Around the World on a Mission: Taiwan

Having left Hong Kong behind us, we arrived in Taipei, Taiwan in mid-afternoon. While we arrived in the capital city, we were not going to stay there long. We would be going south to the city of Kaohsiung for most of our time in Taiwan. Following a meal at the church in Taipei, we participated in a church service that evening. When the service was over, we headed to the train station. We would be traveling by train to the…

Around the World on a Mission: Hong Kong

Having been in the ancient city of Cairo, Egypt and seen the rural center of India, we now headed for the big city of Hong Kong. Here was another opportunity to experience and learn about a different culture and peoples. In 1971 Hong Kong was in a building mode. Having been to Hong Kong recently, I saw the many apartment buildings which now look old and outdated. In 1971 it seemed construction was common as the population was growing. Because…

Around the World on a Mission: India

My first impression of India came at the airport. I remember sitting in the Bombay Airport (now known as Mumbai) waiting for our next flight. Across from us there was a counter that offered water to those passing by. From my perspective the attendant had two glasses. Someone would come along and grab one of the glasses, drink the water, and put the cup back down. The attendant would take the empty glass, dip it below the counter, and then…

Around the World on a Mission: The Beginning

I was 20 years old when I traveled for the first time on an airplane. That was 49 years ago. However, it wasn’t just any airplane ride. It was the beginning of a mission, a mission that would impact my life for years to come. For the next month I would travel around the world and see some of the most famous locations in the world as well as see what poverty really looks like. It would be my first…