Dear Praying Friends,
Do you remember those first few hours, or days, when you became aware of all Jesus had done for you on the cross?  Isn’t it breath-taking, as you think back to the moment you realized how he paid the penalty for your sin.  Then the ensuing feeling of gratitude and peace that followed when he filled your desperate need with his grace and freedom.  It is very exciting to remember our personal stories and also observe God unfolding a new story of grace before our eyes in a friend’s life!  

Thank you for praying for us in the Brothers’ Discipleship House!  We have been praising God this semester for opportunities to be used together as a team to lead our classmates and friends in Bible discussions about Jesus.  We are seeing students regularly return to interact with God’s Word as Jesus feeds the deepest longings of their hearts.  

It has been a huge blessing for me to walk with James (Guanyu), Andy (Yuanrong), Charmy (Fangen), Joseph (Pingchuen) and a few of the ladies as they learn to guide their classmates to examine the Bible.  I have witnessed their growing enthusiasm to share the gospel.  God has also been teaching us how to patiently explain his Word as we live out Christlike lives around campus!  I am particularly thankful that each one of these guys are being equipped for a lifetime of personally following God and helping others know Christ too.  Thank you for your precious prayers!  

Prayer & Praise Highlights
Guys’ Bible Study
Guanyu (James), Yuanrong (Andy), Fangen (Charmy), Pinchuen (Joseph) are stepping out in faith as a team to lead their fellow students in weekly Bible discussions.  We are praying that each student would have an opportunity to interact with the Scriptures and Jesus!   
University Student Fellowship
God is feeding the students through his Word!  Each week we have seen new students join us, and then bring other new students, as we examine the conversations Jesus had with different people in the Gospels.  Please pray each student would realize the eternal relevance of Jesus in their lives.  
Chinese Language
Thank you for your faithful prayers for my Chinese language studies.  I am still working hard at practicing whenever I have opportunities.  Recently I purchased a Chinese Bible to help learn God’s Word in Chinese.  Please pray that I can start to internalize his Word in Chinese to be able to share with friends!
Changhua Church
Our Changhua Navigator Discipleship Center is seeking opportunities during December  to share the true meaning of Christmas with family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers.  Please pray for each of us to be brave sharing about Jesus in our ‘insider’ relationships.   
(Church website: www.chnavs.org)  
Dava and I
Thank you for your prayers and encouragement for us as we have tried our best to relate to one another across the Pacific through Skype.  We are praying as God leads as a couple that we would learn to serve and honor him together!  I am very excited to see her again this December!    

Praying Forward:
• Developing gospel relationships with Taiwanese friends
• Home assignment position in NavMissions: Associate Director of Short-Term Missions
• Refreshing time in the Word and growing relationship with God
• Move to Amarillo, Texas to continue to seek God regarding future with Dava
• Resettlement transition and needs
• Developmental training and preparation for future ministry in Taiwan
• Part-time job to supplement support needs
• 25 or more friends to join monthly support and prayer team
Thank you so much for praying for the advancement of the gospel in Taiwan!  I would love to share a little more about how you could join me in prayer.  Please also let me know how I could be praying for you during December.  Have a great Christmas with all your family and friends!  I hope to hear from you soon!

Merry Christmas,  Eric

Dear Praying Friends, 

Thank you all for your prayers as I made the long journey back to Taiwan. It was great to be home for a few weeks this summer to spend time with so many friends. But I know there were also many people that I didn’t get a chance to visit with while back and hope to be able to catch up with you soon too. I couldn’t have asked for a better time while in MN. The temperatures over the summer were perfect and most of the time with the high heat and humidity, I felt like I was back in Taiwan! I want to share a little of how God refreshed me while visiting and ask for prayer as I seek to follow after Him.

God’s Great Commission
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” - Matthew 28:18-20

During the short time home, God overwhelmed me through the preaching of His Word and worshipping together in English! While in Colorado, I heard an encouraging message from Jerry Bridges about the Great Commission. He urged us all to PLEAD God for the FULFILLMENT of the Great Commission. As he spoke the words about how God directed Joshua to lead the Israelites in defeating their enemies and settling the Promised Land... I imagined all God has been doing in Changhua over the past several years in my life and the lives of those in our church. God helped Joshua see what He had accomplished (so he could praise God) and then showed him what was still before them to do. While sharing with everyone about everything happening in Taiwan, God reminded me of what He has accomplished in my life and is revealing to me the things He still wants to do for His own glory and from His greatness! He has already taken church-plant in Changhua through many steps that have sometimes brought us to tears, humbled us in our dependence on Him, or given us reason to rejoice together in praise; and is laying before us how He wants to help us continue to walk forward in faith. I am thankful God is faithfully working out his plan in all of our lives. I am also thankful His work is not yet finished (but eager to see the Day!), because there will be so many more Taiwanese worshipping with us for all eternity in heaven! Let’s not forget the hope we have in Christ and keep PLEADING God for the FULFILLMENT of HIS COMMISSION while encouraging one another as HIS DAY APPROACHES! 

Thank you also for many of you who have been sacrificing financially to be apart of the His Great Commission in Taiwan. Over the past two years, God has been faithful in showing me how he provides! I invite you to praise him for his great and timely provision. I also invite you to join me in praying for a few new regular supporters. As I seek to follow God into the future, there is need for growth of new supporters over the next year. Thank you for your willingness to pray and trust God with me as he provides! 

MN, CO, MN, TX, MN …
There were so many things that I would have liked to do while home, desiring most to spend some good time with family and friends. I was able to see my Grandma down in Southern Minnesota. At the age of 92, each visit helps continue to create memories as we face the challenges of old age. My sister, Christina, flew in from Seattle for a short visit. Carolee was in Minnesota and working at the hospital! It’s a great feeling having the entire family together for the first time in several years! It has been good to see some of the changes around town too. Unfortunately, the Twins weren’t really competitive this season, but that also means their tickets were really cheap and I was able to see the new stadium for the first time. Ice cream and dinner with friends have made me think of when I can get back out on the soccer field for some good exercise again.

God has been asking me to step out in faith in other areas of my life over the last year. During these weeks, I was able to spend a lot of time with Dava. If you had an opportunity to meet her while we were in Minnesota or Texas, Dava’s bright smile and joyful attitude would certainly be fixed in your memory! The time together was truly precious after spending many months using Skype to communicate. Please pray for Dava and I as we seek God’s leading for the future and desire to honor him in our relationship! 

Back to Taiwan
The return back to Taiwan seems to come quicker each time I visit. I am thankful for all that I was able to do while in the States and sad for the people who I couldn’t visit. But I am also eager to return to the guys I love in Taiwan. This week, we will start to meet incoming new students. Please pray as I jump right back into the beginning of the school year. Please especially pray for young men to respond to Jesus’ gospel call and commit their lives to him!

In Christ Jesus, 

Eric

“I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” These are Jesus’ words in John and have great impact on each of our lives if we want to have access to God the Father. The impact was even greater last weekend when I shared a message with our student fellowship on the passage. Chengrong expressed the meaning of Jesus’ statement in his own life. It is hard to share my excitement or even know how to describe the miracle God has done in his life, but if you knew him nine months ago there would be no way not to give all the glory to God!

Chengrong is the quietest junior guy in our fellowship and was referred to us by the university counseling offices because they felt they could no longer help him with some of his social problems. When he entered our fellowship at the beginning of the year, he was controlled by fear and couldn’t speak a word or even have a conversation with another student. But overthe past semester there has been a new sparkle in his smile and a joy in his appearance from receiving God’s acceptance and love in our group. During this time he has started to study the Bible with other students and learn about Jesus’ life and salvation. Last weekend, when he stood in front of 20 other students and declared how only through Jesus’ life we may know God, the other students cheered (and I also believe there was a celebration in heaven)!

Thank you so much for your prayers from Isaiah 45:8. We are still asking God to open up the ground at NCUE so that His righteousness and salvation can bear fruit in guys’ lives like Chengrong! Please keep praying for him, and the other guys in our ministry, that they may continue to grow as disciples of Jesus, faithfully handling the Word and becoming men of God! (Some of the guys: James, Andy, Alex, Charmy, Joseph, Jhercheng, Bwotswen, Chengrong and Yuanjher)

Thank you for your prayers for good sleep over the past couple of months. I have started to sleep much better again. Noise distractions in the night have lightened and I am learning to give language and culture learning stresses over to the Lord. It is a huge blessing to have a good night sleep and it truly affects the next day’s activities. Exercise is also very helpful. When I have a little extra time, I like to get out to play soccer with some friends or go for a run nearby my apartment in Changhua. It gives me a way to clear my head and burn some extra energy!

In less than a month (July 1-3), our church plant will be hosting a junior high summer camp reaching out to the local students and their families. The camp is an extension of a Victory Course outreach class that we have shared in the local junior high school over the last year. There will be a small team from Amarillo, Texas helping us to share the gospel at the camp and build relationships with the students outside of the classroom. Please join us in praying for this opportunity to introduce Jesus to many families in our neighborhood and then follow-up with them after the camp!

This summer, I will return to the US for a visit! I am excited to visit many people that I haven’t been able to see over the past two and half years in Taiwan. It is sometimes overwhelming to consider the changes in your lives over this length of time and I am thankful for an opportunity to catch up. My plans haven’t totally been confirmed yet, but my time will be divided between Colorado Springs (July 15-21), Texas (August 6-15), and the Minnesota area before returning to Taiwan at the beginning of September. I would really enjoy being in contact with you! Please send me an email with your plans and let me know if I can join you any time this summer.

Thank you so much for your support and personal messages over the last couple months. I have been very encouraged to hear about some of the ways God is working in your lives and love sharing with you what He is doing here! See you all back in the US soon!

In Christ Jesus,

Eric

Dear Praying Friends,

Thank you for your many concerns for my safety and contact over the past few days as the devastating events unfold in Japan! Many news channels here are broadcasting with titles like: “Catastrophic” and “Apocalyptic.” The titles have hints of truth, as the recent earthquake was the largest recorded in the Pacific Region for decades. Taiwan has had very little effects from aftershocks or tsunami flooding, but our island is on the same fault line as Japan and there is always a possibility for similar earthquakes. As you pray for Japan and the many people affected by the disaster, please also pray for Taiwan as both Japan and Taiwan’s spiritual climates are similar. Very few people in Japan or Taiwan know God, so these events are extremely sobering and strike a continued urgency to share Jesus’ salvation plan with the people throughout Asia!

Thank you for your prayers over the past few months. God has been actively answering in many special ways. Here are a few highlights that we can praise God for together!

God has been answering prayers to be able to meet new guys on campus interested in starting a personal relationship with Jesus (Jhercheng, Bwotswen and Yuanjher). As we have been sharing in our networks of friends and classmates, God has opened doors to meet new guys who have never heard about Jesus. My Bible study guys (James, Andy, Alex, Charmy, and Pingchuen) and I are digging into 1 Thessalonians and preparing to lead the underclassman guys in outreach Bible studies. There are several other guys that we have casual relationships with, but whoare not yet willing to give up the world to have a relationship with Jesus. We are asking God to draw these underclassman guys to Himself as we relate to them each week! (The university women’s ministry is also blooming with a new full time OMF worker, Jeannie, joining the team in Changhua.)

One NCUE junior, Pingchuen, has confessed Jesus as his personal savior and is planning to get baptized this Easter! Over the past couple of years in school, it has been clearly visible how God is at work in his heart as he shares his testimony and cares for others around Him. Praise God for bringing another brother into His kingdom and pray for Pingchuen as he continues to allow Christ be the Lord of his life!

An exciting summer outreach for our church is quicky approaching! This July, the Changhua church is planning to host 70 local junior high school students at a gospel character camp. There are already five church volunteers working alongside teachers in the public schools to lead several hundred students in the “Champions Course.” The curriculum uses a Christian Worldview to help bring up and discuss questions teenagers face each day. The camp is a first for us in Changhua and an extension of the classroom work. We are praying for the possibility to sow seeds in the community with students and their families. Please join our church in praying for this opportunity to introduce the gospel to many families in our neighborhood!

In the last month, my health has been improving significantly after slowly recovering from bronchial pneumonia (sounds scarier than it really was)! Even a couple months ago, running a short distance was challenging (although an improvement from being out of breath after walking up long flights of stairs last December). Yesterday, I went jogging for a few miles without any significant trouble. God has also been peaking many students’ interest in the university ministry to exercise regularly on top of their busy class schedules and desire to grow in their walk with God. Praise God that we can all learn how to honor Him with our bodies together!

It has been very encouraging to hear how you have been praying for the church, some of the guys and me over the last couple of months. I love sharing stories with you so you can know how much each commitment of prayer affects the things happening here in my everyday life! Thanks for being part of lifting Taiwan up to God in prayer as we live out the gospel here in Changhua! This summer I will be able to share more stories of God’s incredible faithfulness while home for a short visit in August. Please keep in contact by email or phone and I look forward to know how I can be praying for you too!

In Christ Jesus,

Eric

Prayer & Praise Highlights
Guys’ Bible Study
Guanyu (James), Yuanrong (Andy), Fangen (Charmy), Jachuen (Alex), Pinchuen and I will dive in 1 Thessalonians this semester together. These guys are also learning to lead other younger men in being disciples of Christ!

NCUE Student Fellowship
Praise God for a full time OMF worker, Jeannie, who has come to work with the women in the university ministry! Please pray God will shower His righteousness on the campus and His salvation will sprout in many lives as we live out the gospel (Isaiah 45:8).

Health
My health seems to be far from the tiring effects of a minor case of pneumonia that I was fighting last winter. Thank God I am able to get out and exercise with the guys from the university.

Mandarin Language
Progress is exciting, because it is directly visible in my relationships with people around me! This In the beginning of May, I will be taking an exam to measure my ability and help me access future study needs.

Changhua Church
Our church is trusting God for opportunities to share His GOOD NEWS with people in our neighborhoods and workplaces. God has been giving us chances to reach out to families and friends of students in our church. (Church website: www.chnavs.org)

Summer Outreach Camp
The student fellowship, our church, and the summer team from Trinity Baptist Church in Texas will partner to host students from the local junior high school for a gospel camp. We are asking God to expand our relationships in the community to the students and their families!