Mondays with the Whites 
Volume 37   September 10, 2018   

The Mid-Autumn Festival (Moon Festival) is a national holiday in Taiwan, September 24 this year.  Many families will use the opportunity to eat together, with many choosing to BBQ together.

Our church is planning a family BBQ for Saturday, Sept. 15.  We have been inviting friends to join us for food, fun, and fellowship.

The uninvited guest may be Typhoon Mangkhut.  It is sweeping toward the north Philippines and may influence our weather on Friday.  Typically typhoons bring a few days of rain following in their path.  However, because fire and rain do not mix, we are trusting God to give us the weather we need.

Stay tuned for how God answers our prayers.  Thanks for joining us in trusting Him for help.

If you would like to partner with us financially, we’d appreciate contributions towards either/both:
1) GAF in Support of L&K White (Global Advance Fund: for salary, education, insurance, etc)
You can donate to GAF online.

2) White Work Fund (For Ministry needs over and above those provided in our basic support)
Give to Work Fund online
Type “White Work fund” in at the bottom where it asks you to designate a name and fund

Mondays with the Whites 
Volume 36   September 3, 2018   

We turned the page on the calendar a couple days ago, but did anything change in our lives?

Last week for us was a time for recalibrating.  It was the end of summer and Fall activities are ready to begin.  But are we ready?

Because of the eye infection mentioned last week, Lorne was forced to slow down and to pass some commitments off to other people.  After three doctor visits in one week, all to different doctors, we are happy to report that the infection is healed. But the real question is: “What in our schedule needs to be recalibrated so that it does not return?”  This is something that is being contemplated.

We said our final good-byes at the airport, Thu and Hanh have officially departed for ministry in Canada.  This means our responsibility toward the Vietnamese ministry transition has shifted to mostly helping the newly arrived coworkers, Chinh and Lieu.  The adjustment is being made.

There is a new academic director at the elementary school where we teach English and tell Bible stories.  The expectations on us have been expressed a different way.  Working with different people requires communication and some changes.  We are pleased to report that we are able to continue this ministry.  We have also confirmed that the school will welcome a short term team from Victoria Chinese Alliance Church in January 2019 for a week of “Winter Camp.”

The speed of life is not constant.  Sometimes we need to slow down and recalibrate so that we are ready for what is coming next.  You’ve just heard how we are doing that.  What about you?  How do you recalibrate?  How do you stay healthy in the midst of new competing time demands?

Each Thursday afternoon, for this semester, we will have an opportunity to tell stories about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to the 52 students at Fuhsing Elementary School.  The first class is September 6.

Who among our prayer supporters will commit themselves to pray for us each Thursday from now until the end of January?  Please write and let us know.

Mondays with the Whites 
Volume 35   August 27, 2018   

After more than 10 years in Taiwan, Thu and Hanh Nguyen will be returning to Canada for deputation and retirement.  The Vietnamese people in Taiwan have a special place in their hearts.

Sunday afternoon, August 26, the Agape Alliance Church (that they helped to start) threw a party.  The building was full of people who love them, including both church members and many coworkers who have served with them during their time in Taiwan.

We were privileged to attend the party and watch them pass the baton to others who will continue the ministry to Vietnamese people living in Taiwan.

Sometimes surprises are good.  We had a total of 19 people at church Sunday morning.  The building is almost full.   Please pray with us as we investigate ways to stay at our current location but expand our meeting area.  (Stay tuned for more updates in a few weeks.)

However surprises are not always what we want.  Lorne awoke Sunday morning to see that his eye is infected and the area around the eye was swelling.  At the end of the day, after ministry commitments were completed, he went to emergency at a large hospital in Taichung.  He was able to see the doctor and receive medication in less than one hour.  Please pray for less discomfort and for complete healing.

Mondays with the Whites 
Volume 34   August 20, 2018   

The 3-on-3 Basketball Competition Camp was held last Friday.  It provided us to an opportunity to see some students that we taught a number of years ago in elementary school.  The students appeared to enjoy themselves, and Pastor Joshua shared at the end of the day.

Please pray that God will cause the seeds of truth planted to grow and produce spiritual hunger to know more.

Please pray for the discussion among our church ministry team at this week’s planning days.  Follow-up to the summer camps is one of the items we will likely discuss.

Will you pray for these important happenings this week:

• Wednesday and Thursday: We will meet with Pastor Joshua, Albert, and Elaine to discuss working together as a team.  Please pray that God will help us to set realistic, faith-filled  goals and expectations.  We have a diversity of gifts and experiences that we desire God to bring together so Christ is glorified as we work in unity.  We will also use our time together to plan the church events for the 2018-19 church year.
• Thursday:  We have requested a representative to go to an office in Manila to request a needed document for a team member’s resident visa.  Please pray that the office will respond well and that the document can be obtained.

Mondays with the Whites 
Volume 33   August 13, 2018   

Did you know that Taiwan uses two calendars?  They use the Western calendar similar to North America.  But they also use the lunar calendar to keep track of religious events, farming cycles, and many other aspects of daily life.

Last Saturday was the first day of July on the lunar calendar.  It was the start of the 30-day “Ghost Month.”

A common Taiwanese belief is that the spirits of those who died in accidents and the spirits of ancestors who are not being venerated are permitted to roam free during the seventh lunar month.  People are fearful that the spirits will harm them or their families.  For this reason people are careful to not go swimming or participate in other potentially dangerous activities.  They try to avoid making major life decisions at this time.

Offerings of food and special ‘spirit money’ are made to  the “good brothers” (a common way of referring to the ghosts) at various times throughout the month. Because of this, burners such as the one in the photo, are frequently used this month.

As Christians, we believe that the One who is in us is greater than any spirit in the world.  Please pray for us and other believers in Christ to show by our lives that Jesus gives us peace.

All the stars shining in the sky and the moon dancing on the sea
As the trees gently bend in the evening breeze,
May God give you peaceful sleep.
For the Lord is my strength, my shield,
He alone gives me all I need
In the storm, He is near so my heart will never fear
I know that He will give me His peace.
And even in the valley, when fear is at my side
The Lord will be my comfort; the Lord will be my guide.
With all His grace and mercy, His love will never leave
I know that he will give me His peace.

They Arrived!

The welcomers had to go to the airport a day later than originally planned, but the Truongs finally made it to Taiwan.  Wednesday afternoon, August 1 is the day they began their new lives in Taiwan.

The Vietnamese church (Agape Alliance) prepared a meal to welcome the Truong family, and a few members even requested the day off work to be there. The Truongs stayed at the church through the weekend.  They plan to move into their new home on Monday, August 6.

We praise the Lord for working out all the details.  We are especially thankful that they were able to arrive prior to the first day of school for Melody.

Lorne and Kathy-Lu will spend most of this week helping them get needed household items.  And of course, they will need to do the necessary paperwork at government offices.

Please pray for stamina and wisdom as we enter this busy week.

Father’s Day – Taiwan Style

Wednesday, August 8, is Father’s Day.  Join us

• Thanking God for being our Heavenly Father.
• Thanking God for those who choose to be godly fathers.  Pray for wisdom and that they will remain steadfast in their faith.
• Praying for Christian believers who will take the opportunity to honor their fathers.  Pray that they will show God’s love and grace in their family relationships.

More News and Prayer Items

• A deposit is paid and Lorne will sign the lease on the apartment where the Truongs will live on Monday afternoon.  Lorne and Kathy-Lu were able to see the apartment earlier than we had originally been told.  Thank-you for praying last week!
• Please pray for the final preparations for classes at the MK (Missionary Kids) School that begin on August 13.  Elaine will be a volunteer art teacher, fulfilling the parent involvement requirement for the start of the new branch school.
• Two people have indicated they would like to be baptized at our church.  Please pray that their faith will be strengthened while attending the pre-baptismal classes.

Mondays with the Whites 
Volume 30   July 23, 2018   

The above photo is Pastor Joshua with the short-term team from Taipei.  They will be ministering here in Baozhong during the next few days.

Their participation will include:

• Leading the Elementary “Tunafish” Summer Camp in the mornings (July 23-25)
• Ministry at the Nursing Home (July 23 afternoon)
• Visitation in some homes (July 24 afternoon)

Please pray for

• good weather
• many opportunities to share the gospel
• opportunities to lead people to faith in Christ

• Lorne and Albert will attend the Church-Mission Joint Church Planting Strategy Meeting on Monday (23).
• Albert and Elaine will move on Tuesday (24)
• Chinh and Lieu Truong have received some encouraging emails, but their visa applications are still not certain.  Please pray for a breakthrough so that they can travel to Taiwan before the August 13 start of classes for their daughter.
• Lorne and Kathy-Lu plan to attend the Taiwan Missionary Fellowship Conference (July 23-27).  This is an opportunity to learn from God’s Word and to hear international workers from other sending organizations share about initiatives that are reaping results.
• Children’s Sunday School has begun.  Please pray for the teachers who will take turns teaching. Pray that more children will attend after being at camp.
• Two people have indicated they would like to be baptized.  Please pray that their faith will be strengthened while attending the pre-baptismal classes.

Mondays with the Whites 
Volume 29   July 16, 2018   

The building was full, noisy, and there was excitement in the air as we met on Sunday to worship God and to hear Taiwan-sent missionaries share.  Three churches joined together for the experience.

In addition to hearing the missionary challenge, it was wonderful to see so many people whose lives have been touched the C&MA work in Yunlin County.  In just over 10 years, people have come to faith and others have come from other places to be a part of the Alliance churches in Yunlin.

Praise the Lord with us for the good response and pray that many more people from every corner of the globe will hear the good news about Jesus.

Mondays with the Whites 
Volume 28   July 9, 2018   

Through the miracle of time travel, we were privileged to have a guest speaker at church today. (photo) It was a friend of the Apostle Paul telling us the story of how the gospel first arrived in Philippi.

He reminded us to be a believer who prays (like Lydia), a believer with authority (like Paul) and a believer full of praise (like Paul and Silas).

This sermon precedes a series looking at the book of Philippians. It will continue through until the end of the year. Please pray for Lorne as he prepares for the weeks when he will share during this new sermon series.