As I sit here on this bus, I am suddenly aware of the darkness that surrounds me and I am reminded of my presence here. I’m not speaking of the physical darkness – it’s only 8:30am here. But the emotional darkness, the mental darkness, the deep, heavy, spiritual darkness. That all-consuming, suffocating, blinding darkness that affects and infects the faces I see on a daily basis.
As I sit here next to the woman muttering and moaning to the beads she clutches in her fingertips, I feel that saddening, suffocating darkness. And in this darkness, I realize my purpose here. I have the sword to cut through this darkness. I have been given the power to pray to my God, THE God, to wash over this darkness. And I smile to myself knowing my weak and feeble prayers to a strong and almighty God are enough to overcome her mutterings that bring darkness to this bus and are powerful enough to cover her with grace and love.


“You are the light of the world...Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.”Matthew 5:14a, 16
Sarah-Jane Cruz is a first year TESOL teacher with VOICE Missions serving on the beautiful island of Kinmen just off the coast of China. Before coming to Taiwan, Sarah-Jane earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Georgia and went on to serve in the US Peace Corps in Ecuador as a Community Health volunteer. She currently teaches 1st - 9th grades across two different islands in Kinmen County. She is particularly skilled at the art of synchronized hopscotch and underwater basket-weaving. When she is not in the classroom, Sarah-Jane likes to spend her time exploring and photographing the beautiful beaches, tunnels, towers, mountains, and historical military sites that Kinmen has to offer, SCUBA dive, or hang out and share a meal with friends.
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