Garlic

At the moment, mesh bags of garlic drying in the sun outside of doorways is a common sight. (We confess that the amount that is drying in front of our house is much less than what is pictured.)

Garlic is a common ingredient in the local cuisine. Our area is known for producing a significant amount of the garlic used in Taiwan. After harvesting, the heads of garlic are dried in the sun. This intensifies the flavor making it better for cooking.

When visiting someone, it is polite to take a small gift. Frequently we use fruit, produce, or something hand-made. However, at the moment everyone has an abundance of garlic, so that is not a recommended gift.

Praise and Prayer

A Tree

While walking in the Kenting National Park we saw many beautiful trees, including the one picture above. Each was unique and fit into its environment. Some had aerial root systems. Others had broad canopies.

Other than people, trees are the most mentioned living organism in the Bible. Scripture frequently uses trees to illustrate believers’ relationship with Christ.

• The leaf of an olive tree was a symbol of hope for Noah. (Gen 8:11)
• A flourishing tree is used to describe the person who is living according to God’s plan. (Ps 1:1-3)
• Those living in Zion, even though experiencing tough times, are called “Trees of righteousness, planted by the Lord, that He might be glorified.” (Isa 61:3)
• Under the broom tree was a place of protection, a place of repentance, a place of renewed commitment. (1 Kg 19:1-9)
• Jesus found Nathanael under a fig tree and called him to become a disciple. (Jn 1:48-50)

Would you take one of the above examples, or another that you find in Scripture, and pray that Christ-followers in Taiwan would meet God in a similar way to the Bible person?

Feel free to write us and share other Bible examples where trees are used to describe relationship with God.

Praise and Prayer

Partnerships

One of the most important partnerships that we have in missions is with the local church. Over seventy years ago, the Christian and Missionary Alliance in Taiwan was registered, and since then it has been a global member in the Alliance World Fellowship. Currently there are more than 30 church groups in the Taiwan C&MA.

Monday through Wednesday (March 24-26) we will join the pastors of Alliance Churches from around Taiwan for the annual Strategy Meetings. We anticipate it will be a time of fellowship, mutual encouragement, discussions of theology and praxis, and an opportunity to learn about denominational initiatives.
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Thank-you for praying for us as we attend. We are expecting that it will be both rewarding and tiring. (It takes a lot of energy to remain focussed during all-day meetings in Chinese.) We are all hoping that it will be an opportunity to share ideas, burdens, and encouragement.

Praise and Prayer

Is This Right?

Doing a puzzle with the help of an older child, the young boy repeatedly asked: “Is this right?” (Photo taken before church this morning as they did the puzzle on a chair.)

As we do life we often have the same question, do we not?

This month we are being asked to record our interactions with people, classify them into categories, and report it to our coworker team.

This may cause us to ask the question, “Is it right?” But the purpose is to create a baseline so that we can compare future progress to it. This is necessary if we are to double our influence over the next ten years. It is a faith-filed goal, but how do we measure our achievement if we do not create a starting point for measurement. That is the reason we are doing this.

This creates many additional questions though:  Is this a typical month? If not, what does a typical month look like?

We confess that some happenings are hard to classify into the categories given.

Thanks for praying for us as we take up this challenge.

Praise and Prayer

What We Do

Sometimes we describe what we do as giving people access to Jesus.

As we waited for our flight at the Chiangmai Airport, one of the coffeeshops had the above slogan posted on the wall. It is how they describe their coffee. But I thought that expression is also a great way to describe the Gospel. 

A second descriptor on the wall of the airport also describes a life in relationship with Christ. Our lives are touched daily by the One Who is Saviour, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King.

Pastor Joshua is urging us to pray:

• For opportunities to invite people to come to church services and events.
• For church members to be able to testify for Christ to people in our town.

Please add these requests to your prayers asking for five baptisms this year.

We want people to taste and see that God is good!

Praise and Prayer

Where Do We Live?

The answer to the question of where we live will be different depending on when it was asked and answered. Historically, Taiwan has been known by many different names. Have you heard some of these other names?

• The Republic of China (R.O.C.): This is the formal name of Taiwan. [Please do not confuse us with our neighbour, “The People’s Republic of China  (P.R.C.).”]
• Taiwan: This translates from the original indigenous languages as “Terraced Bay” or “Terrace by the Bay.”
• Chinese Taipei: A name used in international sports competitions, International Organizations, etc. This designation is not popular with the citizens around us.
• “Ilha Formosa”: Named by Portuguese sailors in 1544. It means “Beautiful Island.”
• Formosa: A name used in European literature and by English-speakers until the 20^th century. It was also the name used by the Japanese when they ruled the island from 1985-1945. This name is still used today in the names of some companies and in poetic literature.
• Tayovan: The Dutch East India Company built Fort Zeelandia on the west coast of the island and called the territory Tayovan based on the names of nearby indigenous tribes.
• Tâi-oân”: The Hokkien Chinese Dialect (sometimes referred to as Taiwanese or Southern Min) sounds similar to the English name “Taiwan.” 
• Líuqíu:  A name used by early Chinese sailors to refer to islands east of China, including Taiwan.
• Takasago: Used by Japanese writers in the 1500’s, and probably based on the Japanese pronunciation of the Taiwanese indigenous people groups.

Like many geographic areas of the globe, the historical happenings determined what it was called. Many of the above names have disappeared from general knowledge. (Some scholars will remember them.)

Of comfort to us is that God has sovereignly created the boundaries around where people live (Acts 17:26). He knows each individual and desires to have relationship with them. Jesus died on the cross providing salvation to all who are willing to believe in Him.

Please pray for many more people in Taiwan and other parts of East Asia to hear and put their faith in Christ.

Praise and Prayer

Giving Update

We would like to express our thanks for contributions being made to the Baozhong Alliance Church Facility Fund.

Last year, August through December. donations to this project totalled $10,026.75. That is an excellent start in the first year of the project.

Praise the Lord with us for a great start to this five-year project.

Our desire is to raise CAD$100,000 to assist the church in making a down payment on a building. To reach that target, including the service fee, we need to raise CAD$23,000 each year.

Thank-you for praying that God will provide a permanent facility for the Baozhong Alliance Church.
Thank-you to those who are able to contribute to this project.

(Because a new software program is being used to record donations beginning January 1, the reports for January and February donations may be delayed. They desire time to check that the new system is reporting accurately. Please accept our apologies if our letters of appreciation to donors arrive slower than previously.)

The Countdown is On!

We are counting down the days until some important happenings.!

On February 25, the Taiwan Short-term Team Adventure Begins.

• Six Canadians will arrive and visit for 4 days.
• We will introduce them to the work being done by Canadian international workers in Baozhong, Chiayi, Kaohsiung, and Taoyuan.
• They will participate in what God is doing through hearing stories, praying, rejoicing, and personal discovery.

On March 1, the Canadian international workers will join the STM participants in flying to Thailand for Global Gathering.

• Global international workers will attend, alongside church leaders and lay people from Canada.
• The focus will be on celebrating what God is doing.
• The learning will focus on new paradigms for accomplishing the task of evangelizing the nations.
• The hope is that together we can mobilize a new generation to make the commitment to obey the Great Commission.

Please pray for us and others who are involved to be filled with gratitude and praise for God.
Please pray for safety in travel, and an ability to practically use what we will learn.

Praise and Prayer

A Balloon, Not a Lantern

This balloon is tethered over a field in a nearby town. It is proudly proclaiming that on Lantern Festival they will host what they consider to be an important event. Each year the largest temple in our town hosts a feast on Lantern Festival. This year it is on Wednesday, February 12.

This feast has been held for more than 100 years, and is now described as one of the three major Lantern Festival folk temple fair activities in Taiwan. The responsibility to host the event falls on local villages, in a 10-year rotation.

This year, more than 2000 village residents have been mobilized to prepare. At 11:30 am on Wednesday, 2,300 buckets of oily, sticky rice will be served. People will travel from all over the country to come and participate. An estimated 30,000 people will come to eat or carry away food to feed relatives. People believe that by eating the rice they will obtain peace in their lives. (In the Taiwanese dialect, “Eat Rice” has a similar pronunciation to “Eat Peace.”)

Our town does not hang many lanterns, but holding this “cultural” event is considered to be of primary importance. There is a sense of prestige that comes from it being a nationally recognized event.

Once again, we are made aware of people’s need to be introduced to the Prince of Peace. Please pray that the kingdom of God will grow, bringing true peace into people’s lives.

Praise and Prayer

Farming

We live in a farming community. Tuesday, February 4 is Farmer’s Day in Taiwan. On the calendar, it is the day following 立春, the Beginning of Spring. It is not a public holiday. Many businesses will remain open. Special events will traditionally be held on Farmer’s Day, including the offering of sacrifices to the gods. People from rural communities use this opportunity to pray for a prosperous year and a bountiful harvest. (ref)

There is a list of traditional superstitions, both good and bad, associated with the day:

1. It is considered bad luck for married women to visit their mothers’ homes.
2. Unmarried women are encouraged to visit their mothers’ homes to bring good luck.
3. Bad luck will be experienced if people quarrel with each other.
4. Other activities that are avoided on this day include haircuts, seeing a doctor, lying down during the day, doing strenuous exercise, and playing games.

Let’s pray for the prosperity of the farmers. May they be released from activities rooted in fear. May they find new life through belief in Christ.

Praise and Prayer