January 31, 2010
Reported by Lin Yi-ying
Written by Lydia Ma

Mustard Seed Mission will head to Divine Tree Village (Shenmutsun), a remote village in Hsinyi County near Nantou area, to host Chinese New Year celebrations from February 5 to 7. The village was one of the worst hit areas of last year's Typhoon Morakot because of mudslides. After the typhoon, more than 400 families or 900 people were practically cut off from the rest of the country.

Most of the residents in Shenmutsun are single parent families or seniors who live alone, and more than half of the residents are unemployed. Their predicament caught Mustard Seed Mission's attention and the organization is currently sponsoring 16 children and 24 families.

With Chinese New Year approaching, Mustard Seed has sent volunteers to visit residents and make a list of supplies residents will need. It will also hold a banquet for 300 people on February 6 to bring some holiday cheer to Shenmutsun residents.

According to Mustard Seed reports, there are no churches in Shenmutsun and residents are mostly Hakka people who used to depend on the harvest of tropical fruits and vegetables as their main source of income. Hence, winter season is the time when they need support and encouragement most.

Taiwan Church News