Farewells

We have been having lots of 'last' days. Thursday night the junior high performed skits, dances, a style show and games for parents at the Science Museum square. It sprinkled just a little, but didn't dampen the spirits. We Americans were actually late because of a dinner engagement. We went to a huge hotel vegetarian restaurant. I definitely have not lost weight on this trip! Taiwanese food is starting to taste good! If you know me well, you know that is from God.

Friday morning was our final day to teach the Bible class. We wound up with 14 students most of the time. We shared our home videos the last three days. I taught a lesson on the Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit and then the last day shared a visual called "One Cut" which was given to me by the Sunday school teachers here. Then we did the "Roman Road" to give them tools for evangelism. One of the students had never read the Bible before. They have asked her to join in a small group so we hope this will be the start of her adventure with Christ!

Friday night the junior high students had a game night. We joined them part way through again because of a dinner date. A young adult group took us to an authentic Taiwanese restaurant near the train station. We had a real variety of foods. It was very good. When we got back to the church we led two games and served pop and chips and Jolly Ranchers to all the students and leaders. It was a fun closing time. They asked each child to select an interest group for follow up each Saturday in a small cell group. It is free and they will do fun things and get to know the people and learn more about Jesus. It is a great plan for follow up.

After all that, we went home to a surprise 16th birthday party at our apartment for one of the trio of girls who have been living with us. It was quite a fun time as we waited in the dark for her to come into the apartment and then all shouted and let off poppers. The pastor and her husband were with us and joined right in with the students. We sang "Happy Birthday" and prayed for her. It will be a special memory for all of us.

Today the girls cleaned the apartment. We packed our things. Caleb left by train for Kee Lung to visit the church he was at last year. We were invited to another group for lunch as usual. What a surprise! It was the family of Kelly. We stayed at Kelly's inlaws house with her in Dunggong our first week here. Kelly's parents hosted the party. Their other daughter, Jenny, is expecting her first baby this week. We knew most of the people from church so it was like being among friends, including the pastor and her husband.

We are waiting now to go back to Dunggang for the night. We will share our testimony tomorrow with that church. Then they will whisk us back to the bus in Kaihsuing. We'll be on our way to Taipei! About 90 people from the church here are leaving tomorrow morning for a prayer conference in Seoul, Korea. There will be 4-5,000 Christians from several Asian countries at the conference. Many of the youth leaders and people we've worked with will be leaving including both pastors. So we are saying farewell to everyone today.

We have a peace and joy in leaving here. We feel that God really blessed us. We continue to use flexibility as we wait to see how and when we will leave for Dunggang.

In His service,
Larry & Marlys