The story behind accompanying and developing the market

▲ It is not easy to accompany and take people to visit the tribe for a long time. Every change in the tribe can bring smiles and gratitude.

Interview with Pan Huating, Chairman of "Taiwan Rural Disadvantaged Local Care, Development, Mutual Assistance and Cooperation Association"

Photo courtesy/Pan Huating, Wu Xinhui

In addition to being the general manager of Gabriel International Financial Education Consulting Co., Ltd., Pan Huating is also the founding chairman of the "Taiwan Rural Disadvantaged Local Care, Development and Mutual Aid Cooperation Association" (hereinafter referred to as the Rural Association). With her arrangement and assistance, the reporter visited the tribes in Yanping Township, Taitung, and learned a little about the activities of the rural association. The following is an exclusive interview with Chairman Pan Huating.

Long-term care, practical implementation

KRC: Please tell us about the opportunity to establish the Rural Areas Association.

Pan: It should be said that I have a special burden for children. Because they are young, they do not have the opportunity or ability to choose. The environment in which they grow up is affected by their parents' values and decisions. Adults can choose to move, resign, change jobs, or even get divorced, but children live in an unsuitable environment but have no ability to change. I have seen children who have been beaten by adults, no matter how hard they were beaten by their parents, they still go back to hug their parents. This makes me heartbroken, so I have devoted myself to children and youth ministry for many years.

After working in children's ministry for a long time, I discovered that children's growth problems are closely related to their parents' marriage and family relationships, which are closely related to poverty issues.

To solve the poverty problem in rural areas, we must first provide employment opportunities. Donating money or sending supplies are relatively easy things to do; this can only provide emergency relief, but it cannot fundamentally solve the long-term problem. My dream is to build rural communities and tribes with love, reasonable income, and economic independence through a diversified cooperative economy and through practical actions and caring together.

I and some like-minded friends have been involved in rural care for nearly 40 years. In recent years, my friends have suggested the establishment of an association, so that we can gather everyone's strength, expand the scope of services, implement these concepts and draw resources more effectively, and invest valuable and Meaningful ministry. It is convenient to establish a rural association in 2021.

KRC: How does the association turn ideas into actions and implement them in practice?

Pan: Providing employment opportunities and developing markets in remote rural areas requires long-term companionship and prayer, as well as specific services such as counseling and care. For example, for tribes that are rich in ginger, the association not only encourages more planting to increase production, but also helps develop ginger-related peripheral products, such as ginger jam, ginger tea, etc. If there is a need to purchase production machinery, the association will also assist in the purchase.

We are also looking for people to provide product packaging design, which pays attention to both beauty and practicality. Make good use of the association's manpower to develop the product market, such as promoting it to volunteers and the corporate sector, making it an option for giving gifts during the New Year.

Behind these business plans, what is more important is to accompany and encourage the people who serve in them. For example, Pastor Wen Yuantian and his wife Shuang Shuang chose the path of returning to their hometown to serve. It was not easy. They needed encouragement and companionship, and they needed to cultivate a better relationship before they could walk together. Providing employment opportunities for villagers is not just about asking them to come to work, it also requires caring for their families. Every link is connected to the origin - family relationships. These cares are time-consuming and sometimes helpless, and require God’s grace and wisdom.

We also hope to bring tourism into the tribe. A light trip like ours to learn about tribal life and culture is a great experience. We hope that when high-quality tourism comes to the villages, restaurants and B&Bs will have business, and more local people will have jobs and income.

To execute the plan, communication and leadership skills are required. The association also arranges for colleagues in charge of the tribe to participate in training courses to increase their professional knowledge in marketing management and other related fields. The association is also currently paying attention to the Sima Xian tribe in Miaoli and is working on a long-term plan to rebuild permanent houses. Time is very precious in this generation, but we are willing to spend it on ministry that is meaningful and of lasting value.

Long-term care, great results

KRC: You have been caring about rural areas for many years. Is there any example that impressed you deeply?

Pan: What I am most grateful for is that there is a group of volunteers accompanying me to implement my dream. Many volunteers in the association, many of whom are my clients, support rural care regardless of whether they have the same beliefs or not. They may not know each other, but in the association gatherings, everyone is of the same mind, which is very rare.

There are so many stories of gratitude that I can’t tell them all. I remember many years ago, we cared for a new resident from Indonesia. After her husband passed away, her husband’s family was very unforgiving and harsh on her. She was born with short and long legs, which made it difficult for her to find a job. We bought her step-up shoes and found a job in a restaurant kitchen. She worked very hard, used her time to study, and passed the Class C and Class B chef licenses. Starting from a small stall, he now runs an Indonesian restaurant. Not only is he financially independent, he is also able to raise two children and take care of his mother-in-law.

I saw women struggling in disadvantaged circumstances and finding work through association help. They went from having no self-confidence to finding their self-confidence, and even shined and found their calling in life. I am really grateful to the Lord for allowing me to participate in such a ministry.

I believe that God loves our work and wants us to enjoy the blessings that our work brings. This is how God allowed me to see His will during many years of service.

KRC: What is the biggest challenge in the operation of the association so far?

Pan: I am very grateful to God. Volunteers perform many administrative tasks behind the scenes, allowing the association to save a lot of expenses. Some small donations can still be supported. The biggest expenses are transportation and study visits. The currently produced "Occupation Kaleidoscope" series of videos introduces various occupations and related learning to children in rural areas, hoping that they will get encouragement and inspiration from them. The volunteers who worked on the filming and production all worked for free, and may God personally reward them.

These are all hard work, but the biggest challenge is finding co-workers, pastors and groups willing to accompany and contribute to remote tribes for a long time. Like Pastor Wen and Master Shuangshuang of the Taoyuan tribe, or Pastor Zhumin of the Simaxian tribe, they are willing to dedicate themselves, work quietly, and serve faithfully. If you only have a short-term interest or a check-out attitude, this is inconsistent with the association's core values of long-term companionship and care. It is not possible to see results in a short period of time in reversing poverty in rural areas. We hope to find more co-workers or pastors who are willing to serve in rural areas for a long time.

Readers who are interested in the ministry of "Taiwan Association for Care, Development and Mutual Assistance for Rural Disadvantaged Local Areas" can check relevant information on the website of the Rural Areas Association (https://www.taiwanloaf.org), and watch [Occupational Kaleidoscope] and wonderful short films about the Taoyuan Tribe and Sima Xian Tribe of Yanping Township.