I recently embarked on a first ever road trip - to Taiwan.
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| My Cantonese Speaking Car |
My church had organised a mission trip to Taiwan and i was blessed to be called to participate. I had wanted to extend the trip to take a 3 day retreat at the Miaoli prayer mountain. God had other plans.
After getting my air ticket extended i called the prayer mountain office. They are not opened at the time of my intended visit. Then i had a brilliant idea (it was at that time). Why not do a road trip!!
Over the next 2 days i got all the necessary accommodation and car rental issues settled. I was ecstatic.
The mission trip was an eye opener for me but the real faith building experience God had relegated to the road trip.
The day i collected my rental car i was nervous. When the vehicle was delivered to me it was a bigger car then i had expected. It was raining which added to my anxiety. I'd never used a GPS in my life and had the shop assistant helped me with it.
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Maple Leave Homestay -
i was the only guest that night |
When i sat in the car i was overwhelmed big time - it is a big car. Taiwan cars are left hand drive and i do know prior but sitting in the car the reality of what I've gotten into hit me hard. "Xiao-liao what have i gotten myself into". However, at the back of my mind i knew i had to do this - die or alive". The shop assistant sensed my anxiety and oasked me point blank, "Are you sure you can do this?" I'm thinking like it's not a matter of choice now right! Boh bian - must ngay ngay lai (no choice just do it). She look worried for me (bless her kind soul) gave me directions on how to get onto the highway and i set off.
As the vehicle moved off, the GPS kicked in and the voice was not speaking English or Chinese - but Cantonese! Wah biang - good thing i know can'nese man!! God sure prepared me well - 'gam sia Yasaw' (Thank U Jesus).
As i was driving i keep turning on the wiper when i meant to turn on the signal light. These kept happening until my brains got wired that signaling is left hand - it was fun - hur hur. Wah, i tell you Jesus was my Life Saver - i imagined Him seating beside me - that helped settled the anxiety. And i keep talking to Him.
Eventually i begin to get the hang of things and settle down. However the skies turned really dark and it began to pour. At the back of my mind - i know this is a faith test. So no point praying for the rain to stop lah i just went with flow.
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| Scene from my room at the Maple Leave Homestay |
Next, because it was overcast and the car i was driving was tinted black and with the heavy rain - i could hardly see. I had to squint my eyes. It was quite scary. And as if this is not enough - condensation began to form inside the vehicle - i was too overwhelmed to realize all i had to do was to lower the temperature - as it was very cold outside and my bodyheat was building up inside - I ended up frantically wiping condensation off the windscreen and window so i could see. It was madness - too happening.
Basically for a few tens of minutes i was driving on/by faith. Thank God my faith did not shipwreck but by His grace - He handheld me through it.
A while later, once again i got settled into the challenge then another one came sprouting up which is worse. A slumbering heavy-ness fell upon me. I feel myself falling asleep with my eyes opened! On many occasions i awoke in time to steer my car which was meandering from its lane or driving too close to the divider!! Wah many close shaves here. I had to shout and sing at the top of my voice to stay awake.
Finally i exited the highway and enter Miaoli Town. As i was driving into the town into peace and serenity i began to cry buckets like a baby - not so much because of my relief to exit the highway of horror but as i was driving through the town i sensed that Father God brought me this far to help me realize a deep seated secret desire to drive through the beautiful Taiwan countryside. I was like Cinderalla dressed in a beautiful gown and attending the ball of her dreams. i was in my element - totally ecstatic!
