“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!”
Isaiah 52:7
What a privilege to witness the kindness of the Taiwanese people. Before camps start for the summer, they held an official Farewell Party for us and two of the teachers who were retiring. Last week was a big week. At different times it was good to take time to share a meal and say good-bye to elders from my church, an English student and our faithful security guard at the complex where we stay. Sometimes enjoying home-cooked food, sometimes at a restaurant trying the famous local delicacy, sometimes meeting their distant friends and relatives, it made for an memorable time. Then came Saturday night. Mr. Huang from Nan Jung coordinated a time for Wes & Julianna and baby Savannah, Jonathan Sater, Po Hao, Kuan Ter and their families, and I to have dinner at a mountaintop restaurant between Kaohsiung and Mount Bei Da Wu the mountain we had climbed earlier. It wasn’t a candlelight dinner. The sunset and the breeze provided a perfect setting. Even after dark the lights of Kaohsiung and Ping-tung glittered on the horizon. Most of all I enjoyed getting to know their families, share pictures and putting my Chinese to practice again. How grateful I am for the lessons on relationship that I’ve learned from them. Relationship puts the right perspective on time and makes all the work worth while.
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven ,where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:19-20).
Early in the month of June, I happened to stop in with Robert at the Steinway Piano of Chicago outlet not too far from IBLP Headquarters. The moment I entered the store, I scolded myself for not bringing a camera. There were so many pianos I could hardly believe it! And each one was unique–each a perfect photographic subject. The complementary pictures that adorned the walls only spurred my inspiration to make me promise I would return with a camera.
Well, I was back within the next two weeks. At first I was a bit apprehensive about what restrictions there might be on taking pictures. After all, each Steinway is as much a work of art as the masterpieces performed upon it combined. And many in the store were worth tens of thousands of dollars, and some hundreds of thousands! But my fears were quickly abated. “Take as many pictures as you want!” one of the jolly, yet well-versed shop assistants affirmed after spending several educational minutes showing me around the place. That was the coup de grâce! For the next 20 minutes I was preocupied with simply taking as many pictures as I could.
I guess the moral of the story is an encouragement to break out of the norm every-once-in-a-while. Think of all the places that the average Joe with a camera would never go! But oh, as a word of caution: make sure to be prepared! I forgot to bring a tripod, which really would have been handy in the low-light show-rooms. However, an external speedlite which, bounced off the walls, ceiling, and even the floor sometimes, saved a ton of pictures from being ruined by camera shake.
Lives are changed one decision at a time. Small decisions set the pattern for all decisions. And that’s why our family is rejoicing over the testimonies of obedience that we heard from several young children this past weekend. It is a delight to share them with you!
Hannah was told to go to bed and she obeyed even though other children were having fun staying up.
Jonathan’s mom told him to make his bed and he obeyed instantly. He also went the extra mile by giving his sister a glass of orange juice.
Grace: “I cleaned off the table before being asked!”
Jeremiah: “I was told to put my toys away so I did.”
Amanda: “I knew my mom wanted me to make my bed so I made it before she told me too!”
To see more pictures and discover what motivated these children to overcome the temptation to disobey and successfully honor God in their decisions, click here.
“The boy teased and picked on his classmate endlessly! He knew just what would make him mad. He knew what name to call him to irritate him the most and said it often. He was merciless, loud and rude. Finally the classmate ran into the restroom crying and wouldn’t come out.” This was the prayer request a friend of mine shared as our team gathered for prayer meeting one night while I was in Oklahoma. The offender was only 10 or 11. Why would he want to be such a bully? How could he be so resistant and hard when my fellow teacher tried to talk to him? Whatever she said met a brick wall; until she asked him one question. He showed no sign of caring; until she asked him one question. This boy seemed like a problem and I viewed him as a hopeless hindrance to our work until I heard his response to this one question. He had glared at her and everything she said seemed to go in one ear and out the other. But then she asked, “Where is your dad?” Immediately the hardness melted and he burst into tears. It seemed rather like an out-of-the-blue question to me as my friend continued the story behind her prayer request. But that was the question that cut through the tough front he was putting up and revealed the pain in his heart. It revealed the confusion of a young man who lacked the influence and example he needed from his Dad. No, he had no excuse for his actions, but I could see that it was deep hurt that contributed to the hardness of this young boy and it gave me a whole new love and desire to reach out to the “problem kids” that I so easily judge.
As we prayed together for him I couldn’t help but think how easily I take my Dad for granted when so many other families are being ripped apart. I would like to take the chance as it comes up to Father’s day to send a message first to those of you who can’t get to know your dad: God can be your father because God tells us in 2 Cor. 6:17 & 18 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” 2nd: When your dad does something fatherly, thank him for it. And last of all: Dads, never forget that your role is important and worth the sacrifice that it takes to do right.
As we were enjoying a wonderful lunch outside, something in the orchard caught my eye. “Oh no! Michael look what’s hanging on the apple tree! Quick get your Equipment. Do you need help?” I ran to get the camera and followed him to the orchard. The following video is what was in the orchard and how we took care of it.
What a privilege to witness the kindness of the Taiwanese people. Before camps start for the summer, they held an official Farewell Party for us and two of the teachers who were retiring. Last week was a big week. At different times it was good to take time to share a meal and say good-bye to elders from my church, an English student and our faithful security guard at the complex where we stay. Sometimes enjoying home-cooked food, sometimes at a restaurant trying the famous local delicacy, sometimes meeting their distant friends and relatives, it made for an memorable time.
Then came Saturday night. Mr. Huang from Nan Jung coordinated a time for Wes & Julianna and baby Savannah, Jonathan Sater, Po Hao, Kuan Ter and their families, and I to have dinner at a mountaintop restaurant between Kaohsiung and Mount Bei Da Wu the mountain we had climbed earlier. 
It wasn’t a candlelight dinner. The sunset and the breeze provided a perfect setting. Even after dark the lights of Kaohsiung and Ping-tung glittered on the horizon. Most of all I enjoyed getting to know their families, share pictures and putting my Chinese to practice again. How grateful I am for the lessons on relationship that I’ve learned from them. Relationship puts the right perspective on time and makes all the work worth while.
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