2013 Year of the Snake

Chinese Lunar New Year is today, February 10, 2013.  Our city is on the very northern tip of our island.  Most people leave our city during CNY to go to cities in the middle and southern tip of our island.

One of our good friends, Ocean, went to visit her family in the south. Her parents and family members are not believers.  Although everyone looks forward to a holiday, many of our believing friends have a little "dread" in going home to spend a week with parents and family members during this time.  They feel a lot of pressure to participate in "non" believing practices.  Many times their family members are openly hostile to their beliefs.

But, our Heavenly Father loves these family members more than we can ever imagine.  He often has much greater things in store for them than we have ever dreamed or imagined.

Here is an account of Ocean's experience with her family today in her own words:

The first day of CNY, and God did major thing in my family. One of my dad's senior high school classmates came to visit us in Kaohsiung. The special part of it is that he and his wife are Christians and they know I am a believer too. I was very anxious because I thought that surely they are going to talk about Christianity in front of my parents, and in my family, we've never done that before, especially in front of my mom. I was so afraid that my mom would be offended and I would be thrown out after they leave. 

But God has much bigger concern than I thought.

They came to share the gospel with my dad!!! During the whole visitation, they kept witnessing for God. I was so touched and got all the goose bumps especially when his wife said that after he became a Christian, all he asks about is to let him find my dad, since they have been out of touch for long time. He prays that God will allow him to live longer so that he can find my dad and share the gospel with my dad.
(They live in California, United States now)

This is the true living God! My God! He loves me and He cares for my family's salvation. I'm out of words to describe His love and His faithfulness for me.

I'm out of words...

I can only give Him all my praises and worship, my whole being...He deserves it!

Together, we’re better.

     When we first arrived on our little island in 2008, we had some wonderful company personnel take us “under their wings” and mentor us in sharing HIStory in the public school system in our city.  Through these training opportunities, we made many new local national partners, and we were given many venues to share (especially during Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s, Easter, etc.)

     This past July/August 2012, we had the opportunity to join with a national M here in our city and start a Friday Night English Club for some local high school students.  For two months, we met with them every Friday night (teaching them the foundational stories from Creation to HIM).  We also had opportunity to work alongside our summer m’s and five national brothers and sisters who volunteered to continue the group. (http://www.jjee2.blogspot.tw/2012_09_01_archive.html)

     From September until now, we have turned over the group to the local national partners and have only met with them once a month to continue sharing.  In December, a group of students came to our city for three weeks through the Christmas in TW program.  The local high school students took the USA volunteers to tour night markets, temples, Christmas decorations, etc.  The Christmas in TW students again shared HIStory with the high school students, and three girls made decisions for HIM!!  Now, the USA students will continue to disciple the local students via email and facebook.  We and our local national partners will continue to disciple them face to face.

     So, it’s all about partnership and HIS timing.  We thank everyone involved for your support through your pryers, your giving (to the LM Christmas Offering and CP), and your coming!!  Because we worked together (company personnel, local national partners, summer m’s, Christmas in TW team members, and YOU), these precious three girls are now YOUR sisters in HIM!!

Together, we’re better….may we NEVER forget.

TWG Time

Recently, I (Jessie) had the opportunity to spend 5 GLORIOUS days with some of our co-workers from the Western half of the BIG country.  We spent three days in a training-type event and two days in a retreat-type event.  What a pleasure to laugh, cry, play, shop, eat, sing, and learn with these women.

We stayed in "villas" surrounding a pool area. Each villa had 12 two person rooms, a conference room, and a living room, so we could sleep together, study together, eat together, play games together, etc.  There was a lot of TOGETHER! 

There were also lots of spaces outside to have some quiet time alone WITH Him.

And lots of spaces outside to have GROUP time.

TWG is built around 4 concepts:  Affirmation, Acquisition, Application, and  Accountability.  It really affirms the season of life you are currently in:  single, married with no children, married with preschoolers or elementary age or teens, and empty nest, and it affirms the special gifts the Heavenly Father has given you to serve Him.  No matter which season or what giftings, you are given tools to help you welcome people INTO your home and tools to help you get OUT into your community to spread the Good News.

Some precious volunteers from MISSISSIPPI came to help us with  P & W, to lead us in the Retreat time, and just to love on us in general.  It was amazing how many connections we had.  One was even a BMC cutie pie.

One night, the Mississippi volunteers hosted a Christmas party for us.

 

And, of course, they brought us all goodie bags!!

There are MANY ways that you can volunteer in our part of the world:  both working with nationals and working with our own company personnel.  Hope you'll plan to come visit East Asia very soon.

HIStory Continues

We first started coming to EA in 2005.  It started with short term trips to teach English in a university during the summer months.  We used a few American Holidays (Christmas and Easter) to teach HIStory. We would share about 90% American Holidays and 10% HIStory.

Then, we actually quit our American jobs, sold our house/possessions/vehicles, packed a "few" bags, and moved to EA full time to learn Chinese in a university.  We still used American Holidays to teach HIStory, but we began to expand our lessons (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Valentine's). And, we began to expand the HIStory-part to about 10% American Holidays and 90% HIStory.

Recently, we have had lots of opportunities to expand our lessons (Thanksgiving/Creation; Fall; 10 Commandments/Sacrifice system; Birth; Miracles; Teachings; Death; and Resurrection) and to pretty much move to 100% HIStory.  It's been a glorious journey, and WE have learned a lot in the process.

We literally have opportunities ALL YEAR LONG to go into local elementary, junior, high, and university classrooms; English cram schools; SS classes; Camps; VBS-type events; Story-telling classes; homes; etc. to tell HIStory.  Remember us, remember our local partners, remember the students on a daily basis!  And, consider coming over to help us.  It will change your life forever.  It REALLY changed ours!!

The Four of Us + Marlie

This summer, we were pleased to host three summer m's:  Elizabeth, Esther, and Marlie.  Elizabeth and Esther stayed with us for 13 weeks.  We had a great time being a team of 4 again!!  Marlie stayed with us for 8 weeks.  Special thanks to BMC for sending her our way!  She worked hard, tried many new cultural experiences, loved on locals, and adapted to our family very well!  So, we were the four of us + Marlie.  Most of you have heard about our love for handing out the BOOK to Mainland tourists that visit our island.  Well, this summer, we got to go to the warehouse and package all of the materials that we hand out.  It's a very physical, hot, and tiring activity.................but well worth the time and effort.

When all is said and done, the BOOKS and bags of other materials are ready to be used on our island and in many other locations around Asia.

We really enjoyed serving alongside other nationals and M's to get the materials ready.  Many volunteers are  NEEDED to assemble and distribute these materials YEAR ROUND.  So, if you or any one you know is interested, get in touch with us.  We'd be happy to host you!

We also spent A LOT of time this summer in elementary, junior high, and high schools, tutoring centers, etc. sharing stories from the BOOK.

Each time that we share stories, we also distribute materials (cds, BOOKS, booklets, etc.) to help the students have a COMPLETE introduction for HIS plan for their lives.

Our volunteers from WV also joined us again this year for Holiday English Camp  in one of the local elementary schools. This is our fourth year to participate in this camp.  Every year, we learn more and better methods to get HIStory across to the students and teachers.

One of the highlights of the camp is giving each student a copy of the BOOK.  The camp is the first time most of the students have heard these stories, have read from a BOOK, and have been given a copy for their very own to take home.

Happy Camp at our little Chinese clubhouse was wonderful this year.  Thanks so much to the WV team for supplying us with GREAT decor and materials.  Our team of 4+ Marlie, local translators from our English clubhouse, and teens and adults from our Chinese clubhouse were all involved!!

Our English clubhouse hosted their annual VBS this year.  We had 260+ in the morning  Children's VBS and about 100 in the afternoon Youth VBS.  MANY decisions were made for HIM!

Youth VBS was a brand new adventure.  Some of the highlights were:  the Amazing Race games; taking  HIS message to the streets; and making homemade dumplings!

This rock formation on our NE Coast is known as the Candlesticks.  We are always reminded that the only purpose of EVERYTHING that we do here is to spread HIS LIGHT to this nation.  Please remember us on a daily basis and consider coming over to help us (any time of the year).

Home for the Summer

Elizabeth graduated from Blue Mountain College, Mississippi, on May 5, 2012.  She and Esther came home for 13 weeks this summer.  On May 11, six of Elizabeth's college friends joined us for 10 days of activities.

They got to participate in all of our regular work.  They helped with Saturday Children's SS class at our little store-front local clubhouse.

They joined us at our local sem for a chapel service.  One professor at our local sem is a BMC graduate, so it was a real treat for her and for us.

We even got to have photos made with the upcoming sem graduates.

They helped us distribute BOOKS to Mainland tourists.

They hosted a Kick-off for a new Saturday Children's SS class in the village where we host Holiday English Camp each year.

And, they helped us with a BRAND new Holiday English Camp location.  This particular elementary school is located in the mountains and has 44 students in grades 1-6.

We were thrilled to be able to share with every student the complete C2C story and lots of other resources telling the good news of HIM (BOOKS, dvds, story books, comic books, etc.).

Of course, we did a bit of future recruiting also :)

They also accompanied us to the local orphanage where we teach  a Children's SS class and love on babies .

What a great way to start the summer!!  Graduation,  the BMC group, our girls home for  13 weeks + an extra summer  M  helping us out.

Forbidden

The Forbidden Children

 By Esther

When I decided to become a follower of Him, my family erupted in celebration. They called all of our relatives and proudly told everyone they knew that their young daughter had decided to ask Him into her heart. They were ecstatic that I had followed their example and decided to share the faith in which my family was so deeply rooted. With my upbringing, it was no surprise that I wanted to be known as His follower.

However, the excited reaction I received for deciding to follow Him is the complete opposite of what most children in our area encounter. On this island, most families accept the beliefs of Buddhism, Daoism, and folk religions instead of our faith. When children here, who have grown up bowing down to idols or praying to their dead ancestors every day, come home and tell their parents that they have become followers of Him, their families often do not know how to process their children’s faith, since they perceive our faith as a “strange and foreign religion.” Children are confused when their parents forbid them from going to clubhouses or talking to m's.

I was 15 years old when my family moved to our island. After making friends and getting to know other teenagers my age, I was shocked to discover how strongly opposed to our faith my friends’ families were. One of my first experiences with family persecution was with Violet*, a friend of mine that was a junior in high school. Even though her mother encouraged her to go to the English BOOK study my family hosted, she made it very clear from the beginning that Violet was not allowed to become a follower of Him. She wanted her daughter to learn better English, but she did not want her to become a “religious fanatic.”

When Violet became a follower of Him a few months later, she told everyone she knew about her new faith. That is, everyone except her family. “My parents will forbid me from coming back to the BOOK study,” she told me. She did not want her mom and dad to stop her from learning more about Him and His Word. She knew that her parents would disapprove of her faith and try to prevent her from strengthening her relationship with Him. They had already refused to let her enter any clubhouse building in the city.

It took Violet more than two years to tell her family that she was a follower of Him. Her parents yelled and fought with her about her faith. They were extremely angry with the fact that Violet had chosen to become a follower of Him. They did not want their daughter to put Him above her education or her future career.

Violet is not alone in her persecution. I have met dozens of other children and teenagers that have either been persecuted by their families about their faith, or they have not told their parents that they are followers of Him because they are afraid they will be forbidden to learn more. However, these young believers are strong in their beliefs. They have to be 100 percent certain that they want to live a faith-filled life in order to stand up to their parents, grandparents, or other family members. Although they are young, they are firm believers in the saving power of the cross.

When young people living on the island become followers of Him, they do not always receive the same praise that I did when I became a follower. However, His BOOK teaches that whenever one accepts, there is a huge celebration in heaven. Please join me in remembering Violet and those like her. May we not forget about the faith of these forbidden children.

(Esther's photo and story appeared on April 30, 2012 on our company's EA website. We have changed some of the wording on this copy for our family's blog.)