Thanksgiving was the topic of some of last week’s English classes.  This week Kathy-Lu and I will enjoy celebrating Thanksgiving Day with our American co-workers.  We are looking forward to the fellowship, food, and fun.

Because the Baozhong Primary School English classes are scheduled to hear a Bible story only once each month, Lorne will tell the story of the first Christmas to students beginning this Friday. Your prayers are appreciated.

Fear of what might happen is one of the things that hinders people from being willing to put their faith in Christ Jesus.   One of the youth who came to weekend events at the church told us it would now be necessary to “go and do traditional Taiwanese worship at a local temple in order  to avoid stirring up trouble in life.”  There are stories circulating about others who stopped doing the traditional worship rituals and had horrific nightmares afterwards.  We believe that both the nightmares and the fear that they might occur are part of the spiritual battle.  Will you please join us in praying that those who dare to explore about a relationship with Jesus would be protected from nightmares and demonic manifestations?  And please pray that the Holy Spirit will have freedom to work, bringing people to faith in Christ.

Please pray for the final editing and graphic design of a tract being designed to be distributed inside the Christmas candy bags.  Pray that God will use it to make people curious about the peace that Jesus gives.

Thank-you to those who are praying for our English-teaching in the elementary schools.  There has been some improvement in classroom dynamics since our October 11 request for additional prayer.  Your continued participation is appreciated.

A religious sect that does not believe that Jesus is God has been making regular visits to our town.  The schedule of their visits seems to coincide with the weekends when we have monthly children and youth activities.  We suspect the proseletizing may be causing some in the community to put up additional defenses that are affecting our ability to talk to them about deeper matters.   Please pray that God will protect the seeds of truth that are being planted so they are not stolen away or choked out by false teaching.

Another week has past, and we are getting closer to Christmas. It is a special opportunity to tell the story of Jesus to people.  We are preparing to tell the story of Jesus birth in schools and in various church activities.  At the same time we want to be worshippers, and enjoy the opportunity to reflect on the historical and theological truths.  Please pray that God will use us to draw people toward a relationship with Jesus during this Christmas season.

This week I was challenged as I read a review of the book:    All In: You Are One Decision Away From a Totally Different Life (by Mark Batterson).  According to the reviewer, the author “implores believers … to exercise the Lordship of Christ in everything. His premise is that grace doesn’t cost anything, but demands everything. It demands placing all that we have into God’s hands. Kneeling at the foot of cross of Christ and surrendering to His Lordship is a radical act of dethroning yourself and enthroning Christ as King.” That is a lot to think about.  This book is now on my list of books to be read in the new year.  What about you?  Other than the Bible, what are you reading that is challenging you to go deeper in your relationship with the Christ of Christmas?  Feel free to write and tell us.

You know you live in rural Taiwan when:

• You see pigs on the way to market parked on the street near your house because the driver is getting cash from the ATM machine at the bank.
• You spend time each week sweeping up feathers that are blowing around in your house entry-way.
• You can identify the crops being grown:  peanuts, rice, garlic, leeks, etc. and the equipment used for planting and harvesting.
• Crops like rice and peanuts are spread on the road to sun-dry, and the expectation is that people will drive around them or take an alternate route.
• The nearest McDonalds is located at least 20 minutes drive from your house in a larger centre.  However local fast foods (stinky-tofu, chicken gizzards, etc.) are still readily available.
• Winds, with dust from as far away as China mixed with local particulates, are the expected meteorological phenomenon for the winter months.  (It is one reason we appreciate the rain, although the high humidity brings other challenges like mildew, easy to get chilled, etc.)
• And…we know we are adapting when none of the above bother us, or at least not very much.

We are thankful for those that have covenanted with us to pray each week as Lorne tells Bible stories in the elementary school.  In addition to this, we need people to pray for the English classes that we teach on Thursday and Friday afternoons (Your Wednesday and Thursday late evenings).   Overall it is going well, but there are some challenges as we encourage students to show respect for each other.  We need God to help us to select suitable learning activities and use them in ways that help the students to learn and make the classroom a safe learning environment.  We want the students to sense that God loves and cares for them because of their interactions with us.

It seems that sounds have been an important part of our last week.  These included:

• Numerous broadcast trucks drove down our street with recordings of the candidates seeking votes in the election primary for County Magistrate. (The successful candidates will have a year to prepare for the actual election.)
• Drums and loud broadcast music reached our ears as the temple parades moved along the street past our front door.  Usually these were pilgrims from temples in other parts of Taiwan coming to participate in temple celebrations near where we live.
• Amplified voices and music from funeral bands marked the ceremonies as people said the final farewell to their loved one and then marched in the procession to the cemetery.
• Students responded with laughter, questions, and talking as they listened to stories being told.
• Voices call to welcome us as we arrive at schools to teach English.  Many students are improving as we practice the pronunciation of words and phrases.
• The howl of the tires on the car decreased (almost disappeared) when new tires replaced those that were worn out and becoming dangerous.
• The sound of traffic entered the open windows now that the air conditioner is not being used.  Trucks, motorcycles, cars, tractors, etc.
• AND, there was the sound of singing and praising God while we worshipped at Amazing Grace Alliance Church.  Lorne shared from God’s word about hearing, recognizing, and responding to God’s voice.

Psalm 46 instructs us that in the midst of the noises around us we are to quiet ourselves.  Verse 10 tells us:  ““Be still, and know that I am God!  I will be honored by every nation.  I will be honored throughout the world.”  That is a great way to regain perspective!

How successful are you in being quiet in the middle of hubbub?  We appreciate your prayers that we would be able to hear God’s voice and be encouraged in His presence, even when there are many other sounds around us.  We pray that you will also be able to do that in your life.

Thank-you for taking the time to read this and praise God for how he is answering our prayers:

• God blessed us by having one of the church members from Deep Grace Alliance Church offer to help with graphic arts.  His artwork on the flyer for the children’s event was well received.
• There were 11 students and 3 mothers who came to the Children’s Story-Telling Event on Saturday afternoon (photos).  Some were students that we teach in the schools.  Please pray that God will use these monthly events to help children learn about Jesus at an early age.
• Many youth returned and there were some who came for the first time to the Youth Drop-in Evening on Saturday evening (photos).  These students are under tremendous pressure to get high grades and be able to do well on exams so that they can attend the best schools.  It is great to hear their laughter as they play the games.  Please pray that the songs and sharing will help them know Jesus at a young age.

Sometimes people we know need practical help.  Please pray:

• We can find people to help a Japanese daughter-in law (Living in northern Taiwan) learn Chinese.
• We will know how to respond when there is an opportunity to discuss parenting children.
• We can help students learn how to show respect for those around them.  This is a great need in the classrooms.

Thank-you for your encouragement!  Knowing you are willing to receive these emails and to pray for us helps us overcome discouragement and helps us to depend on the Lord.

This week we want to follow up on a prayer request we sent out last month.   We asked for prayer as there was to be a huge temple event taking place near us, aiming to gather 10,000 idols.

We did not go to look for ourselves, so are dependent on the report from a Taiwanese pastor’s wife:
There were very, very few idol parades on the streets. The streets were relatively quiet and traffic was disrupted less than had been expected.  Though it was claimed that over 4,000 idols came, the crowds were small.  A typhoon hit Taiwan during that time and affected some of the planned events. Their church used that time to distribute Gospel tracts in the city.  A total of 15,700 tracts were sent out. Please pray that every tract will be read, and that God’s Word will produce fruit in their lives.  Pray for peoples’ spiritual eyes to be opened, and for there to be an unquenchable desire in their hearts to know Christ Jesus.

Actually that is a good way to pray for the residents of Baozhong too.  We want the students whom we teach, the children that attend the story time on Saturday, the youth that come to the drop-in evening, and the adults that come to the worship time to be attracted to knowing Jesus.

As you talk to God about the gospel work in Baozhong, you are participating in a very significant way.  Thank-you!

 HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

We were thankful to be able to celebrate with friends on Sunday.  The turkey was roasted for us at a turkey ranch and came complete with the head.   

Thank-you to all who joined us this past week in praying for the Hidden in Plain Sight work.  God hears and answers prayer.  He even had someone drop in to inquire about the church that is being started.  We pray for more such “God-arranged-events.”

Lorne is thankful he was able to spend some time with JR this past week, visiting a seaside park.  JR has been sharing how God is encouraging him.  Please pray for the salvation of JR’s family, including an uncle who is experiencing some health challenges.  

This week Lorne will begin telling the next Bible story. When is the last time you read the story of Moses running away from Egypt as a murderer, meeting God in the wilderness, and then returning to Egypt?  Why not take time to do so?  When you do, ask God to use this story to reveal Himself to the students who hear it. 

Saturday, October 19 is the Fall Business Meeting of the C&MA denomination in Taiwan.  It will be the first opportunity to introduce Albert and Elaine to the leaders of the churches.  Please pray for Spirit-led communication as the delegates from the 27 churches set the 2014 ministry goals and the 2014 budget.  While in Taipei Lorne and Kathy-Lu plan to visit some friends and will share briefly at the Deep Grace Alliance Church.

The original plan was for this week to be our Vision Prayer Retreat.  Unfortunately those who planned to come were unable to do so.  Because of that we would appreciate it if you are able to take time on one or more days during this week to pray for the different aspects of the church work.

Thank-you for praying for us last week.  Lorne created a sign to hang in front of our house.  The balloons that were around the entrance were less successful as the wind kept busting them, but even that drew attention to the fact that we were having a children’s story-telling event this last Saturday.  We also handed out some flyers at the night market and were able to mention it in some of the classes where we teach.  We had one very cute second-grader who came for the whole time.  Three other students came but had to leave early to go to their scheduled tutorial classes.  It was a positive start to this new ministry that we are offering to the community.  The next story-telling event is planned for October 26.

There were 17 youth at the Drop-in event last Saturday evening. 12 of them attend activities at the Amazing Grace Alliance Church in a nearby town. They came over to join in the fun and to help us build some momentum. We had a fun time. The next Drop-in Event is planned for October 26.

Please pray for Mr. Wu, at teacher at Fuhsing Elementary School where we teach English.  He was in a motorcycle accident last Tuesday.  He suffered a broken leg and some other injuries.  He will be in hospital for about a month, and then will require additional therapy after that.  Please pray for his recovery and that Lorne can be an encouragement to him during this time.  Pray for the staff and the students at the school because an accident like this affects the whole community.  Pray for the driver of the car and her family as they seek to negotiate a fair financial settlement for the accident.

This past week we had the opportunity to take a few days of relaxation.  The variety and beauty of God’s creation was something that we enjoyed.  We found this butterfly (photos) trapped in one of the tourist centers.  It blends in with its natural environment when its wings are closed.  But when its wings are open, there is a splash of colour visible.  In some ways, that is supposed to be like our life.  We live in town and participate in daily activities with those around us.  But during the events of the day we are to reflect the glory of Christ, showing others that there is something more to life than what they have found through their traditional religious pursuits.  Let’s pray for each other to be willing to “open our wings” and let others know about the hope that we have within us.

Monday evening and Wednesday noon we have been invited to join the staff and parent leaders from two elementary schools for a beginning of the school year meal.  We look forward to being able to get to know these “people of influence.”  Please pray that these activities will be profitable for the building of God’s kingdom.

It has been difficult to find a suitable way to promote the monthly Saturday afternoon “Story-Listening Time.”  We have contact with many elementary students in the schools, and would like to introduce them to this church-sponsored activity.  Please pray for wisdom and creativity as we seek to promote it this week.  The first scheduled event is for Saturday, September 28, 3 PM.  (This is just one of the events listed on the attached invitation to church activities.)

We need people to pray on a weekly basis for our students and for our teaching activities in the schools.  Things that you can pray for Lorne, Kathy-Lu, and Sherry include:

• That the students will respect us as teachers and be willing to learn from us.
• That the students will learn about speaking English, and will learn about trusting Jesus with their lives as they interact with us.
• That the Bible Stories told will attract the interest of the students, making them want to know more about trusting Jesus.
• That God will help us to find suitable character-building teaching resources that we can use when teaching in the classroom.  (Some books are available digitally as well as in print editions.  If you wish to donate toward this, please designate your gift:  Lorne & Kathy-Lu White Work Special)
• That students can learn about Jesus from a young age and be discipled into a walk with God