Taiwan #10, April 3rd, 2009

Dearest Friends,

This is the most fantastic list of blessings. You are going to love this email. The last 3 days of ministry in Taiwan have been exhausting, but very sweet. Anna and I have been battling colds, but are feeling much better. Please forgive me for not writing sooner, but I really needed to rest between programs.

The mountains that are near the city, particularly Ali mountain, are very famous. However, only once after a rain, and then only for 15 minutes, have we seen any at all. The city is constantly covered with haze, but this week we are seeing God cover it with His Holy Spirit. We are all so blessed!

1. In the afternoon, after a group of students watched a program, they were excitedly talking about it on the bus. One young man heard them talking about what they had seen and heard. He was scheduled to take a test this morning and would have missed the program. He was so eager to hear what his friends had heard that he went and begged a teacher to help him postpone his test. She told me how happy he was to attend the puppet show.

2. At 7:40 AM this morning, hundreds of young people crowded into a hall. All of us felt the presence of God’s Holy Spirit on those young people. A teacher came to me and said, “I was so touched. The students were crying. I was crying.” We were allowed to pray with these young people and I ask you to continue in prayer for them. My heart broke for them as I looked deep into their eyes. They were so attentive. They listened eagerly as I described how the one true God offers forgiveness and love. Pray!

3. At a Catholic hospital, the priest and the director welcomed us and were very enthusiastic about what we share. A doctor later spoke to me about how amazed he was that a couple of hundred people had gathered on 2 floors to listen to the Gospel. He told me that even after we left, people were talking about what they had heard. So many people heard about Jesus Christ that morning. Most were from a Buddhist background and for too many, the Gospel was news.

4. At a kindergarten, Sam told the story of Jonah using balloons. The children loved the story.
Best of all, many of them prayed out loud asking Jesus to save them.

5. Imagine 150 fourth graders at a puppet show. They were students at a public school, but we were given an open invitation to share with them. They loved the program, but remember, the entire presentation told them about Jesus. They were having a wonderful time learning about how they could have a relationship with God.

6. We did 2 programs at a school where we were not allowed translation. It was a very difficult time as we were desperate to tell the children about Jesus, but questioned their ability to understand our English. We were reminded about the Holy Spirit enabling men to hear the Gospel in their own language in Acts, and continue to pray that He will do the same for these children. Please join with us in these prayers.

7. A public school gave us 450 sixth graders and everyone was amazed at how well they listened. I was equally amazed. After all of these years telling children Bible stories, I am still delighted and blessed by the power of the cross to touch children’s hearts. The teachers were equally engaged as they listened to a story about the miracles of Jesus. It was an awesome experience!

8. Our last evening was spent in an exceptionally sweet time of fellowship with our new team and their families. We prayed together, laughed, and cried when we realized we had to say goodbye. They were all so kind. Ask the Father to really bless this new team with all of the wisdom and skills they need.

Our final show was at a kindergarten and we heard so many call on Jesus, asking Him to be their King. What a fantastic finish to an unbelievable time of ministry in Taiwan!

HOME

Tomorrow, Saturday at 4 AM, we will begin our journey home. Because of the 12-hour time difference, we will arrive home the same day. Please pray us safely home.

As we were driving to Hsinchu, the pastor in Chiayi called to beg us to change our schedule and return next year. All of our Chinese friends were all so eager to learn and anxious to begin this new ministry. Please ask the Lord to give us wisdom to make the right decision one week from now.

In Jesus,

Linda for

Sam,
Silvana,
Anna and
Jeremy

Taiwan #9, March 31st, 2009

Dearest Friends,

Chaiyi Hospital

Our day began with prayer with the hospital chaplains. Prayer is always the best way to begin a day! We asked God that He would do more than we could ask or imagine. Let me tell you how faithfully the Father answered our prayers.

1 – Our first show was for mentally handicapped children. More than 100 children along with their caregivers and some parents watched for an hour. Everyone said that the children would never be able to sit for so long and listen. However, they did not understand how the impossible is always possible for God. They were all amazed that the children listened so well and enjoyed the program so much. Some prayed, trusting in Jesus.

2 – At the second show, we had mostly adult patients and hospital staff. I was amazed that they stopped for an hour to listen to puppets sing, a Bible story, and testimonies. Many of the adults and children were rolling IV poles. As I looked at them, my heart was broken. It is terrible to see children and adults suffering, but is far worse to realize that they do not know Jesus. He is real comfort! It was such a gift to all of us that God would allow us to be in the hospital sharing His hope, His love.

Since this is a Christian hospital, 15% of the staff are Christians. Now, you may think that is a very low number. However, remember that outside of this building, less than 1% of the population trust in Jesus. How wonderful that God has taken hold of this place and is using those who work here to reach out and share His love with those who need it! There is no place else in the city where this is true.

3 – Our third program was for little children, but again, so many adults also stopped to listen. When we prayed with them, I heard some children boldly calling on Him. Praise God!

4 – Finally, we traveled to the 11th floor of the hospital to the psychiatric ward. Can you think of a better place to tell people about Jesus who gives hope, peace, and can take away your fears? Can you imagine the wonder you would experience when you hear about the only Son of the one true God who removes guilt and shame? It was a precious show!

Please pray for the hundreds of people who listened to the Gospel today in the hospital lobby!

Blessings

We had the most amazing meal last night. It included so many wonderful dishes, but we seldom know exactly what we are eating. We ate pig tendons, sea cucumbers, shark fin soup, but the rest mostly remained a delicious mystery.

When we returned to church last night, a large Christmas tree was lit up on the side of the building. Everywhere we see Christmas decorations which often remain until Easter. I love Christmas decorations. How cool to get to enjoy them in March!

On the top of the church are giant Chinese words which proclaim “Jesus loves you.” Thousands can see them every day.

Everyone has a camera here. The other night, 8 cameras were taking our picture at once. Always, people are photographing us with their cell phones.

Most people that I talk with here think that I am at least 70 years old. I think this is a blessing.
There was some confusion when I arrived at the psychiatric floor for our last show. Since I had come by myself on the elevator, the nurses became confused. They kept telling me to sit down and rest. I almost got admitted.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, we will be doing programs in another hospital, a kindergarten and an elementary school. Please remain on your knees!

In Jesus,

Linda for
Sam,
Silvana,
Anna and
Jeremy

Taiwan #8, March 30th, 2009

Dearest Friends,

RAIN

I woke up Sunday morning to a storm. Immediately, I began to pray as our plan was to do a program in a park. The people we are working with here have wonderful vision. They are very willing to go outside the church and schedule opportunities for us to share. I wanted to share with the children in the park that day, and I also wanted encourage our friends’ efforts to reach people outside the church.

God was very kind to us. Our friends sent vehicles over to the park and brought all of the children back to the church to the first floor where we did the puppet show. Normally, they have 50 children in Sunday school, but yesterday they had 145 in attendance! God answered all our prayers. More, because we were at a church, we had complete freedom to pray with the children. We heard so many children praying out loud asking Jesus to be their King and their Savior. It was awesome!

SATURDAY’S PRAYER REQUEST

The other day we sent out a special prayer request and asked specifically that you pray for the team we are planting here in Chaiyi. They desire to hear God’s voice and vision clearly. Each day, they are moving closer to accepting the equipment and believing they can start a puppet ministry in this place. Even now, as we are typing this e-mail, some are meeting downstairs to learn how to setup the sound system, puppet stage, and the easel. Please keep praying. All of us truly believe that these are the right people for this ministry.

CONCORDIA SCHOOL

Concordia is a school that was established by Lutheran missionaries more than 50 years ago. Today, we had the sweet privilege of doing 3 programs for the children. Later in the week, we will have two more opportunities to share with the students. Most of the children who attend this school are not from Christian families. This is a very special opportunity to share with Buddhist children whose families are the doctors and lawyers and key businessmen in this community. Please pray for our remaining two times that we will get to be with these children.

I have a real heart’s desire for them to be able to hear the Gospel clearly and with understanding.
TODAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS

Tomorrow (Tuesday), we will be at Chaiyi Christian Hospital. We have four programs schedules with different groups at the hospital. Please pray that we will make the right decisions about what we will do in each place. Ask the Father to call many to faith as we are sharing tomorrow. Thank you for being so faithful to pray for us. We feel the strength of your prayers.

In Jesus,

Linda for
Sam Shaw – Assistant Director
Silvana Shaw
Jeremy Snow
Anna McIlwaine
Joseph and Lori

Taiwan #7, March 28th, 2009

Dearest Friends,

We are in Chia-Yi, in the South of Taiwan. We are working with a wonderful group of people. Last night, they welcomed us so warmly, they had prepared fo us a wonderful dinner. Then, they stood and sang for us. The words to the song said, "I am glad, for I belong to Jesus. Praise the Lord." They have real joy for Jesus. They have also arranged a great schedule for us, with many kinds of opportunities. We will be doing programs at schools, at hospitals, and on the streets. Clearly, they have great vision.

However, they are concerned about the responsibility of accepting the puppet equipment that we want to give them. They are fearful that it is too great a responsibility for them to undertake. I admire their honesty and their desire not to see the equipment wasted by being put into storage. However, after the training time we had today with them, all of us believe that these are the right people to start a team in this part of Taiwan.

Please consider that there are precious few Christians in this part of the country. Today as we were doing a program at an apartment complex on the street, many people came who would never have visited a church. There is a desperate need here for Christians to go where the lost people are and share Christ with them. They are hungry to hear. Today they stood or sat in the sun for an hour to listen to stories about the one true God.

Please pray that these dear people will accept this equipment and trust God to raise up a team from among them. Please ask God to give them the courage to believe that with Him all things are possible.

New photographs have been uploaded at

http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/7700201_EkSSc#P-1-21.
In Jesus,

Linda for

Sam Shaw - Assistant Director
Silvana Shaw
Jeremy Snow
Anna McIlwaine

Taiwan #6, March 27th, 2009

Dearest Friends,

GOOD-BYE TO HSINCHU

We finished our time in Hsinchu sharing with 1400 children in a single day. It was amazing! We were at a school where we had done many programs across the years of ministry in Taiwan, so the children recognized me when we arrived. They said, "Oh look, it is the old woman who tells us stories." Then they guessed my age to be 89. Maybe, I should dye my hair. HEEHEE

WE had complete freedom in this school, except that we could not pray with the children. Still, we were able to explain the hope of Jesus so clearly and model for them a prayer so that they could know how to ask Jesus to be their Savior. One of the teachers told me that she could see in the children's eyes how well they listened. Truly, they were hungry to hear about His hope.
Please continue to pray for the children of Hsinchu and Peter and Melody. It is such a dark
place, full of so many temples. Yesterday, we passed by the temple to the lord of hell and one to the mother of heaven. Please pray!

HELLO TO CHAI-YI

Now, we are in the south in Chai-yi and there are even less Christians here. There are even more temples. This is a town of 270,000 people.The air is very bad. You can see it blocking the view of the rest of the city. In minutes, we leave for a show. WE need you to pray for this area. We will train and equip a team here and there are many details to sort. Again, please pray.

In Jesus, Linda for the Team