2013
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
<<First Name>>,
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from Taichung!
Our first Christmas overseas was very different as to be expected, but also very special. Here are two things that helped make the day for us.
First, Crista and the kids brought some Christmas cookies to my Mandarin class for our party before lunch. Christmas is not a holiday in Taiwan. It is celebrated in the commercial sense, but business carries on as usual. So, it was class as usual for me and everyone else. We even had a test that day.
Everyone was very excited to meet our kids for the first time. Crista had joined us for a class lunch, so it was her second time to be with everyone. When she got ready to leave, my professor, Olive Liao, gave her a hug and expressed some really out of the ordinary affection and kind words. I rarely see older Chinese women be affectionate with anyone. It was a very touching moment and one we've been praying for - that God would allow us to develop a relationship that outlasts our class. I will only have her as a teacher through the spring and then have a different teacher next fall when class resumes.
Second, David Chen - pictured above, a young man I met four years ago through our friend Eric Katzung, messaged me a couple of days before Christmas asking if we could get together. He has spent the last year in Australia working and just moved back to Taichung where he'll be working for a local oil and gas company as a project manager. David is 30 years old now. He and I have had some of the most intense conversations about Jesus and religion. He speaks great English so it is really easy for us to communicate.
He wanted to get together so I invited him to join us for lunch on Christmas day since that was the day he was coming to town to take care of some business. He didn't want to impose, but Crista and I insisted (after all - what is Christmas about...) so I picked him up after class and we all went to Chili's for lunch. Crista had already prepared several Christmas meals the week prior to Christmas for our family and others, so we decided to do something different for our big meal that day.
When I picked David up he immediately began questioning me about our move to Taiwan. Why, when, how, etc. He wanted to know how we were able to live here. I told him how our friends and church were helping to support us. He wanted to know how many people were helping to take care of us. When I told him, he was speechless. It was an absolutely incredulous moment for him. After he regained his composure - he said - "what kind of God do you serve? I have never heard of anything like this!"
We got to talk about many things at lunch. Mostly catching up. But we will spend a good amount of time together now that he is back. I can see God working on him and preparing him for this moment. Please pray for him and for my teacher Olive Liao specifically.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from Taichung
Todd, Crista, Katelyn, Ashlyn & Andrew
Thank you for your continued prayers and encouragement. Just like David, we too are amazed at how God continues to provide for our needs.
Would you consider joining our financial support team? As with any organization, year end giving makes up a large part of our annual budget. Make a one time year end gift to Mission Taiwan or join our regular supporters. CLICK HERE to give online or for instructions on where to send support.
Gospel Patrons - Read this great article from the Gospel Coalition on what it means to be a Gospel Patron. |
