Thank you for praying for Easter events this past week.  We are thankful that 195 of the 200 eggs purchased were usable after boiling and decorating.  We met with mostly positive responses as we gave them away and looked for opportunities to explain the origin and meaning of the celebration.  The fact that the Chinese title for this day is literally “Resurrection Day” is a good starting point for sharing some of the truth about Jesus.  Please continue to pray that seeds planted will grow and bear fruit.

Today (Apr. 1) Lorne saw the specialist about the continuing numbness and loss of movement in his left ankle/foot.  The doctor is encouraging him to continue therapy once or twice a week to keep the muscles strong while we will wait for the nerves in his leg to regenerate. Please join us in continuing to pray about this.

Thursday, April 4 is the Clear and Bright Festival, also known as Tomb Sweeping Day.  Taiwanese will have an extra-long weekend (Thursday through Sunday).  It is an important part of Taiwanese culture to express respect for elders including those who have passed away.  Traditional religious practices have become entwined in the expressions of honoring these important people.  This sometimes makes it a difficult time for Christ-followers.  Please pray for wisdom and sensitivity as Christians seek to express respect in God-honoring ways.

In just over 2 weeks, Ethan and Elyssa will be completing this school year at Ambrose University College.  They need to arrange for summer jobs and for housing.  They have made some inquiries, but there are no firm plans yet.  We are praying that God will direct them through this time of transition.  If you know of possibilities, please feel free to let us know.

HAPPY EASTER!

The churches that you are a part of are busy this week, with many special Easter events.  We want you to know that we are praying for you, and those who will join you for those activities.  We are trusting God to make the familiar Easter story touch hearts in a special way, bringing excitement and freshness.

This week we will be distributing decorated eggs and telling the Easter story.  Please pray for that we will use age-appropriate language and details as we tell the story to a variety of age groups.  The egg-wrappers include a Bible verse in Chinese.  The photo above is from two years ago.  This year we are anticipating preparing about 300 eggs.  That means there is some work to do to make that happen.

Thank-you for praying about the items mentioned last week.

• God helped Kathy-Lu teach.  She mentioned some aspects of the lesson that the children seemed to enjoy.
• Lorne was encouraged by the time spent with pastors at the strategy meetings last week.  Although leaders can do many good things, the seminar leader reminded us that a healthy church has evidence of the Holy Spirit at work.
• The discussion with the pastor of Deep Grace Alliance Church was very positive.  Lorne and Kathy-Lu are planning to join them for the morning service April 21.  The partnership in the church planting work will be shared with the congregation that day.

We would like to ask you to pray with us for Albert and Elaine Lu, along with their three children Elise, Liana, and Nathaniel.  Albert and Elaine are working through the process of becoming C&MA Canada international workers appointed to Taiwan.  Albert is currently on staff at First Alliance Church in Toronto.  Over the next few months they will be working through the process to get medical clearance, get final approval from the C&MA leadership, final orientation sessions, applying for visas, preparing their children for transition, etc.  If appointed, they could possibly arrive in Taiwan to begin language study as early as this summer.  Please pray for them and their extended families as they go through this process of confirming God’s leading.

Please pray for healing for Lorne.  He has injured the nerve in his leg, resulting in a loss of the ability to lift the toe of his left foot.  The doctor is hopeful that the nerve will grow and heal over time, but says it could be a slow process.  The loss of movement influences his walking.

On Thursday evening and all day Friday, Lorne will attend the Taiwan Alliance Church Union Strategy Meetings for pastors.  The presentations this year will be on healthy church growth.  Lorne will also be discussing with Pastor Andy Chi about how the Deep Grace Alliance Church is willing to partner with our church planting ministry.  Please pray for a sense of unity and mutual encouragement as the pastors meet together.

Because Lorne will be away, Kathy-Lu will be by herself to teach the English class at Chaurtsuo Elementary School.  Please pray for extra enabling for her, and that the students will be cooperative, wanting to learn.

At an area pastor’s prayer meeting last week, Lorne heard that a new church is being started by a large Presbyterian church in Chiayi City in the outlying community of TaXi Township.  On Saturday we were told by SEND International missionaries about a new work that is beginning in TaLin Township.  It is encouraging to hear about new efforts to bring the gospel message to the residents of south central Taiwan.   Please pray that as we share creative ideas that God gives us, and as pray for each other, that God will protect His workers and allow them to be light in the darkness.  May God fulfill His promise to “build His church.”

Kathy-Lu is thankful for safe travel to and from the C&MA Pastor Wives and Female Pastors Retreat.  She appreciated the opportunity to deepen relationships.  They spent time reading Colossians and listening to what God was saying to them.  Please pray that God will continue to speak to and work in the lives of those who attended.

Lorne is enjoying telling Bible stories about Jesus to the sixth grade English classes. We would like to have opportunities to talk with adults about similar stories.  Please pray as we explore ways to have such opportunities.  One possibility is a tea time at our house on Wednesday evenings (maybe starting March 20).  Please pray for God to guide as to the best way to do this.

Kathy-Lu is attending a C&MA Pastor Wives and Female Pastors Retreat on March 4-6.  Please pray for God’s Spirit to minister to the attendees, helping them to be the leaders that God wants them to be.  (She will be glad it is being held at a hot springs resort, because the nighttime temperatures are supposed to be about 10 degrees Celsius.)

Lorne went to a Bible Storytelling Workshop last Saturday to get more ideas of how to use storytelling as a one of the ways he can interact with people.  Please pray that he would be discerning to find ways to use some of what he learned.

Kathy-Lu recently received a very encouraging report from her cardiologist.  Tests show that the valve that was repaired is working exactly as they hoped.  Her heart has continued to adjust to the “new normal” and apart from some occasional irregular beats is doing well.  We have so much for which to be thankful.

There are opportunities for both English-speaking and Chinese-speaking (Mandarin or Hokkien) team members to help us in ministry this summer.  Is there a team from your church willing to come?  Are you willing to join others from different churches and come and help?  Please pray about this and let us know.  The dates we are thinking might work best are in the weeks listed below:

• Children’s Day Camp             July 1-6
• Junior High Day Camp           August 5-9
• Children’s Day Camp             August 12-16  OR  July 8-12
• Vision Prayer Trip                   October 6-13

We are thankful to report that Tim and Penny Iverson have returned from the USA.  We are enjoying their fellowship and glad that they are once again available for the ministry at Amazing Grace Alliance Church.

Thursday, February 28 is a National Holiday in Taiwan.  It is sometimes known as “Peace Day” and sometimes known as “Peace Memorial Day”.  Often it is referred to as “228” because it commemorates an incident that happened on the 28^th day of February in 1947 when the government suppressed an uprising.  Many people were killed at the time and in the events that followed.  Having the holiday and celebrations in recent years (such as the 2004 Hand-in-Hand Rally that stretched 310 km. from north to south Taiwan) has helped to bring healing.  Please pray for those that need a special touch from the Prince of Peace to allow them to have peace in their hearts, especially when they are reminded about what happened to those with whom they have heart connections.

Kathy-Lu will attend a C&MA Pastor Wives and Female Pastors Retreat on March 4-6.  Please pray for God’s Spirit to minister to the attendees, helping them to be the leaders that God wants them to be.

Philip and Bethany will be “on their own” parenting their children as Bethany’s Mom leaves Thursday to return to Taiwan.  Juliet will sure miss her.  Please pray for them as they figure out how to care for each child and still take care of themselves.  We are thankful that both Cheyenne and Savannah are doing well, and for all the loving support that the family is receiving.

We have been thankful for the Lunar New Year season which has allowed us to focus our time and efforts in some different directions.  This week we begin to return to our regular schedule of volunteering in the elementary schools.  We start classes at two schools this week, and add the third school the following week.

We are currently in discussions with church leaders from an Alliance church in Taipei about how they will partner with us.  Decisions will probably not be made until early March, but we would appreciate your prayers that we would find God’s will in this relationship.

We are still asking God for a Taiwanese-speaking coworker, and for wisdom to find ways to discuss Bible stories with our acquaintances.  Please pray for God to open the doors of heaven and provide for these areas of need.

Short-term workers are still needed for summer ministries.  Please contact us if you might be interested.

Happy New Year!  It is the Year of the Snake in the Chinese calendar.

Thank-you for praying as we distributed the New Year Blessings.  We had good weather as Lorne was out doing that.  There were some great interactions with people too.

We started the Lunar New Year by going to church.  Kathy-Lu led worship singing, and Lorne shared at Amazing Grace Alliance Church in the nearby town of Yuanchang.  Lorne will be sharing again this coming Sunday as Tim and Penny Iverson are still away in the USA.

We have been thinking and praying about summer ministry 2013.  We need short-term workers to come if those dreams are going to be realized. Knowing by March 2013 will permit us to reserve facilities, plan curriculum, and publicize the events.  There are opportunities for both English-speaking and Chinese-speaking (Mandarin or Hokkien) team members.  Is there a team from your church willing to come?  Are you willing to join others from different churches and come and help?  Please pray about this and let us know.  The dates we are thinking might work best are in the weeks listed below:

• Children’s Day Camp             July 1-6
• Junior High Day Camp           August 5-9
• Children’s Day Camp             August 12-16  OR  July 8-12
• Vision Prayer Trip                   October 6-13

Praise the Lord!

Both Savannah and Cheyenne are home from the hospital.

Juliet is learning what it means to have younger sisters.

Thank-you praying for us as we were in Malaysia.  The worship, fellowship, ministry of the Word, and vision-casting made it a very worth-while trip.

Please pray for our co-worker Tim Iverson and his family.  Tim’s father went to be with the Lord this last Friday.  We are helping at Amazing Grace Alliance Church (in Yuanchang Township) while they are away in the States at this time.

Chinese New Year’s Day is next Sunday!  We will be busy this week preparing for the most important Taiwanese annual holiday.  We will also be distributing the blessings this week.  Please pray for good weather and for God to prepare hearts to receive His blessings.

We praise God for people who are interested in knowing more about the Taiwan Hidden in Plain Sight Ministry.  This last week we hosted a Taiwanese pastor with his wife and a Canadian C&MA leader.  We are thankful for their interest, words of encouragement and their prayer support.  Please pray that God will continue to lead in bringing together individuals and churches for involvement in the ministry.

We are thankful for the Canadian pastors and church leaders who assisted in the search for candidates for a teaching position at a local Baozhong private English tutorial school.  Sherry has accepted the position and will begin working here in May.  Sherry currently attends an Alliance church in Calgary.  We are all praying that in addition to her work responsibilities God will give her many opportunities to witness for Christ in the community.

We are praying and planning to start a Bible Story Group.  We will be inviting adults to come hear and discuss Bible stories.  It will probably be on Wednesday evenings beginning in later February.  Please pray as more preparations are made.  Pray that we will find good ways to invite people to come.

Thank-you to those who have been praying for our granddaughters.  Savannah and Cheyenne are doing well.  They are improving and we hope they will be able to come home from hospital soon