CMS missionaries Sam and Shan-Shan Chrisp are learning culture and language in Taiwan as they prepare to work in student ministry. As Taiwan suffers its first water shortage in a decade, they reflect on our need for spiritual and physical water.  

 “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”  John 4:13  

Praying for water  

Last year was the first time on record that Taiwan didn’t have at least one typhoon. We thought this was a good thing at first! But Taiwan actually relies heavily on the rain from annual typhoons to refill the island’s water reserves. Without any typhoons, Taiwan is facing its most severe water shortage in almost 60 years.   

The government is trying many solutions to solve the water crisis. Some are practical—factories are being forced to use less water, and soon the water supply in our city might be switched off over the weekends in order to conserve water.  

Other solutions are spiritual. Our city is home to one of the largest temples in the country devoted to Matsu, the sea goddess. This month the government agency responsible for water management organised a huge rain prayer ceremony at the temple, offering worship and prayers to ask Matsu to bring rain.  

The Taiwan Irrigation Agency organised Taoist priests to hold a rain prayer ceremony at the Jenn Lann Temple in Taichung’s Daija District.

The need for living water  

We were talking with one of our local Christian friends about the water shortage. She shared that she was feeling worried and anxious thinking about the drought. “If we run out of water, what will we do?” she said.  

We talked about what it means to trust in God’s sovereignty in times like this. We also reminded her that a lack of water is not the worst thing that can happen in Taiwan. It is far worse to have a drought of God’s Spirit.  

Jesus said, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:37)  We long for more Taiwanese to know Jesus so they can be filled and never be thirsty again. 

Please pray that God would send rain upon Taiwan. We really do need water. But please also pray that God would send the living water of his Spirit upon Taiwan. Pray for God’s word to be faithfully proclaimed and heard, so that the Spirit can bring eternal life.  

PRAY 

Pray that God would send much-needed rain to Taiwan. Pray also that Taiwanese Christians would share the living water promised by Jesus.