Last Saturday we went to an evening sponsored by the Baozhong Township Office.  It was a family event attended by a few thousand residents.  Nine finalists, one from each of the villages, competed in the town’s singing competition.  There was a fireworks display as the municipal politicians arrived with the contestants. We were able to hear the singing and see the results of the final judging.  But the activity that occupied most of the time that evening was the draw for prizes that had been contributed by different companies.  There was an abundance of prizes (tablet computers, bicycles, fancy rice cookers, electric fans, a refrigerator, a television, etc.).  Everyone waited and listened, hoping to hear that the number drawn was the one they had received when they entered the plaza.  At the end of the evening, there was a long line of people, waiting to exchange a coupon for a free bottle of soy sauce.

Many people attended the event with the hope of receiving something for free.  As we saw their excitement and anticipation, we also found ourselves thinking about a gift that they are not yet waiting in line to receive.  It is the gift of eternal life being offered by Jesus.  It is a free gift in that it cannot be purchased or earned, and yet there is a cost. It cost Jesus his life in order to provide it.  We must be willing to die to self in order to receive it.

Please continue to pray with us for the proclamation of the gospel message and for people to respond and receive the gift of eternal life.

Our house was a busy fun place as Albert and Elaine were finally able to come for a visit this last weekend.  They purchased a 7-passenger Toyota van with donated funds.  That means they now have a vehicle able to safely transport the whole family.  In addition to being with us for playing, laughter, sharing, and prayer, they joined Sherry, Kathy-Lu and Lorne for Sunday worship.  When our friend Formosa showed up, we quickly switched languages, using mostly Mandarin for the service.  It was exciting and is just a taste of what we hope will happen on a regular basis in the future.

We started teaching conversational English in two schools this past week.  We had technology problems in both schools.  We did get it resolved, but it reminded us to ask you to pray that the projectors and sound systems will work as they are supposed to.

Lorne will begin telling Bible stories at a third elementary school on Friday morning of this week.  The first story will be about Jochebed and Moses.  Do you remember that story from the early chapters of the book of  Exodus?  Please pray for God to help Lorne tell the stories in simple to understand English.  We are confident that God can take the content of the stories and use it to bring good in the lives of the students.

Praise the Lord the initial work of estimating what will be needed for next year’s budget is completed.  Please pray for regional leaders and those at the National Ministry Centre to  have wisdom as they review what is submitted to them from all the different countries,  They will make the final decisions regarding which items can remain in next year’s budget.

Next Monday morning, Sept. 16, the Taiwan Field C&MA international workers from the USA and Canada will be meeting for fellowship and prayer.  This will be the first time for some members on the team to meet Sherry, Albert, and Elaine.  Please pray for safety as we all travel to and from the meeting.  Expressing thanks to God and asking for His intervention in certain situations is important, but we also want to hear from God so that we can pray according to His will.

Thanks for helping us keep prayer a priority in our life and ministry!

We trust that your Labor Day weekend was a good time with family and friends. We enjoyed watching some of your updates on FaceBook. It is nice to know what is happening in your life, as well as being able to share with you what is happening in ours.

We are glad to report that the rain from the tropical storms has stopped and the flooding in the fields has receded. The main residential area of our town did not flood, but we did see reports of some serious flooding in other parts of the island. The weather has now returned to normal, and we are once again using the air conditioners.

Lorne is working on the budget request for next year. Please pray for wisdom as he seeks to project the amounts needed for rents, school expenses, ministry support costs, vehicle and travel expenses, etc.

We are at the end of the 7th lunar month, also known as ghost month. The air is thick with the smell of incense and the sound of traditional worship music as people offer food sacrifices to the ghosts. Please pray for Christian believers to have a good testimony of the peace that Jesus provides during this time when others are looking to appease the unseen spirits.

Just this afternoon (Wednesday, Sept. 4) Sharon came to our house. She was representing the principal at the largest elementary school in our town requesting that Lorne come tell stories to all the third through six grade classes. That is a total of 14 classes. We agreed that he will do so on Friday mornings, telling stories to four classes each week. The school will work out a schedule so that all of the classes will hear a story every 3-4 weeks. The telling of Bible stories is permitted. Please pray that God will use this community service to build relationship and trust with students, and that this will encourage students to attend our monthly children’s event sponsored by the church.

I think that if God was to send a special message to the Taiwanese people,it might read:  “Typhoons come and go, but the Word of the Lord never changes.”  Tropical storms in consecutive weeks leave us lots to thank God for and also to trust Him for.

• Praise the Lord that we did not need to deal with rainy windy weather for any of our summer outreach events.
• Praise the Lord for flexibility in the schedule, allowing us to arrange transportation for Elyssa on a day that was not stormy.
• Praise the Lord that He knows about the storm that is coming this week, and we will be safe in the hollow of His hand.
• Praise the Lord for how He keeps each and every one of us safe in His love, regardless of the storms of life that come.

Praise the Lord that Tim and Penny brought their youth group from Amazing Grace Alliance Church over to attend the Coffee House Evening last Saturday.  Included in the group were some Baozhong young people.  We had lots of fun and hope that there will be more local young people next month.

We plan to spend some extra time with Elyssa this week before she goes back to Calgary to attend university.  We are thankful for God’s answer to prayer.  She finally received her notice of acceptance at the University of Calgary and also has a place to live.  Please pray for her as she adjusts to a new college environment and will need to make new friends.

Albert and Elaine started Language school on Monday of this week (yesterday).  Pray for God to give them endurance as they can easily feel overwhelmed by the number of new sounds and concepts that are thrown at them in the first few weeks.  We praise God for His help in their transition to Taiwan and trust Him to guide them as they look for a dependable vehicle and other household items they still need.

Baozhong Jr Hi Summer Camp Participants with the shirts they dyed

Thank-you for your prayers throughout the past week.  There were 15 campers and one helper from the local community who participated in the camp.  The leadership included Lorne and Sherry from Baozhong, Curtis and Claire from Taipei, along with Gary and Sue from Nanaimo, BC.  Kathy-Lu had help from Joanne from White Rock providing meals and keeping the house in order.  Everyone at camp had fun singing, studying English, playing group games, and doing crafts.  There was an opportunity at the end of each camp day for Lorne to share a Bible story and some Bible truths.  We are hoping to continue the relationships with many of the students, and desire that each one will experience God’s saving work in their lives.

Happy Family Rally watching the Traditional Instrument Ensemble

On Friday evening the Happy Family Rally was held at the Jr Hi School gymnasium.  Over 100 people were present for at least part of the event.  Unfortunately there was another community event happening simultaneously, and some friends were not able to attend the rally.  We are thankful for the support we received from community and school leaders.

We also had five friends stay for the complete Jeremy Lin Youth broadcast on Sunday evening.  He told his own testimony and presented the gospel message.  Please pray that God will continue to work in the hearts of those who attended, all of whom come from traditional Taiwanese religious backgrounds.

At the above events we informed people that there is a weekly Bible study on Wednesday evenings, worship times on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month, and on the fourth Saturday of each month there will be Children’s activities in the afternoon and a youth drop-in coffeehouse in the evening.  It will still take more effort to promote these events, but we believe this will help us follow-up some who we connected with in the past week.  Please pray for us as these ministries begin.

We accepted the invitations to teach English at Fuhsing and Chaurtsuo Elementary Schools, beginning the first week of September.  Please pray for us as we prepare and then interact with the students.

The first day of Junior High Camp is complete.  There were 13 students who attended.  We all had fun and we had a chance to share the first Bible story–the story of our Creator God.  Thank-you for praying for us as we continue to interact with the students this week.  We appreciate the help that we are receiving from the other teachers and a Christian friend from White Rock BC.

The Happy Home Rally will happen on Friday evening.  A local friend donated a television as the door prize.  We received an email today saying that one of the people scheduled to share is sick and an alternate will be taking his place.  Please pray for God’s protection on all who will be participating and sharing that evening.

The seventh month on the lunar calendar began on August 7.  It is a time when superstitions cause people to be fearful about going out after dark, moving to a new house, or making a major life decision.  Please pray that the peace of Christ that exceeds anything we can understand will be evident in the lives of Christian believers and encourage others to ask about the hope that is within us.

Praise the Lord for the safe arrival of the Lu family.  It is exciting to see God expanding our Baozhong Township team of workers. (Attached photo is of us all together for Sunday lunch.)  The next few days will  be spent helping them accomplish the important initial details of establishing residency in Taichung City and setting up their new home.  Please pray for God to given them new friends and to help them through the time change and many other adjustments that they are making.

Elyssa asked that we would include her in this week’s update.  We are asking God to clarify and make His will clear.  There are a number of aspects of her plans for this Fall that remain quite “fluid.”  Please pray for God to provide for her.

We are anticipating the Saturday arrival of a couple from Nanaimo Alliance Church.  They are coming to work short-term, helping us to lead the Junior High Youth Camp.  Please pray for God’s enabling and blessing on their ministry.

Please pray for God to use the following events to help people learn more about having a relationship with Jesus:

• August 12-16 – Junior High Youth Camp (mornings)
• August 16 – Happy Home Rally (evening)
• August 18 – Jeremy Lin “Dream Big, Be Yourself”  live stream of the evangelistic event for youth

We appreciate you taking time in your schedule to pray for some or all of the following.  Your participation is something we value.  Thanks for engaging in what we are doing through prayer!

Thank-you for praying for us last week as we attended the Taiwan Missionary Fellowship Conference.  The speaker was Dean Trune, and he challenged us to put down deep spiritual roots—including giving us some practical suggestions on how to do that.  The things we heard will be helpful in our own personal lives and also as we disciple other believers.

The banners advertising the Youth Camp and the Happy Home Rally are now hanging around town.  People in the area are not used to seeing a white-skinned foreigner tying them up to advertise events.  We are thankful for the interest that is developing in the events.  Please continue to pray for suitable weather and for people to come to the events.  We are still encouraging more students to register for the camp.  Please also pray that we will have God’s enabling for planning decisions and for leading the events.

Please pray for Albert and Elaine and their children as they travel from Toronto on Friday-Saturday of this week.  We are excitedly anticipating their arrival and getting to spend time with them.  Please pray for wisdom as they will be making many decisions to transform their empty box of an apartment into their new home.

Praise the Lord that more has been accomplished in preparing for the August 12-16 youth camp.  Our biggest need at the moment is MORE CAMPERS.  Please pray for God to put us in touch with those interested in attending as well as that they will register.  Psalm 16:11 states: “You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.”  We are praying that through the camp experience we can help students become aware of the life promised by the Creator, helping them to begin walking toward a life in relationship with Christ.

Many people have advice regarding the content of the “Happy Home Event” program and how to promote it.  Please pray for wisdom and good communication as Lorne works on the preparations for this August 16 event.  Progress is being made, but there are always more things popping up, adding to the “to do” list.

We plan to be at the annual Taiwan Missionary Fellowship Conference this week.  It is a time for fellowship with friends and for spiritual nourishment.  Please pray for the speakers, volunteer workers in the children/youth programs, and the Holy Spirit’s work throughout the week.

We are thankful for how well Sherry has done moving to Taiwan, making friends, and getting used to rural living.  God has even given her a few special opportunities to witness about her faith.  Her summer schedule is busy with work and helping at the church camp.  Please pray she will have physical, emotional, and spiritual energy for each day.

We are thankful for unexpected questions and unscheduled visits that sometimes happen in the course of everyday life.  Please pray for us to have the right words to say and to know the appropriate things to do in these situations.  We want others to see the presence of Christ in our everyday lives.

Praise the Lord that there is progress in the preparations for the youth camp, August 12-16.  Lorne was able to complete a draft of the English teaching curriculum that will be used.  Two university students have volunteered to help at the camp.  Ideas for crafts and games are being suggested.  Please pray for wisdom as decisions are made and the final plan is put together.  Pray for the publicity that will happen later this week and especially for more campers to register.

Praise the Lord for local residents who are interested in participating in the musical talent part of the program at the Happy Family Rally.  A church member from Taipei is coming to help MC the evening.  More arrangements and contacting of community leaders will be happening this week.  Pray that God will use this to help families to become healthy through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Lorne was able to briefly visit with Mr. Cheng on Sunday evening.  Lorne will be trying to do a follow-up visit soon, and hopes that maybe Mr. Cheng will listen to a Taiwanese testimony with him.  Please pray for wisdom of how to introduce this.

We moved the rattan sofa set we have been using over the past 23 years to the first floor hospitality room to enhance the use of that room.  Please pray we will have wisdom as we look for suitable furnishings that will be practical and durable to fill the open space on our second floor.

Your involvement in the Hidden in Plain Sight Ministry is appreciated!

• PRAYER – thank-you to all who receive our updates and pray for us.  We can do nothing of eternal value unless we have God’s power at work within us.
• PARTICIPATION – thank-you to those who have the opportunity to join us onsite, helping with special events and visitation.  Jesus is exalted and honured as you use your gifts to serve.  We are encouraged as we see God at work in the service of others.
• PROVISION – thank-you for providing for the financial needs of the ministry.  We appreciate the sacrificial gifts that individuals are sending to support the various aspects of the work.  If you are interested in giving, you can receive a tax-deductible receipt from your local C&MA church by designating your gift as follows:

§  Support of Lorne and Kathy-Lu White:  provides for our monthly support, housing rent expense, all travel and vehicle expenses, visa expenses, regular communications and office expenses related to our specific work, etc

§  Outfit Fund:  provides for purchase of furnishings and equipment for our home and ministry centre.  The denomination provides CAD$600 per year.  Individual donors can donate allowing for up to a maximum of CAD$6,000 each year.

§  Work of Lorne and Kathy-Lu White:  used for ministry expenses not provided in other ways. This would include purchasing literature, retreat and meeting expenses, computer purchase and maintenance, etc.

§  Taiwan Hidden in Plain Sight:  used for the ministry in Baojhong, Taiwan. This year, funds will be used to subsidize the support of a full-time Taiwanese worker and  for the costs of ministry to adults, families, children, and youth.

§  Global Advance Fund:   Provides for same needs as the support fund for international workers around the world, including Lorne and Kathy-Lu White.

Thank-you for your partnership with us!