Where will help come from?

Typhoon Tambin just hit the island of Taiwan!  This is already the third typhoon in August, 2012.  This summer, Taiwan has been pounded with multiple typhoons and it appears that it isn’t over yet.  On one hand, most homes are built to withstand this kind of force.  However, on the other hand since the 1999 7.3 earthquake, many mountain areas still experience landslides because they are unable to grow vegetation on the mountain sides.  Fruits, vegetables and fishing industries are also greatly damaged.  With the challenges of today’s global economic decline, this kind of natural disaster also adds to the worry, desperation and gloom of so many of the people in Taiwan.

Typhoon Tembin unleashed precipitation in (southern Taiwan) southern Pingtung County that was described as the worst in more than a century.  While weather bureau data showed Pingtung as a whole had received 724mm of rain since Wednesday, August 23rd, the township of Hengchun (恆春) saw rainfall of over 600mm on Friday, August 24th alone.  That was the highest amount of rainfall recorded in Hengchun since 1896, according to the bureau.  We have the opportunity to be “global cheerleaders” and seek ways to encourage, support and bring God’s love to the people of the world.  Thank you for praying for the people of Taiwan.

 I lift my eyes toward the mountains.  Where will my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:1,2 HCSB)

Fishing in Malaysia

Malaysia is a beautiful land with more than 1,800,000 Hokkien people.  In order to understand this area more clearly, plans were made for a group of Hokkien partners to travel there and assist local workers.  The team drove for quite a while in order to reach their destination, a fishing village.  It was arranged for the team to have the privilege of meeting the village leader, other community leaders and families in the area.  The village leader also introduced his guests to their local fishing ponds — not on land — but out in the ocean: cages built to raise fish.  Talking about creativity . . .  There were all different kinds of fish and ocean life that were being farmed way out in the ocean.  Later that evening the guests also had the opportunity to observe another group of Christian partners present a music program for this fishing village.  As the team mingled, there was plenty of time to meet families and share.  Step by step activities like this enable workers to make friends, share Christ’s love and build relationships throughout these communities.  The Hokkien in Malaysia are hard workers with many challenging life issues.  Pray for local Christian believers and for open roads for the Hokkien of Malaysia to come to know Jesus Christ.  This is once again a reminder of the words of Jesus: Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”  (Matthew 4:19 NKJV)

The scattered Hokkien: Pescadore Islands

Hokkien people over the years have scattered throughout the world.  One area where they settled is the Penghu Islands, also known as Pescadores are a group of islands off the western coast of Taiwan in the Taiwan Strait consisting of 64 small islands and islets covering an area of 141 square kilometers.  These islands are inhabited by Hokkien fishermen and their families.  The number of Christians on the main island a few years ago was small in number; however, there were no believers on most of the islands.  Life was tough and filled with superstition and fear that spirits might attack, destroy and cause havoc.  They have grown up in an environment of idol worship, ancestral worship, and strong teachings of filial piety.  Their religion has a multitude of stories, performances, rituals, customs, beliefs, sacred objects and places, deities, festivals, and folk practices.

At one point, we met a single lady, TCM, from one of the smaller Pescadore islands.  She had left the island to come to the Taiwan.  It was on the main island of Taiwan that she found Jesus.  Much later she enrolled in a Christian seminary in Taiwan where we were working, and we had the opportunity to meet her.  She eventually asked if we would be willing to partner with her to take the Gospel to her people.

The people on the island had a lot of needs – limited medical care, no beauty shops, or fresh vegetables.  So we assisted by mobilizing people such as doctors, nurses, beauticians, dentists and other friends to travel to the island and share God’s love.  It was a wonderful experience and 2 of TCM’s uncles accepted Christ.

Later we mobilized a larger team with partnering churches.  We reached out to many hurting families and 17 people accepted Christ.  Most of the people do not read so we shared a lot of Bible stories with them.

We also had the opportunity to mobilize a third trip and 78 people desired to follow Christ.  We could share story after story of how God changed lives.  Today a Taiwan worker, ASC, with his wife and three children along with a single missionary woman, KNH, are serving in the Pescadore Islands.  The ministry there is not easy.  Typhoons and high winds are a real threat to these islands.  People continually struggle with demonic oppression and live in fear of so many things.  Pray for the gospel seeds that have been planted to take root and bring peace and salvation to the families of the Pescadore Islands.  Pescadore Island Tour