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| Jiingjun's mom & niece |
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| David our guide |
We awoke early—5:30 a.m. Breakfast was at Hong Kong International Airport with Jingjun after check in. There’s something grounding about beginning a journey over a simple meal. When we arrived, Taichung greeted us with a rainy 19°C temperature—wet and refreshing.
A warm cuppa with William and Mabel at the hotel set the tone. Next JoJo's husband David - our local guide - guided us to wander through
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| Our cell group |
Eslite Spectrum - such a unique mall, more than just shopping, almost like a cultural space. The ladies enjoyed shopping while William and I grabbed a quick bite before a late lunch— featuring live cockles. It was a full day of travel and settling in. Dinah wasn’t feeling well, which reminded me how even in meaningful moments, there are quiet challenges running alongside the joy.
Day Two – Receiving and Being Stretched
24th December began with breakfast again with William and Mabel—these small routines of connection became anchors for what's ahead.
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| Received |
Session 1 stirred expectation. Lunch with our Hong Kong cell group felt like home away from home. Session 2 was especially impactful—spiritually passing through the mother’s birth canal spoke deeply about transition, uncertainty, and emergence into new life. It wasn’t teaching; it was healing.
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| Receive & pray for |
When Joey called me up to receive and to pray, I felt both surprised and stretched. Later I was tired—physically and emotionally—but deeply glad. There’s a particular exhaustion that comes from being poured out spiritually, yet it carries a quiet joy. What a unique Christmas Eve!
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| Dining together on 24th |
Dinner with Catherine, Samuel, Cherie, Justine, June, Charlie and Mee Ling was filled with laughter and warmth. The session later, based on a true story, was deeply moving. Narrative carries power—the lived faithfulness of God through ordinary people.
Day Three – Tears and Celebration
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| Dessert w friends from Yunlin |
25th December didn’t feel commercial or hurried. It felt sacred.
Sessions 4 and 5 continued to build layer upon layer. Lunch with folks from our former church and then dinner with friends from Yunlin created breathing spaces between encounters. Conversations over meals often minister as much as the sessions themselves.
The night session—the story of Peter and Daisy from Taipei—was a tearjerker. I found myself reflecting on faithfulness, endurance, and love that perseveres through seasons of suffering. Yet the tears gave way to celebration. It felt like Christmas in its truest sense: sorrow and joy intertwined, redemption shining through brokenness.
Day Four – Closing and Carrying It Home
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| Qingyun, Jessalyn & Tiffany |
The final session (Session 7) carried a sense of completion, yet also commissioning. Conferences end, but what is deposited must continue. Lunch with Qingyun, Jessalyn, and Tiffany before flying back felt like a Singapore connection and like a gentle landing after an intense few days. This al fresco meal was our final meal in Tai Chung. We walked around before we finally settled on a place. But it was fun as it was memorable. And the girls even introduced us to hot tea with bubbles.
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| ToL Family Gathering |
As I reflect, a few things stay with me:
Family matters. Shared breakfasts, spontaneous prayers and corridor convos were as formative as main sessions.
Spiritual growth often feels like transition. The birth canal healing lingers—growth is rarely comfortable but leads to new life.
God moves thru stories. True stories soften hearts in ways arguments never can.
Firsts are gifts. Our first time in Taichung. Our first Christmas conference. Both marked by stretching, tears, fatigue, and deep gladness.
This trip wasn’t about presents or festivities. It was about presence—God’s presence, and the presence of spiritual family. And in that, Taichung will always hold a special place in our hearts.
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