When he was younger, pastor Johan Tidemann Johansen of Norway moved to Taiwan with his wife Kari Bratveit to preach and practice medicine. After 60 years of serving the people of Dongshi, they established a clinic in the area and then converted it into a facility for the elderly. Johansen used his camera to document the daily life of Dongshi while he was in Taiwan, and the photos he captured are now considered a priceless cultural treasure. In gratitude of Pastor Johansen’s contributions to Taichung, the Council for Hakka Affairs of Taichung City Government organized a special exhibition (守護東勢一甲子 尤約翰夫婦特展), and the mayor of Taichung also presented Pastor Johansen the Honorary Citizen Medal.
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Pastor Johan Tidemann Johansen received the title of Honorary Citizen from the Taichung Mayor (盧秀燕).Photo provided by the Council for Hakka Affairs of the Taichung City Government
Pastor Johan Tidemann Johansen, who is now 85 years old, and his wife Kari Bratveit arrived in Dongshi, Taichung in 1966 to begin their ministry. The two traveled far and wide to provide treatment and assistance to the citizens of Dongshi until they left for Norway in 1981, despite the fact that there were very little medical and health services available at the time.
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Zhan Wentan (詹文壇), who had been treated by Dr. Kari Bratveit, wife of Johan Tidemann Johansen when he was a child, specially came to express his gratitude.Photo provided by the Council for Hakka Affairs of the Taichung City Government
Pastor Johan Tidemann Johansen and his daughter were invited to the opening ceremony of this special exhibition, which was organized by the Council for Hakka Affairs of the Taichung City Government. Numerous locals also showed up to pay their respects.
