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A Table for All: A Community’s Lunar New Year Reunion

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A Table for All: A Community’s Lunar New Year Reunion

For many, Lunar New Year is a time to gather with loved ones and celebrate togetherness. But for families facing financial struggles, it can be a season of stress and longing. This year, The Mustard Seed Mission (MSM)’s Sprouting Dream Child Sponsorship Program hosted 20 reunion dinners across Taiwan to offer sponsored children and their families a chance to experience the warmth of the season.

A Challenging Start to the Year

With Taiwan’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) exceeding 2% for the third year in a row, essential costs like food and rent have continued to climb. In 2024, food prices alone rose by 3.69%, placing additional strain on low-income families. For many supported by the Sprouting Dream Program, the idea of celebrating with a traditional Lunar New Year dinner felt out of reach.

Xiao-Ning’s family knows this struggle well. Since her father left them in debt, her immigrant mother has worked tirelessly to provide for Xiao-Ning and her younger sister. Despite her efforts, meals often consisted of simple boxed dinners while she worked late into the night. Determined to help, Xiao-Ning stepped up to care for her sister and took on part-time work after entering high school to ease the financial burden.

When Xiao-Ning and her family were invited to join one of MSM’s reunion dinners, it wasn’t just about the food. It was an opportunity for them to sit together, laugh, and enjoy a rare moment of joy.

More Than a Meal

The reunion dinners were more than just a meal—they brought families together and reminded them that they were not alone. Lunar New Year holds deep cultural significance in Taiwan, symbolizing new beginnings and the importance of family. For families like Xiao-Ning’s, the dinners were a chance to start the year on a positive note and feel the support of a caring community in the cold of winter.

As Ting-ting Yu, Deputy Director of the Southern Community Support Network, shared, “For many families, Lunar New Year is the most festive time of the year, but for resource-limited families, it can also be the most stressful. These dinners create a space for families to connect, share stories, and feel like part of a community.”

These heartwarming dinners were made possible by the collective effort of volunteers, partner churches, and generous local businesses, ensuring that families across Taiwan, including those in remote areas like Orchid Island, could join in the celebration. For Xiao-Ning’s family, the reunion dinner wasn’t just about sharing a meal, it was about feeling seen and supported. Receiving red envelopes filled with blessings for the New Year gave Xiao-Ning and her sister a sense of hope and strength to embrace the year ahead, knowing they are not alone.

Left: Pastor Esther Fan shares a joyful moment with children, capturing the spirit of Lunar New Year blessings and togetherness.
Right: Xiao-Ning receives her red envelope, a heartfelt symbol of blessings and hope for a bright New Year.

A New Year of Possibilities

This year’s Lunar New Year reunion dinners brought light and warmth to families like Xiao-Ning’s. By providing moments of connection, joy, and encouragement, we give them the opportunity to start the year with renewed hope and resilience.

As we step into the new year, we invite you to be part of this journey. Your support for The Mustard Seed Mission’s Sprouting Dream Child Sponsorship Program can help bring more opportunities and joy to children and families in need.

Join us in in creating brighter tomorrows beyond this Lunar New Year.

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