Lary is Home!

Lary is safely home from his three month time in Taiwan.  I'm sure he has many, many stories he'd love to share with you!  He probably has a few pictures too!  Thank you for your prayers for him while he was gone.  From the stories he's already shared, I know he got to see God move in some mighty ways.

Encouraging Taiwan Update

I will return home on May 25. Jeri, Connor, and I are doing very well. The English classes and the Drama clubs are going better than I could ever have imagined.  This week, at both schools, we have begun asking the students to share prayer requests with us in the classroom. Connor, Jeri's husband has an incredible testimony, which he has been able to share with most of the classes. At the end of each class the students fill out a questionnaire giving us blessing after blessing with most valuable feedback. This week on the questionnaire the students indicated that the most important thing to them in class was the time we pray the students.  The students love coming to English class and basically have to be told to leave the classroom to allow the next class to come in. They really don't want to leave. The way we are teaching is directly opposite from what they are used to doing here and that is why they can't wait to get to our class and don't want to leave.  God has put together a team of teachers/people dedicated to bringing honor and glory to God and having a positive impact on all the people we are allowed to touch in so many ways. We have already planted many seeds and continue to do so each day. We have some students who are moving closer to understanding what putting their faith and trust in Jesus is all about. It is just a matter of time before we start seeing some harvest. We keep thinking that today might be the day of salvation for some but we also want them to really know what making this decision is all about. We are not going to lead them in a prayer of salvation so they can repeat the prayer and not have clue as to what they are doing. We want to counsel with them one on one as much as possible.  Friday was a big day for us. Friday we are normally at Zhongzheng Junior High School.  Friday morning we first had to be at Ji-Sui Junior High School and each one of us spoke before all the students outside. The schools here have a day in which they celebrate their school history. Ji-Sui Junior High School had their day yesterday. It was quite an event. Every classroom marched around the track with banners and they all sat down in groups in front of a stage on the side of a big area that contained several basketball and volleyball courts. I spoke first and then Connor shared his incredible testimony with all the students and teachers listening. Then Jeri spoke about our English classes and the relationships we are building with students. There were Taiwan government people there as well as city government people there. Ji-Sui was celebrating 44 years in existence. There were students who received scholarships in honor of a teacher who had cancer. Their volleyball team was recognized with a big trophy for being champions in all of Taiwan.  There has only been one parent so far that has complained about what we are doing. Naomi, the teacher in charge of the Drama clubs, handled the complaint so well that they are now in support of what we are doing in the classroom. Michelle and Naomi, both a part of the team that God has put together, were expecting much spiritual warfare, in other words many more parents complaining.  I know that when people back home are praying, in regards to God intervening in all aspects of spiritual warfare here, that we have no doubt been witnessing God at work in answering those prayers. One example was the fact that the principal purchased as many Chinese/English Bibles as he could get his hands on and Connor at the end of his testimony told students they could get one when they went back to class. They handed out every one of the 300 Bibles in a short period of time and we're going to order many more to make sure every one who wanted one would get one. This is God answering prayer. I can only imagine what God is going to do through all the Bibles the students have received. The students in many of the homes are going to be in battle at home so they need prayer for protection from persecution at home.  Thanks for praying and doing battle on behalf of our team, each student, and their families. They are greatly appreciated and valued here. As soon as we were finished speaking we hurried to Zhongzheng Junior High School for the remainder of the day. We truly are blessed to have this opportunity and the blessings continue each day.  --Lary

Lary Leaving for the Village

I will leave shelter Tuesday morning, March 10 here, and go to Haulien. I will be staying in a hotel owned by a church member. The motel is about 10 minutes from the Mei Lin Baptist Church. I will have an electric scooter to use in getting from hotel to church if I feel comfortable doing that. I would love to be able to do that. An electric scooter does not require a Taiwan drivers license.. Pray for safety while traveling on scooter. It won't go very fast. I will share gospel with aboriginal people around there. May not have wifi while doing this. Should have wifi at hotel where I am staying and at the church. Not sure what else I will be doing while there. Rocked World performance at the church on Friday or Saturday night, not sure which. Mike C. will arrive I think Friday night so the performance is probably Saturday night. I will attend worship there and will come back with Mike to Taipei Sunday afternoon. I will worship at Bread of Life church this coming Sunday. Sarah and baby Joel are also going there to worship. Keep me in prayer as I begin teaching this coming week - March 17,18, 20 - with Jeri and Conner absent. I will be teaching at Ji-Sui Junior High School on Tuesday and Wednesday and New Taipei City Zhongzheng Junior High School on Friday. Whatever you can imagine I might need prayers for and then some is requested.

--Lary

The Latest from Lary

The latest from Lary:

This morning went very well. Left shelter at 6:00 am rode the subway and then taxi the school. Arrived 30 minutes early. Saw more students go through the gate this morning than I had over my teaching career.. Waited on Jeri and Conner and Michelle and Naomi (the others on our team) to get there. We had to wait a little bit at the beginning because they were having a tornado drill to start with. Inside the gate in front of the school were several basketball courts in the space behind the gate to the front of the school. Instead of the 1000 7th graders meeting in an auditorium, they had them sit down ion the court in the area in front of the school. They were all dresses in Orange pants and jackets. The microphone was placed on the steps leading to the front of the school. Jeri spoke first, then Conner, then myself. God gave us each the words to speak. All of the words spoken by each one of us went together smoothly. I didn't know what Jeri and Conner were going to say but one of Conner's points fit perfectly with what God laid upon my heart to share. The students were well behaved, focused, and attentive. The 8th graders were identified with similar attire but the color was blue. The freshmen wore like pants and jackets which were a chartreuse color. After the students were dismissed they had to go past us in going to their classes. We had in hand sheets of paper that explained the process of what they needed to do in order to sign up for the drama club. All of us were empty handed when the students were all gone away. I know I had at least 20-25 sheets in my hand. I am not sure how many sheets were printed.

Tomorrow we will return to the same school ( same time) and meet with the 8th graders and do the same thing.  Tomorrow afternoon Jeri, Conner, and I will work on lesson plans for classes day1 and if we have time work on day 2.

Thank you for the prayers!  Keep praying please!

Prayers for Lary as He Goes

Lary leaves for Taiwan on Tuesday.  As he goes, he has asked that we, as his church family, pray the Prayer of Jabez daily for him.

The Prayer of Jabez

"Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request." 1 Chronicles 4:10

Please be in prayer as he leaves on Tuesday at 6:10 am.  Pray that God would be the 'pilot' of his plane.  He has some short layovers before connecting flights.  Please ask that the planes be on time or even early to these locations and that manuvering through what might be unfamiliar airports be smooth and simple.

He is scheduled to arrive in Taipei, Taiwan at 6:25 pm their time and 4:30 am Missouri time on February 25.  Additionally please ask that it is simple to go through customs and that the person who is picking him up is on time and easy to find.  Upon arrival begins the adjustment to their time zone, so please pray that he is able to sleep when he is supposed to and able to be alert and awake when he's supposed to.

Be looking for more updates and prayer requests from Lary in the coming days, weeks, and months.

Did You Know This about Taiwan?

So, you know Heart of Life does missions in Taiwan.  You may even know someone who has gone to Taiwan.  Maybe you yourself have even visited Taiwan.  But, how much do you really know about this little country??

To find out more about the country, the people, their religion, things that help share the Gospel there (referred to as "bridges"), and hindrances/barriers to sharing the Gospel, click the link below.  

Taiwan Country Profile

(The link is from the International Mission Board (IMB) who Heart of Life occasionally partners with and has had and continues to have a long-term missionary presence in Taiwan.)

Peek in at Taiwan

Good News Mother Church--English camp has been going on

First scene of Judgement House.  Many lives have been changed.  They are doing a remarkable job.

WATCH out for that kid...!

Photo credit and quotes:  Scott L.

Snapshots in Taiwan

We wear them out!

Photo credits: Scott L.

Togo Team is Finally Home

After many hours of delay, including a missed flight, and several more hours on stand-by, the Togo team finally all arrived home safe and sound late last night...except for those who took a side trip in Paris!  Praise The Lord!

Just a reminder, that the following are the people who went, so if you happen to see them on Sunday or before, you might want to ask them for some great stories of what God did during their time there!

Jennifer B.

Janel D.

Shawn G.

Audrey G.

Elizabeth G.

Hannah G.

Jacob G.

Gary J.

Lara J. 

Tony J. 

Mikki M. 

Jason R.

Karen R.

Dennis R. 

Howard S.

Thank you so much for your prayers while the team was there!  All the stories you heard and have yet to hear would not have been possible without you standing in the gap and interceding for them and the hearts of the Togolese people.

The Energizer Bunnies Just Keep Going in Taiwan

What a great week we have had so far! Pam and Don have almost 90 kids each day.  24 of them under 5 years of age.  The other team spent two days building the Judgement House for the rest of the week.  Wednesday we started the Good News Church VBS English camp.  The first day we had 38 children.  Very hot outside.  Spent most of the day inside then outside for football and kickball.  Lots of great worship.  God is still protecting us and our families.  Thanks!

Some Coming Home and Some Still Working in Taiwan

Well we finally all got to meet up in Hualian after a long week of English and VBS.  We had great meetings and talked about the great stories and things that GOD had done for us.  We figure somewhere around 80 salvations and a lot of seed planting.  Praise The Lord!  Some of the group will leave today for home.  

Robin, Doug, Larry, Andy and Scott will be constructing Judgement House on Monday and Tuesday with Pastor Jacob's church.  Then we will leave for the Good News home church and have English camp through Friday. Pam, Don, Gabe, Daphne, and Charis will start a new English camp at Bethel church Monday through Friday.  

It is very HOT here.  Please pray for us as we deal with the heat.  Continue to pray for salvations this week and for the children that will be coming.  Also pray for Pam H.'s knee.  It has been acting up a little.  Finally, please pray for those traveling home, that their travels are safe and easy.  Thanks for all your prayers for us and our families at home.  

--Scott L

Week 1 Wrapping Up and Week 2 Plans in Taiwan

We just did our final evening with these kids.  They sang, we acted out the Good Samaritan and The Prodical Son, and sang some more. About 6 parents came. Then we had brownies that the kids made yesterday and ice cream we bought today.  They had a great time and hugged us all.   We will meet 1 more time in the morning for a short time just to tell them how important it is to go to church.  Then get on train at 10:30 and take the train to the north to meet with the rest of team.  Then Sunday starts second week.  Thanks for prayers....

--Scott L.

Speaking of the second week in Taiwan, these are their plans and goals:

Bethel - 4 day English Camp where they will incorporate some of English activity and vocab like Star Wars, Cooking, Football with Bible stories, etcl.  The 5th and 6th day still determing the 'activity' possibly performing dramas for parents/community.  Don, Charis and Gabe S., Daphne C., Pam H.

 

Good News (Mother Church) - August 6-8  English camp -  Robin H., Doug U., Scott and Andy L., Lary V.

 

JH Prep -   August 4-5 - Scott and Andy L., Lary V., Doug U., Robin H.

 

Latest from Taiwan

Well we missed the typhoon...praise God.  Been great the last two days.  Have built some great relationships with the children.  I think there are over 40 salvations now.  More than that, we are teaching the children some great stories about God and unconditional love.  The other teams are also connecting with their kids.  One more final day here on Thursday and then we ride a train north.  We have had rain and heat everyday ..stomachs are feeling better and breeze at night helps.  Continue to pray for next week's kids and prepare their hearts.  Most of group will be home on the 3rd.  Larry, Doug, Robin, Andy and myself will stay another week.  Keep praying.  Thanks Scott

Two Pictures Tell it All from Taiwan

Photo credit:  Scott L.

Children at VBS in Taiwan raising their hand and then praying to ask Jesus into their lives.  Praise Jesus today for these precious children added to His kingdom.  Praise Him for lives and hearts changed.  Praise Him, praise Him!

Monday Taiwan Update

Children in Taitung.  Photo Credit:  Fran C.

Taitoung Team Update (Shannon B., Lary V., Scott and Andy L.)

Nearly 150 children attended the first day of VBS/English camp in the 4 different mission areas.  We know of at least 24 salvations.  It was a learning day with lots of great challenges. Please pray that God will continue to change lives here in Taiwan.  Please pray that the food will continue to agree with us or get better.  Pray that more children will come tomorrow.

--Scott L.

Good News Team Update (Robin H., Doug and Rita U., Gabe S., Will C.)

We had 38 kids ranging from age 7-12 at our English Camp. We chose I Am as our song for the day.  They picked up on it pretty good.  It seemed to help by just adding simple actions.  We will continue to work on I Am and add a new song each day.  But we have picked out a couple different songs that will be easier for the kids to learn because the same words are repeated several times.  We think it will work better.

Today was certainly a learning experience stepping into the unknown but we are looking forward to tomorrow.

--Robin H.

Looking forward to this week at the Quaker church with these amazing students. Photo credit and quote:  Pam H. (Quaker Church team: Jacob F., Maxx C., Don and Charis S., and Pam H.)

Sunday Taiwan Update

The different Taiwan subteams should have made it to their respective destinations.

Here are some of the stats and prayer requests (via Lary V.) from one of the subteams (Scott and Andy L., Lary V., and Shannon B.) in Tuban, Taiwan:
     -800 people in village 
     -Are Paiwan - one of the original 14 Taiwan tribes.
     -Ancestral worship.  They say they know Jesus.  
     -They don't know about a personal relationship with God.
     -Pastor has good credibility here.
     -All we have to do when talking to people is mention we are friends with Him and will listen.
     -Much alcoholism, people unable to work because of alcoholism.  Also causes many problems including divorce and addictions.
      -Kids are starved for love/attention.
      -Approximately 32 children from 3rd to 6th grade and 15 junior high age (They will be doing English camp with these children in order to share Jesus with them.(
 

Please pray:

     -That God would open hearts and doors this week to the love of Jesus.
     -For God's will to be done this week.
     -For God's safety and protection.
     -That the power of the Holy Spirit would be stronger than the spirits of darkness, ancestral worship, mysticism, and superstition present in the village.
     -That we can communicate the love of Jesus this week.

 

View from camp at Taitung.  "Just got to our camp.  It is beautiful here.  HOT.   Nice breeze this evening though."

Photo credit and quote:  Scott L.

The Taiwan Scoop

Here's the latest scoop from Taiwan via Scott L.:

We saw a great performance of Rock the World last night.  Definitely a different version.  But we had headsets on and they interpreted to us.  

We all have jet leg.  This morning (Missouri Saturday night) we all head our different directions.  Our group heads to Taidoung, which is the mountains on the east coast.  It is about a 6 hour train ride.  Chugga Chugga, some have a 4 hour train ride to another part of the country. Some stay in Taipei to work with churches here.  So, pray for all of us as we spread His Word all over Taiwan.  Thanks for prayers...Scott

Taiwan Team Made It There

The Taiwan team arrived at the church about 1:00 am, Taiwan time.  They had a good flight and all their luggage arrived!  They slept some and are already off and at 'em.  They will be doing a Rock the World production tonight and then tomorrow each subteam will be headed to their points of ministry.

Some things to pray for the team:

--That they can quickly recover from Jet Lag.  The time in Taiwan is 13 hours ahead of our time, so that is a major flop in days and nights.  Pray that they can sleep when it is time to sleep and be awake when it is time to be awake.

--Safety while traveling in Taiwan, especially as they travel tomorrow to their points of ministry.

--For the actors in the Rock the World production and for those who will hear the Gospel.  Pray that their hearts would be pricked and that they would understand the Truth of the Most High God and their need for Jesus as Lord and Savior.

--Please pray for the family members of those who are leaving and will be gone. Some of their family members have medical conditions which makes it difficult for the team members to be gone.

Taiwan Mission Team and their Week 1 Plans

"We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps."  Proverbs 16:9 NLT

This is never more true than on a mission trip!  The best plans are made...the correct supplies are packed...everyone flies around the world...and, then, God does His thing...which may or may not follow the plan...but is always best because it is HIS PLAN!

The mission team for Taiwan leaves in one week, July 24.  Durng the first week, the team is subdivided into four ministry teams, each with its own goals and plans as well as location of service.  Below are the plans and goals for the first week of the trip, along with the names of people who are working on each ministry team.

Hualien Mei Ren - The first 3 days is English camp with Bible stories/dramas/music/crafts for around 40-50 elementary children and the last 2 days is for about 30 teenagers.  They will be playing volleyball and basketball with the salvation balls (a way to share the Gospel using colors on a basketball or volleyball) and incorporating the good news of Jesus into other parts of the camp too.

Kelly and Grace F., Jeanne and Arden M., Fran and Daphne C.

 

Taitoung - 5 day English camp like the one in Hualien Mei Ren with about 60 children.  Maybe some prayer visiting (visiting people, offering to pray for them, and share the gospel with them) with the elderly or families in the neighborhood.  

Shannon B., Scott and Andy L., Lary V.

 

Quaker Church - 5 day English camp like the other two teams with the teens from that church teaching about 60 children.  We will also go with them (the teens) on Saturday to the Night Market they go to once a month to do a drama/music/dance in order to share Jesus.  

Jacob F., Maxx C., Don and Charis S., Pam H.

 

Good News - - 5 day English Camp different than above - they will incorporate some English activities and vocabulary like Star Wars, Cooking, Football with Bible stories, etc. 

Robin H., Doug and Rita U., Gabe S., Will C.

Please be praying for each ministry team, unity among them, the plans and goals they have, and the people they are going to serve.  Ask for an openness and hunger in the hearts of those who will hear the Good News of Jesus. 

Stay tuned for the goals and plan for week two of the Taiwan trip!

Summer 2014 Mission Trips

In a little less than a month, teams from our church will be on the ground in Togo and Taiwan.  Please be in prayer for these teams as they prepare to go.  Also, please be in prayer for the individuals they will have the opportunity to meet and interact with.  Ask that God would be moving in their hearts even now!

These are the dates of the upcoming trips:
Taiwan:  July 24-August 10
Togo:  July 26-August 5