Followup about our support and playlist of songs

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We'll miss the view of campus from our apartment in Taiwan.

Dear <<First Name>>,

After sending out our last newsletter, I wanted to follow up with some clarification for our supporters and also share some songs that are encouraging to me these days in hopes that they are a gift of encouragement to you as well.

We haven’t been very clear on what is happening with our ongoing support and would like to add some clarity. Part of the challenge is that we haven’t been clear ourselves. After retiring from WorldVenture, we will be considered Global Specialists and can use the funds in our account for airfare for short-term ministry trips (to Taiwan) but we will not be getting a salary from WorldVenture. We are now getting monthly retirement income from the years we were with the Hillsboro School District.

As Global Specialists with WorldVenture, we will submit a plan and budget and then will need to submit a report of how the funds were used each year. We assume most people will stop supporting us and we wanted to leave money in the account so we minimized our salary for the last several months. Our salary was just to cover the mission office fees, insurance, and retirement. Any money given now or in the future will go into our account for ministry related to being Global Specialists.

At the time, we had envisioned ministry in Taiwan and locally. Right now, with several family responsibilities, we are not adding local WorldVenture related ministries, for the time being. We will be using the funds in our account for airfare to Taiwan a couple of times per year. Our account currently has enough for about 5 years of trips so this is a good time for you to pray about how God would like you to redirect your giving.

Thank you for your support all these years. It has made a huge difference and we are humbled by your generosity.

Gratefully,

Dwight and Beckie

PS: We updated our Final Home Assignment Website to include our newsletters back to 2014. If you haven't checked it out there are some funny old pictures and videos.

∞∞∞ Extra for Encouragement ∞∞∞

Since 2006, we have had a family tradition of each member picking a song for the year and I buy them for the family. It is a bit of a time capsule for our family.

When I hear a song that I think I might use in our annual picks, I save it so I have songs to pick from in December.

As I was looking over songs I've picked or thought about picking, I thought you might find some that encourage you so here they are to enjoy. I hope you find at least one that is an encouragement to you. I linked the song name below to a video of each song.

Now it's your turn! Send us an audio, video, or podcast that has been challenging or encouraging to you and tell us why you like it.

Song	Comment
Faithful Friend by Steven Curtis Chapman & Twila Paris (link to Lyrics video)	I just heard this song fairly recently. It would make a good song for a wedding with an honorable man and a faithful friend. I can think of a number of friends over the years that I'm reminded of by this song. But mostly it challenges me and gives me the desire to be that kind of man and faithful friend.
Forgiveness by Matthew West	Forgiveness is such a hard lesson to learn and apply in our lives. God requires justice which Jesus paid and then extended mercy and grace to us. This song came out of a tragic story and eventual forgiveness. Watch this video...it shows the power of forgiveness.
None Other by John Van Deusen	This song was written by John Van Deusen. His parents are some of our closest friends and our kids grew up together. John has been a part of the music scene in the Northwest for several years. I believe this song is the result of a lot of lessons culminating in his life. I'm proud of him and hoping to see him sometime this year.
Courageous by Casting Crowns	The movie Courageous was a great challenge to fathers to love their families and be courageous in life. Mark Hall had been doing youth ministry and working with the men in his church when he heard about the movie and wanted to write a song for it. He talks about it in this interview about his "new" now older song.
Forever Young by The Tenors	I used this song as a part of a final blessing for the guys in the Men of Honor Class. "May you stay Forever Young": we discussed having a child-like faith. “Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." Mark 10:15 "May all your wishes come true": we discussed the following verse. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalms 37:4
Cinderella by Steven Curtis Chapman	Steven Curtis Chapman wrote this song to remind him of the importance of time with his daughters. After his daughter was tragically killed, he wasn't able to perform it for a while. We got to hear him perform for about the first time at a concert. It is a newer but similar challenge to dads as Cats in the Cradle from when I was young. Do you remember that song?
Joy in the Journey by Michael Card	Michael Card came to speak at Morrison for a week a few years back. This song reminds me that we are all on a journey. God uses each day to do good work in and around us so even in tragic times we can look to a joy that only He can provide.
Blessings by Laura Story	Our journeys will always include hard and crushing events. As a parent, I desire that my kids would never experience terrible circumstances but even if it was possible for me to accomplish that, I'd be blocking the growth that only comes through adversity. As I thought about it nothing worthwhile in my life has ever come without discipline, work, and pain. We did a short presentation to say goodbye to our Chinese Church. There were two things in it you have probably heard me talk about before: The Jade Cabbage and the Butterfly Circus. If you don't know what those are you can learn about them in my presentation.
Voice of Truth by Casting Crowns	The command, "Fear not!", or some variation occurs throughout the Bible. Listening to this song serves as an antidote to fear by helping me remember what is true.
You Say by Lauren Daigle	Like the song above, this song challenges the lie that we are a disappointment and failure.
Pretty's on the Inside by Chloe Adams	This song is for the girls in your life. The song was picked by someone else in our family and I wish the truth of its message would sink into the hearts of so many of the girls I've had as students or otherwise known.
Greater by MercyMe	God's grace is bigger than my failures... A friend in Taiwan shared this song with me.
Freedom by Micheal W Smith	When I first heard this song, it struck me that it builds in me courage to stand. I have since learned that several songs on the album relate directly to the civil war including the song Letter to Sarah about one of the most famous letters from that war. It is a wonderful letter from a loving and courageous husband. Listen to the letter. It is well worth your time.