史邁克 牧師 2009年請安函

Dear Rev. Lim,

我今天收到你們TCCCNA的“藍色”信件和禮物,非常謝謝你 。

附上我自己的聖誕信,也是我們加拿大台灣人權協會的報告(THRAC),目前由我擔任主席。

I received your "blue" letter and kind gift from the TCCCNA today. Thank you so very much.

I attach my own Christmas letter and also a report of our Taiwanese Human Rights Association of Canada (THRAC) of which I am currently president.

 

2009 began with a freezing holiday with my maternal family at Limberlost Lodge in Muskoka and ended with 3 weeks in Taiwan including a visit to my four god-grandchildren whom my godson Diyang has taught to call me “granpa” (how nice to be called that!). In between I started my Canada Pension and learned how to skate again.

I was doubly blessed with two paid trips to Taiwan this year. In June I went courtesy of Principal Albert Yao of Tamkang Middle School to help promote plans for George Leslie Mackay celebrations in 2010. Staying in a hotel with a view Guanyin Mountain across the Tamsui River was a treat. I made a number of visits for our Taiwanese Human Rights Association of Canada, following up on the Kuo Kuan-ying “hate speech” scandal (“google” him, ironically he had transmitted our THRAC letters on human rights concerns to President Ma). To show our concern, I visited former President Chen Shui-bian in prison. I was the first foreigner to visit him, so made some news. But the highlight of June for me was finding the lost son of my four Tayal godsons, all 20-something now and all named Batu. After much inquiry I found Batu4, now 22 living in a village not far from where Batu 2 and 3 live. I felt like the prodigal son’s father. In central Taiwan my Bunun godson Diyang and his wife Amei had just added a baby to make four. Then in Taidong I reunited with my former (1985-91) Huadong CD Centre colleagues at my favorite hotspring. On the way back I was able to stop in Vancouver to visit Mengting who was staying at UBC during his engineering co-op, and to greet Tim’s family returning from their years in Australia. In December I went back to Taiwan again, to give a series of lectures in Mandarin at Yushan Theological College on the Presbyterian Church and the Aboriginal Revitalization Movement, as well as at two other universities. Of course all the godsons and grandchildren got visited again, and three hotsprings.

In Toronto I organized a response of the Taiwanese community to the Kuo affair. I organized a day-long symposium on Religion and Human Rights in China May 30, which was a happy co-operation between York Centre for Asian Research, Knox College & Tyndale College. In October I managed to bring the Canadian Mackay Committee back to life to host a visit by Albert Yao and a delegation from the North Synod of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan. I also took part in a symposium on Mackay at Queens University November 5. On November 15 THRAC finally held our twice postponed Movie and Pub night and elected a new executive. I still preach monthly at Taiwanese United Church and lead Bible studies on the letters of John (spring) and Isaiah (fall). I also enjoyed many happy social occasions this year, including Polka Vespers with Walter Ostenak; Macbeth and West Side Story at Stratford; Jazz and Samba festivals, a pow-wow and Algonquin fall colours with my Chinese friends, who are also my regular skating and swimming companions.

Thank you for your continuing friendship. I wish you Christmas and New Year of blessings as we celebrate the birth of the Messiah, the one who makes all things new, in whom we now stand beside God as beloved children.

Michael Stainton 史邁克

York Centre for Asian Research

8th Floor York Research Tower

York University

Toronto, Canada M3J 1P3

Tel: 416-224-1870