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Dear
Prayer Partner: This summer we had more rain than last year and soon autumn is around
the corner. After the season picking strawberries comes the time
to pick cherries, and then the beautiful sight of red maple leaves everywhere.
When winter approaches, the red leaves will change color and fall on the
ground, then snow will take over and cover the land.
Looking at the change of seasons, we marvel at the miracle of creation
and praise God for His wonderful works ! Since our move from Africa to Canada,
there have been so much adaptations to be met
and cultural shock to overcome -
even after over a year. With
the support of your prayers, we have come through under God’s everlasting love
and guidance. Let us share with you
what we have gone through in the past three months and offer our thanksgiving to
Him. Thanksgiving 1.
For the new office of ACEM.
In the past ten years, ACEM had been using the premises of different
sister churches. When the churches
need expansion, ACEM had to move. Thanks
be to God for the provision of a spacious office space which ACEM acquired and
that not only give ACEM its own place, but also provide other churches who had
not had a place of their own, to use this location.
We moved in on July 14, 2003 and there will be a dedication service in
October. After we moved to the new
office, I started a Bible Study right away in the following week using the lunch
hour every Thursday. 2.
Re-opening of Prison Ministry. With
the SARS crisis over, we started our visitations again.
When our application was approved, we made visitations with both old as
well as new members to three jails on July 25, 26 and 28. It was with great joy
that we could make those visits and save souls. The International Prison Fellowship conference, held once
every two years, was held on August 6 – 9 in Toronto . Grace was happy to be able to participate and learn the
techniques to care for these poor individuals.
Most of all, Grace asked God to give her compassion and love for
them. 3.
On the move again.
Since our arrival here, we have to move three times.
We have just moved in December last year, when our landlord notified us
that he had put up his house for sale and we had to look for another apartment.
We experienced God’s blessings even among the trouble of moving from
one place to another and then another. Last
August, when we visited Elder Hu in his senior’s apartment, we indicated our
interest to the Superintendent and he put our name on the waiting list.
In February, we were told there was a vacancy, but we were one day late
when we paid our visit, because another family had placed an offer to purchase.
God does wonderful things ! Somehow,
the other
family
withdrew their offer and we were able to acquire this apartment.
On May 10, we moved to our new apartment which is closer to Daniel’s
university. Our home is on the 2nd
floor facing southeast, with trees outside our bright windows.
There is an exercise room and the building is surrounded with green lawns
and a garden. It is real nice and
quiet. Above all, it is just half
of the market price as it is built solely for seniors and family. We thank God for His provision in giving us this home
although we have been here such a short time ! 4.
Summer job for Daniel.
Canada's economy has been greatly affected by SARS and the 911 attack.
Companies are cutting budget and staff.
Many university graduates are unable
to find jobs. Daniel had been
looking for summer jobs on the Internet to no avail.
Through
a Christian brother, Daniel was given an opportunity to work full-time in the
computer department in the library of Tyndale Bible College. Daniel was interviewed once and was accepted.
Now he can drive to work since he has got his driving licence.
God knows the needs of His people. Blessings from Ministry 1.
Paul--He works with three Mandarin churches, teaching Sunday school,
conducting disciple training, leading small discussion groups, preaching and
visitations. His schedule is full from Tuesday to Saturday, with meetings for
young people with dedication to God’s service, Students Ministry at a nearby
college ( mainly non-believers from China), encouraging theology students in
their studies. He is happy sharing
the gospel and bringing people to Christ. He
has been invited by his alumni, the Baptist Bible College
in Taiwan, to teach an intensive course on Missions and Outreach to Muslims.
He will
be leaving for Taiwan in October for a month and will visit his 92-year-old father in Taiwan. 2.
Grace--While in Africa, she used to do mission work to “people” and
lead bible studies every day of the week and make visitations to the village
people. What a
great
change now ! Now, her work is
mainly “paper work” – writing sermons, preparing
Sunday school lessons, writing articles and other literary work.
She spent long hours at her desk for the present work.
Every six months, she goes to a different sister church to serve and
teach Sunday school about missions. She has to start making new friends and
adapt to a new church environment. Please
pray for her to have the ability to adapt to changes and serve our Lord with
grace. Her greatest joy is in
cultivating the work on missionaries. When
some students responded by expressing interest to join her in visitation to the
prisoners, she felt her great reward. Recently, Grace opens her home for sharing
her work by inviting Sunday school students to an evening meal.
At the same time, she conducted a “Teaching Team” by letting her
students do some teaching in the class, preparing them to be Sunday school
teachers. Thus, when Grace leaves
that church, there will be new Sunday school teachers to take over.
They will use her notes on “History of Missionaries and their
Missions” and carry on bearing fruits for God’s kingdom. 3.
Praise the Lord, our family are in good health.
So is Paul's father in Taiwan and Grace's Mother
in Hong Kong. God bless the
elder members with good health and a delightful Heart,
for which we are most grateful. Once
again, thank you for your continuous prayers.
Yours
in His Service, Paul,
Grace and Daniel Updated News : October 6, 2003 |