Photo by seyed mostafa zamani

Shared by Yonnie Cheng

What have you been learning lately?

I’ve been in Taiwan this past year as a missionary, and it’s only very recently that I’ve realized that for most of my life until now, I didn’t like Taiwan; I didn’t like “Asianness.” Without realizing it, I had always judged how my parents and grandparents lived in Taiwan – in poor circumstances within cement walls, barely any lighting, no decorations, etc.  When I came as a missionary to Asia based in Taiwan, I really had to struggle to love the Taiwanese people.  Normally, if you’re going to do missions, you’re supposed to love the people group before you arrive.  That wasn’t the case for me – in fact, I realized that I didn’t like my people because I didn’t like myself, where I came from, or my background.

Recently, my grandmother passed away and it brought all my family together. God gave me eyes to see that I had to let go of all these judgments in my heart.  Much of the Taiwanese cultural mindset comes out of circumstances of war and poverty, and it was that mentality that I judged.  I felt God saying, “You have to let it go.  It’s a sin to have these judgments, for who are you to judge?”  While my family was putting my grandmother’s ashes to rest at the cemetery, I began to see my family differently and I prayed, “God, I love my family. They’re so beautiful!”  From that day on, I was able to start the journey of loving myself – and I believe that as I love myself, I’ll be able to love the Taiwanese people more and more, allowing me to truly share God’s love with them.

Yonnie Cheng is a missionary in Taiwan who works with the rich and the poor.  She is currently pioneering bases for Iris Ministries in Taiwan and Thailand, as well as starting an Iris international relief organization.  Born in Taiwan, she immigrated to New Jersey with her family at the age of 6.  She has a masters in science, and worked as a physician assistant for two years before going on her first missions trip to Africa.

Interviewed by Joy Wong