October!

Hello all!!!

It's crazy but it's November already!!! We've been experiencing a bit of a cold draft here in Kaohsiung, and the temperature has gone down all the way to 26 degrees Celsius (given that it's been up in the thirties ever since I've arrived in May)! Mind you, it does get very cold when you're driving on your scooter - imagine yourself driving in your car but with all your windows opened.

The Alpha Course is still up and running at Ansy's and my apartment. Ansy has been preparing all the lunches, and after eating we would all watch a session from the DVD and have a time of discussion. Attendance has continued to be unpredictable... but we have had three senior high students attend on and off, despite the travelling distance to our house and their heavy school-load. Pray that God will reveal to us (Stephen, Ansy, and I) on whether we should continue with the course or not.

At the New Life Church, things are wrapping up for our interim pastor, Pastor Ken and his wife, Pat. They will be leaving in mid-November, so we've been planning for the nine weeks where we will be without a pastor. The leadership committee is really coming together, and already we've began to brainstorm Christmas out-reach events! It's all very exciting =)
On the other hand, we had a short-term mission team from the Seneca Baptist Church (which Ken and Pat belongs to) for a week and a half. Although I wasn't with them for most of the time, I heard that they really lit up sparks on the un-churched and interest in the non-believers they've met. The team is really amazing, and I'm especially impressed by their range in age. The youngest couple is in their mid-thirties, and the oldest lady is 82 years old! And Ken and Pat are in their early-70s! God can use anybody if they're willing to be available!

Two weekends ago, David Ullstrom (our OMF Partners coordinator) organized our bi-yearly Partners Retreat down at Kenting! It gave us all a much needed rest and increased the unity among us. Our speaker was Jennifer Su and her husband, Thomas MacIntyre. Jennifer was a Partner of OMF before, and later came back for two years as an Associate. She's the author of the book, Dead Women Walking, which gives the account of three Taiwanese women before and after they came to know the Lord. It's a really good book (can be purchased from amazon or OMF workers), and gives its readers more understanding of the lives of working-class people in Taiwan. Among the working-class here, only 0.5% of them are Christians, although the group makes up 2/3 of the entire population in Taiwan. Their lives are centered around ancestor and idol worship. At least twice a month (on the first and fifteenth day on the lunar calendar), our neighbours will bring out their worship table and burn paper joss money, along with food offerings. This may be seen as superstition from the West, but they are also lies that Satan has told them.
Do pray for Jennifer and Thomas - they've just settled in Taiwan six months ago as full-time missionaries and are now learning Taiwanese. Pray for their studies, and for God's guidance and vision!

From the retreat, God has challenged me to be more creative in my witnessing. Asides from serving at ORTV (the Wednesday night Bible Study) and New Life Church, there are other people that I see everyday who needs Jesus also. Pray that I will not get comfortable with my life, but to be diligent in doing God's work and in how I spend my time!

As with Grace Ng - she has moved up to North Kaohsiung (25 minutes away of scootering from where I live) with another Partner! She's just returned from a short weekend mission trip to Maoli, Taiwan, visiting the Aboriginal children there. Continue to pray for financial stability with her job, and that God will show her where He wants her to serve!

*Please continue to pray for Ian Ullstrom!