Reading and Writing Camp

There are students from our town and from surrounding towns who have registered for the “Reading and Writing Camp” which will be held at our church this week. (The publicity is in this week’s photo.) The class times are each morning.

The instructor is a member of the FuHsing Alliance Church in YungHo.  Some of you may remember that we worked with that church in our first term of service in Taiwan.

Pastor Joshua will tell Bible stories each of the three days.  Please pray that hearts will be open to receive truth and that there will be some who respond to the invitation to have a relationship with Christ.

(A typhoon is predicted to come across the island on Wednesday, July 26.  Please pray that it will not cause cancellation of any days of this camp activity.)

Praise and Prayer

• Praise the Lord that we experienced a wonderful week of fellowship as we attended the Taiwan Missionary Fellowship Conference last week.  The theme for the week was ‘Collaboration.’
• Praise the Lord that our short-term team members have arrived home safely. Please pray God’s blessing on them as they recover and as they process the memories of their experiences.
• Please pray that we will be successful in applying for passport renewal.  We must travel to Taipei for this.
• Lorne is investigating whether it is suitable to use the ‘Peace Generation’ curriculum here in Taiwan.  Please pray for God’s leading and for his provision of help with the translation if we choose to use it.

Plan Your Summer 2024!

We have just finished the Elementary Student English Character-Building Camp.  It was a blessing.  AND, we had three first-time attendees in Sunday School after the camp!

We have talked with Pastor Joshua, and we are looking for a short-term team to come in early July to teach at next year’s camp.

Are you available?
Is your church willing to sponsor and send a team?

Write us and let us know!

Praise and Prayer

• Praise the Lord for a good response from the students at the camp.  The dinner for their families on Friday evening at the church was attended by quite a few students and some family members (Sorry, I forgot to count how many.)
• Thanks to Victoria Chinese Alliance and Heritage Alliance Churches for their financial help for camp expenses.
• Thank-you to the short-term team members who sacrificially came, giving of their time and personal finances to be a part of our event.  They have departed from Baozhong and will soon be arriving at home.
• Praise the Lord that we had 11 elementary-aged students in Sunday School on Sunday morning.

An Exciting Start

The short-term team arrived from Abbotsford last Friday evening.
Happenings in the first two days of being together include:

• A visit to the Teresa Teng  Birthplace Memorial resulted in us meeting a man who is reading the Bible.  Hopefully Lorne will have opportunities to meet with him to talk about his reading.
• A request from another lady at that Memorial to have a large-print Bible.
• A team member having a conversation with a young man who is seeking truth.
• A team member sharing a testimony in the Sunday morning service.
• Times of laughter and talking about living in Baozhong.

It is an exciting start!
We are trusting God to give them more opportunities to serve.
We are asking God to help us meet more people who are seeking something more than they have experienced to this point in time.

Thanks for praying for us!

Praise and Prayer

• Praise the Lord that the team from Abbotsford BC arrived safely. 
• Please pray as we all prepare for the three-day camp that starts on Wednesday. It will be a half-day DVBS-like camp.
• Please pray that short-term team members from Abbotsford and Victoria will have energy to lead fun learning activities in Taiwan’s hot weather environment.  The apparent temperature (what it feels like) increases to be about 41 degrees each day.
• Please pray that students will be willing to listen and accept the Bible truths being presented.

Off to Camp!

For the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic, the Taiwan C&MA is holding family camp.  Actually, it is three camps held simultaneously at the same location.  Children, youth, and adult camps will be held at a facility in Taichung.

Camp is Sunday afternoon through Tuesday lunch. The planning committee has been busy over the past year creating the program for this year. There will be a large number of activities packed into those few days.

Please pray that God will use this to bring unity to His church in Taiwan, and encourage individual believers in their faith.

Praise and Prayer

• Please pray for travelling safety for the short-term team (STM) members travelling from Abbotsford to Baozhong on Thursday-Friday this week.  We are excited they are coming and are almost ready to host them. Their first days with us will be spent learning about Taiwanese culture and our lives here.  Then they will be camp leaders at the Elementary Student Camp.
• Please pray for final preparations for the Elementary Student Camp (July 12-14).  It will be a half-day DVBS-like camp.  STM members from Abbotsford will teach English and STM members from Victoria will teach handcrafts.  Pastor Joshua will tell Bible stories.  Some youth from our church will lead games.  Please pray that we will work well together.

Pastors

A recent letter to pastors of Alliance churches in Taiwan mentioned that many are tired. They feel that it is a challenging time to do pastoral work. Some are discouraged.

Here are some ideas of how you can pray for Taiwan’s pastors (and your own pastors):

• Pray they will walk closely with Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit .
• Pray they will have insight and wisdom as they apply Scriptural truth to their own lives and the lives of people to whom they minister.
• Pray that God will give them creativity and resilience as they communicate at a time when society is pursuing values that clash with God’s Word.
• Pray they will have a good work–sabbath balance in their lives.
• Pray they will see evidence of God establishing the work of their hands and that God will give them fruit for their labours.
• Pray they will hear encouragement and words of affirmation, not words of criticism only.
• Pray they will be refreshed during the summer months when the church ministry rhythms are slightly different than the rest of the year.

Thank-you for praying for those who serve as pastors in God’s kingdom.

Praise and Prayer

• A well known sect is sending groups of people to our town on a weekly basis. They are trying to pressure people to become followers so that a local chapter of their group can be started in our town. Some of our friends are frustrated by the pressure being put on them. It is culturally hard to refuse hospitality to visitors from outside our town. Please pray that people will sense the lack of light in what is being presented. Pray they will not be deceived into accepting a belief system that is contrary to Scripture. 
• Please pray for final preparations for Camp (July 12-14) and for those who are travelling to help as leaders.  We will also spend time with the team from Heritage Alliance Church, introducing them them to Taiwan’s culture and our ministry.

“The Past is Invading!”

An invitation to the elementary school graduation arrived in our mailbox.  As we examined it, we discovered a photo–OF US!–on the back of the card. That is from quite a few years ago!

It is a blast from the past!
The past has invaded the present!

We are thankful for the long-term relationship that we have with the FuHsing Elementary School.  The principal described it as being different than many others who have provided help to the students.  The difference is that “we came and lived among them.” (that is a translated quote.)

That is what Jesus did.  He came from heaven and lived among people.  Through His presence and example, He revealed God’s plan for fullness of life.  Then He sacrificed His own life so that everyone has access.

Our prayer is that people will remember Jesus, more than they remember us.

Praise and Prayer

• Praise the Lord FuHsing Elementary School has requested that we return to work with the students on a weekly basis starting in the Fall.  Tentatively it will be on Thursday mornings–to be confirmed before school starts.  Please pray that God will nudge our hearts to know which set of stories will draw the  hearts of the students toward belief in Christ.
• Camp planning is in the final push.  There are many details that people are working on.  Please pray for health and wisdom as teaching plans are finalized.  Needed teaching aids are being created or purchased. Camp dates: July 12-14.
• Graduates from elementary, middle and high schools are finished classes for the school year.  Some will drop in to visit the school, the homework club program, or perhaps a teacher. Please pray that we will know the right questions to ask and have the right advice to give when these situations present themselves.

Registration Numbers

The above slide was shown at church during the Sunday worship service.  It reports the number of registrations for the planned summer activities.

• Elementary English Camp – 23 students
• Elementary Student Essay Writing Class – 6 students
• Guitar Classes – 0 students

Please praise the Lord with us for the students who have registered.  Please pray that they will experience God’s immense love for them through participation in the events.

Registrations officially closed last Friday.  But we have been known to accept a few latecomers when they request the privilege of attending the camp.

And….it looks like guitar lessons are not something that people are desiring.  So please pray that God will guide Pastor Joshua and the church leadership to discover activities that create opportunities to build relationships with people.

Praise and Prayer

• Praise the Lord for the sound of dripping water.  Rain showers are falling in our area of Taiwan, providing needed water.  On Sunday morning, Lorne got drenched in a heavy thunder shower before the church service.  We are thankful that it is warm and he did not catch a cold.
• Praise the Lord for the six children from the community who are regularly attending Sunday School. Others attend less regularly.  Please pray that they will have open hearts to accept the truth of the gospel.
• June 18 is Father’s Day in Canada and the USA.  Please pray that God will raise up godly men who will be people of influence in their families and in society.  (Taiwan and other Chinese-speaking cultures celebrate Father’s Day each year on August 8.)

Focus on the Important

Last Saturday, one of the youth in our church was in the graduation ceremony at his high school.  His brother will transfer from junior high (middle school) to high school this year. Three students in the After-School Program are graduating from elementary school. They are all focusing on reaching these milestones and acting accordingly.

We both have tasks related to our regular schedule that keep us busy. When we are planning to host short-term teams or hold summer camps, we add exciting anticipations to the mix.  Sometimes the focus on these things can begin to override eternal priorities. Jude does an articulate job of expressing the essence of a balanced Christian life.

Would you pray that God will help us to keep Jude 1:20-25 priorities while completing the do-list items of our lives.  I believe that God will be honoured when He helps us to live in that way.

Praise and Prayer

• Praise the Lord for that approximately 60 people joined us for the Thanksgiving Service celebrating the Chiayi Alliance Church relocation.  Visitors were from Canada as well as different parts of Taiwan.  (Photo)
• Praise the Lord that the typhoon veered away from Taiwan.  There was no danger created at the work site where we are helping a needy family.  Please pray that the work can be completed soon.
• Baozhong Alliance Church is planning: (1) Elementary English Camp (July 12-14); (2) Elementary Student Essay Writing Class (July 27-29); (3) Guitar Classes (Wed & Fri July 5 – Aug 18).  Please pray for the planning and for registrations for all of the above events.

Typhoon Warning

The Taiwan Central Weather Bureau has issued a warning about the approach of Typhoon Mawar. Because of its size and wind speeds, it is currently classified as a super typhoon.  It has travelled past Guam and is headed toward the Philippines and Taiwan.  Typhoons are always considered to be somewhat unpredictable, but the map shows the best guess that meteorologists have about its potential track.

The adjacent map of Taiwan shows the probabilities of different areas experiencing 50-65 km/h winds (or stronger) within the next 5 days.  The effects will be less intense if the path does not take the eye of the storm across the island.  Another chart predicts that our area has a 22% probability of experiencing the strongest effects winds and rain on Wednesday (May 31).

We will make some advance preparations: (1) purchase food, (2) buy gas for the car, (3) check that storm drains are free of debris, etc..  Those are wise things to do before this type of storm danger arrives.

Recently, Lorne was asked to teach from Ephesians 6.  The Scriptures warn that we face certain danger of enemy attack from evil spiritual forces.  Unlike the typhoon warning, the attacks could happen at any time.

Thank-you for praying for Taiwan’s residents as they prepare and weather the storm.

And, we encourage you to make the preparations listed in Ephesians 6 so that you are protected when the attack of the enemy occurs.

Praise and Prayer

• The Covid-19 virus is still present and active.  We have heard of three pastor colleagues who have become sick.  Please pray for our protection and their recovery.
• Praise the Lord that we were able to arrange help for a needy family last week.  There are some challenges that still need to be solved before the work can be completed.  Please pray that the incoming typhoon will not cause damage nor injury to anyone near that property.
• Baozhong Alliance Church is planning: (1) Elementary English Camp (July 12-14); (2) Elementary Student Essay Writing Class (July 27-29); (3) Guitar Classes (Wed & Fri July 5 – Aug 18).  Please pray for the planning and for registrations for all of the above events.

May I use the van?

There have been multiple conversations between Lorne and Pastor Joshua in the past week bout using the church van:

• May I use the church van to shuttle guests from the train station to the the June 2 Thanksgiving Service for the Chiayi Alliance Church’s new facility?
• May I use the church van to pick up the short-term team from the airport in July?
• May I use the church van when giving the July short-term team orientation to Taiwan ministry when they come?
• May I use the church van to pick up children to come to Sunday School on Sunday?

And the most exciting of those was…..the last one!  Usually we only have one or two children need a ride in order for them to attend Sunday School.  When I made the request I only knew of three students who needed transportation.  But when Sunday came…..we had seven students from non-church families that needed rides. Two of those boys came for the first time!

Thank-you for praying that children will come to Sunday School.
Please do not stop praying that they will come and that they will believe in Christ.

Praise and Prayer

• Praise the Lord for the students who came to Sunday School.  Please pray they will continue to come and will desire to become Christ’s disciples.
• The weather is already hot! Air conditioners are being used at least some of the time.  We had thunder showers this past week.  We are asking God that we can have suitable weather on Wednesday and Thursday this week in order to help a needy family.
• Baozhong Alliance Church is planning: (1) Elementary English Camp (July 12-14); (2) Elementary Student Essay Writing Class (July 27-29); (3) Guitar Classes (Wed & Fri July 5 – Aug 18).  Please pray for the planning and for registrations for all of the above events.
• Praise the Lord that five ladies (including Kathy-Lu) attended the Ladies’ Tea.  Please pray that God will use the truths they heard to help them grow in their relationship with Christ.