Taiwan Church News
3761 Edition
March 25 ~ 31, 2024
Weekly Topical
Love to Team Ukraine, the 2nd Shipment of Medical Resources Launched
Reported by Dalul from Tainan
Jointly hosted by the generous donors, legislator Wang Ting-yu, Taiwan Association of Community Advancement (TACA) and Taiwan Stand for Ukraine (TSU), a donation service and press conference for sending the 2nd shipment of medical resources to Ukraine was held at Li-Min Precision Co., Ltd, located in Hsin-Shi District, Tainan City on March 23rd. The shipment, including 154 medical beds, was prepared ready to deliver on board.
Rev Fuyan Suda, vice moderator of the PCT General Assembly prayed for the war-inflicted Ukraine people at the donation service. At the same time, to witness this charity and bless these medical resources can have a smooth and safe arrival, convening groups of TACA and TSU also issued thanksgiving certificates to the civilian groups reaching out generously to stand by Ukraine in actions.
As the ruthless of Russian military invasion into Ukraine continues, which means the Ukrainian military forces and civilians are still under the grave assault of bombs and bullets, Ukrainian hospitals therefore have to accommodate an indefinite big volume of injured patients.
To showcase the spirit of “Taiwan can help” within an incessant love and compassion for the suffered, TACA launched the project, entitled as “Sending Medical Equipment to Ukraine”, inviting peace-loving companies, institutes and philanthropists from all walks of life to respond and participate. And Li-Min Precision Company., Ltd is commissioned to the task of manufacturing hospital beds for the charity project.
On August 24, 2022, TACA had donated the first batch of 154 medical beds to Ukrainian hospitals to relieve hospital pressure. Subsequently, in response to the needs of local hospitals in Ukraine, funds were raised again to produce the second batch of medical beds, which should have been delivered by the end of 2023. The 2nd shipment was originally scheduled to be shipped in January this 2024, but due to the attack of cargo vessels on Red Sea, which led to an increase in shipping costs and the 2nd batch delivery was postponed accordingly. As a matter of fact, the medical resources had been loaded into containers and set ready to sail on.
The press conference, sending the 2nd batch medical resources to Ukraine, invited Rev. Chen Hsin-chang, moderator of Tainan Presbytery, and Rev. Li Ying-hsiag, vice moderator of Tainan Presbytery, to preach sermon and witness.
During the interview, Rev Chen Hsin-chang pointed out that caring for Ukraine people is a righteous duty of the peace-loving Taiwanese. Standing by a suffered Ukraine with actions is absolutely congruent to the PCT’s evangelical mission to serve all walks of life including the marginalized in Taiwan society, Rev Chen remarked, as such righteous action is to live out a faithful life of justice and compassion revealed in the biblical reminder of “just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”(Matthew 25:40)
During the donation service, a creative painting of peace drawn by Japanese high school students was displayed. Rev Li Ying-Hsian indicated, when viewed from a certain distance, the painting showed a blue sky above and a fertile farmland below, symbolizing an ever-lasting peaceful Ukraine through its contrasting colors and images. However, he lamented that the victims mostly traumatized in the brutal Russian invasion were innocent Ukraine people, and the very scenario of peace that Japanese high school students highlighted was the Ukraine people’s desperate desire and determined devotion to peace.
At the end of service, Rev Lin Wei-lian, secretary of the PCT Church and Society Committee, expressed his special thanks to World Taiwan Foundation, the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan and Lian Yun Shipping Agency Co., Ltd. for their hospital donation of container freight; Mackay Memorial Hospital, North American Taiwanese Medical Association, and Harn’s Clinic and other medical groups in Kaohsiung voluntarily went to Ukraine to offer medical service for free; Li-Min Precision, Der-Gee Vessel Co., Ltd., Chia Chun Kao Dermatologist Clinic, numerous charity groups and philanthropic individuals enthusiastically donated for medical beds.
Translated by Peter Wolfe
