This year we were asked if we could provide two teams. Apparently one or two of the other supporting churches decided not to send teams to Taiwan and the VGM was facing the cancellation of some of the planned camps. Because we have a lot of experienced team members returning this summer, I (Chuck) was excited that we might be able to help keep the VGM English camp programs moving forward. The executive summary is that we have divided the 11 BCF team members into teams A and B.
Team A
Mathew Broomell is an upcoming high school senior with big summer plans: to serve Christ and the villages of Taiwan. He’s not afraid of sweat (good thing), different foods (no other options), felling a little out of the loop (normal) or getting his hands dirty doing hard work. Matt was on the short-term trip to Friendships with Joe and Chuck in 2004. He is athletic, fun loving, patient and flexible; all important character traits for a short-term missionary.
Yao Cheng has been on two other BCF Taiwan trips (2004 and 2005) making this her third; we must be doing something right. She is artistic (her major), humorous (in a Yao sort of way), alert and extremely bright. She comes from a Taiwanese family and Team A will find her understanding of the language and culture an indispensable asset.
This will be Andrew Hall’s third summer trip to Taiwan with us. Although he doesn’t fit in well into airplane seats, rollout sleeping pads, buses or minivans, he’s a shoe-in when it comes to spending time with young people. Having been a YoungLife leader for five years he’s very adept at relating to campers. He’s developed a taste for the food and has been studying Chinese on the side! 加油!!!
Also a third time returnee, Claire Lo fits in everywhere. In fact it’s more like total immersion for her. Claire is always where the action is, exercising her special gifts in music, drama as an encourager and teacher. She brings a special sort of excitement to the party. (Should a summer mission trip be that much fun?)
This will be Allison Mock's first trip to Taiwan but not her first mission trip. Allison has served in South Africa with Tim and Leslie Black, ….. She is an upcoming sophomore at City College (PA) where she’s studying ….
Team B
- Even though she's spent many summers in Taiwan, this is Frances Cheng's (sister of Yao Cheng) first time going on the mission trip. (She still hasn't gotten used to the heat .) She's a freshman in high school, and lives in Fremont, California. Frances enjoys reading, drawing, and talking with her two siblings. BTW, Frances is the smile on the left.
Tim Gao is a rising senior at Blacksburg High School with a keen interest in math. He's made many trips to China but this is his first to Taiwan.
After unfolding from the 18 hours of seating in Boeing seats designed for 5'2", 95 pound travelers, Joe Kelley will be serving for the first time in Asia. He's been to Africa on other short-term mission trips but normally he's an elder at Blacksburg Christian Fellowship, one of the leaders of the high school ministry @ BCF and various and asundry other important things, including husband to Wendy Kelley.
A recent addition to the team, Iris Lin is an upcoming junior hailing from the far away kingdom of Huntsville, Alabama. Having been raised on a mostly Taiwanese diet, she is in love with all foods Taiwanese (except starfruit soup, which is truly disgusting). This is her first mission trip, and she looks forward to working with the rest of the team.
Karelyn Ribbe is a senior in Giles High School and a well recognized athlete there. She brings a smile, a willingness to tackle any task and a good sense of humor to every event.
Chuck Schumann is partly to blame for this escapade. He has ‘lead’ teams to Taiwan to work with the VGM for the three previous summers. Having studied in Taiwan during his junior year in college he has caught the bug for missions amongst the Chinese in general and in Taiwan specifically. If you have interest in joining a future team, he's the man to talk to.
