| Location: Taipei, Taiwan & Hong Kong
Dates: July 12, 2006 – July 25, 2006
The following is the trip log of the Asia 2006 mission trip as recorded by various team members on the trip. All times are local.
Friday, 7/14/06
Quick update from mike E:
I only have a few minutes to send this email, so this will be brief.
Our flights went well and we didn't have any problems - the typhoon ended up being a non event and we just had rain today. The camp we are staying at overlooks a major part of the city and we were all up at 5am taking it all in. We spent the morning going through our plan and materials for the camp next week with Dan Freeman (missionary).
It is now about 3:30 and we are now vistiting Grace Christian Academy in Taipei. We will tour the city tonight and go the top of Taipei 101
- the tallest building in the world.
We have a full day on Sat & Sun and start camp on Monday. I hope to send out a longer update by Monday.
Thanks - Mike E.
Sunday, 7/16/06
Another quick update, I only have a few minutes: We have had a great couple of days. Everyone is still healthy and well. Friday night (7/14), after we visted Grace Christian Academy, we toured the largest building in the world - Taipei 101 and rode the world's fastest elevators. Saturday (7/15) after our devotions, we headed south and worked with Grace Baptist Church in Taoyaun. We split up in 4 groups and spent several hours witnessing on the streets surrounding the church, the train station and a local university. This is pastored by a Filipino missionary and in a primarily Filipino area. 1/2 of our group will be at this church on Sunday teaching the Sunday school classes, providing special music and preaching. We then headed over to Shuang Ho Baptist Church and ran their Awana program for about 2 hours. It was a large group of kids in a small 4th floor space, but we and they had a great time. Our kids were in charge of all of the breakout classes and it was time for the kids to go, none of them wanted to leave. We then left for a local school's gymnasium where we held a youth activity night for the teens from several of the churches. It was packed out and we had many unsaved kids in attendance. Pastor Freeman spoke at the end and we are praying that many of these kids will be in church this morning. The other 1/2 of our group is at Shuang Ho Baptist Church where we will be teaching, singing and preaching. Please continue to pray for our kids as well as the people we are working with. The Lord is working in many of their lives and we are grateful for this opportunity to serve over here. As soon as I am able, I will try to update in greater detail.
Thanks - Mike E.
7/17/06 Monday: Quick update from Mike E.
Both of the church services went very well yesterday. All of our team members were able to participate through teaching, preaching, testimonies and singing or playing an instrument. A total of 7 souls were saved in both of the church services. Each one of us was very grateful for the opportunity to be in both of these churches. ½ of the team went soul winning at one of the train stations and 1 of our group was able to lead a lady to Christ on the subway. Last night we had dinner at Pastor Freeman’s and then spent some time reviewing the material that our team will be teaching at camp this week.
Please keep our team in prayer in that they will have a strong influence and testimony for Christ on the kids that they are working with for the remainder of the week. Each member of our group is responsible for a group of apx 10 kids – they are their leaders for the week. Camp starts today at 3:00 and will go until 12:00 on Thursday.
All of our team members are doing excellent. Everyone is healthy and everyone is contributing so much in everything we do. Please keep them in prayer as many of them are starting to see the Lord work in their own lives.
I have a few minutes, so I am going to begin typing in the trip journal entries that various students on the trip are writing. I only have the 1st 2 days, 1 of which we were traveling for 30 hours, but as I can, I will have them posted.
Wednesday, 7/12/06 & Thursday, 7/13/06
By Kelsey Barnes
Hey! I’m Kelsey. I could use many words to describe this first day…fun, exciting, but also very tiring. All 21 of us are utterly exhausted, considering we took 3 flights – one flight was 18 hours long!!!! That was challenging, but it was a great opportunity for us to get to know each other. There is a typhoon coming through tonight, which should be interesting. We aren’t worried because we are in God’s hands. We met missionary Dan Freeman and his wife Lou. They are such great inspirations to all of us. Although we are tired, we are stoked about the next 2 weeks. We are all just instruments in God’s hands hoping to be used by Him.
This whole experience already shows me how big our God is!
Friday, 7/14/06
By Jon Boseman
Woke up at 4:30am. Didn’t mean too, just looked like the sun was beginning to rise. Found out that when I got out of the shower, that I woke up 2 hours early. Oh well. Went outside around 5:30 and peered over the top of the ridge to see a marvelous sight of ½ of the city of Taipei. It is so beautiful. I decided to do my devotions outside in the peace and quiet.
Around about 7:10 we gathered to pray for breakfast at the front of the camp. We entered the dining hall and to our amazement we saw American food and the table prepared for us. (Eggs, ham, beanie weenies, toast & cake)
After breakfast, all of us attended an orientation. But before the orientation officially started, Pastor Barker did a quick devotion on Ecclesiastes 1. After the devotions, we were further introduced to Pastor Dan Freeman. He started the orientation by introducing most of the camp directors and translators.
The lead director of the camp is Mrs. Sharon. Basically, Mrs Sharon was there to help us in any needs that we might have. Then we met and listened to Pastor Hung. After orientation, we moved to more comfortable rooms (just kidding). Our new room fit all of the guys, it contains 6 bunk beds. The girls are next door in the same size room.
Shortly thereafter, we then got on a bus to go see an International School called Grace Christian Academy. At the school, we were given a walk through tour and the director talked to us about teaching and ministering in this culture. During the course of our stay at the school, many of the adults and students became interested in coming back for a summer or a school year to teach.
After staying a while, we then departed and went to the world’s tallest building, the Taipei 101 building. On our way up to the top, we were on the world’s fastest elevators. In the tour, we had Bigtom ice cream, really good! We then ate at one of the famous Chinese restaurants in the 101 building. After eating a delicious meal, we headed back to the camp and went to bed.
Saturday, 7/15/06
By Billy Miller
Today we went soul winning with Grace Baptist Church. Afterwards we had lunch at the church. We then met up with Mr. Freeman at his church and ran the Awana program. I got to teach a class and my students learned Matthew 6:33. We then went to a local gymnasium and had a youth rally with several of the local churches. We played basketball and volleyball and then had a service. We closed out the night with a great dinner at a local place down one of the side streets.
Sunday, 7/16/06
By Stephanie Barker
Time is changing us! As our family and friends were back home preparing for their Saturday night "lights off" we had our Sunday "lights on" in Taiwan. Our team was divided into 2 groups and sent to 2 different churches today. We ministered with testimonies, special music, teaching and preaching. As a result of the team's dedication we saw 7 souls saved!
Also today, Bro. Mike's team went to the train station to pass out tracts and soul win. In order to get there, we had to ride the subway. For some, it was a first time adventure while others saw it as an opportunity to snowboard, play basketball and karoake! Who said serving Jesus Christ wasn't fun!!
Sunday evening we had dinner at Pastor Freeman's house. For some who hadn't adjusted to Chinese food took advantage of this meal. Can you guess what was served? I'll just tell you...KFC. Yes, you read it right! We have come to the conclusion that although one part of the world may eat squid, fish eyes and rice for every meal, and Americans prefer steak, chicken and baked potatoes - we do have one thing in common. The common denominator is the grace of Jesus Christ.
Camp starts tomorrow so you continue to pray for us as we share God's love to over 100 Taiwanese.
Monday, 7/17/06
By Leah Jones
Today was a very relaxed day. We got to sleep in a little. We had our devotions outside and we are reading from Ecclesiastes this week. After that we had some free time before the campers arrived. The guys played basketball, but the girls stayed inside in the a/c. Then we had lunch, but we just snacked on the meal that had been prepared for us because we were having McDonald's delivered. After lunch, we sorted the t-shirts and uniforms that Missionsports brought as gifts for the campers. We then practiced a few songs before the kids arrived at 3pm. At 4pm we had orientation lead by Mr. Hung and Pastor Freeman. Then dinner. After that we had service. David Homer spoke about Daniel. We then played some games and went to bed.
Tuesday, 7/18/06
By Merideth Kofksky
We got up this morning about 6 to get ready and then we had breakfast. We had group devotions at 8. The day really started going well, because after our English class, we had a couple of kids saved. For lunch we had rice, frog legs and COW STOMACH (which wasn't that bad). After lunch, Bro. Barker finished his message on the Good Samaritan. God worked and we had a few kids accept Christ. We then had a 3-on-3 basketball tournament. The evening service was great. We had some girls perform and aboriginal dance. Bro David Homer preached and took us back to Calvary so we could remember what teh Lord did for us. He also reminded us that the reason Christ was beat and died for us was because He loved us!
After the evening service we had a huge bonfire. We sang around the fire for about an hour. Then we had some noodles that were just like oodles & noodles, then we crashed into bed.
Wednesday, 7/19/06
By Jennifer Hass
Amazing! Hey, it's Jennifer. The trip has been absolutely Spirit filled. The children at the camp bring a smile to my face. They minister to me so much more than I could have ever imagined. Ever service has encouraged me to draw closer and closer to God.
2 girls in particular have completely blessed my heart. Their names are Cindy & Grace. I know God placed them in my life for special reasons. Both girls have Buddist parents who discourage them against any religion besides their own. I have seen in their eyes and actions that the Lord has been working in their hearts. So tonight, Grace went forward and asked Christ into her heart. It was a beautiful answer to my prayers.
God has shown me His love and desire for people, especially children, to draw near to Him. He uses willing vessels to show the children, and I believe our group has been used in numerous ways. We played volleyball and basketball today and played fun games with lots of candy. I saw some huge cicada bugs and they are abnormally large here. Taiwan produces some small people and huge bugs! I love it here!
Please continue to pray for our group. We need strength and energy as we continue on this trip. I miss everyone!!!
Thursday, 7/20/06
By Michelle Potts
We had another 1/2 way western breakfast! Then we had group devotions. And we had our final practice for our group/team skits. Then the last morning service started. The USA group sang Peace Like A River again. Mike spoke and also explained the purpose of Missionsports. Then the groups presented their skits. 3 groups acted out the prodigal son, 1 group acted out the parting of the red sea and the other group had an exercise routine to the Glow Young theme song. The camp presented gifts to us, the USA team. They were frames with verses in Chinese on them. Then awards were given out to the skit winners, volleyball winners, basketball winners & overall winners. Then we dismissed to have our BBQ. The individual teams had to start their own fire & cook their own food. We ate pork, corn, mashed potatoes, fish balls, sausages, hot dogs & bread. Then sadfully it was time to say our last goodbyes to the campers. It was so sad to watch them go. Tears were flowing. Even though we spoke a totally different language than the campers, that was no barrier to having a connection with them! It was amazing! God is so wonderful.
Then we had a few hours to clean up and rest and then we left to go eat & shop at the Chinese market. We ate at a 3-story KFC! And the markets were so crowded! It was worse than Christmas shoppig in America! We came back and had our devotions. Mike reminded us to continuing putting ourselves last and give everything we have to the Lord and the people we are ministering to.
The Glow Young camp was wonderful and awesome experience for all of us. We received more than we gave out. God is so good! As of Thursday night, we saw 36 souls saved. And a few of our team members have surrendered to be a servant on the mission field. Our Lord is gracious to us! |
