichung. Edward and I packed quickly, stuffing clothes and toiletries alike into our bulging suitcases. Souvenirs took the final places in our luggage, and we stuttered down the stairs to go to the church. Upon arriving at the church at 9, we found Luke's father there are already fixing and cleaning the church's sanctuary. After a short while, Hwa-chi and Pauline arrived with Josh and Emily to take us to their home for the day. We said our goodbyes to our amazing hosts, the Zhen family. May God bless them and their children, who are applying to college and visiting Australia.

As we clambered into Hwa-chi's car, he told us we would visit the Taichung Industrial Park as a final farewell to the beautiful city of Taichung. We drove slowly through the broad streets, the scorching air shimmering in front of us like a silky curtain. The whole while, Hwa-chi explained the situation regarding the electronics industry in Taichung and Taiwan as a whole. Starting from the beginning over 30 years ago, Hwa-chi wove a tale of brilliance and resilience, explaining how a team of savvy entrepreneurs brought together dozens of engineering students and scientists to create a variety of products that served as the foundation for today's massive industry, and how Chiang Kai Shek's son created the base by for growth by taking firm control of the reins. Brother Hwa-chi explained the creation of the fabs, or precision factories, in which the world's semiconductors are produced and the gradual transition from from a dual-focus model involving both research and manufacturing to a single-focus model where manufacturing became the sole priority, and services where offered to all clients.

The fabs and faces (phases?) towered above us, reminding us of the great complexity and intricacy that God made us capable of achieving, and of how many could be saved if we could only work together in evangelism as well as we do in industry. We drove past most of the seven phases (faces?), observing as the seventh one was being constructed and learning that components only 70 atoms wide were to be assembled and managed deep withing the forbidding steel structure of the seventh face. Besides this basic knowledge of the role and creation of the Fab Fifteen and the Seven Faces, our discussion also delved deep into the fundamental differences between Western and Eastern culture and what makes them suitable for revolutionary science and precision engineering respectively. Hwa-chi emphasized the importance of the individual in Western society and the obstinate freedom that characterizes so many Western scientists. Thus, Western workers are likely to have one monumental success in a career of mediocrity and are also prone to disobeying and questioning rules that contribute to the greater good. Eastern workers, on the other hand, are mostly engineers and laborers who understand the needs of the company and how to best fulfill them. Thus, when seemingly frivolous regulations such as no make-up or cologne are applied, Eastern workers obey without question. Their willingness to follow orders and commitment to maintaining a controlled environment makes it much easier for Eastern workers to produce consistent excellence.

We are very grateful to Brother Hwa-chi for giving us such valuable insight regarding the history of Taiwan's largest industry, as some of the experiences and occurrences throughout the history of the industry gave valuable lessons applicable to our own lives. After we drove home, Hwa-chi asked us if we wanted to visit a renovated eye clinic that dates back to the 1930's called the 宫原眼科. We all agreed that it would be an interesting experience to see what the place would be like, so we set of immediately.

Upon arrival, we found a grand old building filled with people of all walks of life ranging from foreign tourists to guides in formal military dress. We briefly explored the first floor, then walked up to the second floor, which hosted an high-end tea shop restaurant. Sitting down, we found menus laid across beautiful pieces of art that served as our tablecloths. The napkins and hand wipes were printed with the building's name and logo. On the menu was an assorted array of upscale dishes ranging from cheesecake with various fruits and honey-pickled tomatoes to full dinners with duck and vegetables. In the end, we settled on five items: a sundae with Heiye lychee, grape, cactus and raspberry yogurt, and 44% milk chocolate ice creams, the cheesecake with fruits and tomatoes, a special poutine made with Mexican chili sauce, a banana split, and an iced Miyahara milk tea.

One by one, the dishes filed onto our table. The first to arrive was the Miyahara iced milk tea, which came unadulterated by sugar or bubbles. Instead, we were given dishes with bubbles and liquid brown sugar in them to add as we pleased. Next was a huge surprise in the poutine, which turned out to be extraordinarily rich and unbelievably delicious. The banana split came next, with scoops of mango, tea, and peanut vanilla ice cream sandwiched between a fragrant sliced banana. The cheesecake and sundae arrived simultaneously, bringing a veritable dairy explosion to our table. With empty plates laying on the table, we realized that my faulty hearing had left us short of the "minimum spending limit" in the restaurant. The unanimous vote was to rectify the situation by ordering one more of the scrumptious poutine. Our stomachs packed, we lumbered up one more floor to the bathrooms, which were works of art. The granite floors and walls complimented the glistening white toilets and the sinks were sleek affairs embedded deep within the walls of the bathroom. Their handwash and lotion smelled heavenly, so much so that Emily almost snuck a bottle home for herself.

As always, we returned home after a long day of exciting activities. After resting for a few hours, we set out for our last supper here in Taiwan. Treading down the worn stairs of Hwa-chi's apartment complex, stepping outside into the warmth of Taichung's streets, we walked to a small seafood restaurant a few blocks from Hwa-chi's apartment. Here, almost everyone ordered a simple dinner of seafood noodles or seafood porridge along with a few side dishes of bok choy and other vegetables. Josh led a touching prayer to thank the LORD for the past week and all of his blessings, and we dug into the hearty food. After walking briefly through Ikea, we found ourselves back home at Hwa-chi's house and preparing for our 3:45 A.M. bus tomorrow. Thank the LORD for these past two weeks which have been an absolutely unforgettable experience.

Prayer Requests: