Selflessly Spreading Love in Hualien for 35 Years —Mayor Hsu Appoints German Missionary Sis. Monika Gottschild as Tourism&Cultural Ambassador

(中央社訊息服務20250507 10:00:29)Sister Monika Gottschild, a German missionary and former Chairperson of the Bethesda Home in Hualien, visited the Hualien County Government on May 6. In recognition of her long-standing service and connection to the region, County Mayor Hsu Chen-Wei officially appointed her as a “Hualien Tourism and Cultural Promotion Ambassador.” Together, they aim to further promote Hualien’s tourism industry and invite international friends from around the world to experience the warmth and hospitality of this beautiful city.

Mayor Hsu remarked that for Sister Monika — affectionately known as “Mama Gu” — returning to Hualien from Germany is like coming home. During the 70th anniversary celebration of the Bethesda Home on April 26, Mayor Hsu personally invited her to take some time to revisit the places and people she holds dear. The Bethesda Home is a place filled with love and miracles, offering hope and stability to Hualien. Behind every thriving resident are the tireless efforts of staff and volunteers. Sister Monika’s 35 years of service in Taiwan have been marked by unwavering love and faith, dedicating the best years of her life to protecting and nurturing Bethesda. Mayor Hsu expressed her hope that “Mama Gu” will continue to visit often and walk alongside the community in the future, helping love and hope thrive in Hualien.

Sister Monika shared her deep emotional bond with Hualien, expressing that she has profound affection for every tree, every scene, and every memory at Bethesda. She finds it incredibly hard to leave and is immensely grateful to all the individuals and organizations that supported her and Bethesda along the way. She believes that her connection to Hualien is far from over and said she will return often to visit the children.

To show appreciation, Mayor Hsu presented Sister Monika with a traditional Amis outfit and a gift box of honey-scented black tea. Guests at the event included: missionary Connie Hartman, Chairperson of the American Mission Board; missionary Mirjam Wentland, current Chairperson of Bethesda; former Bethesda Director Wen Xiu-E; current Director Dai Meng-Zhen; former Zonta Club President Hsiu-Hua Chiu; Lin Fang-Zhao, President of the Hualien Chapter of SIWA; Lin Chun-Mei, Honorary Chairperson of the Hualien County Women’s Association; and Lü Shan-Hua, Chairperson of the Qingxi Women’s Association.

Known affectionately as “Mama Gu,” Sister Monika Gottschild dedicated 35 years of her life to serving children with physical and intellectual disabilities at the Bethesda Home. In recognition of her outstanding contributions to Taiwan, she was awarded permanent residency (Plum Blossom Card) by the National Immigration Agency in 2017. After retiring in 2023, she was honored by the Hualien County Government with an “Honorary County Citizen Certificate” before returning to her hometown in Germany.