English Camp #1

One month from today, four VERY good friends from WV will be joining us in our city. They will be doing a variety of things while they are here including two 3-day English camps. English Camp #1 will be held in a rural village about 45 minutes from our mega-city. Please use this blog post to begin thinking about these camps on a daily basis.

This school has approximately 100 sixth graders. English Camp #1 will be held the week after 6th grade graduation. We anticipate 50 children will participate. Please ask that their minds and hearts will be open to hearing and believing HIStory.English Camp #1 will focus on the TRUE meaning of three American holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. We will use stories, games, songs, crafts, etc. to introduce these holidays to the students.
We will also use holiday-related vocabulary words, reading comprehension, speaking/listening drills, etc. to reinforce the students' English skills.
Yesterday, our family had the opportunity to visit the school, see the facility, and meet all of the 6th grade students and teachers. They were so excited about the upcoming camp.
We were invited to participate in this camp by a local sister, Nadia. Please remember us (and the WV team) as we make preparations. May we use every word, every activity, every moment to lead these precious children towards a personal relationship with HIM.Many of you cannot physcially come to assist us on our journey, but ALL of you can join us in thinking about the people on our little island on a daily basis. May these children's lives be changed for eternity!

A Typical Saturday Afternoon

A few weeks ago on a typical Saturday afternoon, Esther found herself "caught up" in a Folk Temple Parade near our apartment complex. She walked along for a while with the participants and spectators snapping photos as she went. When she reached the actual temple building, the leader of the temple invited her inside to have a look around and to take more photos. Esther had alot of questions, but her language skills were limited. So, she asked a co-worker to accompany her the next week to meet him.

She and the co-worker have had two lengthy discussions with the temple leader during the past two weeks. During the second session, the leader agreed to take a BOOK. When questioned as to where the power for his gods originates, he said: "Oh, the idols have no power. It's all in your head." Please remember Esther as she and this co-worker continue their conversations with this man.

Mother's Day ?

(Some photos obtained from other sites.)

Every day, we learn something new about our culture. In our minds, yesterday was Mother's Day: a time for flowers, cards, meals, and gifts to thank mom for all of her love and support. But, on our little island, yesterday was also the day set aside to mark the birthday of Buddha.
In the exact same spot used to celebrate the Franklin Graham Festival and glorify HIS name last fall, thousands of folks gathered to seek a different kind of "peace" in the midst of turbulent times.

Before giving a speech, our president performed the “bathing Buddha” ritual. Holding a wooden ladle, he poured water over a small statue of the Buddha three times while reciting: “May I eliminate all evil thoughts” on the first wash, “May I cultivate good deeds” on the second, and “May I help save all living beings” on the third. (Bathing a statue of Buddha symbolizes a fresh start in life and the care given to newborn babies.)

As mothers demonstrated for their children how to perform this ritual, we were reminded of the urgent need we have to share the true source of real peace, the Prince of Peace. He is the only One that can truly give a fresh start in life, both now and for eternity.

We celebrated Mother's Day by giving our mom flowers, a meal, and a gift. We want this small Oriental lamp to daily remind all of us of the desperate need to continously shine HIS light into the darkness.

Righteous Generation

Every Friday night, Esther gathers with about 75 local teens for Youth Group. Most of the teens are in grades six to nine. Esther leads the small group time for the high school girls. During the week, they also have other events including leaders' meetings, retreats, service projects, outreach projects, and m-type trips. We wanted to use this blog update to share photos from a recent three-day retreat.

The group is mostly Asian,

but does include a few "white-faces."

Kids from South Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, Europe,
New Zealand, America, Hong Kong, India,
Canada, etc. all participate together.


Wherever teenagers gather,
it requires alot of food....Korean Bar-B-Que.



One of the highlights of the weekend was a ropes course teaching the value of goal-setting, teamwork, and perseverance.

Everyone can always use a little help from their friends.

Together, we're better!

Of course, the best part of the weekend was the concentrated time devoted solely to HIM. Please remember this group on a daily basis. Many of the kids are the first and only believers in their families. May they be a generation that seeks HIS righteousness.