Incredible Joy!

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children

are walking in the truth. 3 John 1:4.

No, these are not my biological children, but I could not be more pleased this week to have watched them mature from "children" (or junior high kids in the late 90s) to young adults today. We are privileged to have a 4 member volunteer team from WV joining us as we seek to spread HIStory across our little island.

We've been working them morning, afternoon, and evening on most days. But, we have taken a few opportunities to show them around some pretty cool places.
And, we've encouraged them to try some of our favorite foods including caramalized sweet potatoes....
and hot pot. I'm pretty sure this is J & J's first time to try hot pot as a married couple (since they've only been married for 4 weeks). What a way to spend your honeymoon!
English Camp #1 has gone extremely well. We had 65 sixth graders participate. They loved having first hand experience getting to know "native" American speakers. They were very interested in our home states, our families, and our beliefs.

We spent the three days focusing on three American holidays. On Day 1, we emphasized that HE had created the world, everything and everyone, and that on Thanksgiving Day, we pause to thank HIM for all HE has created.

On Day 2, we emphasized that HE sent HIS one and only SON to show the world how much HE loves us, and that on Christmas Day, we remember HIS SON's birthday.

The kids really enjoyed recreating the Nativity Scene using a sticker set.

On Day 3, we emphasized the death, burial, and resurrection of HIS SON, and that on Easter Day, we rejoice in the new life HE offers to each of us. All the children received special story books, BOOKS, and HIStory dvds. They were all thrilled to have their very own copies of the BOOK to take home.

The kids really enjoyed making beautifully colored butterflies representing the new life HE offers.

Each day, the children also had a chance to learn American football, basketball, frisbee, and card games.

It was REALLY HOT, but the children came early every morning to have more time with the recreation team. Needless to say, everyone was dripping wet with sweat most of the time.

On the last day of EC #1, there were many hugs, tears, group photos, and swapping of email addresses. We hope to stay in touch with these kids for years to come. Plans are already underway for next summer's camp AND a year-round weekly youth group type event. Who knows what the future holds for these kids? I firmly believe their lives have been changed. I know we will never be the same.

Do-Re-Mi-A-B-C

Let's start at the very beginning,

A very good place to start,

When you read, you begin with A-B-C,

When you sing, you begin with Do-Re-Mi,

Do-Re-Mi, Do-Re-Mi,

The first three notes just happen to be,

Do-Re-Mi, Do-Re-Mi-Fa-So-La-Ti,

Oh, let's see if we can make it any easier.....

Our life here often reminds me of this song. Every day, our goal is to start at the very beginning with someone and to make it as easy as possible for them to understand and accept the ABC's (Admit, Believe, Confess). Over the past few months, we have been given the incredible opportunity of starting at the very beginning with lots of different groups of people, and we have seen several understand and accept HIS plan. During the next few weeks, our volunteers will have many opportunities to share THEIR personal stories and HIStory with these various groups.

Children's Sunday School at Harmony Home (HIV)

One of the precious babies at Harmony Home (HIV)

Some of Jessie's Tuesday NIght BOOK Study Fellowship Discussion Group Members

Wednesday Night BOOK Study in our Apartment

Jack's Friday Night Young Adult Group Friends


A Few of Esther's Friday Night Youth Group Friends


Saturday Sunday School at Our Storefront Clubhouse


Hundreds of Children that will attend English Camps #1 and #2

Every day, we have Divine appointments with many people. However, there are few of us and millions of them. We need your help. Won't you join us in this task? Please use these posts to daily remember the people on our little island. May millions come to a personal relationship with HIM. Acts 5:14, 42 says: "Nevertheless, more and more men and women were added to their number...Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that JC is THE SAVIOR."

English Camp # 2

Two weeks from tomorrow, our first English Camp will begin. From June 22 to July 18, it will be NON-STOP 24/7 for our family and our volunteer helpers. English Camp # 2 will be held in a densely populated section of our mega-city. Please use this blog post to begin thinking about EC #2 on a daily basis.EC #2 will be held at this 50 year old clubhouse. All the students from the local elementary school will be invited, so we will be teaching multiple ages. We anticipate 50 to 100 children in attendance.
Like EC #1, this camp will also focus on the TRUE meaning of three American holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. We plan to use a rotation system with classes devoted to HIStory, to the historical customs of the holidays, to crafts, and to recreation.
Our space at this location will be much more limited, but we will have absolute freedom to share as much of HIStory as we possibly can. Also, our national helpers will be able to do daily and weekly follow-up with these children for years to come.

This clubhouse has about 75 people that regularly attend each week. They also share fellowship meals and events throughout the week together.

We were invited to participate in this camp by Leader Tim. Please remember all of our national brothers and sisters as they help us in translation, snacks, record keeping, etc. We expect great things from Him as we attempt great things for Him! Please join us in remembering these two English Camps on a daily basis.

Dragon Boat Festival

Recently our little island celebrated Dragon Boat Festival. It's a tradition to eat zongzi (Asian tamales) on this special day. We had been given MANY zongzi in the past as gifts, but we had never made our own. This year, our language school sponsored a cultural event to let the foreigners make their own zongzi. The school prepared all the necessary ingredients for us. They washed lots of bamboo leaves and cooked the necessary fillings. All we had to do was wrap, steam, and eat. Sounds easy, doesn't it?

1. Each person must choose a freshly washed and dried bamboo leaf.
2. Next, shape the bamboo leaf into a funnel.

3. Fill the funnel with sticky rice, meats, peanuts, mushrooms, shallots, dates, sweetened red bean paste, etc.

4. Fold the bamboo leaf over and over and over several times.

5. Tie the wrapped zongzi with a cotton string.

7. Steam and eat.

Dragon Boat Festival is one of Asia's oldest festivals dating back 2300 years. At the end of the Zhou Dynasty, the area we now know as the Mainland had fallen into a state of fragmentation and conflict. While the Zhou dynasty had ruled for several centuries, several other states, originally feudal domains, tried to carve out their own kingdoms. The state of Qin would eventually emerge the victor and unify all of the Mainland under one rule for the first time in history.

Qu Yuan served as minister to the Zhou Emperor. A wise and articulate man, he was loved by the common people. He did much to fight against the rampant corruption that plagued the court-- thereby earning the envy and fear of other officials. Therefore, when he urged the emperor to avoid conflict with the Qin Kingdom, the officials pressured the Emperor to have him removed from service. In exile, he traveled, taught and wrote for several years. Hearing that the Zhou had been defeated by the Qin, he fell into despair and threw himself into the Milou River. As he was so loved by the people, fishermen rushed out in long boats, beating drums to scare the fish away, and throwing zongzi into the water to feed the fish so that they would not eat Qu Yuan's body.

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.