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posted by Donald on 09/25/08

Looking back over another week, I sense a new appreciation for God’s great mercy: acceptance or favor that is not earned or deserved. On Sunday He brought me across the lines of a hymn that I had forgotten about, saying simply:
There’s a wideness in God’s mercy, like the wideness of the sea.
There’s a kindness in His justice which is more than liberty.
Monday was my day to teach in the Bank classroom. The students from Chao He Elementary School were attentive. They enacted deposit and withdraw scenarios, made bank books and even had time for a math game using the money counter. Though there is much more that could be taught about the bank I’m reminded by my own merciful Master Teacher that dynamic teaching can identify with students at any level before bringing them to the next.
On Tuesday, a typhoon kept us from our normal teaching schedule. The Lord turned this also in our favor allowing but a light shower and giving us a day to catch up. Great time for journaling and language study! Wednesday was a full day in the airport classroom. During the first class I forgot how to operate the sound system but the Lord was merciful and sent along another teacher at the right time to help me out. From then on it was never a problem. This morning and yesterday we’ve seen potential illnesses fade away as the Lord provides strength. And overall I am most grateful for our hosts. God has blessed us with teachers and leadership at Nan Jung who not only make sure that we feel at home but are interested in working with us to give every student a fresh interest in English. They lend advice, let us attend their classes from time to time, and invite us over on the lunch break so our language skills can mutually improve.
It’s an ideal situation. The Lord is good.

4 Comments » | posted in Family News

posted by Jonathan on 09/19/08

Sept 7: Grandma Brannon’s 80th Birthday: What a cause for a celebration! Saturday afternoon the Staddon home was bustling with many diligent workers in preparation for the party. We were grateful for everyone who came to help decorate and prepare food.

Sunday morning during church Esther and Mom surprised Grandma by playing the special music in honor of her birthday. Then Sunday afternoon children, grandchildren, and others gathered at our house to celebrate this momentous occasion. After opening gifts and cards she read 80 slips of paper on which were written notes of appreciation for things such as: a) The cheerful way she puts others first, b) Optimism towards life, and her delicious cheese cake. We all enjoyed the tasty dinner, snacks, cake and ice cream, and especially the time together before going our separate ways.

6 Comments » | posted in Family News

posted by Donald on 09/18/08

While we’re already into our third week, we’re actually only beginning to “take off” with a full-fledged teaching schedule.
Yesterday and today students from Nan Jung (our host school–pronounced Non Rong) came for a total of seven 45-minute periods and next Monday students from an elementary school will be the first regular outside guests to come through. It promises to be another good year and I’m reminded of Psalm 19:5, a verse that came to mind during a jog earlier this week: “[The rising sun is] as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.” There’s a long flight ahead but the Lord has been our strength giving us cause to rejoice at the beginning of the race as well as afterwards.
Though Austin had only taught the airport classroom a few times before, he enjoyed “taking the stick” for today and conducted four successful flights in the Airport this morning. I’m really looking forward to doing the Market class with him some day. I feel our Fashion Store lesson plan is at last where it ought to be as well. Today I practiced some different things for the peerless Mr. Brown Cafe and of course it brings a particular degree of satisfaction seeing satisfied students walk out of the newly opened branch of Mega International Commercial Bank.
As our small crew flies on into and above the clouds, through day and night over uncharted territory, we rejoice that the Lord has seen fit to bless our efforts so far and we return the credit both to Him and those He is using through their tremendous encouragement and prayers. Thank you all!
Praise the Lord

3 Comments » | posted in Family News, Ministry Reports, The Bright Side

posted by Michael on 09/9/08

We have been blessed with another successful beekeeping year so far. I was delighted to see our ten productive hives bring in a surplus of over 600 pounds more than they needed this spring. It was more than they had ever brought in before.

Recently I read an opinion stating that people should not eat honey. It was part of discussion of CCD and the problems that bees are facing.  The logic behind the opinion was beautiful – something I wish I heard more of. It is simply the principle of Design, that honey is the perfect food for bees. We take it and feed them sugar water instead, and then wonder why their health breaks down. If sugar water was as good as honey, why don’t we eat that instead? We could save a lot of trouble if we just operated according to God’s design and let the bees eat the food God designed for them instead of taking it away.

This is a piece of advice that we beekeepers should pay some attention  to. It has only one basic flaw. In His Word, the One Who designed the bees does not condemn people eating honey. God cares about honeybee colonies. After all, not even a sparrow falls to the ground without His notice. And He emphatically says, “My son, eat thou honey… and the honeycomb…” (Prov. 24:13). In Scripture, honey is spoken of as an occasional treat to be eaten in moderation. It is the prime example of any good thing that is easily overdone (Prov. 25:27). This reinforces what I have already found to be very true about honeybees: they were created with the ability to gather and store far more honey than they actually need for their own survival. Their only limit is what the plants in their area can supply. That is good and right – and beekeepers ought to allow them to have more than they actually need at all times. Yet that in no way excludes people from enjoying honey as well.

Sometimes beekeepers take away too much honey and have to make up for it by feeding cheap sugar to their bees. This is mismanagement and comes from probably two basic causes.

(more…)

6 Comments » | posted in Family News, Possessing the Land

posted by Donald on 09/4/08

Praise the Lord.
Tomorrow we will have been here one week. It seems much more like a month because of the many new people we have met here. We are near Ping Tung city and not far from Taiwan’s southern tip.

Our team consists of Wes and Juliana; Joanna, Kara, Hannah and Sarah; Austin and I. It’s quite a smaller team than last year bit it is large enough. We already have plans for each of our English classrooms roughed out. We’ve also started to get to know the teachers here at the host school. Vanessa is our main contact person; Principle Chen and her sister are our hosts and we’ve begun to get familiar with the English and sports teachers as well as students.
It’s great to be a part of the new work here and see the spirit the Lord has granted us as a team. As different situations come up, “Yee-ha” is one of the dry-homor-reactions that I’ve heard from Wes a lot as so many things come up and changes occur. I appreciate your overcomer’s attitude brother! Today is His birthday by the way! We enjoyed teaching a test run for each class, playing basketball with the teachers afterward and talking to students.
“But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power …” (Revelation 2:25-26).

3 Comments » | posted in Family News