Our Journey to Taiwan
我們前往台灣的旅程
Dear Friends and Family,
親愛的朋友和家人：
We want to share some significant news with you: our family is moving to Taiwan next summer (2025). This decision, while exciting for us, has also been bittersweet. We’ve spent hours in prayer and reflection, seeking affirmation from God and trusted friends, and now feel confident this is where He is leading us. However, stepping forward in faith means also leaving behind a life we deeply love—our friends, our community, and a home filled with memories.
我們想與大家分享一個重要的消息：我們的家人將於明年夏天（2025年）搬到台灣。這個決定對我們來說既令人興奮，又帶著些許傷感。我們花了無數時間祈禱和反思，從神和值得信任的朋友那裡尋求確認，現在我們確信這是祂的帶領。然而，以信心邁步向前也意味著我們需要離開深愛的生活——朋友、社區，以及充滿回憶的家。
We’d like to share the story of how we arrived at this turning point, the struggles and revelations along the way, and how God has made His calling unmistakably clear. Our plan, God willing, is to return to Larchmont in 3–5 years, after fulfilling this chapter of our journey.
我們希望分享我們如何到達這個轉折點的故事、途中經歷的掙扎與啟示，以及神如何讓祂的呼召清晰無比。如果神允許，我們的計劃是在完成這段旅程後的3至5年內返回拉奇蒙。
THE FIRST DOMINO: A Season of Challenge
挑戰的季節與第一個多米諾骨牌
The first domino fell during my time at my last company. After successfully selling the company before, I joined this latest company with ambitious goals: to grow and sell the company in three years. The first half of 2022 went as planned, and I was optimistic about achieving success, not just for myself but also for the friends and colleagues I had brought onboard, including my best friend DJ, who took on an executive leadership role with me.
當我在上一家公司工作時，第一張骨牌倒下了。在成功出售上一家公司後，我加入了這最新的公司，懷著雄心壯志的目標：在三年內發展並出售公司。2022年的上半年一切都按照計劃進行，我對成功充滿了樂觀，不僅是為了自己，還為了我帶進公司的朋友和同事們，包括我的摯友DJ，他和我一起擔任了執行領導角色。
But as COVID waned, so did our metrics. Over 18 months, the company faced mounting challenges, leading to multiple layoffs. The stress and intensity became toxic, and every day felt like a battle with no victories in sight. My role, once a source of joy, became a source of constant anxiety. Calls between our executive team often brought tension and pressure. By August 2023, I was nearing a breaking point.
隨著疫情的減緩，我們的數據表現也開始下降。在18個月內，公司面臨越來越多的挑戰，導致多次裁員。壓力和緊張氣氛變得有害，每天都像在打一場看不到勝利的戰鬥。我曾經充滿快樂的職位，變成了不斷焦慮的根源。我們高管團隊之間的電話常常充滿緊張和壓力。到2023年8月，我已經接近崩潰的邊緣。
After returning from India, where I had been building a team, I began experiencing severe insomnia—48-hour stretches without a wink of sleep became common. This marked the onset of something new for me: clinical anxiety and depression. I sought professional help, began therapy, and started medication to restore balance. It was a humbling and painful realization that I was not as resilient as I once thought I was.
從印度回來後，我開始經歷嚴重的失眠——連續48小時無法入睡變得常見。這標誌著我人生中的一個新階段：臨床焦慮和抑鬱。我尋求了專業幫助，開始接受治療，並開始服藥以恢復平衡。這是一個謙卑且痛苦的認知：我並不像自己曾經以為的那樣堅韌。
Hanna, in her wisdom and concern, kept asking the hard questions: "How long can you endure this? Is there a limit to the pain and struggle you’re willing to bear? Can we set an end date to this chapter?" I could see the toll my work was taking on my family. My joy had evaporated; I stopped eating, lost 20 pounds, and withdrew from everything I once loved. Even my moments with Hanna and our girls felt hollow, as I was constantly distracted by work. What was to be my "salvation" and "last job" was actually the source of some of the greatest challenges I've ever faced and probably the worst year of my life (2023). On top of that, the stress and pain I felt knowing that I had brought so many good people, so many good friends to this tough environment really broke my heart. Something had to change.
Hanna，一如既往地明智且支持，持續問我一些艱難的問題：“你還能忍受多久？對於你願意承受的痛苦和掙扎，有沒有一個極限？我們能不能為這一章設定一個結束日期？”我能看到工作對我的家庭造成的影響。我的喜悅消失了；我停止進食，體重減輕了20磅，並退出了我曾經熱愛的一切。甚至與Hanna和女兒們在一起的時刻都顯得空洞，因為我不斷被工作分心。我原本認為是我的“救贖”和“最後一份工作”，實際上成為我所面臨的最大挑戰之一，也可能是我人生中最糟糕的一年（2023）。此外，想到我把那麼多好人、那麼多好朋友帶到這種艱難的環境中，這種壓力和痛苦真的讓我心碎。改變勢在必行。
In October 2023, I took three months of mental health leave. My goal was simple: rediscover joy, heal, and find clarity in purpose. During this time, I leaned on close friends and family, who encouraged and supported me through this season. Hanna and I reconnected through tennis, I started to play golf, learned to make candles, and we hosted dinners for friends and couples in our life groups. With the help, guidance, and life from friends, family, pastors, and therapists, slowly, the parts of me I thought I’d lost began to reemerge. This season of renewal planted the seed for the possibility of a bigger change.
在2023年10月，我請了三個月的心理健康假期。我的目標很簡單：重新找回快樂、治癒自己，並找到清晰的目標。在這段時間裡，我依靠親密的朋友和家人，他們鼓勵並支持我度過這段時期。Hanna和我通過打網球重新建立了聯繫，我開始打高爾夫，學習製作蠟燭，並為我們生活小組中的朋友和夫妻舉辦晚宴。在朋友、家人、治療師和牧師的幫助和指引下，我以為已經失去的那部分自己逐漸重新浮現。這段重生的季節為更大的改變種下了種子。
The Second Domino: A Challenging Question
第二個多米諾骨牌：一個挑戰性的問題
During my leave, my extended family began discussing the future of the manufacturing business my grandfather had founded over 50 years ago. With operations spanning Taiwan, China, and the U.S., it was time to identify the next generation of leadership. To my surprise, my family saw me as the most suitable candidate due to my background in commerce and product development.
在我的假期期間，我的大家庭開始討論我祖父在50多年前創立的製造業業務的未來。該業務橫跨台灣、中國和美國，現在是時候確定下一代的領導層了。令我驚訝的是，家人認為我最合適，因為我有商業和產品開發的背景。
This was not part of our plan. Taking on this role would mean retiring from my product management career, accepting the responsibility of stewarding the lives of scores of employees, and potentially uprooting our family to move to Taiwan. It felt overwhelming.
這並不在我們的計劃之內。接任這個角色意味著我要從產品管理職業中退役，承擔起管理數十名員工生活的責任，並可能讓我們的家庭遷居台灣。這感覺非常令人難以承受。
Reflecting on these considerations and returning to the company in January 2024, I began questioning why I was investing so much into someone else’s company when an opportunity to lead and steward my own family’s legacy was in front of me. DJ, with his ability to ask exactly the right questions, reinforced this consideration: "Why are you pouring your blood, sweat, and tears into someone else’s business when you have your own to build?"
回顧這些考量，並在2024年1月回到公司時，我開始質疑，為什麼我要把這麼多精力投入到別人的公司，而眼前卻有一個機會可以領導並管理自己家庭的傳承。DJ以他總能問出最關鍵問題的能力，加強了我的思考：“為什麼你要為別人的事業傾注心血，而你卻有自己的事業需要去建立？”
This was the second domino. God was prompting me to seriously consider the opportunity before me.
這是第二個多米諾骨牌。神正在促使我認真考慮擺在我面前的機會。
The Third Domino: Hanna’s Conviction
第三個多米諾骨牌：Hanna的信念
Hanna, too, felt a growing conviction that this was where God was calling us. She reminded me of our shared global vision and history, how we first met while trekking in Ghana, and how we thrive living within in different places, cultures, and people. Her willingness to embrace such a significant change inspired me to consider it more seriously.
Hanna也越來越堅信，這是上帝在召喚我們的地方。她提醒我我們共同的全球視野和歷史，回憶我們第一次相遇是在加納徒步旅行的時候，以及我們在不同地方、文化和人群中生活時的適應力和活力。她願意接受如此重大變化的態度，激勵我更加認真地考慮這件事。
Still, I hesitated. I wanted to delay for five years, to build and sell another company before taking on this responsibility. But Hanna wisely pointed out that the transition would only grow harder as our children got older and the company’s current leaders aged. My parents echoed her concerns, urging me to act now while the opportunity was ripe.
然而，我仍然猶豫。我想延後五年，在承擔這一責任之前再建立並出售另一家公司。但Hanna明智地指出，隨著孩子的年齡增長以及公司現任領導人的老化，這種過渡只會變得更加困難。我的父母也支持她的擔憂，敦促我在機會成熟時立即行動。
Hanna’s conviction and encouragement became the third domino. God was using her voice to guide our family toward obedience.
Hanna的信念和鼓勵成為了第三個多米諾骨牌。神正在通過她的聲音引導我們的家庭走向順服。
A New Vision and a Leap of Faith
新的願景與信心的躍進
In the months that followed, in order to learn more, I traveled to Taiwan and China, immersing myself in the family business and the community my family had built. I was warmly welcomed by relatives, employees, and others connected to the business, who shared stories of how my family’s leadership had impacted their lives. The company employees, in particular, gave me a warm reception, eager to share their experiences and help me understand the intricacies of the operations. I never realized how much generosity my family practiced, both in Taiwan and China, as tearful eyes told me stories of blessing, sacrifice and love that was shown to them for decades from our family members.
在接下來的幾個月裡，為了進一步了解情況，我前往台灣和中國，融入我的家族企業及其所建立的社區。我受到了親戚、員工以及與企業有關的其他人的熱烈歡迎，他們分享了我家族的領導如何影響了他們的生活。尤其是公司員工，他們熱情地接待我，渴望分享他們的經歷，並幫助我了解業務運營的複雜性。我從未意識到我的家族在台灣和中國展現了多少慷慨，因為含淚的雙眼向我講述了數十年來家族成員帶給他們的祝福、犧牲和愛。
Old friendships and family also resurfaced. Friends from the US who shared their experiences of moving to Taiwan, provided invaluable guidance and reassurance. In one particularly moving conversation with my aunt, I came to understand a critically meaningful reason for our move. After my grandmother passed away many years ago, my aunt and her children have had little family nearby, as most of us have been in the U.S. Over the past few months, I’ve been working closely with her as she’s helped us navigate housing, organize documents, and prepare for us possibly moving to Taiwan. During one dinner, I apologized for asking so much of her and placing such a burden on her shoulders. Her response was deeply moving: “There’s nothing to apologize for. Since your grandmother passed, it’s just been me and the kids here in Taiwan. Now, with you and your family moving here, I’ll not only have more family to spend time with, but I’ll also get to see my brother and sister-in-law more when they visit you.” It dawned on me that our move to Taiwan might be an unspoken answer to my aunt’s heart—a chance to restore the sense of family and community they’ve long been missing. For however long we’re there, we have the opportunity to be part of that answer and to serve and minister to her and others.
舊的友誼和家庭關係也重新浮現。來自美國的朋友，他們分享了搬到台灣的經歷，為我提供了寶貴的指導和安慰。在一次特別感人的與姑媽的談話中，我理解了我們搬遷的另一個深遠原因。多年前我的祖母去世後，我的姑媽和她的孩子在台灣幾乎沒有什麼家人，因為我們大部分人都在美國。在過去的幾個月裡，我一直與她密切合作，她幫助我們處理住房、整理文件，並為我們可能搬到台灣做好準備。在一次晚餐中，我為給她增加了那麼多負擔而向她道歉。她的回答令我非常感動：“沒有什麼需要道歉的。自從你的祖母去世以來，就只有我和孩子們在台灣。現在，你和你的家人搬來這裡，不僅我能有更多的家人一起度過時間，當你父母來探訪你時，我也可以更常見到他們。”我頓悟到，我們搬到台灣可能是姑媽心中未說出口的答案——一個恢復他們長久以來所缺失的家庭和社區感的機會。在我們居住的時間裡，我們有機會成為這個答案的一部分，並服務和關愛她以及其他人。
These moments of reconnection felt like God preparing a soft landing for us and gave me a deeper appreciation for the legacy I am being called to continue and a clearer understanding of the relationships that make it all work. I am humbled and nervous about the responsibility but also encouraged by the support and enthusiasm of those around me.
這些重聚的時刻讓我感覺像是上帝在為我們準備一個柔和的落腳點，也讓我更加深刻地體會到我要延續的傳承，以及讓這一切得以運作的人際關係。我對這份責任感到謙卑和緊張，但也因周圍人的支持與熱情而受到鼓舞。
Through these experiences, I am beginning to see our family’s calling in a new light. What I once envisioned as a small tree of ministry rooted in Larchmont is now revealed as a sprawling garden spanning continents. Seeds planted by previous generations are waiting to be nurtured, and God is calling us to steward this legacy for His glory.
通過這些經歷，我開始以全新的視角看待我們家庭的使命。我曾經想像的是一棵扎根於拉奇蒙特的小樹，如今卻展現為一座跨越大洲的廣闊花園。前人播下的種子正等待我們去培育，而上帝正在呼召我們來管理這份傳承，為祂的榮耀而努力。
The Fourth Domino: God’s Provision
第四個多米諾骨牌：神的供應
Even as the idea of moving took root, more challenges loomed. How would we rent out our home? Would we be able to find a renter? Who could we trust to care for it well until we return? And what about the furniture—would they want it furnished, or would we need to move everything into storage for years? These were considerations we had not even begun to discuss - and I could feel the logistical stress slowly approaching.
即使搬遷的想法開始紮根，更多的挑戰也接踵而至。我們該如何出租我們的房子？我們能找到合適的租戶嗎？我們能信任誰來好好照顧它，直到我們回來？還有家具的問題——租戶會希望是帶家具的嗎，還是我們需要將所有東西搬到倉庫存放多年？這些問題我們甚至還沒開始討論，但我已經感受到物流壓力正慢慢逼近。
Then, God provided in a way only He could. While in London, my cousin met with an old family friend from Oklahoma. That friend, who I haven't connected with in over 30 years, shared that she and her family were planning to move from London to New York in the summer of 2025. They were struggling to find a suitable home in Westchester and needed something ready for a family with young children.
然而，神以祂特有的方式供應了我們。在倫敦時，我的表姐遇到了來自奧克拉荷馬州的老家族朋友。這位朋友和我已有30多年未曾聯繫，她分享說她和家人計劃於2025年夏天從倫敦搬到紐約。他們正在努力尋找一個適合有小孩家庭居住的房子。
Our home fit their needs perfectly—fully furnished and ready for a family like theirs to settle in immediately. For us, it was a blessing beyond what we could have imagined: no need to engage a broker and go to market, no need to store or sell furniture, no extended vacancies, and old friends we trusted to care for our home. Within weeks, we signed a multi-year rental agreement, starting exactly when we planned to leave—and now we have a contract to make sure we do! This was a miracle that was answered before we even started praying for it.
我們的家完全符合他們的需求——配備齊全，適合他們這樣的家庭立即入住。對我們來說，這是一個超出我們想像的祝福：不需要聘請經紀人，也不需要將房子上市，無需存放或出售家具，無需長期空置，並且是我們信任的老朋友來照顧我們的家。在幾周內，我們簽署了一份多年期租約，恰好從我們計劃離開的時間開始——現在，我們有了一份合同來確保我們的行動！這是一個我們甚至還沒開始祈禱時就已經得到的神蹟。
This provision was the fourth and final domino to fall. It was God’s unmistakable affirmation that He was clearing the path for us to go.
這份供應是第四個也是最後一個多米諾骨牌的倒下。這是神無可否認的確認，祂在為我們鋪平前進的道路。
Mourning What We Leave Behind
對離開的一切的哀悼
While we are confident in this calling, this decision has been profoundly bittersweet. Leaving behind our life in Larchmont, New York, and California—the deep friendships we’ve built, our thriving church community, and the town where our girls are growing up—is heartbreaking. We’ve been blessed with such a strong group of friends and family here, and we are grieving what we’ll miss by stepping away for a while.
儘管我們對這份呼召充滿信心，這一決定卻帶著深深的甘苦交織。離開我們在拉奇蒙的生活——我們建立的深厚友誼、蓬勃發展的教會社區，以及我們女兒們成長的城鎮——讓人感到心碎。我們在這裡擁有如此堅實的網絡，是一種極大的祝福，我們也在為暫時離開所失去的一切而哀悼。
From the countless dinners shared with friends to the joyful chaos of neighborhood gatherings and our small yet cherished traditions, every part of our life here holds meaning. Knowing that we won’t see the same familiar faces or hear the same laughter in our home every week is a weight we are carrying as we prepare to leave. We are still hopeful to return to our home in a few years, God willing, and reconnect with the life and community we have cherished so deeply.
從無數次與朋友共進晚餐，到充滿歡樂的鄰里聚會，再到我們雖小卻珍視的傳統，我們在這裡的每一部分生活都充滿了意義。想到每週再也無法看到熟悉的面孔，或聽到家中熟悉的笑聲，這是我們在準備離開時背負的一個沉重負擔。然而，我們仍然懷著希望，在幾年後能返回我們的家園（如果神允許），重新連接我們深深珍愛的生活和社區。
Stepping Forward
邁步向前
As we get ready for this next chapter, we hold fast to a guiding principle that our family abides by when making big decisions: "Which path requires more faith in God? Choose that path." Staying in Larchmont would be known, planned, and predictable - aka a comfortable and wonderful life. Moving to Taiwan brings uncertainty and risk: a new language, culture, schools, and people to care for. But if God has been so faithfully affirming and providing for us thus far, how can we not trust Him with what’s to come?
在準備迎接下一個篇章時，我們堅守一個家庭在做重大決定時所遵循的指導原則：“哪條路需要更多對上帝的信心？選擇那條路。” 留在拉奇蒙特意味著熟悉、有計劃且可預測的生活——也就是舒適而美好的生活。而搬到台灣則帶來了不確定性和風險：新的語言、文化、學校，以及需要關心的新朋友。但如果上帝一路以來如此信實地確認並供應我們，我們又怎能不信任祂對未來的安排呢？
This journey has been a series of revelations and affirmations from God. He has shown us the people and places He’s calling us to steward, and though we feel unprepared, we trust He will equip us. We believe that we aren’t really “leaving NY and building a new home.” Rather, we are going to where God is calling us and “expanding the definition of who and what we call Home.”
這段旅程是一系列來自上帝的啟示與確認。祂向我們顯示了祂呼召我們去管理的人和地方，雖然我們感到尚未準備好，但我們相信祂會賜予我們所需的一切。我們相信，我們並不是“離開紐約去建立一個新家”，而是去往上帝呼召我們的地方，去“擴展我們對家的定義，以及我們所稱為家的人與事物”。
We’re excited, humbled, and nervous, yet ready to step forward. We hope you’ll join us in prayer and encouragement as we embark on this journey. Thank you for continuing to be part of our story. We love you all and look forward to seeing you in Taiwan after July 2025!
我們感到興奮、謙卑，也有些緊張，但我們已經準備好邁步向前。我們希望你們能通過祈禱和鼓勵與我們同行，共同踏上這段旅程。感謝你們一直是我們故事的一部分。我們愛你們，期待在2025年7月後在台灣與你們見面！
With love, gratitude, and hope,
懷著愛、感恩與希望，
Andrew + Hanna Chen
陳恩得 + 陳英熙