The Sawatzkys insist that this time, after 47 years, they’re saying farewell for the final time.
The first time Marietta and Sheldon Sawatzky left Taiwan as mission workers was in 1997 to join Mennonite Mission Network staff in Newton, Kan. But before long they found their way back to Taiwan as Mission Network dispersed staff, living there from 2003 through 2009. After retiring in 2009, they became mission associates and returned to Taiwan. Sheldon assumed the role of interim general secretary for the Fellowship of Mennonite Churches in Taiwan (FOMCIT), and Marietta continued teaching English Bible classes. They have lived in Taiwan 31 of the 47 years they served, but now retirement in the United States is final, they say.
Since 1965, the Sawatzkys served with Mennonite mission agencies and FOMCIT, which was initially started through church planters serving with the Commission on Overseas Mission, a Mission Network predecessor agency. The Mennonite presence in Taiwan began in 1948 with Mennonite Central Committee medical and relief work. Sheldon, a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War, did voluntary service at Mennonite Christian Hospital. Marietta began as a schoolteacher for missionary children. The couple met in Taiwan and were married there in 1968.
They both were commissioned as long-term mission workers in 1971 for church planting and eventually to disciple and raise up local leaders. Marietta later served as an English Bible teacher.
The Sawatzkys witnessed Taiwan’s evolution from a poor agrarian nation to an economically thriving high-tech center, spurred by the government’s focus on manufacturing and technological development. Chiang Kai-shek set up the Republic of China on Taiwan in 1949, imposed martial law and ruled as dictator until his death in 1975. He was succeeded by his son, Chiang Ching-kuo, who died in 1988, after which democratic reforms were instituted.
“Over the course of those years, we saw a huge change economically as Taiwan became what is actually a highly developed country now,” Sheldon said from their home in Harrisburg, Pa., noting that many modern conveniences, excellent infrastructure, transportation, a universal healthcare system, and high-tech services are superior to those of the United States.
The Sawatzkys said that Taiwan’s economic success, which improved its people’s quality of life, has also posed challenges to sharing the Christian faith. Many Taiwanese consider their traditional religious beliefs as part of their unique culture and are reluctant to change.
Sheldon said that healthcare and social services are areas where opportunities for Christian witness abound. Mennonite Christian Hospital, the FOMCIT programs of New Dawn Educational Institute, and Good Shepherd Center in Hualien have very effective ministries.
Reflecting on what he believes are some of FOMCIT’s key accomplishments, Sheldon cited the closing of the Mennonite Mission in Taiwan in 1994 as highly significant.
“It was a mission accomplished,” Sheldon said. “The work by the overseas mission after 40 years was completed and the baton for continuing mission passed to the Taiwanese church.”
As for shortfalls, he said that the Taiwan Mennonite Church would be further along if FOMCIT had put in place leadership development programs 30 years ago. This was Sheldon’s focus during the past two years of his special assignment.
“FOMCIT didn’t have a vision for leadership development, which would bring greater unity and a sense of Mennonite identity to the church,” Sheldon said, adding that the Mennonite Mission Network Missio Dei booklet, What is an Anabaptist Christian? Chinese edition is used extensively in the churches and proved very helpful. The booklet, which is translated in several languages, outlines core Anabaptist principles in an easy to understand format. “Our pastors come from a lot of different seminaries. There’s a longing for what it means to be a Mennonite church in the context of Taiwan.”
Paulus Pan, whom Sheldon baptized when Pan was in high school, studied at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Ind., and obtained a doctorate from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Ill., and is now a seminary professor at Central Taiwan Theological Seminary. He will give leadership to the development of a theological education program for FOMCIT. Sheldon also expressed excitement about Robert Chang, a Taiwanese Mennonite who served as a seminary professor and pastor, succeeding him as general secretary.
Marietta, who in 2011 received Bluffton University’s Lifetime Service Award, said she had mixed feelings while reflecting on her career of teaching English classes. Though thankful that the classes will continue under the instruction of others, she said, “I will miss those classes immensely. I’ll miss the students’ friendship, their hunger to know God’s word, and their searching questions.”
The Sawatzkys have fond memories of many personal relationships. There were also times of trial, like when their 10-day old son, Matthew, had a severe staph infection acquired at the hospital. Successful surgery, prayer, and medication saved his life.
Also, in the late 1980s, there were 20 to 30 Mennonite mission workers with whom the Sawatzkys fellowshipped, but the number dwindled over the decade until the Sawatzkys were the only Mennonite mission worker couple left.
“We enjoyed fellowship with the Taiwanese brothers and sisters, but we also missed that fellowship with other missionaries,” Marietta said.
“We love the country and the people,” Sheldon said. “Our children grew up there. Our son and his family are still there. It’s just basically the personal relationships we have with so many people that makes it difficult to leave.
“We have seen people that we knew as children in our churches now getting married, and Sheldon and I participating in those engagement parties or wedding ceremonies,” Marietta said. “Once he consecrated a girl as a child and then recently offered a prayer of blessing at her wedding feast. We just got another invitation for the wedding of a girl we knew since she was a baby. ”
“We feel it’s time for us to retire from Taiwan and active service there, but one never retires from God’s mission and participating in that,” Sheldon said. “The Taiwanese word for retirement is composed of two characters: one means retreat or step back and the second means rest. So we say, we step back, but we don’t rest. We’re open to however God leads, whether it’s working in the church or mission, as long as we are able and healthy.”
“Sheldon and Marietta have given so much of their lives to the Taiwan conference and more broadly to Asia, that it is hard to imagine them not living there,” said John F. Lapp, Asia director for Mennonite Mission Network. “I hope that they will continue to lend their gifts to our international partners for many years to come.”
Sheldon remains on the board of the Mennonite Christian Hospital in Taiwan until the end of 2013 so he’ll likely return for meetings. He will also travel to speak at the Joint Christian Services Mongolia annual retreat in May 2013, coinciding with the consortium’s 20th anniversary.
“I told him that he’ll need to buy two plane tickets,” Marietta said.
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For immediate release.
Mennonite Mission Network, the mission agency of Mennonite Church USA, leads, mobilizes and equips the church to participate in holistic witness to Jesus Christ in a broken world. Media may contact Andrew Clouse at andrewc@mmnworld.net, 574-523-3024 or 866-866-2872, ext. 23024.
