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Greetings from Rainy Taiwan –                                                                                                 June 9, 2006

Weather – mid 80’s

It is the rainy season here, so one dare not leave home without an umbrella in hand.

New Friends

The other night, Jackie and I went to dinner in the home of a newly arrived M’ family for Jackie to assist in some computer gadget hook-ups.  It’s always fun to dine with new comers and to have the opportunity to get to know them.  Pray for the Curlee family (they have 4 children, ages 4-11) as they continue to adjust to Chinese culture.

Christian Culture

Another night we ate dinner at a long term M’s house for dinner. Linda works as the librarian/historian at the Taiwan Baptist Seminary.  She needed Jackie’s computer skills to update some settings on her computer, then after dinner we attended a choir musical in the seminary chapel, nestled atop a mountain. It is a beautiful “A” framed chapel with a newly installed pipe organ.  Besides the organ, we heard the piano, a flute, and a great hand bell choir. A group of students sang in the choir loft, and of course the entire program was in Chinese.  It was encouraging to recognize a few words and phrases.  My spirit soared as I recognized the tune and the words to “This is my Father’s world”!  To my surprise I spotted a former BSF leader who was singing in the choir.  She had quit BSF 3 years ago to attend seminary.  She announced to me last night that she will graduate next year. I’m proud of Mary and her hard work!

BSF

The Taiwan classes had a strong finish with many testimonies of God’s present power in individual lives.  The Day women’s class had about 90 of 148 ladies attend Share day May 28.  Twenty-one ladies stood and gave three-minute testimonies each of how God transformed their lives through the study of Genesis. 

Here are just a few testimonies:

• One testified how she came to learn English, but God changed her motive as she got to know Him personally!
• Another learned how to stand on the promises of God. 
• One said that God has gotten “bigger and bigger” as He has taken up dominion in her heart.
• Another took a leap of faith and was baptized, and she never wanted to miss a class. 
• One testified how she realized “delayed obedience is really disobedience”.
• Another learned that there is no such thing as coincidence with God because everything happens for a reason.
• Another testified how she rides the bus for 2 hours from another city to get to class (and another 2 hrs to return) and the ride never seemed to last very long because class is very important to her.

Before the personal testimonies began, I asked a few questions and the following raised their hands to indicate their response:

• 2 accepted Christ recently
• 13 led someone to Christ
• 15 prayed for someone – and they came to Christ
• 40 are still praying for a specific person to come to Christ
• 20 feel more confident in sharing the gospel from both the Seminar and the study of Gen
• 30 discovered their purpose in life
• 10 began to serve the local church for the first time or in a new way

God has blessed me with a strong leadership team to serve with me “shoulder to shoulder”:

All, but 2 attended our leadership share day May 27.  See photo of leaders posted on web

The men’s BSF class also had a great year studying Genesis and finished with about 70% of the men attending a wonderful share night. Many of the men testified about how God was changing their hearts and lives.

Summer Schedule & Prayer Needs

Jackie:

• Language – 2 days week (4 hrs)

• Fri English Bible Study at the University (ending for summer – pray for resumption in September)
• Budget processing (June & August)
• Tech assistance in Singapore 1^st week of July

Fran:

• Chinese Language Study – 2 days a week (5 hrs) – Pray God will touch my ears to understand, my mind to translate, and my mouth to speak comprehensibly
• Therapy & Rehab – 3 days a week on my neck & right shoulder/arm/elbow – pray for steady strengthening and improved range of motion.
• Therapist – pray for Karen to develop a strong desire to know God as I share with her during our sessions together.
• Interviews for 3 new leaders prep for Sept Romans study.

Summer Travels:

• Safety for J to Singapore first week of July – tech support for training center attendees
• Safety for J&F  – vacation – family visit July 12-31 – renewal and blessed relationships
• J&F late August – to Hong Kong – BSF workshop for both
• J- late August – to Thailand for budget wrap up

Thank you for investing in God’s work with us through prayer!   1Cor 3:6-9

Jackie & Fran

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