It is our prayer that you have seen God’s mighty hand at work in your life over the past year and that you enter this coming year with great anticipation of what the Lord will do in your life and the lives of those dear to you. God bless you all!
This weekend marks the one-year anniversary of my mother’s death. I wish I could say I understood grief, but honestly, the older I get, I conclude, grief still has it’s way of surprising me.
Yesterday I was putting up clothing that I had packed in our crate from the US. I unpacked one of my mom’s blouses, and one of her hats. It dawned on me that this time last year, Oct 30, 2010 when I went home to TX for my mother’s funeral, that I snatched these two articles from her home and packed them in my suitcase for when I return to Taiwan. Then in April 2011, when we left Taiwan to go stateside for 4 months, I had packed the same two articles in my check in luggage, taking them to TX with me. In August 2011 we packed a crate of things to send to Taiwan. Yes, Mom’s blouse and hat tucked among the things, which I rediscovered yesterday!
I haven’t worn them, I just like to pack and keep them and take them back and forth from one side of the world to the other. I recognize the Lord’s comfort here.
4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore,
And our sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed.
6 All of us like sheep have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all
To fall on Him. NAS
When Jesus went to the cross – he even bore our griefs.
How do you know you if have really surrendered your grief to the Lord?
Could it be when you recognize his comfort? Like I said, grief still has a way of surprising me, but better yet, the Lord’s comfort is even greater.
Do you like My Mom’s Hat?
A couple of days ago we were out running errands when we saw the tire delivery guy . . . .
For you folks outside the US – that’s 43 degrees!
Hopefully it will be somewhat cooler on the other side of the pond when we get there.
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It is hard to believe that our time stateside has come and gone so quickly! Had you asked us a month ago if we were ready to return to the field, we probably would have said “no”, however we now feel like we have rested well, played hard, and eaten enough, and now our hearts are turning back towards the people and work in East Asia.
Fran & Paige – a day at the Arboretum
Fran, Paige, sister, in laws & friends – Mom’s Day surprise
Fran & sister Boo – 3 days at Galveston
Jackie & Fran – Bike rides & 3 mile walks at North Park Mall
Fran – stretch class at PCBC & morning walk’s with a friend.
Jackie & Fran – 3 days at BSF Headquarters in San Antonio
Jackie & Fran, Paige & Chris – 2 days in LaGrange
Jackie & Fran – fun w/lifetime friends on Memorial Day
Week night dinners with Travis
Jackie & Fran, w/Paige & Chris – 8 days in Canada!
Jackie & Fran – 6 Days in VA for stateside renewing & reunited with Taiwan co-workers
Jackie – numerous trips for dental work & Fran- numerous cholesterol tests
Family gatherings at graduations and funerals
Millions of trips to half price books (Jackie pouts if we pass by w/out stopping)
Discovered some great Food: Fadi’s Mediterranean Grill, Pizza by Marco, Cindy’s Delicatessen, Charlie’s Philly cheese steak, & THE FOOD CHANEL! [Jackie has nick named Fran “Frachel” because she loves Rachel Ray’s 30-minute meals!]
Lunches/or coffee with a few faithful friends!
Meeting the next generation of Taiwanese UTD students!
Scanning many generations of photos for both the Bell & Hogue families
Lottie Moon supporters
Southern Baptist Church partners with International Mission Board
Park Cities Baptist Church – provision of a mission home!
Bible Study Fellowship, International (BSF) – its worldwide ministry
Brenda Rhodes – provision of a mission car!
Many “No alarm” days – we came home very tired, and finally begin to feel rested. As we return to Taiwan Aug 15, we are so thankful for this season of rest. We are amazed how the sermon series at PCBC took us through Philippians, emphasizing our new life in Christ. Our week in Richmond focused on “Renewal”, encouraging us to rest physically as we reconnect with loved ones. Our week in Canada renewed our spirits as the Rockies revealed the majesty of God. We truly are thankful for our REST IN HIM!
As we return to field service, we hope you will continue to be our prayer partners! Jackie will begin a new work assignment, serving as Admin Specialist to the Strategy Training Team for East Asian Peoples Affinity Group. Please pray he will be quick to learn his new job assignment, and that his gifts and skills will compliment our co-workers. He will also continue to serve as substitute teaching leader of the Evening men’s BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) class. Fran will continue to serve as the teaching leader of the day women’s BSF class. Pray that the “Acts of the Apostles” study be used in these Taipei classes to bring new life to truth seekers, and a renewed passion for Christ among believers and a commitment to actively serve the local churches and the world. We will also resume our in home bible study with young Adults. Many of them are UTD Alumni and love our common love of Dallas. Pray the Lord will re-gather them to our home in September and that many will come to know and trust Christ.
For those of you that weren’t able to re-connect while we were in TX, know that you are always welcome to come see us in Taiwan. When you come, you will experience a land of beauty as you minister to a spiritually hungry people group.
to someone very special!
Forever our little girl
We’ve been a little busy so I’m just now getting around to posting about our newest gadget. Two weeks ago we took the plunge and bought a new camera. Our other camera – Canon S3 IS – is 3 years old and kinda bulky. I love it and it’s 12X zoom, but it doesn’t do real well indoors and it sometimes blurs the left side of the picture.
When we were home for vacation this summer I looked at a replacement – a Canon S90 – but I just couldn’t bring myself to spend the bucks. So I just shopped and drooled. A few weeks after returning to Taiwan I couldn’t stop thinking about it so I started looking at it here. Too expensive!
Then one day online I discovered that the S90 (and it’s main 3 flaws) had been upgraded. The Canon S95 had been released. Now I was really obsessed! I started looking around Taipei and learned a couple of things:
Cameras, regardless of price do not come with international warranties. The warranty is only good in the country of purchase.
Some Canon dealers in Taipei get (some of) their cameras through channels other than Canon in Taiwan, outside of the country of Taiwan. Therefore, if you purchase the camera through them and you have a warranty issue, Canon Taiwan will not perform warranty work on it. It is called parallel importing.
So, after all the looking and learning we decided to go for it and saved $70 over the price of the “official” Canon Taiwan product. The shop we used will provide the one year warranty for the camera.
We’ve been busy and haven’t had a chance to really get to know it very but have played around with it a little bit.
It is a very powerful pocket sized camera that we hope will provide us with many memories.
We have talked before about the Taipei summer heat. But I have to believe things really are bigger, louder, faster, & HOTTER in Texas!
I suppose there is no escaping the heat . . .
For the rest of the world, that’s 44 degrees Celsius!
