Time To Switch Gears

Last week we participated in the annual TMF (Taiwan Missionary Fellowship) conference. It was a wonderful time of fellowship with other missionaries and being fed spiritually through the ministry of the Word by a couple of great Bible teachers from the USA. Last week was about receiving and being refreshed. This coming week will be a little different....

Once again I am teaching English to grade 5 and 6 Taiwanese kids at a school in Chingsui, a town just a half hour from Taichung (see my "Light In The Darkness" blog entry for more info on the town of Chingsui). God has really opened doors in several of the schools in and around Chingsui, and this year we again have the privilege of spending time with about 75 kids at each school. I will have about 25 kids in my class, a good size, but not unmanageable with some good help. Some believers from a local Taiwanese church will be helping with the English time, as well as with the Bible lesson and craft times.

I typically enjoy this kind of ministry, but it can take it out of you. The classrooms are not air-conditioned, and this is the hottest time of the year in Taiwan. I have two 40 minute class periods, and making learning English fun is always a challenge. But the rewards are considerable. It is fun to just spend time with these kids. A significant number come from broken homes and are yearning for love and affection. Most importantly, we have the chance to share the love of Jesus Christ with them in both word and deed. Our prayer is that the words of God's truth will take root in their hearts, and that He will draw many to Himself in the coming weeks.