A Hakka woman finds help
My name is June* and I live in Taiwan. As a Hakka, I used to worship my ancestors and idols.
Ancestors are very, very important to us. To worship them, we light incense twice a day at the altar in our house. We also prepare their favorite foods to leave at the altar during important festivals and holidays. And on major holidays, the family all gets together to remember the ancestors and visit the ancestor tablet. When a relative dies, their name is engraved on the tablet so their spirit can live there.
But idols and ancestors cannot be in the same place. So to worship the idols, we go to the temple, usually on the first and fifteenth of every month. Typically, we enter, burn incense, and then state our name, where we live, and why we’re there. If we have a particular yes or no question, we can throw dice to get an answer from the gods. But if we have different kinds of questions, we draw lots, which are sticks with different messages written on them. After we draw the lot, we get the interpretation of its meaning from the temple guide.
Once when I was in a serious relationship, I went to the temple to ask whether or not I should get married. I drew the stick with the message on it and asked the temple guide what it meant. He told me that I had pulled the best possible result and that I would have a very good marriage. So I did get married. But after only seven years, my husband died from cancer. At the time, I also had a son with special needs.
So there I was, my husband had just died, and my son was really struggling in school. I needed help. I started talking to my cousin, who was a Christian. I told her about my son’s issues, that he couldn’t concentrate, couldn’t study, and I asked her, “What am I going to do?”
She told me to go to the church and find a volunteer to help him, tutor him, and read with him. So I went to a church and sought help from the pastor. At the same time, I met a missionary couple from Switzerland and got to learn more about Christianity.
One day, there was a major earthquake. I was by myself with two young children and I was terrified. I called out to every god I could think of, but nothing helped. But I also remembered Jesus and called out to him, too.
After that, I started to pray regularly. I prayed at night when I went to bed and I was afraid. I called out to Jesus to help me, to let me have peace and sleep. And I remember that I would wake up with a smile on my face because I knew that Jesus was with me and that he helped me.
People from the church started to visit me and bring me to church. Gradually, I learned more and more about Christianity and came to trust Jesus as my Savior. Six months later, I was baptized. I was so joyful and knew that Jesus loved me!
Still, the problem with my son was not resolved. He was unable to manage his emotions. From first grade to junior high was torture. Sometimes I would get so mad at him, I wanted to kill him. It even affected my job and I couldn’t get my work done. But I believed that Jesus would help my son, so I continued to pray and just hang in there.
During that time, I would sometimes bring him to church but he could not sit still. Then one day, he did sit through a service. And from then on, he was able to sit still and be quiet! Now, he has graduated high school. And he accepted Christ and was baptized! Praise the Lord!
God has blessed me in many other ways too. My father also came to know Christ and was baptized. And God gave me a job so that I can support my whole family. I am especially burdened for other Hakka. I hope that God will move them and that many will come to know him. I also hope that my family, especially my mom, will come to know Christ.
*Not her real name
Additional Posts
Choosing a Missions Organization: Why SEND International Stands Out “Why should I be a missionary through SEND International?” Jenna, a new missionary in Eastern Europe, shared with us what she appreciates about working with SEND. The highlights for her are: - Devotion to prayer - Diligence in communication - Commitment to development - Intentionality in accountability Prayer “Back in September of 2022, the Lord reconnected me with SEND after I had met them a year prior at the Moody Bible Institute. However, before he would sign me up for anything, my Missions Coach encouraged me to pray. He said something to the effect of, "I know that you've been praying on your own for a long time. But as the Church, we are not called to walk alone. So, you and I won't talk for about a month unless you have questions. I want you to go pray with 5 or 6 others from your church about where God is calling you." That October, more than 10 friends prayed with me and we saw God answer as He directed me to Romania. From February 2024 to November 2025, I had the pleasure of being a part of team meetings in Romania with my SEND colleagues. Our meetings were four hours long, two for prayer and two for business. This has been the minimum for our team. There are also prayer meetings with the local churches we partner with, among smaller groups within our team, of course prayer with many of you across the pond, including those at our US office. The organization was built, has been sustained, and continues to run on prayer. This is my favorite thing about SEND. Communication As I mentioned above, we have a two hour block for business / ministry details in each of our meetings. This provides consistency across our team which works alongside three different churches and in a variety of ministries. It also helps us to communicate about the need for change or growth, alongside what is working well. In addition, my team director also meets with each of us, allowing us to communicate needs, considerations, and prayer requests. I've also enjoyed getting to work with SEND workers outside of my immediate region . We receive emails with the minutes from the Europe leadership team, Friday communications from our international director, and information regarding projects that affect our work among the unreached. In December of 2024, our international director at the time wrote a note to my parents for the first Christmas that I was gone. If nothing else had convinced my mom yet, this did. He took the time to care for me, but also to care well for the parents that were sending me (What it meant to my dad and mom for him to do this well has been one of the greatest ways I've been supported.). I also have some pretty wonderful regional directors. These people have prayed alongside us (while also serving in their own countries of service), they have taken time to come visit and encourage our team, and they have also taken the time to encourage the people in our churches. Development SEND has provided much in the area of development and care (spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally). At our regional conference (every three years), there have been medical check ups available, counseling options, and time for connecting with others on the field with similar experience. At our conference last October, I connected with a missionary who served overseas for many years, and is now serving on the administrative side of SEND. She has met with me since then for mentorship and has also invested much of her time recently in preparing a retreat for the singles across Europe. Accountability Over the years I have read and heard amazing stories of how God has worked through missionaries. God has done great things and great things He is still doing! However, people who have committed their lives to the Lord in this way are not “super Christians”. We are still humans with the same struggle against flesh that others have . A major challenge is in being isolated -- living in areas with little to no presence of other believers to sharpen them can cause many difficulties. SEND has been a great resource in this area too. Through my team, I have an accountability partner that I meet with monthly. When my regional director came to visit, he and his wife spent a day with me and asked intentional questions about how I lead, handle conflict, and how I am growing in general as a Christian. In addition, my teammates share their wisdom with me on a regular basis. These things and more have assured me that SEND International is a highly valuable organization and I'm excited to partner with them in service to, for, and with our great God! Interested in being sent by SEND?
Learn about the spiritual harmony in Vietnam & how missionaries engage with college students. Join us in sharing the gospel!
Explore Georgia's spiritual heritage and the impact of SEND International's mission. Join us in fostering authentic relationships today!
