Greetings from Winnipeg!  I (Lorne) am at the airport, waiting to begin the trip back to Taiwan.  It was a good week at General Assembly.  I was able to see and greet some of you, hearing your story and sharing some of mine.  We also saw some “God moments” when we heard what God is doing and as He directed in the decisions made.  Thank-you for praying.

The Committee on Nominations work is now completed.  Elections were held on Friday afternoon.  Rev. David Hearn was elected as the next President of the Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada.  Someone described him as the “Little President with the Big Heart.”  We know him to be a man of God who is God’s choice of leader to lead and guide our family of churches.  Please join us in praying for his family as they make adjustments over the next few months, learning what this change of role will mean to them.  We also pray God’s blessing and anointing on Dave as he steps into his new responsibilities and forms his leadership team.

Meanwhile, back in Taiwan, Kathy-Lu has had opportunity to visit some of our friends.  She also met with representatives from Village Gospel Mission.  They are planning an evangelistic event for children and families for the first week of August.  We will write more as we confirm God’s will for reaching out to our community in cooperation with them and other ministry partners.

Kathy-Lu also continued the task of cleaning some of the dirt out of the house and evicting any temporary insect residents.  Step by step our house is becoming our home again.

High-speed internet was installed at our house this past week.  We have some troubleshooting to do with our desktop computer, but we should be able to be in touch with you much more conveniently.  Thank-you to all who have prayed for us as we went through the process of getting these items arranged.

We are praying for our Seamless Link Covenant Church—Nanaimo Alliance Church—as they continue the pastoral search process.  Over this next week we are praying for wisdom and clarity of God’s will as a pastoral candidate explores potential ministry with you.  We invite our other prayer partners to also pray regarding this matter.

Praise the Lord that we received our resident certificates on Tuesday!  That allowed us to renew our driver licenses and to obtain our mobile phones again.  Phone numbers are the same as last term.  We have applied for high speed internet, but must wait our turn in the queue until they come and install the modem.

By the time you see this, Lorne will have already begun his travel to Winnipeg for General Assembly.  He is looking forward to seeing many friends.  Please pray as he adjusts again to the time change, copes with jet lag, and participates in meetings.  Kathy-Lu will remain in Baojhong for the nine days Lorne is away.

We are thankful for air conditioners.  That has made it possible to continue to work cleaning the house, rearranging some furniture, and getting things ready for another season of ministry.  It is quite a contrast from the weather in Greater Vancouver right now.  As much as we would like, we have not found a way to send some heat your way.

Lorne was able to contact the Village Gospel Mission office by phone.  Further discussions about ministry will need to wait until after Lorne returns from his trip to Canada.

Tim and Penny Iverson are hosting a short-term team in Yuanchang.  Please pray for God to work in a special way this week.  They will be leading an English Camp/VBS at a local elementary school from July 2-6.

Thank you for praying for J’s mother in law who had been hospitalized.   We do not have details yet, but Kathy-Lu saw her and was able to briefly  greet her at the betel nut stand.  Please continue to pray for this family.

We have noticed a few changes that have happened in the 11 months that we were away.  We have new neighbours.  The Roman Catholic Church building has been refurbished and is being used on special occasions.  There is a newly established Association of Volunteer Care-Givers.  Our former students have grown taller.  The elementary school where we volunteer has been able to attract many new students with the shift to using the Waldorf Teaching System.  The community library is being remodelled.  Etc.  But many things remain similar, including the pervading spiritual darkness and the bondage of the people. Please pray that God will help us be shining lights for His glory.

Mr. Liao, the principal at the Chaurtsuo Elementary School, has applied for a transfer to a school closer to where he lives.  He would like us to find a way to continue our friendship.  Although he would like us to help teach at his new posting, it is unlikely that will work as it will be too far from our community.

Our friend J, the widow who works at her mother-in-law’s betel nut stand, told us that her mother-in-law is in hospital with what sounds like a ruptured (brain) aneurism.  She is improving and is out of the intensive care ward.  Please pray for her health and for our contacts with the family.

Lorne leaves Sunday morning, July 1 to fly to Winnipeg to attend General Assembly.  Representatives from our Canadian family of C&MA churches will elect a new president and will make decisions on some important matters.  Please pray that Christ will be honoured as reports are given and business is accomplished.

Thanks for praying about the car for our children, Ethan and Elyssa.  A car was given to them, and they began using it last Thursday.  We are thankful for God’s wonderful provision that went beyond what we were imagining.  We are continuing to ask God to provide our daughter Elyssa with additional employment as she is only getting part-time hours at her current position.

We are also praying our son Philip’s hand will heal quickly after being burned on Saturday with scalding water.

We are very thankful to Heritage Alliance Church who represented all of our partners and prayed us on our way on June 17. The video of that part of the morning service can be viewed by clicking on this video link. (Note: This is a different link than one that was circulated earlier.)

Thanks for praying for us as we travelled to Taiwan. Our plane landed after the first typhoon had passed by and before the second one arrived. The ride provided by the airport transportation service had some very frightening moments and we are thankful for God’s hand of protection allowing us to arrive safely at our Taiwan home. The heat, humidity and time change mean that the cleaning and getting the house ready for daily living is happening a little slower than we would like. (The government declared the day after we arrived a “typhoon day.” That is the first time we have had a holiday right after our arrival. Although the storm raged outside, we were able to do lots of work inside the house.)

The Taiwan National Immigration Office accepted our application to extend our resident certificates, and agreed to expedite our request so that Lorne can have his residency card before he leaves on July 1 to travel to General Assembly.

Thank-you to all who have prayed for a car for Ethan and Elyssa to use after our departure. Although we were disappointed when the original plans fell through, we were overwhelmed by the messages of encouragement we received as others joined and prayed with us. We also experienced in a very special way what it means to be a part of a church family. Heritage Alliance Church members have offered help in many ways, and we have heard that God is providing them a vehicle. From what we hear, it is a better vehicle than the one that we were originally going to purchase. So join us in praising God, and ask for His guidance as the final details are put in place.

We were thankful to have our home telephone connected today, but we will need to wait until we have the new residency cards before we can activate our mobile phones and apply for high speed internet. That means we may not respond to your emails as quickly. Thanks for your patience.

We have been told that Village Gospel Mission is interested in working in our area. We do not yet know what that means. We are hoping to meet with them soon. If God has given them a burden to work in Baojhong, we would like to see if there is a way to cooperate and partner together. Please pray for God’s guidance in this matter.

Thanks for praying for the Vancouver Island Women’s Retreat. Kathy-Lu reports that it was a good time of fellowship and there were many opportunities for people to pray with others. We are trusting God to continue and complete the work that He has already begun.

While on Vancouver Island, Kathy-Lu was able to visit with her brother Rod. We would like to ask you to pray with us that God will supply him with work so he can support his family. He is a finishing carpenter.

This is the week when we are very aware that we are in transition, like “in our faces” aware. There will be lots of last minute sorting and packing, quick shopping excursions for the last minute items, and taking large and small household items to their new owners. Emotions oscillate between excitement and tears depending on what we are thinking about at the moment. We are thankful for each one who has prayed for us during this home assignment year, and for the ways that God has answered those prayers. We know He will help us during this week too.

Our flight is scheduled to leave at 2:20 AM on Monday June 18. Of course we will need to proceed through airport security before that. Thank-you for praying for safety for us as we travel, and for protection over those who will be driving back home after dropping us at the airport late Sunday night.

We also want to say thank-you for those who are providing practical help for us during our transition time, and for our children as they remain in Canada. We appreciate our church family and the many ways they demonstrate God’s love.

Next week…from Taiwan!

It was exciting to be received into membership and to sign the Seamless Link Covenant at Heritage Alliance Church in Abbotsford this past Sunday. We appreciate the effort that some ministry partners from other places made to connect with us that day. We join you in trusting God to allow us to plant the gospel seed and to reap fruit.

We are happy to report that Elyssa passed her driving exam. She also has a place to live after we depart for Taiwan. Thank-you for praying for God to supply these needs. We praise God for answering prayer.

Departure for Taiwan is scheduled for less than two weeks from now. We are thankful that many of the remaining details and final arrangements are proceeding well. Thank-you to everyone who has helped in one way or another.

Please pray for the Vancouver Island Women’s Retreat June 8-10. Pray that God will anoint all the speakers, including Kathy-Lu, with His Spirit so that they are empowered from Above to speak the words that God wants them to say. Pray that those attending will be open to hearing from God, and that they will become better equipped to live as God is calling them to live.

Please pray for Jonathan, a Taiwanese convert who was baptized last August. Please pray that God will help him work through the difficulties that have caused him to withdraw from fellowship with the believers that helped him find faith in Jesus. Please pray for God to supply for his family and help him to continue to grow in Christ.

Pentecost – Is when “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me”  happened for the first time.  Empowering for life and witness is now available day-to-day.  We hope that each one of us is experiencing that blessing.

Praise the Lord, storage for our special belongings has been provided!  Thank-you to those generous friends!  And, thank-you to you for praying about this.  The packing is happening and some items will move to storage this week.

Praise the Lord, we have found a way to book a road test for Elyssa to take the next step in getting her driver license.  We will let you know when there is more news.

We will be signing a Seamless Link Covenant with Heritage Alliance Church in Abbotsford on Sunday morning June 3.  We are covenanting to pray for each other, communicate with each other, and to take advantage of opportunities to work together to take the good news about Jesus to those in Taiwan who have not yet heard.  They will be joining Nanaimo Alliance Church in having this kind of covenant relationship with us.

We would love to be able to return and visit all our extended family members and friends one last time before we leave.  Unfortunately that is not possible due to the time constraints and our inability to be in more than one place at the same time.  We look forward to staying in touch through email, and to seeing those whom God causes our paths to cross.

Victoria Day—We trust that you are enjoying your Spring long weekend, even if you are having May showers like we are.

Thanks for praying for the Committee on Nominations meetings in Toronto last week.  The committee will continue its work over the next few weeks, preparing the nominations to be presented at General Assembly.

Here are prayer requests from each member of our family this week:

• Lorne:  Is beginning to pack the things that we would like to store, but we do not yet know where they can be stored.  There are also some important logistical decisions that need to be made in this week.  Please pray for wisdom as we proceed on these matters.

• Kathy-Lu:  Is finalizing what she believes God is guiding her to say at the Vancouver Island Ladies’ Retreat (June 8-10).  Please also pray that God will help her find the balance between rest for her body to continue to heal, and doing the activities that need to be done prior to our departure for Taiwan (June 17).  It can be hard to make “just one more decision” when feeling emotionally tired.

• Ethan:  Is looking to purchase an economical and dependable used car.  Please pray for  God’s guidance in the selection.

• Philip:  Is sensing improvement in the pinched nerve in his back, and is trusting for complete healing.

• Bethany (Philip’s wife):  Is concerned for a childhood friend dealing with a life-threatening medical condition.  Please pray for healing and protection over this friend’s life.

• Elyssa:  Is making good progress in learning to drive a car, but we just learned that it is difficult to schedule a road test sooner than 2 months.  Please pray that we will be able to find a “cancellation” time slot in the next 2-3 weeks.  Whether Elyssa can drive will influence the arrangements that we will make for room and board for the summer.  She has also been looking for a potential second job so that she can work more hours than the farm market is able to give her at this time.

Special Mother’s Day Greetings! We are celebrating with three mothers this year—Kathy-Lu, our daughter-in-law Bethany, and Bethany’s mother Cheryl. Bethany’s parents will be returning to their ministry in Taiwan on Tuesday.

Thank-you for praying for Kathy-Lu this past week. She was able to see the surgeon on Friday. He removed the staples and informed her that the cyst was benign. Thank-you Jesus!

Kathy-Lu will be sharing a feature at the Heritage Alliance Church women’s meeting on Tuesday.

The reality of our return to Taiwan next month is setting in. Our landlord has already shown our unit to some potential renters. Please pray that God will bless them with good tenants.

Lorne will be in Toronto for Committee on Nominations meetings for a few days this next week. Please pray for God to lead and guide the committee members in their discussions and deliberations.

We welcome many new recipients to our weekly update distribution list. These emails are now being sent to 159 recipients each week. Each one who reads and prays is involved in an important way in the Hidden in Plain Sight Ministry, advancing God’s kingdom to those who have not yet heard the truth of the gospel. Thank-you for doing your part!

Thank-you for continuing to pray for Philip. He is not yet free of the pain in his hip and leg. We continue to trust God for improvement.

Kathy-Lu is recovering from last week’s surgery and is able to continue with her regular activities. Thank-you for praying. We are waiting for the surgeon’s office to reopen in order to schedule the follow-up visit to have the staples removed and receive the results of the biopsy.

Departure for Taiwan is scheduled in less than 6 weeks. We are thankful that God has been meeting many of our needs in order to make that happen. Although many of the remaining things that need to be done must be done by us or under our direct supervision, we definitely need help praying about and finding the following:

• About 65 cu. ft. of free storage for the special keepsakes that we want to store (A small space like: 4.5ft x 4 ft x 3.5ft. Other configurations will work too!) We need to store those things for 4 years.
• Buyers for some furnishings and household items that we will not keep.
• Buyer for our car.
• Room and Board location for our daughter, Elyssa, mid-June through the end of August while she works getting funds for going back to university.
• Help moving items from where we live to storage, and moving borrowed items back to their owners.
• And probably some things that we have not yet thought of.

Please pray for God to help us to communicate clearly with our current ministry partners and those who may be interested in working with us. We are asking God to bring together the team He desires, with all the gifts and abilities that are needed for the evangelism and church-planting work.