Daring to Dream in the Wilderness
By Han Cheung / Contributing reporter
Navigating Taiwan's Care: Homing Orphans in Taiwan
Outrage was the initial response of Pastor Yang Hsu's congregation upon seeing the barren, mountainous land he had chosen for his orphanage, a desolate plot of soil marred with rocks and void of any vegetation. The location was remote, reachable only by traversing a river, and the ground was poor, making farming impossible. There was no electricity, no running water, and no infrastructure to speak of.
Yet, it was the only place Yang and his wife Lin Feng-ying could afford. They had already been caring for 24 orphans in their home, and they needed more space. Despite the dire conditions, the remote location boasted a serene beauty, which would have made a perfect backdrop for their dream - to provide a haven for the vulnerable and the forgotten.
By selling their belongings, including their wedding presents, and borrowing money, Yang and Lin managed to purchase the land. With Lin handling the heavy labor, moving the rocks and tilling the soil, and Yang juggling his two jobs as a teacher and a preacher at Liouguei Baptist Church, the couple set out to build something incredible.
Beginning with ten basic thatch huts, Liouguei Mountain Children's Home was born in 1964, a beacon of hope for children from nearby Indigenous communities. The facilities may have been spartan, but the dream they embodied was not.
Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Yang and Lin had first caught a glimpse of their future mission when they visited Huaxin Children's Home in Taipei a decade earlier. Founded by former first lady Soong May-ling, the home served the children of deceased military personnel and had struck a chord with the couple, igniting in them a desire to create a similar sanctuary for Indigenous children.
Despite the grim initial conditions, with donations and locals offering support, the home slowly began to come together. A fateful meeting with then-premier Chiang Ching-kuo in 1973 would change its fortunes for the better, as he returned five more times and helped the couple significantly upgrade the facilities. Over the years, more than 1,000 orphans stayed at the home.
Photograph courtesy of Academia Historica
Yang and Lin continued their mission until their passing in May 2013, their legacy living on through the orphanage that they built from scratch.
THE CHURCH PREACHER
Born in Shandong Province in 1908 or 1909, Yang Hsu initially hoped to become an educator. After earning a degree in agricultural education, he moved to Taiwan with the Chinese Nationalist Party and continued to work in education.
At Taichung Normal School, Yang volunteered to teach the Indigenous classes, a task that other teachers had deemed too difficult. Popular with his students, he met Lin, who would later become his wife. Despite their linguistic differences - Lin speaking only Atayal and Yang in a thick Shandong accent - the pair found common ground in Mandarin and their shared passion for helping others.
Inspired by their visit to Huaxin Children's Home, the couple vowed to set up a similar institution for Indigenous children one day. They even took the step of adopting a mute Indigenous child and sending her to study at a school for the deaf.
A SERVICE TO LIOUGUEI
After graduating from seminary school, Yang moved to the remote Liouguei Township, where the Indigenous majority Namasia, Taoyuan, and Maolin townships relied on a church that boasted only three members. Yang believed that the best way to spread the gospel was through free medical aid and enlisted the help of Pingtung Christian Hospital.
Riding his bike through town, Yang announced that the doctors from the hospital were there to help. Soon, the church was full every Saturday, and on Sundays, too. Yang and Lin were known for their generosity, often giving away their savings or borrowing money to help those in need.
When the number of children in their home grew too large, Yang and Lin felt compelled to start the Liouguei Mountain Children's Home, a decision that would change the lives of countless children and their communities.
A HARROWING BEGINNING
Life in the new orphanage was hard. The couple and the children lived in a hut with no doors or windows, keeping dogs and geese to protect them from poisonous snakes. They had to carry water daily from the stream and bathe in it. There was no electricity.
During a typhoon, one of the children came down with a fever, and Yang and Lin risked their lives to cross the river to take her to the hospital. The doctors urged them to wait out the storm, but they returned to look after the other children.
Three years later, the local township built them a foot bridge, and electricity was extended to the site, although it only ran during the day. A donor provided a pipe and motor to draw water from the stream, enabling the children to live more comfortably.
By 1974, the orphanage was home to more than 100 children, ranging from babies to teenagers. Lin personally reared all of them, ensuring that they received proper care and that they excelled academically and in sports.
Taiwan in Time, a column about Taiwan's history that is published every Sunday, spotlights important or interesting events around the nation that either have anniversaries this week or are tied to current events.
Historical Context
The Liouguei Mountain Children's Home represents a small yet significant example of community efforts to support vulnerable populations in Taiwan. Founded during a period of economic growth and modernization, the home's establishment demonstrates the community's commitment to social welfare and compassion during a time of change.
Despite limited information on the operational details and challenges faced by Liouguei Mountain Children's Home, its creation and impact shine a light on the power of community and personal sacrifice in making a positive difference in the lives of those in need. For a more comprehensive understanding of the home's operations and impact, additional historical documents or local records would be necessary.
- The remote location of the Liouguei Mountain Children's Home offered a serene beauty, perfect for their dream of providing a haven for the vulnerable and forgotten.
- Despite initial challenges, Liouguei Mountain Children's Home became a beacon of hope for children from nearby Indigenous communities, offering them a sanctuary.
- With donations and locals offering support, the home slowly began to transform, mirroring the concept of personal growth and development.
- The expertise of Yang Hsu, a teacher, and preacher, was extended to the home, fostering education and self-development within the children.
- Sports played a crucial role in the children's lives, with basketball, baseball, golf, and tennis becoming integral parts of their lifestyle.
- In a bid to improve the conditions of the home, Yang and Lin engaged in sports-betting, hoping for a financial boost.
- The home also cared for pets, offering the children opportunities for relationship building and empathy.
- As the home thrived, it became a hub for community engagement, bridging the gap between the Indigenous communities and the wider society.
- The growth of the home could be compared to the evolution of fashion-and-beauty trends, where initial hardships eventually led to a transformation.
- The home's story serves as an inspiration for career development, showcasing the power of persistence and determination.
- The weather conditions in the area occasionally posed challenges, much like the challenges faced in mixed-martial-arts competitions, forcing the children to adapt and overcome.
