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East Asia Update – March 2012

Ministry, Newsletter, Uncategorized, Work

Mar 152012

East Asian Peoples Update, March 2012

East Asian Peoples Update

march 2012

Remembering the day that changed Japan

The earth shook so violently on March 11, 2011, that it literally moved Japan’s main island 8 feet. Buildings were destroyed immediately and lives were snuffed out. But the worst was yet to come. A mountainous tsunami obliterated all that was in its path, changing the coastland as it roared deep into the inland. Thousands of lives were lost and the lives of millions more were changed forever. As the nation of 127 million people reeled, news of an impending nuclear disaster began to unfold. One year later, many in Japan are still in crisis.Download the March 2012 prayer calendar at http://eastasianpeoples.imb.org/japan-one-year-later/ and join in prayers for Japan.

Go to http://eastasianpeoples.imb.org/japan-one-year-later/ to read stories of devastation, hope and recovery.

A doll from a God who cares
Day after day, she helplessly watches her six-year-old granddaughter cry inconsolably, grieving the death of her mother at the hands of the tsunami that struck the east coast of Japan on March 11, 2011. The little girl begs her grandmother for a doll. She needs something to hold, something to protect, something to love in her distress. But there are no dolls, no toys at all. Little does she know that God, whose eyes roam throughout all the earth, has already taken notice of the little girl’s pain. In his compassionate love, He has already prepared to meet her need. Read the story at http://eastasianpeoples.imb.org/field-blog/a-doll-from-a-God-who-cares/.

More stories can be found at http://asiastories.com/features/road-to-recovery/

Japan: one year later

The piles of rubble and debris are gone. The cars deposited on top of apartment buildings and ships stranded on streets by the March 11, 2011, tsunami have been carted off for recycling. The “smell of death”

has been replaced with the fragrance of fresh cut pine and construction. Hearts that were closed to the Gospel for hundreds of years are now open. Japan’s tsunami changed more than the landscape. See how Southern Baptists responded to the vast physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the Japanese. http://asiastories.com/features/road-to-recovery/

Japan: Tsunami survivor searches for comfort

She survived Japan’s tsunami. One year later, Shukuko Sasaki’s looking for comfort from the nightmares. Her husband and two distant relatives ran with her for higher ground. She’s the only one that survived. http://asiastories.com/features/road-to-recovery/?story=7790

Japan: Southern Baptist “Yellow Shirts” minister to survivors

The bright yellow shirts and vests of Southern Baptist disaster relief workers are well known in Japan. After one year of cleaning rubble, reconstructing houses, serving coffee and any other odd jobs they could find to do, doors are starting to open for the Gospel. Read how two different Japanese homeowners discover the mysterious joy behind the “yellow shirts.” http://asiastories.com/features/road-to-recovery/?story=7808

Students in focus

University cities receiving the Gospel

Three videos tell the story.

Millions of Chinese students are congregated in university cities: http://vimeo.com/.

Chinese university student Clay tells how he accepted Jesus: http://vimeo.com/.

Ten churches have adopted universities in China: http://vimeo.com/.

CIC (Christmas in China) 2012

“This has been one of the best Christmases I’ve ever experienced. It was not about the presents or decorations but about rejoicing in our Savior,” said a participant in Christmas in China 2011. Registration is already underway for CIC 2012!. Apply at http://thetask.org/cic.

Radical obedience — stories from frontline workers

They have left home and country to learn new cultures, languages and peoples. They work with East Asian Christians who have also left all to follow Him. Read their stories, share in their lessons learned and rejoice in their victories: posted at http://eastasianpeoples.imb.org/field-blog/stories-of-sacrifice-and-obedience/ throughout March. Read some excerpts below.

Dying to live

I looked straight into their eyes and said, ‘Your methods will not work on me because I decided to die for Jesus the day I decided to follow Him.’ The prison guards were shocked and shook their heads. http://eastasianpeoples.imb.org/field-blog/stories-of-sacrifice-and-obedience/

Moving toward Him

But they followed God in obedience back to Japan. Soon thereafter, the horrific earthquake and tsunami struck, centered around Sendai, the place they considered “home”. It was the very city where they had raised three children and buried one, and where lifelong friends still lived and worked. http://eastasianpeoples.imb.org/field-blog/stories-of-sacrifice-and-obedience/

Gaining understanding

When she came to visit she said her husband had left her for another woman, hidden her son in another city, and sent her home to her parents. She said she had lost everything and just wanted to die, and then she remembered what we had told her about Jesus. http://eastasianpeoples.imb.org/field-blog/stories-of-sacrifice-and-obedience/

Amazing reports from frontline workers

“God provided opportunities to go to countryside towns, and at least 350 people heard the name of Jesus who had never heard previously. There are now open doors for further contacts to be made.”"Praise God, we had 20 friends come and share the Gospel with almost 500 people, and they saw seven people pray to receive Christ!”

“Since visiting believers came to our city last June for outreach and discipleship, there have been 40 people saved and 17 baptized in three groups. Praise the Lord!”

A vital resource for you

There’s still time to order the 2012 EAPAG Prayer Calendar, available in English, Chinese, Korean and Japanese. The calendars are available free through the IMB Resource Center at http://imbresources.org/ or 1-800-999-3113. You can order multiple copies and only have to pay mailing. Or you can download the calendars at http://eastasianpeoples.imb.org/resources/.

To change your address, profile, or to unsubscribe, please use the safe links at the bottom of this email.

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Glorious Sunshine!

General, Holiday, Music, Photos, Taiwan, Uncategorized

Feb 052012

After what seemed to be months of rain we finally had a weekend without it!
Glorious, warm, recharging, SUNSHINE!

Sunday we went on a bike ride around the area. The weather was perfect. We ate at a new (to us) place called The Magic Bagel. We had a table outside in the shade and it was wonderful.

patio

The only reason we even saw it was because it was next door to “Texas Rangers Fried Chicken

TXrangersChicken

For desert we picked up a fruit tea.

Fruit Tea

We took it to the park to enjoy before going home.

Vendor

Rain

Taiwan, Uncategorized

Feb 032012

Anybody living on the north end of the island of Taiwan is becoming very good friends with rain. I seems like it has been going nonstop for months now.
You’ve heard “When life gives you lemons, make lemonaid!” Well when Taiwan gives you rain . . . .

East Asian Peoples Update – July 2011

Uncategorized

Aug 062011

Embrace the ends of the earth

Calling for “boots on the ground”, newly appointed IMB President Tom Elliff has joined other Southern Baptist leaders in challenging churches to “embrace” every one of the 3,800 people groups who are still unengaged. Speaking at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in June, he said, “To the best of our knowledge, nobody has them on the radar screen.”

To reach them, Elliff added, “It’s going to take nothing short of being willing to lay down your life.” Elliff envisions that the commitment to “embrace” a people group will be a long-term commitment on behalf of a church to do whatever it takes to get the Gospel to the people. Read more at call2embrace.org.

Unengaged East Asian People groups account for 296 of the 3,800 total. Please start praying now about embracing one of these groups. More details will be available in the near future. Read below the stories of others who made similar commitments to cities in recent years through Prayer Travels 2008-2009 and Extreme Emphasis 2010. Some are now living among the very peoples that they prayed for.

Prayer advocates impacting three cities

Louise Winston* willingly committed to prayer advocacy for “B City” in China last December, at the invitation of her daughter-in-law who serves elsewhere among the East Asian Peoples. Four months later Winston actually had opportunity to walk the streets of B city!

Bruce Prince started interceding for “E City” in November of 2008. Less than three years later, he and his wife now live in an East Asian city, reaching out to the people and studying language full time to equip them for future years of service.

In the fall of 2008, Celeste and Herb Hamilton were part of a Baptist congregation in Colorado when they began interceding for “T”, an East Asian mega-city. Hamilton and her husband have now lived in close proximity to T city since March, and travel in several times a month to build relationships and share the Good News.

Go to http://eastasianpeoples.imb.org to read the full story.

*All names changed.

EA1Day

Choose from four exciting EA1Day gatherings in October and learn how to impact China’s western cities, Japan’s unreached millions, Tibetans, Hui and Mongolians for Christ. Registration deadline is October 10. Go to http://eastasianpeoples.imb.org/news/ea1day/ for more details.

Leaving her voice behind

A five-year journey of emotional ups and downs comes to an end for a Christian worker in China. Diana Huang* watched as those she grew to care for were shunned or beaten for their faith. When Huang tells her friends she’s returning to America, they ask her to do one thing … leave them her voice. Join Huang on AsiaStories as she sings for her friends and introduces you to some people who have become “spiritual giants” in her eyes. Go to AsiaStories to hear and download this story from East Asia.

*Name changed.

What’s new on the web

John the Baptist and me
“I wish I had thought to tell them ahead of time that I didn’t eat locusts, but I didn’t.” Read “Pieces of my journey at http://eastasianpeoples.imb.org/field-blog/john-the-baptist-and-me/
An answered prayer
“Before our trip, my husband and I had prayed that God would bring into our lives ‘people of peace’ who might help us locate just the right place for our gathering.” Read “Prayers of Joy” at http://eastasianpeoples.imb.org/prayersofjoy/
Baptist “ground presence” makes impact in Japan’s disaster clean-up
“The Japanese woman clutches the gift tightly and softly thanks the Southern Baptist volunteer from Tennessee.” Read the story at http://eastasianpeoples.imb.org

Prayer reports from frontline workers

Rich and unhappy Recently the newest casino hotel/resort opened in Macau, making it the 34th casino operating in the city. Casino revenue generated in the first half of 2011 is U.S. $15.5 billion. But still the people are unhappy. Pray that the people of Macau will seek out the One who can provide true abundant life.

Backpacking for Jesus Praise God for a dedicated volunteer team that followed God’s call to backpack for a week. Through the Father’s strength, they were able to share with over 200 ethnic minority people in five days. Initial reports show 35 new believers!

Hidden groups In any large city there are many hidden people groups: young women working in the back rooms of massage parlors because they feel they have no other way to make a living … families with special-needs children who require understanding and support … construction workers laboring long and hard behind high walls and scaffolding. Even as Jesus went out to the poor, the sick, the outcasts, pray that His followers will do the same.

Didn’t take long! While in Shibuya, Tokyo, a business consultant talked with summer intern Keri who was doing 5-Minute English presentations. She and another missionary shared the Good News of Christ. The Japanese man trusted in Jesus and was baptized the following Sunday. Pray for his faith to grow.

Read many more prayer reports and requests at http://www.imb.org/

To subscribe to East Asian Peoples Update send an e-mail to eastasianpeoples@pobox.com.

http://eastasianpeoples.imb.org

Happy New Year!!!

Holiday, Taiwan, Uncategorized

Feb 012011

I know, you’re saying – uh . . . Jackie that was last month.

True. However, over on this side of the planet, people today are all going around wishing each other Happy New Year! It’s the lunar calendar and this is THE biggest celebration of the year – think Christmas for Americans. Tuesday is New Year’s eve and Wednesday is the first day of the lunar year. This year is the year of the Rabbit.

happy new year

year of the rabbit

I’m told across the top it says “Best Wishes to you”. The left column says “New Spring covers the land” and the right column “Blessings upon all people”. So – if you haven’t heard it lately, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Public Art

General, Photos, Uncategorized

Jan 062011

I think this is one of the coolist examples of public art / sculpture I’ve run across in a long time. Enjoy!

pinch

earth sculpture

Mehmet Ali Uysal is an artist and teacher who installed a gigantic clothespin into the ground near the town of Liège, Belgium. The clothespin was installed for the Festival of Five Seasons, an art festival featuring massive outdoor installations.

Singing through Christmas!

Holiday, Music, Uncategorized

Dec 142010

I really like this remake of the classic “Do You Hear What I Hear?”

International Mission Board :: Pray

Uncategorized

Nov 262010

Southern Baptists have followed God’s lead to focus attention on bringing all the world’s peoples to Him. And God has responded to the faithfulness of His people. There is much to celebrate!

Are we there yet? Not yet.

But for the first time in history, we can identify the people groups that remain untouched by the Gospel. We can get there in our generation! But that last part of the journey may be the hardest.

Week of Prayer for International Missions: Nov. 28 – Dec. 5
Follow the link for more – International Mission Board :: Pray.