1000 pushups.

Bryan says this update took 9000 hours to write. I don’t think he’s too far from the truth – which means I’m being ridiculous. Solution? I’m going to post every week from now on. If I don’t, I’ll do 1000 pushups.

So what’s being in Taiwan like for you, John?
It is most definitely, above all else, humbling. I constantly find myself falling short of loving others or even thinking to love others (through prayer or through service), being ill equipped to communicate in Mandarin (my native language), being lazily illiterate (in my native language), lacking Biblical wisdom, and fearing rejection from contacts, new-comers and cram school recruiters out of trust in the flesh and faithlessness. One of the most humbling realizations, though, is how I am being humbled by my responses to such relatively un-trying situations. It’s highly likely that I’m not ready for big “thorns in the flesh” (I’m barely ready for mosquito bites), but it’s certainly good to know that our God is one who will bring to completion the good work He has began in us. Please do pray that God would continue to humble me at an even greater rate – as much as I am able to handle - that my life may be stripped away of its many flesh-trusting, self-exalting efforts and that they would be replaced with a Christ-exalting heart. I’ve also noticed that I too often feel so overwhelmed by all the areas in my life that need sanctification (note the brief list above) that I am disheartened to do anything at all. Of course, this is just a feeling and the reality is that I have been given strength enough to bear it. Pray that I would be encouraged in faith by the promises of God to serve Him with all my might.

“Thus says the LORD: ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the LORD.’”
Jeremiah 17:5

The goodness of God.
I often speak highly of the goodness of God in prayer, to people whom I share the gospel with, and sometimes in casual conversation, but I probably never completely understand just what I am really talking about. Here is the Word of the Lord that came to Isaiah:

“I permitted Myself to be sought by those who did not ask for Me; I permitted Myself to be found by those who did not seek Me. I said, ‘Here am I, here am I,’ to a nation which did not call on My name. I have spread out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in the way which is not good, following their own thoughts,”
Isaiah 65:1-2

While I’m stretching out my hands to a handful of students on the NTU campus for an hour or two a few times a week I forget that God has stretched out His hands to billions upon billions of rebellious individuals with thousands of years of patience. My hesitation in confronting people about their eternal destiny without Christ shows that, even if for a moment, I dare to compare the goodness of God to my own “goodness.” This would show itself at times in prayer too when my heart might secretly say “I, in my goodness, have noticed so and so’s need for salvation, why hasn’t God?” See how ridiculous I am? Pray for me that I would be always be in awe of God’s immeasurable goodness.

Bryan, Matt, and I
We really are just a lovely bunch of coconuts. There is just a lot of humility, service toward each other, and, in general, much forbearance and sensitivity for individual preferences. Thanks again for your prayers. Typically, Bryan and Matt talk a lot and I listen a lot. From my perspective, it’s a lot like browsing a huge thread on a forum – the kind that makes you want to read until your eyes are red with fatigue. I am thoroughly encouraged and challenged by their fervor for Biblical truth and particularly how these truths play out in real life. Praise the Lord! I hope to solidify more of my own convictions in general through the Word so that I may carry forth more areas of my life in full confidence. Pray for a genuine desire to please the Lord through and by studying His Word with all diligence.

Laptop Advice
Never, ever get a Lenovo. Ever. After three delays, two months, and eighteen emails, my laptop has arrived in a country that I am no longer in with mold and water damage on the box. Please.

Job search.

When I began writing this update, I could not legally get a job. But now, I am able! I just received my certificate of completion today – sufficient evidence to prove that I am a university graduate and to gather for myself a work permit (to work legally). Praise the Lord!

In a week or so Matt and I will be hearing back from Happy Top (where Gina worked). We both think this would be ideal – it is literally hundreds of times closer than any other place we’ve been applying to. Yes, hundreds. We would certainly be a couple of happy…tops to be able to work there.

As for other opportunities, there are generally two options for me: teaching kids vs. teaching adults. A big difference: Kids = ~600NT/hr, Adults = ~450NT/hr. There are some perks to teaching adults which I assume to be less preparation and more self-motivation to learn. In any case, I’ve come to the conclusion that no teaching job will be easy.

The standard procedure for applying to schools for me and Matt is by way of sending resumes online and then following up with phone calls. So far, the reasons for rejection (on their part or ours) have included: the plain fact that we are Asian, them not offering enough hours of work a week to be legal, them being too far from where we live (1 hour +), and - likely the biggest – our inexperience. Matt and I actually have more than 16 years of classroom experience, but, as we have found, it was on the wrong side of the classroom.

Please continue to pray for my diligence in applying for jobs. For a period of time (pre-certificate) I felt a lack of motivation to apply. I also made excuses up in my mind, since I had relatives to visit, that I should take finding a job a little more easily. However, I am reminded that, as a tentmaker, this is a primary objective. Solution? I’ll do 1000 pushups for every week I don’t find a job.


Full of compassion?
No, not really. Recent trips to XiaoFu and XiaoxiaoFu have begun with obedience and what seemed like sacrifice – not a heart full of compassion.

“But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire compassion, and not sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew 9:13

I would like to briefly share with you about an encounter with a gospel friend on campus. Bryan and I met him as he was finishing up a desert at XiaoxiaoFu. He spoke some heavily accented English with at least two kinds of lisps and as we sat down, it seemed to me from his facial expressions and gestures that he was fairly ready to reject what we had to say either out of condescension or depression. Needless to say, we had some communication difficulties. I have to confess that, at this point, I wanted to find someone else to talk to. But, the man became more open to us and began discussing with us his view of the church – a corrupt institution, as painted by the media - and his gripes with how severe we make sin and its consequences seem. His presentation seemed to come from genuine concern about life though his understanding of truth was severely skewed. As the discussion wore on, there grew a deep longing in me for him to be saved from his futile perception of the church, himself, and the world and to understand the deep love of God in the crucified Christ Jesus. “Please, understand that this cross, upon which my savior - who is infinite God - died is NOT FOOLISH!!!” is what was going through my mind. I realized, at that point, that I sorely lack compassion for these lost people. Perhaps it is because sharing the gospel is one of those commands with seemingly little earthly reward assigned to it. This makes it so crucial to preach the gospel to myself daily. How do you personally do this? Maybe some ideas will help me. It really should always be my utmost pleasure as an inherently unworthy creature to take part in God’s grand plan of salvation.

SATs
Before coming to Taiwan, a family friend of a family friend offered me a job as an administrative assistant to him. Apparently, he is a big time doctor. At the same time he wanted me to personally mentor/tutor his high school son. Though I have thought it unwise to be bound to this individual by working for him, there is an opportunity to minister to his son. I’ve agreed to help his son from time to time with schoolwork, SATs, and college-prep in general. Pray for discernment in terms of what to commit to and for me to be an excellent witness to him and his family.

Relatives
This will be another challenge to me this year as I have never ever spent an extended amount of time in such proximity to so many of my relatives. Usually relatives expect you to visit them, so this year will probably necessarily be filled with trips to their homes. It is my joy to be able to witness to them, but I certainly need much wisdom concerning how to interact with them in a manner that will glorify God and gain their respect. I think visiting often will be a gesture of care to begin with. I want to get to know them better and give them a chance to know me better through the year with these visits. It is interesting that all of my relatives seem to have a respect and deem faith – especially the Christian faith – as good. At least this is what the parents say in front of me. This has been a natural leeway to the gospel in one instance already. Pray for me to learn how to minister to them.

Some interesting pictures for your enjoyment:





Summary of Prayer Requests