Dale Taketa is like none other. He has a belief that those who truly aspire to be great in God’s eyes allow themselves to be less in the eyes of man. He gives freely of himself to perform tasks that no one else will do and serves on the deepest level of love and humility. The example of Christ comes to mind. “For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)God's Direction & Vision
1998 was a special year. For it was during that time the missions committee which Dale has been a long time member of at his local church, were researching and praying about various minority groups to sponsor. The choice was tough. However, after much deliberation and effort, Dale and the committee members decided that China would be the direction which God gave vision to. Research was ramped up and eventually the decision came down to two minority groups in China. Dale said during this time of deliberation that “the mission team sat down and couldn’t decide which group to sponsor, because everyone involved thought it equally important to support both groups.”
The afternoon was long and exhausting, filled with much prayer and waiting on the Lord. Hours raced by and when the praying was finally completed Dale commented, “it became obvious to all of us that the Buyi people were the ones that we were going to support.” And so, the seed was planted.
The Marriage of Community
Uniquely, the Chinese government a few years ago came to the realization that the Buyi people of the Guizhou province were becoming somewhat of a tourist attraction. A Buyi village was constructed and promoted by the government worldwide. So vast was this extension of community that the Buyi began to profit from weaving their traditional colored clothes and hand-painted white fabrics. Government officials realized that not only would this village profit the Buyi, but it gave them a means to supporting themselves.
The Buyi are also subsistence farmers, and everyone in the village was allowed by the local government a day off to greet Dale and the many others who traveled from the United States. This is because the Chinese government forbids travel within China without an escort. All the community of Buyi people came out for the event. This included traditional dances, a Buyi play, a tour of the village, and a history overview of the birth of the Buyi. Dale also grinned, articulating to me that the Buyi brought homemade “white lightning” to the official greeting of the Americans as a gesture of good will and honor.Dale believes the most effective way of building community and relationships among the Buyi is to “plant seeds” for Christ. Prior to Dale’s first visit in 2002, workers from other parts of the globe established groundbreaking work with the Buyi and began the process of establishing community relationships. When Dale arrived in 2002, many friendships and camaraderie’s had been established among the Buyi people. This allowed many of the workers, including Dale, to move about the various villages, without escort, conversing and showing the love of Christ with the Buyi.
The Harvest
Dale is sowing seeds for Christ. He is living out the meaning of the parable. “The seed is the word of God…But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop” (Luke 8:11, 15).
Spring is finally here and looking around there are many signs of God’s handiwork. Flowers are blooming revealing God’s glory in colors. Green covers the hillsides and surrounding terrain with birds singing to the beginning of new life.Dale’s journey has entered harvest and often he reflects on where the seeds have been planted. He’s has asked if he has toiled in the fields and has prepared the soil with loving investment in a crop called Buyi that will bring much fruit.
Dale has also received many blessings from his service at Central Christian Church and the Buyi people. He has worked side by side with a supportive staff, a focused clergy and devoted shepherds. Dale always responds to the idea of what more can be done for the kingdom of God. Admittedly, this was a humbling experience for this writer. It cannot be overemphasized that community is built on service to one’s church and to the Lord. Dale has impacted families through continued prayer and selfless acts of love. It is the true reflection of Christ in a believer’s life.
Even the Buyi are significant to Christ. When we have heard His word, let us embrace it with a good and generous heart, bearing fruit through our perseverance. Christ is the mercy and grace cultivating the harvest of goodness and all that is noble and we, the community, are the seeds.
The Buyi on Display in Huishui (Tangwu)
The continued growth and construction of the Buyi township is completed and open to the public. The traditional houses of the Buyi people cover 480 square miles and have a history of nearly 200 years. Dale points out that the Buyi are now living a “style” which can be fully showcased to the public.
Dale explains that the Buyi tangwu is a very important venue for tribe meetings, rule making and guest entertainment. Essentially, it is the cultural, economic and diplomatic center for Buyi people. The courtyard residence is beautifully decorated and has been renovated to traditional Buyi styles. The furniture and farming tools show the community that traditional customs and traditions are a part of Buyi everyday life. Some of the oldest exhibits date back to the Qing dynasty.
This is now the No. 1 people’s tangwu in China built in Huishui County.
