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.

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."