Pressing On!

In HIS name, we find the strength to press on!

Our family arrived in TW on Christmas Eve. So, we were able to enjoy some Christmas events with our university friends, our little national clubhouse, and our international clubhouse on the mountain on December 25, 26, and 27. Above is one of our SS kids performing for the little national clubhouse program on Christmas Day evening.

And, the youth group performing a skit during the program. Sure wish someone would come over and help us with this little national clubhouse. It would be great to have summer activities (i.e. VBS-type event, youth retreat-type event, sports camp, English corners, fellowships, etc.) for the children's group, the youth group, and the young adult group. They are a great bunch of folks with SO MUCH potential to reach their peers. Some of the children came dressed up for the

evening's program. We had quite a few Asian angels.

(Of course, they are all angels to me.)

And, we even had an appearance by an Asian Santa.
After Christmas weekend, I was sick for about 2 weeks, but Esther was able to spend New Year's Eve with Twiggy and her family watching the spectacular fireworks from the rooftop of our old apartment building. We'll be starting our HOME BOOK study with our friends from our old apartment building on Wednesday, January 27 at 7 pm. Please keep this event in your daily thoughts.

Far More than Our Wildest Dreams!

HE can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever
imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!
Ephesians 3:20 ~ The Message

We're back on our little island, and Father has provided so much more than we ever imagined, guessed, or requested in our wildest dreams! HE has provided the perfect apartment in the perfect location. We are five minutes from our former apartment building, so we are already familiar with the neighborhood and the neighbors. And, we have just the right layout for hosting friends...those we know now and those we are yet to meet. Plus the new apartment came 2/3 furnished at no extra charge. The only things we have had to purchase so far are bedroom sets and a few household items (heaters, microwave, water purifier, dvd player, etc.). Without purchasing anything, we can already seat 16 on chairs/sofas plus the rugs. All the window treatments, rugs, wardrobes, shelves, etc. came with the house. (It even has wallpaper.)

Dining table with 8 chairs (furnished)
Two sofas, chairs, entertainment center,
tv, rug, tables, window treatments (furnished)
Long, Wide kitchen for Cooking Classes and Parties
And, yes, that is a full-sized American oven. We purchased it
from some retiring "m's" headed back to Arkansas. Come on over and help us cook up some wonderful treats to share with all of our local friends.

Ghost Month

(The following information is copied with permission from a co-worker's blogsite.)

Ghost Month has begun on our little island. During this time, it is believed that the gates of hell are opened and all spirits are turned loose to roam the world. If they have not been treated well during the previous year (via lots of sacrifices), they may choose to wreck havoc. It is a time of fear.

Mounds of foods for sale in the local stores to appease the hungry spirits

Altar table and a brazier for burning paper money

Many sacrifices will be offered, especially on the 1st, 15th, and 30th days of the month. People may be even more involved this year because of the recent typhoon destruction.

Please remember believers in non-believing families who will be pressured to participate in these events. Ask that Father's peace will begin to overcome the lack of peace throughout this island. Ask that the fear that binds people to continued appeasement of the spirits will be cast out by His love and presence. Ask that believers on our island will demonstrate His peace and hope during these days.

Typhoon, Part 2

(The following information is copied with permission from a co-worker's blogsite.)

It has been over a week since the typhoon hit our island. The damage down south is incredible. Bridges, roads, railway lines, and an untold number of houses and other buildings have been destroyed. The president stated today that many displaced families will be in temporary housing for up to a year while homes are rebuilt. Some bridges and roads may take up to three years to rebuild.

Thousands of people have been evacuated from mountainous areas, in many cases pulled across raging rivers by cables and pulleys. There are still hundreds more awaiting rescue; many of them have been without clean water and food for days, and many are injured and still awaiting medical treatment. Rescuers are working non-stop in the attempt to reach the most isolated areas, but washed-out roads and bridges, dangerous rivers, poor weather conditions, and the risk of further landslides has hampered efforts.

A pilot carries a survivor to safety.

In the village of Shiao Lin, the help came too late. A massive mudslide wiped out the whole village of over 160 families, destroying all but two structures and burying the town and its inhabitants under up to 5 stories of mud. Only a handful of people survived; it is estimated that up to 500 people were buried alive in the landslide. Following local tradition, families honored the dead on the seventh day after death: surviving relatives gave gifts of food, paper money, and toys (for the children) to the dead, and called out their loved ones' names, urging their spirits to return home.

A survivor grieves.
A man shows photographs of his lost loved ones: his mother, brother, sister-in-law, and niece.

Families returning to the site of Shiao Lin village to mourn the dead.

A muddy plain where the village of Shiao Lin stood a week ago.

Our island is now soliciting help from the international community, and the US and other countries are now delivering supplies such as portable shelters to the affected areas. The local people have been showing their generosity as well, donating food and supplies to those in need. A local community group organized a clothing and supplies drive at the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial last week, but it had to be called off after a couple days because so much had already been donated--their delivery trucks were full!

Please continue to remember those suffering in our area.

(Photos from CNN.com and BBC.com.)

Typhoon Hits Island

(The following information is copied with permission from a co-worker's blogsite.)

By now, many of you have seen in the news the terrible destruction left behind by the typhoon that recently hit our island. In our city, people are fine and safe. Originally, the northern part of our island was predicted to take a direct hit by the typhoon, but the storm developed in such a way that it dumped tons and tons of rain over central and southern parts of the island instead. Some parts received well over 1oo inches of rain--that's more than 8 FEET--in the course of three days. Crops and livestock have been destroyed, roads and bridges washed out, and at least one village completely covered by a mudslide. There are reports of hundreds buried alive by the landslides, and relief efforts are hampered by poor weather and the remote locations of the devastated areas (most are in mountainous parts of the island). Our co-workers are looking into ways to help; there are several local organizations collecting food and supplies, and everyone is hoping to find a more direct way to be involved in relief work soon.

Here are some pictures that show some of the incredible destruction. These photos are from the internet, and most are AP/Getty/Reuters images (want to give credit where it's due).

A collapsed apartment building.

A man trapped by floodwaters gesturing at rescuers.

A baby rescued from the flooding.

A woman waiting for word about her missing father, who was buried in a landslide.

More flooding.

A washed-out bridge.

A massive mudslide.

An elderly woman resting at an evacuation site.

A hotel falling into a river. The river first washed away a row of shops and a road in front of the hotel. Everyone in the hotel had been evacuated.

A man standing on his roof amid floodwaters, awaiting rescue.

Please remember the people on our island daily.

Way Down Under

We have just completed a 6 day Bi-Lingual VBS at our large clubhouse. The maximum of 200 children was reached just a few short days after pre-registraion opened. So, for three hours each day this week, we've all been way down under.
We even had a real live Aussie helping out :) Seven white foreigners helped teach and one child was American...other than that....everything was done by nationals and all children attending were local.

Each day, the children marched in just like in the States...well almost.

Everyone had worked VERY hard to prepare the facilties for the week's activities. We really appreciated all of the "extra" materials sent by our good friends in MS and WV. We were able to help six of the fifteen classes decorate their rooms. (And, the leftover materials are now on their way to Thailand to help with another week of fun for some of our own company kids.) Recycling VBS materials is very good stewardship.Since the week was publicized as "bilingual", everything was translated (which by the way, takes twice the time and materials).

After the opening rally, we all headed off to our classrooms for the day's lesson. Again, each classroom had an English speaker and a National speaker. So, the children heard the story and memorized the verses in both languages.

Music time was the only exception. Everything was done in English. Of course, motions are the same in any language.

Our family really enjoyed the Mission Harbor. It was great to hear how others are sharing HIStory around the world. Our VBS children collected money for a special project...purchasing mosquito nets for families in India. Our large clubhouse sponsors two special trips to India each year, so our nationals can share HIStory with children and adults there. The target goal was $2500 USD. One little girl brought her very heavy piggy bank. She said she was giving her "life's savings" to save others. I think she understood the message.

The most exciting part of the week was decision time. Our English shepherd gave an invitation during the opening rally on Wednesday. During the prayer time, two of my fourteen children raised their hands but did not go forward. During class time, we shared the A, B, C's and seven raised their hand to accept. During the closing rally, our English shepherd gave a second invitaon. Twelve of my fourteen children went forward. (Two are from Harmony Home....Jing Jing and Vic...how exciting!) More than half of the 200 children made a commitment on some level! We are excited for the national SS and Awana teachers to follow-up.

Another exciting part of the week was the VBS leader's annoucement that next year she hopes our large clubhouse will host two weeks of VBS. When she asked how many would be willing to work two weeks, almost everyone in the room raised their hands! We were completely overwhelmed! From the beginning when our family learned that the VBS was limited to 200 children and had a very long waiting list, we had been hoping that the leaders would choose to do a second week next year. Our thoughts have been answered. Of course, that means, we'll be even more busy next summer :) But, it's definitely worth it! Perhaps, you'll consider coming over to assist us. The greatest joy in all the world is working alongside these nationals and seeing these precious little ones come to HIM.

Let the Little Children Come

Let the little children come.....

Let the little children come.....
Let the little children come to ME!

Let the little children come.....

Let the little children come.....

Let the little children come to ME!

And do not forbid them! Do not forbid them!

For such is the Kingdom of Heaven!

This past week, we led an English Camp-Mini VBS for our little storefront Mandarin clubhouse. We taught about 70 children two hours a day for five days in a 15' X 30' teaching space. We used five stories from the life of Peter to teach the children to Follow, Worship, Confess, Serve, and Obey HIM! We also used very simple songs, games, and crafts.

We had a good group of local teens helping us and three nationals from our big clubhouse. It was good training for all of us since we will be doing a full-blown bi-lingual VBS with 200+ children at our big clubhouse next week. Please remember these children on a daily basis. May they become regular attenders at our Saturday Sunday School. Also, remember these teens. We look forward to working with them on a regular basis when we return here in December. May NOTHING and NOONE forbid these precious ones from following HIM.