Sprouting Dream | Sponsor a Child in Taiwan

Dear friends and cherished supporters,

I hope this message finds you well and brimming with the same spirit of hope and generosity that you've so kindly shared with us. Today, I'm reaching out to share some heartwarming updates and stories from our journey together in making dreams come true for the children we serve.

A New Chapter: "Sprouting Dream | Sponsor a Child in Taiwan"

You might remember our project "Sprout of Love! Care Children in Community Network." With great excitement, I share that it has blossomed into "Sprouting Dream | Sponsor a Child in Taiwan." This evolution isn't just in name but in the depth and breadth of our mission to envelop every child in our care with love, support, and opportunities for growth. "Sprouting Dream" embodies our collective aspiration to see every child flourish, providing a holistic safety net that spans from health care to educational support and beyond.

Our 2024 Vision: Touching More Lives

With hearts full of ambition and your unwavering support, we're setting our sights on reaching out to 6,551 children and their families in the coming year. This ambitious goal is fuelled by services that touch every aspect of a child's life, aiming not just for their survival but for their thriving. Through ediucational fund that facilitate knowledge access and personal development courses that equip for tomorrow, we're devoted to shaping well-rounded individuals eager to embrace the world.

1.Comprehensive Child Sponsorship

We are committed to supporting a total of 6,551 children through comprehensive child sponsorship, in collaboration with churches across four key regions:

• Northern Region: Supporting 1,726 children in partnership with 228 churches.
• Central Region: Supporting 1,137 children in partnership with 146 churches.
• Southern Region: Supporting 1,958 children in partnership with 196 churches.
• Eastern Region: Supporting 1,730 children in partnership with 138 churches.
  
  

2.Educational Fund

Aiming to bridge educational gaps, the Educational Fund initiative is designed to:

• Support 125 college and university students and 196 high school students.
• Address educational disparities caused by economic hardship, enhancing learning focus and willingness.
• Provide scholarships for eager learners, alongside character development, values, and attitudes training courses, preparing youths for future employment.
  
  

3.Lunar New Year Gathering Event

To ensure every child experiences the warmth of the Lunar New Year, The Mustard Seed Mission organises the "New Year Gathering and Red Envelope Collection" event. In collaboration with 206 churches, we invite 6,735 children to partake in festive dinners, embodying the spirit of hope and community.

4. Empowerment Summer Camps

Acknowledging the challenges posed by urban-rural and wealth disparities, we launch Empowerment Summer Camps focused on:

• Self-exploration camps in the Northern Region.
• Self-challenge camps in the Central and Eastern Regions.
• Financial literacy camps for children in the Southern Region.

These camps aim to foster interaction, teamwork, and character development among sponsored children.

5. Family Rebuilding Project

This project focuses on:

• Teaching positive communication between children and parents, enhancing family harmony and relationships.
• Jointly engaging in hands-on, arts, cultural, stress-relief, and educational activities to strengthen the parent-child bond.
• Improving the living environment for children's safe growth and maintaining good household and self-management habits through guidance.
• Planning to improve 5-10 families' living conditions, including one home improvement and subsequent four sessions of household management guidance, along with five workshops on positive family communication nationwide.

Inspiring Stories from the Heart of Our Mission

The true heartbeat of "Sprouting Dream" lies in the incredible stories of the children we're privileged to support. Let me introduce you to two remarkable young souls:

Xiang's unwavering determination to support his family

Xiang, a high school student, has taken on the responsibility of supporting his family and caring for his loved ones in the face of their illnesses.

Xiang's parents divorced when he was young, and he has been living with his father and grandfather since then. His grandfather, who played a significant role in his upbringing, suffered a stroke and became bedridden when Xiang was in primary school. Despite his young age, Xiang took on the responsibility of helping his father care for his grandfather, assisting with tasks such as massaging his body and changing his diapers.

Recently, Xiang's father was diagnosed with colon cancer, further exacerbating the family's financial situation. With his father unable to work, Xiang has become the sole breadwinner, working during the day and attending night school to complete his education.

Recognising Xiang's resilience and determination, The Mustard Seed Mission has provided him with monthly sponsorship and emergency assistance to help alleviate the family's financial burden. MSM has also encouraged Xiang to focus on his studies, providing him with the support he needs to succeed in school.

Peipei's triumph in the face of challenges

Peipei, a 10-year-old girl with ADHD, has demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination in the face of her family's hardships. Her parents are both ill and require frequent hospitalisation, while her grandfather also relies on the family for financial support.

Despite the challenges, Peipei remains a cheerful and positive child. She is a diligent student who enjoys reading and helping her younger brother with his studies. She also takes an active role in caring for her grandfather, visiting him in the hospital and offering him companionship.

Through MSM's sponsorship program, Peipei has received financial assistance and access to extracurricular activities, including taekwondo. She has excelled in taekwondo, recently winning third place in a national competition.

Peipei's story is a testament to the power of hope and determination. She dreams of becoming a doctor to help her family and others in need. The Mustard Seed Mission is committed to supporting her on her journey, providing her with the resources she needs to achieve her goals.

A Heartfelt Thank You

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and every step you've helped these children take has been a leap towards hope, dignity, and a future filled with possibilities. Thank you for being a part of this journey.

With deepest gratitude and warmest wishes,

The Mustard Seed Mission Team

“I want to become a person who knows how to be grateful!" Ah Jun, a ninth-grade student, looks forward to growing up and giving back to society.

Looking back on Ah Jun's past, he grew up in a high-pressure environment since childhood. He had suffered from his father's excessive drinking, mistreatment, and irrational verbal abuse. His mother also endured domestic violence while trying to protect him. After government intervention, he was raised solely by his mother.

Leaving the fearful and intimidating environment, when things were expected to get back on track, Ah Jun's mother was unfortunately diagnosed with breast cancer. She could barely make ends meet with odd jobs, and though her condition temporarily improved, as Ah Jun was about to enter junior high school, the cancer cells had metastasized, requiring prolonged rest and treatment. With no source of income, the substantial medical expenses became a heavy burden. Thanks to The Mustard Seed Mission's children sponsorship program, his family was able to get through tough times.

Ah Jun is remarkably mature and responsible. Apart from taking care of himself, he would accompany his mother to the nearby park for exercise after school or on weekends, maintaining good physical strength to combat the illness. Watching his mother confront life optimistically motivated him to look positively toward his future. At school, he is known as the " caring guy" among teachers. He often goes out of his way to help others, gets along well with peers, and maintains his academic performance above the basic level.

Our social workers regularly provide care and companionship to Ah Jun's family. Through this interaction, they discovered that Ah Jun has a natural talent for electrical assembly. He independently learns repair techniques for household electronics by watching online videos. Ah Jun hopes that when he grows up, he can work as a professional mechanic and work hard to relieve the burden on his mother's shoulders. Despite the challenges of poverty, he possesses a resilient spirit that continues to grow and thrive. Also, he looking forward to more people's support on the road to pursuing his dreams and turning his family life around in the future.