Seventh-day Adventist Volunteers and Catholic Hospital Assist in Nanxi Disaster Recovery Efforts

President Li and the Governor have joined calls for increased external support to address the needs of residents in the Nanxi settlement. Five months after the earthquake on 0121, a group of elders in Nanxi, Taiwan, are now working together, preparing vegetables, and offering encouragement. On the 15th, the Christian mustard breeds organized the “Learning House” in Nanxi, inviting volunteer teams such as the Seventh Day Adventist Volunteer Corps and the Catholic José Hospital to provide services including bathing, medical consultations, and home assessments. These efforts aim to showcase the community’s recovery from the disaster.

The Seventh Day Adventist Volunteer Corps and the Catholic José Hospital provided ablutions and medical treatment, addressing both physical and mental stress among the population. The mustard plant initiative serves as a home-recovery site, based on the concept of “train and gain.” It promotes the Institute’s business model, which helps disaster victims regain independence through skills training and career support. The Nanxi Institute officially signed on, representing a model successfully replicated in the southern disaster zone. This approach enables the settlement to become a recovery hub through capacity-building and job opportunities.

The mustard community continues to provide capacity for the “bringing” of residents. By the end of May, eight residents had participated steadily, logging over 547 hours of work. Half of them were elderly. Not only did they earn income, but they also regained confidence in their lives. An 82-year-old elderly woman, who had lost her home in the earthquake, was accompanied by mustard seeds. She visited her neighbor, cared for her crops, and shared her life with volunteers. She expressed that she was no longer afraid of nighttime conversations, calling the current situation a “new home.” After a shower, she shared that she had never been massaged before, which deeply moved her.

Today, Seventh Day Adventist volunteers continue to provide ablutions and medical consultations, easing the physical and mental stress of the population. Volunteer teams also conduct initial assessments of home safety, helping to improve conditions based on community needs. The mustard community emphasizes that every service stems from a response to a deep public hearing. The initiative stresses that post-disaster support should not be limited to material aid but should be more responsive to people’s needs.

The mustard community collaborates with the Seventh Day Adventist Church to provide repair services for long-term resettlement in Nanxi, where ongoing needs persist. The “Bring the Work” project is expanding to include baking training and equipment, as well as the development of multi-work projects. Residents are also involved in selling eggs and vegetables they produce, further supporting their recovery.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Mandarin Chinese)