Saturday, September 24, 2011
Saturday at a park
We traveled to the city of New Taipei (a suburb of Taipei). We took the bullet train which goes at speeds up to 180 mph. Upon arriving we had lunch at a Japanese restraunt then took a bus to the Lieng mansion. This place was spectcular. The Lieng family was a rich family who donated this garden estate to city and was turned into a historical site. There was many gardens (water pools and plants) and a few of the buildings that the lieng family used. The pictures posted cannot show how grand the place really is but should show you some of the beauty. Robert ministred to a very sad mother who blamed herself for not being a good mother. Paster Dave shared his love with the son and gave him his joy fellowship hat. Upon returning we began preperation for Sunday services. Please pray for our continueing ministry here.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Mackay Pictures with Micheal's place
This is how George traveled when he first came to Taiwan. (Photo in a museum on the campus of Oxford (Altetheia University).
While at the campus the team met two other disabled groups. They were able to chat and pray with some of the people they met.
Micheal welcoming us into the building he lives.
Micheal showing us his room and also some of the items he sells to support himself.
A chapel dedicated to the name of George Mackay. It used to be a girls school he started while doing his ministry here.
Micheal shows us where he works in the computer department at the university.
Micheal leads us around the university on with his bicycle with Pastor Claire.
Pastor Dave and Nick with Pastor John at the meeting center and restaurant.
Pastor John shares about the meeting center/restaurant ministry.
Dinner with Jack's parents.
Jack's FMu (Parents) with pastor Dave.
Pastor Dave meets with Micheal's friend who feeds him daily at his restaurant.
Day 4 and 5
Day 4 found the team with a dilemma. The people we were to visit were not available. So the team went into Taeipei and visited where George Leslie Mackay did most of his mission work. George came to Taiwan in 1872 to do missionary work among the people of this island. Over an 8 year period Rev. Mackay began his service at his lodgings in Tamsui. He spread the gospel, offered medical care and provided education and agricultural expertise. He later started the first university on the island which he named Oxford (after the city in Canada whose residents donated generously to the work). He is very well known to the Taiwanese people as the "bearded Barbarian". The one who began the first university in this nation and really founded the medical system as well.
Day 5 found us visiting another disabled church member, Micheal. We were able to see the witness he has in the area he lives. He lives in a building that is empty for a reduced rent (he is like a caretaker). After attending a Christian university and graduating from the computer software college. He was hired as a part time assistant after a professor (who belongs to his church) noticed the time and effort it took for him to obtain his degree. He also works with a campus ministry at the university and showed us where they had chapel and the offices for the staff of this ministry. It was started by a man who was sponsored by Rutgers University. He shared that even though it is a Christian University the majority of students are not Christian. After touring the university, Micheal took us to a restaurant he eats at free. The man who owns it is a Buddhist, yet through the years got to know Micheal. As a result of this relationship he allows Micheal to eat there free everyday. (What a witness!) In the evening we traveled to Taipei to meet with Jack's parents. There home was small so they took us to a restaurant/meeting room to talk. We met the owner who is a missionary and working through this restaurant and meeting rooms. He shared how God had blessed his establishment and how it came to be. We shared a little about camp with Jack's parents and then ate dinner. a wonderful evening was shared by all.
Please pray for our baptismal service tomorrow at Joy fellowship Siloam and Agape Christian Fellowship in Taipei as well. That God would bless both services.
Day 5 found us visiting another disabled church member, Micheal. We were able to see the witness he has in the area he lives. He lives in a building that is empty for a reduced rent (he is like a caretaker). After attending a Christian university and graduating from the computer software college. He was hired as a part time assistant after a professor (who belongs to his church) noticed the time and effort it took for him to obtain his degree. He also works with a campus ministry at the university and showed us where they had chapel and the offices for the staff of this ministry. It was started by a man who was sponsored by Rutgers University. He shared that even though it is a Christian University the majority of students are not Christian. After touring the university, Micheal took us to a restaurant he eats at free. The man who owns it is a Buddhist, yet through the years got to know Micheal. As a result of this relationship he allows Micheal to eat there free everyday. (What a witness!) In the evening we traveled to Taipei to meet with Jack's parents. There home was small so they took us to a restaurant/meeting room to talk. We met the owner who is a missionary and working through this restaurant and meeting rooms. He shared how God had blessed his establishment and how it came to be. We shared a little about camp with Jack's parents and then ate dinner. a wonderful evening was shared by all.
Please pray for our baptismal service tomorrow at Joy fellowship Siloam and Agape Christian Fellowship in Taipei as well. That God would bless both services.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Jack's homes exercise equipment.
Pastor Dave taking a nap in Jack's living room area.
Jack's room, he sleeps with 6 people. They have built a new facility to house more people and hope to decrease the number of residents sleeping in their rooms.
The group poses for a picture in front of Jack's home. Jack and his Mom are back row left.
Residents sell donated items to help support themselves and the group home. They are getting ready for a big sale this weekend.
Pastor Dave and Michelle are explaining baptism at Jimmie's house.
All of Jimmie's aunties welcomed us with open arms. Most are not Christian.
Pastor Dave and Jimmie at his house.
Michelle and Jack's center staff exchange gifts of goodwill.
Nick reading the Word. Jimmie's mom (a buddhist official) was astounded that Nick could read well. She came to him to see if he really was reading.
Day 2 and 3
I wasn't able to blog yesterday because of the schedule we are keeping. So here is what took place the last day of camp and the first day of visitation. I expect you will be glad to hear that God is answering all prayers on this journey and your continued prayers will be very helpful.
The last day of camp started like everyday had, at the meal table. We were joined once again by the 2 young couples who led us in worship. (They had to go back the day before to open their business yet still took the time to drive 2 hours back to camp to serve as our worship leaders.) In the service as they led worship, I began to realize one simple fact. Worship is a universal expression of our love for God. When I say universal I mean no matter the language barriers we had, God continued to bless our times together. If we didn't know the Chinese words, we knew WHAT WAS BEING EXPRESSED it is almost like we knew what they were singing even though we didn't. (I hope that doesn't sound strange but God had this way of translating that is hard to describe.) From there we prayed for the two young couples who took their time and families to serve us. Pastor Dave commented that he felt it was the most intense time of the camp, because of the presence of God. Pastor Dave preached on how to incorporate reading the Word and prayer into ones life with practical applications. Then we heard to stirring testimonies from Robert Yu and Auntie. Robert spoke on how his daughter, wife and team member Nicholas challenged him by own lives.He hopes to begin a life filled with devotion like these great examples. A life of devotion to God and study of his word. Auntie shared her story as well. She let us know if it wasn't for God's grace she would not have been here. A few months ago her bed caught on fire with no one home. She could not get out of it due to physical limitations. When she was taken to hospital her whole side was burned. So bad the doctors thought she was not going to live. After a few months in ICU she was allowed to go to the general medicine floors then home. They told her stronger physically people would have died. Yet she shared it was God grace that helped her through. Though she is unable to use her burned side, she continues to live. If you look at her picture - I hope you can see the light of God shine through her. We then traveled to a local historical market and headed back to Siloam Joy Fellowship in Taouyan.
The next day we would see God's hand at work once again. We visited a residential care home of one of the church goers - Jack. Similar to a group home in Canada or the U.S. There we were greeted by Jack, his mom and the staff at the center (even the director). After Jack showed us around in his own hurrying way we had time to talk with the staff. After the visit the home opened the home up to Siloam JoyFellowship to have a bible study. This was a new event as they had yet to ask or start something there. But they noted how the team cared for not only it's own but all who lived there. Pray that this would continue and that God can use Siloam to start a small study and begin to change peoples life with the Word of God there. Not only the residents, but the staff's lives as well. After lunch we visited another members house who is getting baptized (Jimmie). His mother is a high official in Buddhism and has been to see the Dalie Lama. We spent three hours at this house and while there we noticed the mother much more accepting of the Christian Religion. She was very nervous at having us over because she thought we were a cult. But was astonished to see and hear the love of the team's parents and children. Her total disposition changed and is now excited to see her son baptized. Her sister was there as well and she is the mayor of a neighboring city. After participating she became really excited about the possibility of a joint venture with Joy Fellowship Siloam to aid people with disabilities. She laid out a dream for how it could be accomplished, and has the power to do it. Pray for Jimmie's Mom and sister as well - We changed the day of the baptism so more members of his family can attend. Continue to pray that God will continue to break down the barriers here and His Word will be accomplished. God Bless and thanks for your prayers!
The last day of camp started like everyday had, at the meal table. We were joined once again by the 2 young couples who led us in worship. (They had to go back the day before to open their business yet still took the time to drive 2 hours back to camp to serve as our worship leaders.) In the service as they led worship, I began to realize one simple fact. Worship is a universal expression of our love for God. When I say universal I mean no matter the language barriers we had, God continued to bless our times together. If we didn't know the Chinese words, we knew WHAT WAS BEING EXPRESSED it is almost like we knew what they were singing even though we didn't. (I hope that doesn't sound strange but God had this way of translating that is hard to describe.) From there we prayed for the two young couples who took their time and families to serve us. Pastor Dave commented that he felt it was the most intense time of the camp, because of the presence of God. Pastor Dave preached on how to incorporate reading the Word and prayer into ones life with practical applications. Then we heard to stirring testimonies from Robert Yu and Auntie. Robert spoke on how his daughter, wife and team member Nicholas challenged him by own lives.He hopes to begin a life filled with devotion like these great examples. A life of devotion to God and study of his word. Auntie shared her story as well. She let us know if it wasn't for God's grace she would not have been here. A few months ago her bed caught on fire with no one home. She could not get out of it due to physical limitations. When she was taken to hospital her whole side was burned. So bad the doctors thought she was not going to live. After a few months in ICU she was allowed to go to the general medicine floors then home. They told her stronger physically people would have died. Yet she shared it was God grace that helped her through. Though she is unable to use her burned side, she continues to live. If you look at her picture - I hope you can see the light of God shine through her. We then traveled to a local historical market and headed back to Siloam Joy Fellowship in Taouyan.
The next day we would see God's hand at work once again. We visited a residential care home of one of the church goers - Jack. Similar to a group home in Canada or the U.S. There we were greeted by Jack, his mom and the staff at the center (even the director). After Jack showed us around in his own hurrying way we had time to talk with the staff. After the visit the home opened the home up to Siloam JoyFellowship to have a bible study. This was a new event as they had yet to ask or start something there. But they noted how the team cared for not only it's own but all who lived there. Pray that this would continue and that God can use Siloam to start a small study and begin to change peoples life with the Word of God there. Not only the residents, but the staff's lives as well. After lunch we visited another members house who is getting baptized (Jimmie). His mother is a high official in Buddhism and has been to see the Dalie Lama. We spent three hours at this house and while there we noticed the mother much more accepting of the Christian Religion. She was very nervous at having us over because she thought we were a cult. But was astonished to see and hear the love of the team's parents and children. Her total disposition changed and is now excited to see her son baptized. Her sister was there as well and she is the mayor of a neighboring city. After participating she became really excited about the possibility of a joint venture with Joy Fellowship Siloam to aid people with disabilities. She laid out a dream for how it could be accomplished, and has the power to do it. Pray for Jimmie's Mom and sister as well - We changed the day of the baptism so more members of his family can attend. Continue to pray that God will continue to break down the barriers here and His Word will be accomplished. God Bless and thanks for your prayers!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Camp Photos
Our adopted worship leader Nana.
Our worship team.
It's time to Dao Gao (pray).
A group picture for Camp, shiao (smile)
Robert gave a challenging testimony with his daughter.
Skit time with (Pastor Dave) the physcian pronouncing there is no cure for this paralytic. But the power of prayer to Jesu healed this paralytic.
Robert challenging us to read the Word like his daughter Nana does everyday.
Auntie tells us about the grace of God sparing her life because her bed caught fire. The doctors told her stronger people would have died of her injuries. Praise God.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Yesterday (Monday) began with a traditional Chinese breakfast followed by our morning session. I taught on the basics of personal prayer, including who we pray too. In Taiwan there are many different Gods and I tried to make sure they knew that Christ was the only way to God. A couple of days ago coming here we ran into a Taiwanese parade celebrating some of their God's birthdays. They had idols in the back of trucks and were in traditional costumes working hard to please their own God's. It is great to know that our God hears us when we pray. After morning session we went to lunch then on a nature walk. Along the walk we saw a temple. Talking with one of the leaders she let me know that all the dragons and intricate details on the roof are for a purpose. To fight off and discourage evil spirits coming into the temple. It made me think that if they do this they are a fearful people. Fearful of the supernatural. Please pray that the fear these people expereince would lead them to the arms of Christ. Where the Bible says there is no greater power and protection in the love of God. Pray for our return trip to Taepei today. God Bless!
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