At last all those foreigners riding around on bicycles are actually going to be doing something useful....Taichung is the headquarters of the Mormon missionary effort on the island.
Mayor Hu had often seen the Mormon missionaries riding throughout the city on their bicycles and developed an idea he shared with Hoer. “Many of your missionaries are from North America and other English-speaking countries. Why couldn’t they take note of incorrect signs and offer suggestions for better English,” Hu suggested. The mayor even offered to pay the Church for such a service.Hoer quickly replied that the Church’s missionaries are encouraged to provide voluntary service to the communities in which they serve and that the sign correction project would be a service the missionaries could perform at no cost to the city.
Now dozens of missionaries serving in Taichung take note of any unusual English renderings on signs as they go about their routine mission work.
“We just keep an eye out for wrong English,” says Elder Ryan Weese of River Heights, Utah. Adds his missionary companion, Elder Royce De le Cruz Jr. of Manila, Philippines: “When I see a sign that doesn’t make sense I slam on my brakes. It’s a service we can offer and it’s kind of fun too.”
Once a less-than-accurate English sign is noted, the missionaries report its location to President Hoer. He then forwards the information to the mayor’s office, along with a suggestion for a more understandable translation.
One recent example: English warning signs at a baseball field declared “Game that attention to flying out-of-bounds.” The missionaries translated the English to read “Pay attention to foul balls.”
[Taiwan]
20 comments:
Good idea if it works. Now we just need to get Taiwan to standardize on Hanyu Pinyin and fix all those signs.
Better still, why doesn't Taiwan institute a general hotline for all English-speaking visitors and residents? Or perhaps, instead of a hotline, an email address from which we can send photographs of the offending sign.
Although, to tell you the truth, I seeing signs with mangled English phrases like, "The prohibition pet enters."
Thanks for the positive report. There are 3 LDS missions in Taiwan with offices in Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung.
"Wrong English?"
Is it me or is this less-than-perfect grammar?
Also, I hear the Menonites are excellent at government IT solutions.
Jason, we are!
Most of the Mormons on bikes in Taiwan speak passable Mandarin.
I am always offended by their proselytizing to perfect strangers at intersections.
Good to see them performing a practical service with their Chinese language skills.
I always wondered if I could make a fortune traveling Asia correcting English signs. And by fortune I mean not.
It should be noted that the Taichung Mormon office is not the main office for Taiwan. Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung have equal offices that serve as the center for missionary work. Taipei's is probably the biggest one, as it is net to the Mormon Temple and houses a service center for the LDS faith.
Michael, it's nice to see you giving props to the Mormons rather than cursing them. They are really harmless and helpful, and they are a pillar of the culture here. They've been riding those bikes around since the 50's, and they're easily the most recognizable group of foreigners on the island. Wait until China opens up to Mormon proselyting. The number of Chinese speaking Mormons will be off the charts. As it is, the missionaries go back to their home countries after two years here with a Chinese level beyond a Harvard undergrad (mandarin major). American corporations that have gone into China are full of Mormons. They're taking over the world!
This post is not in response to this article, but the other one you posted in 2005 about "Anti-Gay Christians"
Well Michael at least they have the rationale to believe in something and the basis for being against homosexuality is because the same Creator who created you and I also said it is detestable for a man to sleep with another man. It's a sin. The same Creator also said it is a sin to look upon another woman to lust after her..because the Creator understands that sexual sin begins in your thoughts..and that when you perform what you think, you sin against your own body.
Atheism is just as dogmatic as any other religion including the one you love to criticize the most:
Christianity.
What the nations around the world need is Jesus, not your opinions that have clearly failed in light of the recent Taiwan elections.
You were wrong about several things since I've read your blogs...even your biased opinions as to "Why Hsieh will win.." as we all can clearly see..
You're not in control Mr. Turton, the Creator is.
There is a Creator, and the Taiwanese people need to know who that Creator is.
You didn't create yourself. You can act like you don't need Jesus, but there's other people out there who believe...
I'd love to discuss with you any day the founding ideals of America's Founding Fathers...especially the clause that states:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."
Perhaps you need to go back and study that Mr. Turton because that means that when America was first established, it acknowledged that these unalienable rights are transcendant from a Creator...and that in order to restrain sin, governments are instituted among men...because the heart of man thinks only of evil, continually. That's why we have laws, governments, and have to train or be disciplined in order to do good. It's easy to do bad, but it takes training to do good.
Also I recommend reading this:
Acts 17:
From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are His offspring (or race).'
"Therefore since we are God's offspring (race), we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead."
That man who God sent to die for the world is Jesus. Also Acts 17 is significant because it proves that there is only one race:
mankind or humanity
This is what people really need to know instead of your own fallible opinions with all due respect sir. Particularly in regards to Christians who believe that...for even you did not create yourself...
When Taiwan does achieve sovereignty (for I too support this nation, but with the "Where will people go after death?" and with "all nations need to hear this gospel" mindset..), what good will it do the Taiwanese if they still die and do not know where they are headed after death? Because in this world, tomorrow is not promised Mr. Turton.
So why criticize Christians if they are sharing a belief that is actually good according to the Word of the Creator?
It is certainly better than guessing at which political party is better than the other or who will win the elections in Taiwan, and then only be disappointed because your favorite party lost...
Wouldn't it make more sense to say, "Watch out for foul balls"? "Pay attention" seems more appropriate for ball players than passersby.
Interesting comments, Chris. I've noticed the leg up that experience + language gives Mormon expats the world over. It also creates a community of right-wingers who support the places the go to. Interesting from either the political or economic standpoint.
Michael
The Mormon internet troll's comments say it all - yes? That person assumes that we want to listen to this banter day in and day out. These guys remind me of those apparently harmless people on North American streetcorners who pass out pamphlets saying that we are being controlled by some alien/government plot via chips in our heads. Or else the not so harmless people on streetcorners who try to get us involved with International Socialism. The possible result? We could end up being "socialist" (in this case, read Leninist) zombies. I know, because I was one once, back when I was 23 or 24. They always try to recruit people on college and university campuses. They can target smart people and stupid people. In my case, it was both. I am sure it is the case with teh Mormons, as well.
Have we been pwned by the Mormon missionaries?
Michael, I'm wondering why you approved Walter's extremely offensive (to me as a Jew, a non-Christian, and a religious liberal) comment. Anti-Taiwan comments are one thing (they contribute to the discussion), but this?
B.barnavi --Very sorry. Won't happen again.
I also found Walter's post to be offensive, and I am a Caucasian Mormon. The fact remains that there is prejudice is any major organization, but you won't find many groups of people more in favor of Taiwanese independence than Mormons who have served as missionaries in Taiwan, as I did. I thoroughly enjoy your blog, Michael, and am glad to find a group of people so passionate about Taiwan. (Also, I don't know if Walter is Mormon or not, but if he was, I don't think he fully understands his religion.)
Hi, another Mormon here. I'm not a missionary but a mom of 3 and soon to be 4 whom we are adopting from Taiwan. I'm just excited that the article gave someone a bit of a better view on Mormons. Not here to debate Mormons, but hey someone found some use for us!
=0) haha By the way, I have been reading your blog for about a year... fantastic read! Greetings from Vegas. Sara
As a former Mormon missionary who served in the Taichung mission from 1988 to 1989, I can tell you that these missionaries probably love this sort of project, because it gives them a breather from regular missionary work.
To those of you who are so offended by 19 and 20 year old boys asking people if they'd like to learn more about a religion, you really out to try it out for a week or two. "First contacting," as this type of work is known, is an excruciating exercise is frustration, rejection, and embarrassment. You give missionaries a choice, and they won't do this sort of thing. They'll play basketball, give free English lessons, whatever. Anything to avoid having to harass busy people.
The problem is, of course, that missionaries are required to contact prospective members ("investigators") by their mission leaders. If you are and LDS missionary and you aren't out first contacting all day, you'll be "on report" with the mission leadership, you won't rise in the missionary hierarchy, and mom and dad and girlfriend won't feel so proud of you. So if you're a good missionary, you find a way to generate the necessary enthusiasm and thick skin to harass strangers who are probably late for a meeting or who are exhausted after a long day at work, but the truth of the matter, one that you only let yourself contemplate once you've returned to your homeland, is that this sort of sales approach isn't very effective.
I think we'd have been much more successful setting up roadside gazebos offering free English lessons and an introduction to American religion to passersby.
So next time you see a Mormon missionary, have a little empathy for the poor kid. Buy him a cold Sprite and every time he tries to talk about religion, change the subject to something he'd prefer to discuss anyway--the NBA, NFL, etc. You can leave after five minutes, and you'll make his horrible, heat-soaked, rejection-filled day a much better one.
even giving out food to needy: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/06/07/2003414082
First time I've seen your blog, and it looks interesting. I'll be following it from now on. Two things:
First, I am a former Taipei, Taiwan missionary ('95 to '97). Our service activities were far-reaching in those years, and probably nothing has changed. We performed service two or three days every week, which included teaching free english classes, painting and cleaning dilapidated buddhist temples, spending time with and performing music for the incapacitated and elderly at hospice homes, teaching basketball to kids at an elementary school for handicapped children, and lots of post-natural-disaster clean up. I point this out not to give myself or other missionaries a pat on the back, but to point out to commenters like Thoth (by the looks of it, it's ironic that he uses the term "internet TROLL") that Mormon missionaries do a lot more than just share gospel messages. Thoth, when was the last time you stood knee-deep in filthy flood runoff, hauling rotting books out of a typhoon-flooded library basement for twelve hours in a day? Disagree with what we teach - that's fine - but spare us the snide remarks, please, and understand that we do a lot of good -- all over the world.
Second, not to read too much into your comment, man, but it sounds like Truett had a negative missionary experience. Most missionaries (myself included) look back on their missionary service as some of the finest years of their lives. Otherwise, we wouldn't volunteer--and pay our own way--to "suffer" through those "horrible, heat-soaked, rejection-filled" (and don't forget rain-soaked) days.
Thanks for the comments, Brad. If it is true that Mormons actually do some good work here -- and I have never seen hide nor hair of it -- then perhaps you should publicize it better. From conversations from foreigners here, and locals, it is hard to think of a missionary group more held in contempt than the Mormon one.
Also, if you have any connections here, can you get those idiots to stop accosting people in the street? Someday someone is going to get killed, and the poor driver is going to go jail because some self-centered, naive Mormon missionary was too dumb to stay out of the road. You don't do it in the States -- so why do you do it here?
I'm always happy to have more readers. Thanks for the kind words.
Michael
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