November 7, 2008

Emmanuel (God among us)

Friends,

We received a letter recently from a supporting church that asked us what our college ministry’s goal is. We answered that the goal of our ministry is to “make disciples.” We want to train and nurture our college students so that they may be disciples of Jesus, our Lord. That is our major goal in our Hualein Aboriginal Campus Ministry (HACM). Therefore, we teach our college students to observe all that Jesus has commanded us and apply these things in their lives. We also encourage our students to go out and make disciples in their schools, villages, and society. This is a big task, but with God’s grace, we can make them the followers of Jesus. We have worked very hard to attain the goal in 2008, with your prayers and support.

The biggest difference between this year and last is the increasing the number of participants in our worship service and group activities. We mentioned in our last letter the increase in worship, and this time we’ll give an example of a group activity.

New students welcoming party at the Welcome Center.

Last month we had a welcoming party for new college students. Sixty-eight new students from the Buddhist Technical College (formerly called Buddhist Nursing College). Their group name, “Pan-shi,” means “Rock.” Fewer than 30 percent of the students are Christians. Through group programs like singing gospel songs and Bible study, many non-Christians have met the person Jesus Christ. So we put a lot of efforts into the Pan-shi. Every Monday we have a meeting of the officers, which consists of 15 students, and they plan the week’s activity. Every Wednesday night, 83 students gather in a place called “Joyful Square” in front of the dormitory. Each week we feel like we’re doing a college summer retreat. A major problem with Joyful Square activities is if it rains we have to cancel. Classrooms aren’t big enough to hold the group. So we have to pray very hard to God that there will be no rain on Wednesday night. We thank God that until now we haven’t had any rain on Wednesday, even we are into the raining season. Hallelujah!

Pan-shi group activity at Joyful Square in Buddhist Technical College.

We are going to celebrate HACM’s tenth anniversary soon. A special committee of 12 students, including former students, is organizing it. Seeing our former students during the meeting gives us great joy to know that they are serving Jesus Christ in a different place around this island. One of the students, Komod, is serving a small village as an elementary teacher. He married our former student, Derfe, and they have two children. He also serves in Presbyterian Church of the Amis tribe as a deacon. Five years ago he was HACM’s officer, and now he is a leader in his village and church. He is working hard to be the light and salt of Jesus Christ in his place. It was our privilege to see him grow up. We asked him to be the chairperson of the committee to prepare for the HACM’s tenth anniversary, which will be held in our Mission Center on April 25-26, 2009. We also plan to publish special book for the occasion. If you want to join writing an article for it, please send one to us.

Last month, a director of the Christian organization, “Good Shepherd,” visited our mission center with two other counselors. They asked Choon to lead a Bible study in their Children’s Protection Center. Most of their funds come from the Taiwan government. The children they serve are from 8th grade to 12th grade, and have been assaulted sexually, prostitutes, rape victims, victims of incest. The only free time Choon had was Tuesday night, but after the visit from the Children’s Protection Center, he decided to accept their offer. He has been leading their Bible study a month now. All the children are aboriginals except one. (To protect the children’s secret, they want someone they can trust, so they asked Choon.)  Please pray for them and Choon.

Next year we are going to have a six-month interpretation assignment, from the beginning of July to the end of December. If you’re interested in having us come to share with you, write us at Choon and Yenhee Lim. We plan to stay at Mission Haven in Atlanta. We want to let you know that we will participate in PC(USA)’s World Mission Challenge (WMC) starting September 22 through October 18, 2009. At that time, we will visit congregations and presbyteries that the General Assembly office arranges for us.
 
We don’t know how to express in words our thanks to God and to our supporting churches. We simply say “thank you” from the bottom of our hearts for your faithful financial support and prayers in the midst of an economic crisis. Without your support we couldn’t do all the mission work to make disciples in Hualien, Taiwan. We end our letter with this year’s theme of our ministry, “Emmanuel.” God be with you always, wherever you are and whatever you do.

We pray to God you have a happy Thanksgiving and a blessed Christmas!

Faithfully in Mission,

Yen Hee and Choon Lim

The 2008 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 108