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.)

An Incredible Drive

Our island only has three highways that connect the East and West coasts: one in the north, one in the center, and one in the south. All three of them pass through incredible mountain terrain (or so we had heard and read). We've always wanted to drive these three routes. So very early on a recent sunny morning, we set out on the North Cross Island Highway from East to West.

At most places along the drive, the highway is 1 to 1 1/2 lanes wide. Fortunately, there is almost NO traffic except bicycles and motorcycles.

The highway winds its way along multiple switchbacks, steep gorges, across high bridges, and through fantastic mountain scenery.
You can drive the highway in four or five hours, but there are many great stops leading to waterfalls, hot springs, stands of ancient trees, seasonal fruit, etc.

Near the top (1280 meters), we stopped for hot fruit tea in a great setting. This drive is not for the "faint of heart". Now, we're thankful for all of that driving practice in Tennessee, West Virginia, and Montana.

Talking to HIM

Most of the years we lived in the USA, our job was to start something new ourselves or to look around for specific places for someone else to start something new. Our job overseas really isn't that different. Today, we headed out to another part of our island to walk around and talk to HIM about starting something new in this area.

The location is a village in a nearby county, so it was great to spend the day outside in a fairly rural setting.

In order to see what work might be needed, we hit the streets to see what kind of folks lived here. It was evident as we walked that the area had lots of elderly people (cared for by foreign domestic workers) and lots of working class adults. But, the area also had schools which means students should also be a target group.
The area had kindergartens, so preschoolers and elementary kids should also be a target. It was great to hear the sounds of so many children laughing, singing, and reciting in their little classrooms.
Outside at the park, we saw moms and grandmas with toddlers and babies. All of these people need to know HIM.
We only saw one church on our walk, a pretty large Catholic church.
But, we did see quite a few temples. One woman even invited us inside to bai4 bai4 (worship). We declined but did have the opportunity to chat with her granddaughter a bit.
Soon, we saw that others were also walking on the street. A god parade marched along, buckets for donations in hand.
We felt privileged to spend the morning talking to HIM about this specific village in this specific county. We are asking for HIS guidance about starting something new in this location.

Do you ever look at a new area in your city or county and ask HIM about starting something new? Sometimes, it's good to go for a ride or a walk in a new area to get a fresh perspective. The USA still has many places that need something new started. Join us as we remember this small village. May HIS LIGHT shine brightly here soon.

Waiting for His Perfect Timing

For three years, volunteers have been coming to our island to do a Holiday English Camp each June. This Holiday English Camp is in a small village outside of our city. It has one elementary school. Each year, we have been privileged to teach ALL of the sixth graders in the elementary school for four days. We have used the holidays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and Valentine’s to tell the complete Creation to Chr+st story to approximately 100 children each year. We have also been able to send into every home a BOOK and a Son film DVD. So, after three years these 300 students are now 7th, 8th, and 9th graders. A complete generation of young people in this village has heard HIStory.

Our contact in this elementary school is a national sister that attends the Big English Clubhouse in our city. She is a wonderful national partner and an incredible M in this school. Next door to her elementary school is a VERY small, old Wesleyan Clubhouse. Since 2009, we have pr@yed that this clubhouse would provide a vibrant weekly event for the children and teens in the village. (They had been providing a weekly event, but it was weak and not well attended.) We, ourselves, had pr@yed about driving weekly to and from our city to the village to host such an event, but the details had never worked out in conjunction with our other responsibilities. We so wanted someone to work with these students more than just once a year for four days.

So, we have pr@yed and waited for three years. This week, an answer came. Our national sister shared this story:

Two weeks ago during a social studies class, she and the children were discussing public places to go and learn new things. One student gave an example of the Saturday afternoon “camp” held at the Wesleyan Clubhouse next to the elementary school. Other students were interested and wanted to go inside the clubhouse with her and have a look for themselves. They made a plan to go the following Saturday afternoon.

On Monday, our national sister asked the students if they had attended the Saturday afternoon “camp”. They said, “No.” Their parents and grandparents had told them it was only for Chr+stains, and it was not appropriate for them to go inside. So, the students asked if our national sister would accompany them the next Saturday to the event. She agreed. (That week, however, she received a phone call from the Wesleyan Clubhouse shepherd’s wife stating they were considering closing the weekly event because of low attendance.)

On Saturday afternoon, our national sister waited at the school gate under the Sakura cherry blossom tree to see if any children would come. Three boys, three girls, and two older children with their younger brother and sister arrived first. Another girl came with three younger boys. Our national friend stayed with the fourteen children, and they sang, listened to a BOOK story, played memorization games, and ate a snack.

On Monday, the students who attended the Saturday camp talked about their good experiences in the clubhouse. Their enthusiasm caused more students to want to attend.

Please remember our national sister and the workers in this Wesleyan Clubhouse. Please remember us as we prepare to lead the Holiday English Camp again this June. Please remember these children and teens as they learn more and more about HIM. May we all wait on HIS perfect answers in HIS perfect timing.

Trusting Him

I received the following email this week and was so impressed with what Father can do (in a very short amount of time) if we trust Him with our lives. In 2009, this young lady first visited East Asia with her college group during the Christmas season. After graduation, she returned to East Asia to serve for six months. Then, after her six month term ended, she returned (on her own dime) to teach at a local university. Here are her words:

The first time I came to this country was in December 2009. I came out on a two week trip with my college having no idea what I was really getting into. I’d never had any interest in this place whatsoever. It wasn’t one of those situations where I felt this huge burden for this place or people. I just knew I was supposed to come. When it came time to go I was excited, nervous, and feeling incredibly inadequate. We spent our time in different classrooms meeting students and sharing as much as possible. On our last day in that city one of the workers said, “There is such a need out here for C teachers. We have so few. Who knows, maybe someday He will call some of you to come back out here and teach.” I remember that so clearly because at that moment I started to wonder if it was possible that He might call me.

From that time on, I began seeking whether or not that was a call for me. Now, exactly 2 years later, I have my own classroom into which a team (who is on the very same trip I was on in 09) came in last month and shared with my students. One of the girls on that team asked me how I got here, and as I shared my story we were amazed at how similar our stories are. She is asking for direction about possibly returning here as a teacher.

I think so often we don’t realize what kind of awesome plans are waiting if we’ll take that first step of obedience! It is so very easy for us to have a self-focus. I know that because I am the world’s worst. But we are made for so much more than warming a pew, collecting mountains of stuff, eating until we feel sick, and then realizing that no matter what we do we are still just enduring life. I don’t know about you, but I want abundant life. I want joy. I want passion for the things that matter. I want to be emptied of my ugly self and filled by the Sp! I am seeking these things for my life. I want to encourage you that if you’ve never truly asked him what it is He has for you to do, then now is the time.

So many people say they aren’t called to “go” when in reality we all are. I’m not about to say that every C is meant to move overseas. But I am absolutely saying that every C should ask, “Where do you want me to go?”, and then obey. It may very well be that what He has for you is right where you are. But we should never just assume that is the case when we have never asked! It is just as possible that He's calling us to leave what we know and love.

The question is, will we do it? For every excuse we have about why we can't do this or go there, He has the grace, the provision, and the plans to blow them out of the water. Whatever He tells you to do, whether at home or far away, He will provide for and He will equip you for. He delights in using the weak and foolish things so that others will know without a doubt that it’s Him and not us! In the midst of my planning to come here I was having a time of serious doubt about the practical aspects of what I was about to do, and He impressed on my heart so clearly this question, “Can you trust me too much?”

Year of the Dragon

The Chinese Lunar New Year is the ultimate holiday for Chinese worldwide. In East Asia it is the one time of the year when businesses and factories close. The world’s largest annual migration unfolds as millions return to their family home, filling every seat on airplanes, and packing themselves into overflowing trains, buses and cars. Red envelopes filled with cash are exchanged and fireworks light up the night skies as families and friends are reunited, sharing meals that include dumplings, sticky rice and many other culinary treats.

This year, the Chinese New Year will fall on January 23. It provides a perfect opportunity to build friendships with Chinese people in your community.

我 願意 (I am Willing!!)

What a way to begin 2012!! This afternoon, at our BIG English and National Clubhouse, we attended a "dunking" party. Twenty-two people participated. Each one was asked, "Are you willing to follow and serve HIM forever?" Each replied: "我 願意." "I am willing!" Two of the participants were 100 years old and 92 years old. You should have heard them shout out with great gusto, "I am willing!"

One of the participants, Bill, is from our Thursday night Home BOOK Study group. Bill teaches in a local junior high school. Some of you have met him, and others of you have been "yarping" for him for quite a while. Thanks again for all of your support!!