This week's key word is "hospital".

I don't have any photos of the last week's escapades, but I will do my best to paint a word picture for you. It all started last Wednesday when my young (25) American neighbor called me saying "I don't know what to do! I have pain in my abdomen and pain in my back. Do you think I should see a Dr.?" After questions about the intensity of the pain, etc. I told her I would take her to the Dr. that afternoon. The result of our visit to the Dr. was that she was admitted. I was impressed with the way the hospital staff worked with her and over the course of time diagnosed three separate conditions that all required attention. She is now at home on bedrest for another week due to a ruptured disk in her back, but she is doing well under the circumstances. This whole experience made me realize how thankful I ought to be, that in the 26 years I have lived in Taiwan, I have never required hospitalization.....so going through the admittance process was a new experience for me.

Today I went to see the doctor for myself. I have had a little bump on my neck for several months and it just recently became inflamed and painful to touch. It turns out that it is just an infected sebaceous cyst and really is nothing to worry about. What was so neat, though, was how God used that visit to the doctor to renew a contact with a neighbor we rarely see. She was seeing the same doctor I saw, and was very worried about impending surgery. We assured her that we would go through it with her. We are praying that God will continue to open doors for us to share His love with her. Pray for Ms. Tsai when God brings her to your mind.

Sunday night, Rev. and Mrs. Cheng, missionaries to China, stayed at my home. They were preparing for complete physicals the next day.....I delivered them to the hospital at 7:30 Monday morning and picked them up at 4:00 p.m.

Then, yesterday, a co-worker was admitted to a hospital in Taipei for preliminary testing before undergoing a lumpectomy today for breast cancer. She was blessed with a smooth procedure and seems to be doing very well (just visited her tonight).

So, you can see, I have spent more time in hospitals in the last week, than any other place. Dai and I were wondering if God might be leading us to focus a little more on hospital as a place of ministry. We are certainly open to His leading.

Christmas Program Highlight

 

What fun to be off work!

 

Hey, Wait For Me!

 

At Sheng Sying Train Station

Joy and Diane are such a blessing! They really are the ones that keep Precept going. Joy is in charge of promotion and spends hours on the phone calling pastors, setting up appointments for me to visit, arranging training sessions, etc. Diane handles our bookkeeping and government formalities, as well as developing in the teaching and training area. Both of these gals are devoted to serving the Lord with all of their hearts and it is a privilege to work with them.

"Home for Christmas"

I have lived in Taiwan for 26 years and grown to love most everything about life here. But it is amazing how some old tradtions hold deep nostalgic feelings. I decided to to make a trip back to my roots and join my sister in participating in all of the things that made Christmas a special time.....like baking cookies, shoveling snow, the lights, the music.....

Bussie's bathtime

This bird is my sister and brother-in-law's baby. She really enjoys her bath.

Christmas cookie time!

My favorite memories from childhood Christmases have to do with baking Christmas cookies. It was so much fun to join Sue in making cookies for her family this year. 

A Christmas wonderland

 

The Christmas lights in Frankenmuth were beautiful

 

I asked God for snow while I was in Michigan

 

boy, did we get snow!

 

Practicing for the cantata was fun, too!

 

Sing with the angels! What fun to join in Davison Missionary Church's Christmas Cantata

 

Sue's solo in the Cantata--The Treasure of Jesus

 

Good to see you! 

November 14, 2005--first entry

Since I can easily post messages here, it will give me the opportunity to share more frequently and in more detail, some of the things I am learning and experiencing. I really want those of you who pray so faithfully for me, to be able to see more clearly how God is answering your prayers!

I am especially excited right now at the lessons I have been learning related to my church. The past 18 months have brought so many discouragements and disappointments and I haven't always chosen a path of victory over my emotional response. It is difficult to know how to communicate the varied emotions--disappointment with people, frustration at my own lack of vision and direction for the church, sadness at losing several members for various reasons--and many times, I have cried and felt so down about the condition of our church family. But, God is faithful and through this time, I have found myself crying out to Him on behalf of the church. Through the process, I have realized how my own focus has been so misplaced. I have seen how God desires for me to focus on Him alone, not on the circumstances of the church. As I have learned to do this more, I have been changed. I have seen my own spirits lifting. I have seen God at work in the lives and hearts of individuals. I have seen my faith being bolstered and my attitude being changed. I had just about lost hope for our church, but God has renewed my hope as I have focused on God Himself. Please keep praying for each member of our church to be seeking God first....and as our relationahip and walk with Him are renewed I am confident that we will see our church growing in many ways.