Taiwan #5 March 26th, 2009

Dearest Friends,

Wow!
Today, the children were very caught up in the story of Jesus and His miracles. When He calmed the storm, you heard them say “Wow!” I want to be continually that excited when I think about what Jesus did… what He does. How sweet to hear Buddhist children excited about a Bible story!

Public Schools
Today, we did 3 programs at public schools. All of the programs were well received, even by the teachers. We shared with over 1200 children who loved what they heard. What an amazing privilege to tell so many Buddhist children about Jesus!
Some of the Christian teachers at one school were fearful about how the Gospel would be received. God gave them courage and peace. In the end, they were very pleased.
One of the best stories today happened in the strangest place. Two teachers took me to the restroom so that I could wash my hands. They both spoke English well. I continued a conversation with them that we had begun at the end of the show. One teacher goes to Peter’s church and one teacher is from a different church tradition. The second teacher said that she had never heard such stories as she has heard today. We talked about Jesus Christ and His miracles. All of us shared testimonies about how He had changed us.
The dear young woman began to cry. She said that she felt something she had never known before and put her hand over her heart. I told her my testimony and my husband’s testimony. God used these stories to touch her heart. She told me that what I said was “compelling.” This was the actual word she used. I explained to her that there was nothing compelling about me, but told her that what she was experiencing was the touch of God’s Holy Spirit on her life.
She looked at the other teacher and switched places with her. She said, “You stand beside her. God’s Holy Spirit is too much for me. I cannot stop crying.” We spent another half hour together and she asked many more good questions. Please pray for these 2 teachers. Pray that the second teacher will talk more with her believing friend. Pray that she will trust in Jesus.

Grateful
We are so grateful for a Christian brother who owns a hotel here. He generously gives us a place to stay and we so appreciate his kindness. Each morning we enjoy a lovely breakfast and each evening, we rest well. Please ask the Father to bless him as he blesses others.

English
Everyone here has an English name. They all study English in schools. Most English names are pretty normal, but the other day, I met “Shopping.” Truthfully, many Americans could claim that name.
Many years ago, when I first began to work in Taiwan, I heard about a ladies’ clothing store here. They translated their name into English. Over the store front hung a sign that said “to cover your ugly.” This memory always makes me laugh.


Our Puppet Team
In Chinese, the words “puppet team” literally translates “cloth idol team.” Imagine going to a Buddhist school where people worship false gods. We introduce ourselves as Christians and then tell them that we are the Agape Cloth Idol Team. I confess that this is somewhat disturbing.
The worship of idols is very real here. The other day, we drove down the “god street” where you can go to buy your god. We have passed a couple of places that make gods. I always wonder if you can argue over the price and get a discount god, how much power does a person expect it to have? If you can make it with your own 2 hands, why would you worship it?
The people here are so precious, but they live in such darkness. My heart breaks for the children who grow up with these lies. Their homes all have a god shelf where they worship their dead ancestors. Please ask the one true God to break your heart so that you will remember to pray for the children of Taiwan. Please see their great need for the truth!

In Jesus,

Linda for
Sam Shaw – Assistant Director
Silvana Shaw
Jeremy Snow
Anna McIlwaine
Peter and Melody

Taiwan #4 March 25th, 2009

DEAREST FRIENDS,

MACKAY HOSPITAL
Can you imagine doing a puppet show in a hospital lobby? This is how we spent the morning. More, because the hospital was founded by a pioneer Presbyterian missionary to Taiwan, we had complete freedom in what we did and said. We could even pray with everyone, giving them an opportunity to ask Jesus Christ to be their Savior.
The head of the hospital, a doctor, came to welcome us. He stayed for most of the show and even wore a funny hat from Zimbabwe. All of the children loved him for making them laugh and clapped for him. I could not imagine a similar scene in an American hospital.
Doctors, nurses, patients, and those who brought them all listened. People stood on 2 floors in an open lobby, watching the program in a full circle. It was a very interesting way to tell a story. All the time you had to be looking up and down, and all around the room. Many set in chairs in front of us or stood around the room. Children came to see the puppets with their parents rolling their IV poles. Most stayed for the entire hour, instead of for parts of the program as we expected.
I watched as people listened eagerly to stories about Jesus and was amazed. More, even the adults stood in line for a free flying mouse balloon. Please pray for all of the seeds that the Father planted today. Please pray that those who heard will hunger to know more about Jesus. What a fantastic time we had at the hospital! That sounds strange, doesn't it?

CHILDREN PRAYING
We received an invitation from a teacher while doing a program at a rural school on Monday. She invited us to come today and do an after school program. Her church has a ministry to very poor children whose parents work very long hours and havelittle time for their children. The children were from Hakka homes and many were mountain children, from the Tayal tribe.
All through the story of Joseph, I could tell that they were really listening. Still, you never know how the Father will move in their hearts. It was the sweetest joy to hear dozens and dozens of children calling on God to be their Father, calling on Jesus to save them. We made all of these children balloons as well! We left the show full of joy. All of us kept talking about what a sweet day that we had been given.

THE RESTAURANT
None of us could have imagined that we had another wonderful surprise waiting for us. Peter had planned to go to one place to eat, but we were too late by the time that we finished the second program. We had one plan , but the Father had a better plan.At the restaurant where we went, because we were eating lunch after 3PM, there was no one else there. We had a private restaurant. The owner and I had 2 great conversations about Jesus and some stories about the children we serve. With real joy, he received a Chinese illustrated life of Jesus. He became very excited. It is wonderful to see someone so thrilled! Please pray for this young man to trust in Jesus.

PRAYER REQUESTS
This was an especially sweet day. There is more to this story, but I will need to wait until tomorrow to tell you about the backpacks that we assembled today for a closed country. The hour is late and I confess that I am tired. Please stand with us in prayer!

In Jesus,

Linda for
Sam,
Sil,
Anna,
Jeremy,
Peter and Melody

Taiwan #3 March 24th, 2009

Dearest Friends,

GREAT DAYS
When the program goes well, I say “Awesome.” My Irish partner, Sam Shaw, says “Brilliant.” My Chinese pastor friend says, “Hung How” (spelling phonetically). Our French puppet director Anna says “Genial.” Silvana is from Brazil and she says “Maravilhoso.” In any language, today was wonderful. We were allowed to pray with the children at a Christian school, but most of the students were not from believing families. Today, we heard so many children praying loudly, asking God to be their Father and Jesus to be their King.
You may wonder if such an experience is really life changing. The Director told me that as a small child she had trusted in Jesus during a similar program for children many years ago. She grew up in a Buddhist family, but came to Jesus as a small child.
It is amazing to be traveling with friends from four continents and five countries. All of us are so blessed by all that we see God do. Each day is a great day as we share with hundreds of children, many of whom have no understanding of who Jesus is and how He can change them. I cannot imagine living a single day without Jesus. Here, people can live an entire lifetime and not hear His name. Please pray for Taiwan!

PUBLIC SCHOOLS
On Monday morning, we did two programs at a public school. As it is in most places in Taiwan, almost everyone was Buddhist. The children loved the program. As they were leaving the building, they were all shouting something. Peter told me that they were shouting, “We want you to come again. We want to see you again.”
Two years ago, we were at this same school. One of the teachers remembered our visit and more, she remembered the Bible story that she had heard. Please pray for all of these children to remember what they heard about “true love.” This was the subject that the school approved. What a great topic! There is no true love except through the cross of Jesus Christ and that is what we shared with them!
As usual, they would not allow us to pray with the children, but we could tell them how to pray. This always makes me laugh because God is the creator of the universe. They cannot stop what He chooses to do in the lives of the children.

BON APPETIT!
We all enjoyed the most wonderful meal with our friends Peter and Melody and their children. I always tell children that a missionary needs to be able to eat anything. We proved that statement as we all dined at a Hong Kong-style restaurant. We ate turtle blood jello and snake soup. After dinner, we went for a walk and shared a can of asparagus juice.
There is a delicious fruit here that is a cross between a pear and an apple. Our friend calls it a jingle bell, but we have decided it is a “prapple.” Anyway, it tastes great!

IN THE COUNTRY
Monday afternoon, we drove out of town to a school in the country. On the edge of the mountains, the school is beside an orange grove. The air was so nice and the view was great!
The best part of the trip was meeting a young boy named Joseph. He came up after the show and presented a small banner as a thank you from the school. Then he came to see me again. He wanted to shake my hand and tell me thank you.
I looked into his eyes and knew that Joseph was not just grateful for a good show. He had listened with his ears and his heart. Later, I spoke with him alone and encouraged him to remember the story. I asked him to please trust Jesus. He promised that he would. When a child reaches out to you as Joseph did and looks so deeply into your eyes, you see the need of his heart. Please pray for Joseph to pray and call on Jesus to save him.

TRAINING
On Saturday afternoon, we trained 35 Sunday school teachers. They got so excited about what they heard and were eager to learn. We did our best to encourage them. I shared with them how my Sunday school teacher touched my life when I was 5 years old. I still remember Mrs. Smith. Please pray for these teachers to be bright lights in the many churches that they represent.
Last night, we taught Seminary students at a Lutheran seminary. Some of those who came plan to work in a closed country, a place where you cannot openly go as a missionary. They will risk their lives to tell people about Jesus Christ. What a privilege to teach them!

PRAYER REQUESTS
Tomorrow and Thursday we have more shows in schools and at a hospital. Please pray! It is very dark here and all of us need you to pray.

In Jesus,

Linda for

Sam Shaw – Assistant Director
Silvana Shaw
Jeremy Snow
Anna McIlwaine
Peter and Melody