Amid typical front-page headlines about war, natural and man-made disasters, murder, kidnapping and smuggling, readers of the China News one day last summer found this headline: "Those missionary men on cycling machines."

      This top-of-the-front-page article, complete with two color pictures, is one of several recent articles that has opened many doors for missionaries serving in Taiwan, a bustling island of some 20 million. The China News is one of two English-language daily newspapers in Taiwan's largest city, Taipei, and has a circulation of 80,000."In the nearly 16 months I've been here, I haven't seen any negative press," said Pres. Harvey Horner of the Taiwan Taipei Mission.

      Like full-time missionaries throughout the world, the 172 missionaries of the Taiwan Taipei Mission spend about four hours each week performing some type of humanitarian service - working with handicapped children, visiting orphanages, cleaning up parks, caring for the elderly, visiting the hospital-bound.

      In addition to the intended purpose of learning and showing Christ-like love, the service work has helped the Chinese better understand who and what the Church is.

      "There's a lot of preaching done here without saying a thing," said Pres. Horner.

      About a month before the China News article ran, a 10-minute segment on a Chinese morning news program was devoted to the Church. The report, on the program called (roughly translated) "Good Morning, Today," sought to answer why these foreign young men were spending their time doing this service.

      That, as expected, has provided many teaching opportunities. In fact, said Pres. Horner, the TV reporter who covered the story was eventually taught by the missionaries.

      And not long after the China News article, two stories appeared in Chinese-language newspapers, also detailing the service of LDS missionaries.

      The China News article captures well most aspects of missionary service in this crowded, yet friendly, city of nearly 4 million:

      "(Two-thirty) on an excruciatingly hot summer afternoon in Taipei. Even asphalt on the city streets began to give way under the brutal glare of the sun. The lights at a busy city intersection had hardly turned green [whenT a swarm of motorcycles roared down the street as if they were all going to beat some deadline. Two Western men on bicycles were [alsoT off to beat some deadline.

      "The two men made a very eye-catching pair. Not only because they both wore a snow-white shirt which had been obviously pressed, and a necktie, but their bikes were also much higher than the others."

      The article details missionary life, including the daily schedule, preparation day activities, and weekly humanitarian service.

      Elders John Lackey and David Chia respond with a rousing "Not at all," when asked if such life is hard on young missionaries.

      "Why would young people like Lackey and Chia, want to serve in the mission, gaining no income during their service, giving up pleasures young people of their age engage in, such as moviegoing dating, dancing and swimming, and sometimes having to interrupt their college education?

      ". . . [TheyT do so because they want to share their joyful experience of believing in the Gospel of Jesus Christ," Elder Chia told the reporter.

      Reporter Irene Lin, who wrote the China News article, told the Church News that she has "always been interested in the missionaries because I have seen them riding their tall bikes."

      When someone from the mission contacted her asking for suggestions for volunteer work, she decided to write the story.

      "Some people I know told me the story was quite interesting," Lin said. "They didn't know [the missionariesT worked without pay. And I was very surprised to find out that they came of their own will and often dropped their education to come. I was surprised to compare them with the young generation here in Taiwan."

      The increased awareness of the Church resulting from service projects has been a real blessing. But Pres. Horner is quick to point out that it isn't the only blessing.

      "I've been with the missionaries when they visit an orphanage. The young children are so elated you just can't believe it. I think just watching that has done more for me than it did for the orphans."