Meeting the President

Recently, we received a phone call from the shepherd of our little national clubhouse. He wanted us to join our Children's Saturday SS class for an outing. Phone calls in our national language are still somewhat problematic. Although our language ability continues to improve, hearing, understanding, and responding over the mobile phone is often difficult for us. We understood some of the instructions: date, time, meeting place, passport, and something to do with our island's president. So, we set out on another grand adventure.
Early on the first Saturday of the month, we joined our clubhouse leaders, mothers, and children from our Saturday class on a field trip to visit an open house of our island's presidential office building (capitol).

The building was designed during the Japanese rule of our little island from 1895-1945. It was damaged from Allied bombings during WW 2 but was restored in 1950.

The front entrance, used to greet visiting dignitaries, is beautifully (but simply) decorated with shiny granite flooring, a Y-shaped staircase complete with red carpet, and urns of orchids everywhere.

Many dignitaries have taken photos with the president in the entrance hall. I guess on Full Open House Saturdays, he is not at work. Of course, if you had thousands of guests visiting your office in one day, you might leave too. But, there were cut-outs here and there, so the children enjoyed being photographed with the "president".

And, other important government officials. We all had a great time being together. We especially enjoyed spending time with the moms. If you're ever here on the first Saturday of the month, we'll take you on a grand adventure to meet our president. Come visit.

Aunt Lottie-Remembered

When I was young, most little girls wanted to grow up to be Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty. I wanted to grow up to be Aunt Lottie. Well, it took a long time, but at 43 years old, I finally made it to live and work in her part of the world. And, at 47, I finally got to visit the exact places that she lived and worked in the late 1800s and early 1900s.Aunt Lottie moved overseas when she was 33. This is a photo of the outside of the clubhouse that she attended in her first city, a port city. In this port city, she also helped start 2 primary schools and 2 middle schools.

And, this is a photo of the inside of the clubhouse. This clubhouse was closed during the Cultural Revolution. It remained closed for 49 years. It reopened in 1988 with twenty members. Today, there are over 3600 members.

Outside of the clubhouse, there is a memorial obelisk to Aunt Lottie, dated 1915. Following her death, another school was started in her honor in the home where she had lived.

At the age of 45, Aunt Lottie moved inland to do rural work full-time. This is a photo of the house where she lived during that time.

While in this inland city, she founded another clubhouse. This is a photo of the entrance way leading to the clubhouse.

About 300 members attend this older building. Another newer building has been built with about 1000 members attending.

This is a photo of the inside of the older building serving about 3oo members. Aunt Lottie died on December 24, 1912 at the age of 72 enroute back to the USA. She is just one of many workers that have left a lasting impact and legacy on our part of the world.

Many of you will be celebrating Aunt Lottie's legacy during the upcoming Christmas holidays. I hope these photos will bring her love for the peoples of the world to your memory often.

P.S. Some of you may remember some of these photos. Elizabeth had the opportunity to visit some of these places on her Christmas in CH trip in 2009. She was quite pleased that she beat her mother to seeing these places first :)

Brothers and Sisters

Wonderful news! We have new brothers and sisters in HIM! The Sunday after we returned to the USA, we received these photos. Three young adults and a couple were dunked by our little national clubhouse shepherd.

The three young adults have been active in our Summer English mini-VBS for children and youth for many years.
And the couple has children in our Saturday Sunday School program and our Summer English mini-VBS for children. The Sunday before we came to the USA, the father accepted HIM at the close of Jack's message.
We are so excited to receive this news. Please remember these five as they begin their new journey with HIM.

Together We're Better

I cannot begin to express my joy over this summer's activities. Our annual Holiday English Camp for 6th graders at a nearby elementary school was a huge success. We were able to share this summer more than ever, and one young man, Mark, decided to follow Him. We've already been invited back to the school for next summer, and we have been given two other exciting possibilities for year-round activities in the community.

Mini-vbs for children and youth at our small national clubhouse was great!! We had about 75 children, teens, and adults join us.

And, VBS at our big English clubhouse was bursting at the seams. This year, we had 495 children attend two sessions, morning and afternoon, and 205 teachers and helpers. More than 200 children made some kind of a decision to follow Him.

But, the best thing about this summer's activities was PARTNERSHIP. We had friends come from California and West Virginia. Local volunteers from our home BOOK groups, BSF, Esther's youth group, our small national clubhouse, and our big English clubhouse ALL worked together in every location to share HIStory. It was absolutely amazing.

Here are just a few of my favorite photos:

Easter crafts at the public elementary school

Distributing the BOOK to tourists

Crafts at mini-vbs

Sharing the Plan

Connecting with Others

Working together

Heading to NYC

Great decorations! Thanks!

Training trainers

The Centurion, of course!

You said "go"

You said "yarp"

So, I will!

$100,000 NT for Japan Disaster Relief

Until the whole world knows!

Work for the Night is Coming

Usually, we are busy almost every morning, afternoon, and evening of each week. But, recently, our Tuesday evening activity ended. So, we have been trying to spend TERRIFIC TUESDAY evenings with Esther. She will be leaving us soon to begin her university career, so we're enjoying every moment we can with her. This past Tuesday, we took a ride on our city's gondola up a mountain. Then, we walked around on the mountain top during the late afternoon, dusk, and evening hours. The beautiful views reminded me of an old song, Work for the Night is Coming.

Work for the night is coming, Under the sunset skies;

While their bright tints are glowing, Work, for the daylight flies.

Work till the last beam fadeth, Fadeth to shine no more;

Work, while the night is darkening, When man's work is o'er.

During the next five weeks, we will have several summer activities: Holiday English Camp, Distributing BOOKS, Pry Walking, Mini-VBS for children and teens at our little national clubhouse, and VBS for 500 at our big national clubhouse. We'll have folks joining us from WV and CA to help with these activities. We'll also be helping Esther pack up her room and say her goodbyes to her friends here on our little island. Please ask that we have the strength and energy to continue to "work" to the very last moment.

Hope for the Living

When you are alive, there is hope! The 921 Earthquake was a 7.3 earthquake which occurred at 1:47 AM on Tuesday, September 21, 1999, on our little island. 2,145 people were killed, 11,305 injured and US$10 billion worth of damamge was done. In the central part of our island, one Junior High School lay directly on the fault line and was severely damaged by the quake. Today, the remains of the Junior High School are the site of a museum.

921 Earthquake

Classroom on 9/20/1999

Track at the Junior High School

Classroom Buildings

Classroom Buildings

Classroom Buildings

This past Tuesday, Jack, Esther, and I went to visit the museum. We used the day to learn about earthquakes and to "yarp" for those affected by such disasters, especially recently in the BIG country and in Japan. As usual, on our drive, we also saw many "god" statues, reminding us of how many people in our area do not yet know the truth.

A typical "god" statue

Another typical "god" statue

Please join us in remembering all of the survivors of these disasters and all of those serving in relief and reconstruction projects in our area. May many come to know HIM as the ONE TRUE GOD through these efforts.

Take Up the Baton

Recenly, our big national clubhouse hosted a conference reminding all of us of the need to "yarp", give, and go. The event included booths from a variety of sending organizations, seminars led by specialists (including Jack), a choir (including Esther), a parade of flags, reports from past outings, food, an incredible drama about the life of Hudson Taylor, special "yarp" times, messages, and a call of commitment to full time and short term service. It was incredible to see so many of our national friends step forward to take up the baton and carry the GOOD NEWS throughout every part of the world.

Our national flag

The parade of flags

Representing India

A recent participant in an outing

Other recent participants in short term outings

Remembering past service

A recent in country trip participant

The Event Choir

"Yarping" for specific places

Young Hudson Taylor

Taking the baton to the ends of the earth

Older Hudson Taylor

Making Commitments