On 27 August Bishop Hwa Yung officiated the opening ceremony of the Chuan Shuo Cheh Iban Methodist Training Centre, Ng. Matop, Julau. Present there were some Taiwanese. One might wonder what these Taiwanese were doing among the Ibans? What is even more surprising is that they could speak the Iban language fluently!

The training centre was set up with the support of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan. The story of how this came about goes all the way back to 1968 when Rev. Lin Chin Yuan, his wife and a few other missionaries came to Sarawak to serve the Iban community.

When they arrived no one was there to meet them. "The day we arrived here it was raining and we had no place to go. My wife even cried helplessly," he recalled. Their first child was born in December, a month after they set foot there.

Not knowing a word of the Iban language they had to learn it from Rose Imboy, who did not speak a word of Mandarin. In less than six months Rev. Lin was assigned to a church in Bawang Assan in charge of the weekly sermon! "Due to my limited vocabulary I was unable to express my sermon clearly. It was hard," he remembered.

After nine months of language learning they were given an outreach ministry in Meluan District. Based in the town of Julau he had to travel by boat to the longhouses. He was accompanied once to the upper river by Tuai Sitak (District Superintendent) Kamarau Kabos, after which he was left to travel alone. He had to learn how to pilot a boat and get familiar with the water routes. But with time his driving and navigation skills improved.

Rev. Lin stayed near to seven years in Sarawak, with a six months furlough in Taiwan in 1971. He also served in the Bintulu District and another outreach ministry on the island of Balingian. He was then sent back to Julau where he ministered until his return to Taiwan in August 1975. By that time he had reached 19 longhouses. Though not all the residents accepted Christ, he still rejoiced with the 70% who had come to know Jesus Christ.

Rev. Lin can also testify to God's grace and protection during his years of ministry. Once coming back from the island of Balingian, a huge high wave suddenly towered above his speed boat. He cried out to God and amazingly an unknown force held his boat steady in the water. While still wondering about this yet another wave as big as the previous one came. But again the little boat landed safely in the water.

There was a year in the 1970s when the political situation in Sarawak was unstable, facing threats from the communists. It was very dangerous to go to the longhouses. Some suggested he should stop going. But he knew that his life was in God's hand. "People asked us, 'Aren't you afraid?' I replied, 'Of course I am afraid! But my life is in the hands of the Lord, I have to share the Gospel.'"

Why did Rev. Lin come to Sarawak? It was a burden formed by the touch of the Holy Spirit. When he was in second year of theological studies one of his professors gave a challenge to them. He had come back to Taiwan via Sarawak and saw many indigenous people who have never heard of Jesus Christ. He said, "If God calls you to South East Asia after you graduate, you should start preparing yourself." Rev. Lin started praying to God silently in his heart, "Father, if you ask me to go, I will be willing to!"

Rev. Lin came back in 2001 to visit brothers and sisters whom he missed very much. And again in 2002 when he was saddened by the lack of growth in some longhouses because of the lack of trained lay leaders and Sunday School teachers. It was impossible to depend on a few pastors for so many and wide spread longhouses. And so the idea of the Training Centre became a concrete reality. Rev. Lin hopes that more church leaders and Sunday School teachers will be trained to be a blessing to their own people.

Rev. Lin has four children. Their eldest daughter, Cui Qian, is also named Tawas from the Iban language. Their Iban brothers and sisters call him 'Apai Tawas' and his wife 'Indai Tawas' even to this day.

Based on an article by Ms Lee Hui Siaw, reporter for the Chinese Methodist Message, and a written testimony by Rev. Lin himself.