Multiple Celebrations

As many of you are celebrating Resurrection Day Weekend, the people around us are also enjoying national holidays.  But most are enjoying the Children’s Day celebrations and participating in family activities related to the Clear and Bright Festival (Tomb-Sweeping Day).

This made celebrating Easter feel different this year.  With all the special days happening at the same time, no matter where we went there was an atmosphere of something special happening.  But so little of the emphasis in the community was focussed on Christ.  Few people seemed to be thinking of how He provided salvation for everyone.  Once again the need for them to hear about Jesus was very evident.

The local government sponsored Children’s Day activities on Saturday (4/3).  There was a carnival atmosphere (photo collage) as the young children posed for photos, touched animals that they seldom see, or played games.  And of course there was food to sample and food to buy.  There was a special program in the evening.

Because Sunday was both the the day for remembering family ancestors and also the day for celebrating Christ’s resurrection, our service included time for both.  We began with time for personal reflections about family ancestors, and a pastor led in prayer.  He prayed for families to receive comfort, and for us not to forget the positive example of those who have gone before us.  That was followed by a much longer focus on the celebration of resurrection life, as we remembered Christ being raised from the dead.

The Amazing Grace Alliance Church building was full with members from all three churches.  Pastors from each of the churches participated.  Lorne prayed for the children and officiated at one of the Communion stations.

Thinking back to when we first arrived in Yunlin County, we see that God has been working and His church is being established.  It is yet another proof that Jesus is alive!

Praise and Prayer

• Thank-you for praying as we taught about Easter last Thursday.  We could see the students were thinking about what they were hearing and seeing.  Please pray the Holy Spirit will lead them forward toward belief in Christ.
• Praise the Lord that Jenny’s family permitted her to attend Sunday School for the first time in a long time.  Please pray that other children in our community will learn about Christ at an early age, laying a foundation for belief.