Stinky Tofu, MRT, LST, Do Di Gu, Cha Chi.. What More Could You Ask For?

Well hello friends and family!

It is with great honor that we get to tell you about the many, many experiences we have had so far on our trip, and it has only just begun! Altogether, I believe the team has about fifty readers. We are averaging about ten each. Please continue to pray that we will receive more who are willing to read. We have many who are not only interested in bettering their conversational English, but who are interested in learning more about the bible - about God. It is very exciting for us because this is what we are here for! God is so great!

For many here, this is a new idea. It is like a gift that we have been hiding from them. The other day, someone put it like this: it is as though they have lived their entire lives on one street, not straying farther, not knowing there was anything else beyond that. And then one day, someone takes them by the hand and leads them out to main street, not only to find that there is more than their one street, but that there is MUCH more than they ever fathomed. Being able to share why we believe with our new friends is a very rewarding blessing. I daresay that we are learning more than they are.

This trip has already touched our team very much so, and it will continue to as long as we do the work of God. How His power works throughout the entire world is absolutely beautiful. These people have problems, just like you and me. They have family, friends, pets, jobs, and many other things just the same, too. Yes, there are differences, seeing as we live on one side of the world and they live on the other, but they are people just the same, just like us. And God's love is for everyone.

Sunday was our first Taiwanese church service at the Greater Taipei Church of Christ. It was very beautiful. The congregation worship God with a love that was evident, and they praised Him for our presence. Some of the songs were lead in Mandarin, and some were actually in English. The lesson was in Mandarin, but one of the church members translated for us, and we each had a headset to hear her. At the end of the church service, the congregation sang 'We Love You With the Love of the Lord' in Mandarin! It was amazing. After the service, we had a potluck at the church, and the people from the church made all kinds of dishes. It was a great experience.

We have traveled to several places also. We have gone mountain climbing on the Seven Stars Mountain. We have also visited several museums and a Buddhist temple. Many of the church members want to take us to eat. A few nights ago, we even got to eat at the Sheraton. There was a huge buffet, much bigger than any we had ever seen before. The food ranged from sushi, to Indian curry, to crepes! It was very filling. We have even gone to three or four night markets to shop with our readers.

Our experiences so far have been great. God is truly working here.

Please pray for God's work to be done. Pray for the teams unity. Pray for our readers and what they will be facing these next few weeks. Pray for our family and friends back home. Most importantly pray that the words we say and the things we do show the love of God to the people we come in contact with from this day forward.

God is so good.

"So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it. For the Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, 'I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the earth.' So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen. " - Romans 9:16-18

In Him,

ARTech LST Team