While most Triennium participants traveled by van or airplane in delegations representing their presbyteries, Samantha and Terry spent three days in transit to arrive in West Lafayette, Indiana from their home in Taiwan.
Samantha, a graduate student in political science, and Terry, a college student studying theology, came to Triennium as part of the Global Partner program. Global partners tend to be between the ages of 18 and 25, slightly older than typical Triennium students, because travel visas are difficult to obtain and because international travel can be so daunting.
The global partner initiative partners presbyteries, congregations and individuals with international students to enable them to be a part of Triennium. After 14 months working with PC(USA) partner churches and mission personnel overseas to identify the youth who would attend and coordinating hosts in the States, 55 global partners from 15 countries participated.
When asked why she wanted to attend Triennium, Samantha said she hoped to experience different cultures gathering together and to represent Taiwan.
Samantha and Terry joined other Triennium students in the small group experience, sharing a Chinese translator in one of the groups. They also spent free time helping at the Global Partner booth in the “Treehouse” (the exhibit hall for Triennium), taking the opportunity to connect with other students and share about their home church in Taiwan.
Terry’s favorite aspect of Triennium was worship, especially appreciating the dancing. Samantha also was drawn to the gestures and movement. She found this inspirational and hopes to bring some of it back to Taiwan. However, she was noticeably surprised to learn that American Presbyterians rarely worship with movement and dance!
“Every time we come together, we experience great mercy from God,” she said. Is there any better reason for a three-day trip?
