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

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.