July 2003

A Two Ring Circus
This year Vacation Bible School was a great blessing and encouragement to everyone involved. We shared with you last month the struggles we were experiencing because of SARS; but praise the Lord, that cleared up just in time for VBS. God’s timing is perfect! Instead, attendance at both Taya and Lighthouse was better than usual with a high of sixty children at Lighthouse and about seventy at Taya as a nearby school brought thirty students to attend one day. (Note: We are extremely crazy in Taiwan because we schedule both for the same week - one in the morning and the other in the afternoon!) We used a circus theme and so there were plenty of balloons, clowns, puppets, and carnival-style games to excite the children and help us present the gospel to them. One additional challenge this year was teaching the Bible stories. Usually a Chinese lady from a fellow church comes every year to teach the Bible lessons so that the children have something different. However, this year this teacher had to cancel at the last minute due to her father’s poor health. In spite of this, the Lord blessed as we were able to put some very good lessons together; Lisa and a fellow missionary wife did a great job. As a result, two children accepted Christ as Savior at Taya. It was the first time for many to come to church, but they listened well and seemed interested. The “circus” also caused some adults to notice the church and express a desire to attend. So far one lady has started attending the ladies’ meeting at Lighthouse as a direct result. We hope that all the clown antics, wet sponges in the face and countless hours blowing up balloons, decorating and putting up a mock circus tent will reap eternal dividends for the children and their families. Lisa and I really thank you for your prayers because the situation in Taiwan had been very depressing in the spring.

My Brother, Too!
One Wednesday afternoon just before VBS after Lisa taught a Bible lesson to the children, she told me that one boy wanted to talk with me. Jason (Jo Jing-yao) told me that he wanted to get saved, and so I went through the plan of salvation with him very carefully. When I finished, I asked him if he had any questions or problems. He said, “Yes, I want my younger brother to get saved, too.” I told him that was a very good desire, but that his younger brother needed to make the decision himself but that we could pray for him. Jason agreed and then prayed to accept Christ as his Savior. We wish that everyone, especially in Taiwan, had Jason’s desire for their family!