365 DAYS OF LOVE DAY 40 ~ GIVING OUT FREE HUGS IN TAIWAN IN A PANDA SUIT!

jaeson | 02.09.10 | 365 DAYS OF LOVE, ASIA FOR JESUS

This week, I had the privilege of speaking at the Festival of God’s Power Conference in Taiwan as well as several other churches. It was an amazing time and I am always encouraged and blown away by Taiwan’s passion for Jesus Christ. I wanted to do something special for 365 Days of Love, so I asked a friend for some ideas on how we could serve Taiwan. She suggested handing out red envelopes for Chinese New Year with candy and an encouraging note at the nightmarket. The nightmarkets in Taiwan are popular open-air gathering places where a lot of street vendors sell amazing food and drink. I loved that idea! But then it struck me… PANDA LOVE.

I never grew up with hugs myself, but I realized how important hugs are ever since God began to show me how powerful a loving hug can be. Now I hug everyone I meet and I love to let other people hug me… I know that in the Asian culture, its very common to have love shown in a different way than a hug. Many of the people walking the streets in Taiwan may have never experienced a hug full of LOVE– But today all of that would change. They would get a hug… from a PANDA.

I asked for a panda suit and all of these materials in the afternoon and by the time night fell, we had everything we needed. The Taiwan team was amazing! I jumped into the panda suit, we jumped into the car, and we rolled out into a nearby nightmarket. Watch what happens in this 365 Days of Love episode of GIVING FREE HUGS AS A TAIWANESE PANDA.

We gave out over 150 hugs in less than hour! Everyone wanted a hug, from sweet elderly street vendors, wide-eye kids, couples on dates, hard-looking bikers, tourists—everyone! Spread the love! Give hugs today!

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

12 Responses to “365 DAYS OF LOVE DAY 40 ~ GIVING OUT FREE HUGS IN TAIWAN IN A PANDA SUIT!”

nuii said on February 9th, 2010 at 3:21 am:
Good~
chel said on February 9th, 2010 at 8:48 am:
emm.. i think you need to drink some herbal tea.. you’re having some raspy voice..
Kenneth Taber said on February 9th, 2010 at 12:49 pm:
People don’t get enough hugs. I think we could achieve world peace through hugs. I think Moo Moo has one problem. He just needs a hug.
dolph3n said on February 9th, 2010 at 2:32 pm:
Hahaha I know that it’s you when Vaness posted it on his twitter. Can see through the eye !! Just like what Carl Choi said, USA style !! haha…
Gemma said on February 9th, 2010 at 4:09 pm:
I love this!! haha I am finding your 365 days of love very inspirational…thanks…
hui said on February 10th, 2010 at 3:19 am:
so cute~~
^___^
Ansley said on February 10th, 2010 at 7:43 am:
Awww! that’s so sweet of the panda! I love hugs! something my aunt told me before I had my first child: “you can never give your children too many hugs & kisses!” I think we should spread that piece of advice all over the world, it’s so true!
Sarah Weichhand said on February 10th, 2010 at 11:07 am:
Jaeson…that is the best idea ever! LoL.
Sarah Weichhand said on February 10th, 2010 at 11:07 am:
Jaeson…that is the best idea ever! LoL.
Jamie said on February 10th, 2010 at 5:24 pm:
YO PANDA MAN– Nice Idea :D
Maggie Yong said on February 11th, 2010 at 1:02 am:
wow Jaeson…what a wonderful idea to express unconditional love in a Chinese community!! so sweet ^0^ Hugs are powerful to break down the walls between people!!
btw, may you and your team a blessed Chinese New Year!!!
mY :)+ hug
Free Hugs In Taiwan, Panda Style « Populasian said on February 23rd, 2010 at 12:14 am:
[...] been seeing this around the blog sphere recently. Jaeson Ma from the Los Angeles area of Chinese decent was in Taiwan and decided to give free hugs to random [...]