Couple is giving up everything to be missionaries in Taiwan

Dawn Husnick of Carol Stream became a Christian 11 years ago. Her husband, Mike, followed her into Christianity three years later.

It was the beginning of a journey that has led them to preparations to become missionaries in Taiwan this summer.

When they were looking for a church to call their own, they visited several and eventually joined Glen Ellyn Bible Church five years ago. Their church supports about 10 full-time missionaries now serving in China, Columbia, Germany, Mexico, Turkey and two Chicago neighborhoods. The church also supports the Husnicks' decision to go to Taiwan.

Their interest in Taiwan began after they added Sammy, 5, to their family.

"I felt called to cross cultural missions after we adopted our son, Sammy," Mike said.

Mike said he felt a specific need for a boy from China.

"This was laid on my heart," he said.

The Husnicks, who also have two daughters, prayed about getting a boy from China. This may have seemed like a long shot to many because China has an abundance of unwanted girls for adoption, but boys are a prized commodity and not often up for adoption.

"Doors opened and, through odd circumstances, we ended up on a special-needs Web site and saw Sammy," Dawn said.

Shunzi, or Sammy as he is called now, was in a special-needs orphanage in China because he had a cleft palate. His cleft palate has been surgically repaired since he was adopted by the Husnicks in September 2005, when he was 2.

When they went to China to adopt him, something happened. They said they felt like they couldn't go back to their lives.

"We prayed about it and talked to someone at church, who set us up with TEAM," Dawn said.

TEAM is The Evangelical Alliance Mission, a global organization that facilitates missionaries. When the Husnicks started looking at mission locations, they looked at South America and China, but those two opportunities fell through.

TEAM was looking for missionaries for Taiwan, so when the Husnicks get to Taipei in Taiwan, they will work in the TEAM office for the first 18 months while they learn the language and culture.

"We want to work with youth. That is our long time goal," said Mike, who will work part time at a youth camp.

Dawn, who is certified as an ESL teacher, may also teach English while they are in Taipei. She said she will also be traveling to several churches to get the area's youth involved.

The Husnicks said TEAM has several youth camps for kindergarten through college-age students, churches, Bible study classes and a hospital, so they are willing to do whatever is needed. After three years, they hope to work at a youth camp.

"For the first two years, we really have to become that culture to be effective," Mike said.

When the Husnicks found out about TEAM's mission in Taiwan, they talked to church members at Glen Ellyn Bible Church, making their case that they should be missionaries. The Husnicks sold their home and began renting on a six-month lease so they would be ready to go when all arrangements fell into place.

"These two people are just wonderful. They are in their 40s and they're giving up everything," said Scott Brennecke of Wheaton, a member of Glen Ellyn Bible Church's elder board and mission committee.

The mission committee decides whether to support missionaries based on what the missionaries will do and where they will serve, as well as their reasons.

"The most compelling aspect of the Husnicks is that they are submitting to where they feel God is leading them. This is a real step of faith, and that is most impressive to me," Brennecke said.

He added that Glen Ellyn Bible Church is a "sending church" and its members are called to make the initiative, that is, bring up their faith to anyone they meet.

Supporting missions is just another part of spreading their faith to others, so the church provides a percentage of the money needed by missionaries for moving and settlement costs, as well as monthly living support.

"We are putting our faith into action with our resources. The church's mission is to make disciples of the church," he said.

Individual members of the church also will support the couple in their mission. The Husnicks have set a goal to be in Taiwan at the end of July. Because of the investment of time and energy to learn the language and culture, they are open to being missionaries for the rest of their lives, and plan to be in Taiwan for at least 10 years.

For the next few months, they will continue to spread the word of their mission to raise money for the trip. Dawn said TEAM has been giving them ideas about fundraising, but they are at a little bit of a disadvantage.

"Many missionaries come from families that have served as missionaries for a generation or more. Mike and I are figuring this out as we go. This is a life change for us," she said.

So the Husnicks have made a DVD and newsletter to get word of their mission out.

Maureen Hickey, a Witness board member at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Wheaton, knows Mike, and after she heard about the Husnicks' plans to be missionaries, she went to her church to ask if others wanted to help. And they did.

"We held a class to learn how to make greeting cards and decided to sell the cards to raise money for Mike and Dawn," Hickey said.

Members of the church have made "thinking of you" cards, general birthday and Easter cards, all of which will be sold for the next couple of months for a donation of $2 each. Cards can be ordered from Hickey by calling (630) 529-2888.

For details about the Husnicks' mission trip, call (630) 740-2541, send an e-mail message for a free DVD to asiahus@aol.com or visit www.teamhusnick.com. Checks can be mailed to TEAM, P.O. Box 969, Wheaton, IL 60189-0969, with the memo Husnick 010566.

Glen Ellyn Bible Church also is raising money until March 2 and donations may be sent to 501 Hillside Ave., Glen Ellyn, IL 60137, or call (630) 469-2964.

Taiwan

Population: 22.9 million

Climate: Maritime subtropical

Languages: Mandarin Chinese, Taiwanese, Hakka

Politics: Multi-party democracy

Economy: Gross domestic product is $379 billion

Faith: More than 75 percent of residents are Buddhist or Taoist. About 2 percent are Christian.

Source: U.S. State Department