Elsie Quick

Heaven and Hell and Me

2011-07-28T15:55:00.003-07:00

I'm writing a sermon for a funeral on Saturday. Not surprising that I'm thinking about what life looks like beyond the grave. It's particularly focused when the funeral is for someone who led a troubled life and who appeared in some ways to love Jesus and in other ways participate in behaviours quite to the contrary.

I read two books a couple of weeks ago that are in the news in church circles these days: Rob Bell's "Love Wins" and Francis Chan's "Erasing Hell." What about heaven and hell? As one of the authors stated, we need to find out because "We cannot afford to be wrong on this issue." These are deep but important things to think about. I'm working on it.

July 2011 Update

2011-07-26T20:20:00.003-07:00

It's been a long time, as you can tell from the posting below this one, since I've updated things. So much has changed. I don't know why the picture of the two women on the scooter always tickles me -- I had it mounted on my file cabinet for a long time -- but it really tells the story of life today as well. There's joy. There's a sense of "get up and get at it". There's a bit of the "wild side" to go and do things or do them in a way that's a bit unexpected at this point in our life. I just like what this picture seems to say. It's never too late to do something wonderful with God for the sake of His kingdom. We're never too old to have a lot of fun doing it.

I'm enjoying the new eyes that I see with after cataract surgery last year. It seemed to take a while to get all the healing that was needed but what a difference now that the blur and the darkness are gone. I've worn glasses since I was pretty young and just going to school. Who would have thought I'd be able to get rid of the glasses at this point in my life? Now don't mention how I run around looking for the "readers" ... I do need a bit of help in that regard.

And then all the changes in Partners in Hope as we seek to make this next season of our ministry here in Vancouver even more fruitful than the first. Who would have thought life would look as it does? I certainly had a desire in 1994 to do "something" that would demonstrate God's loving presence among those who felt they were on the margins of society. Didn't quite know what and who knows exactly what God intended but here we are. In God's gracious generosity I've had 17 years of watching God surprise me and bless me over and over again. I'm sure there's more yet to come.

It's my plan to do a better job of communicating what's happening here and on the other blogs connected to Partners in Hope (see the links to the right of this message).

It feels like a new season in my life. Life "as I've known it" in Vancouver is done but something brand new is being opened up before us and I'm excited to walk forward with God into it. Anyone who's been around me knows there are couple of verses from the Bible that a mention over and over again. These will be the foundation of what is yet to come and I'm excited. Keep watching. More to come!!

What is Mother Up To?

2009-08-23T16:11:00.002-07:00

Mother went to dinner in Deep Cove last evening. The weather was warm and the sun was shining. They were loading up the fast ferries to transport them to the Middle East and that was interesting. But it seems that Mother found someone else who was "more interesting". You'll have to ask her about her time with the "mayor" of Deep Cover (an unofficial title for a well known long-time resident of the Cove.)

Vacation Days in Sechelt

2009-08-05T22:36:00.004-07:00

Lorna and I have had great weather and restful hours in and around Sechelt the past couple of days. Here are some photos.

Sierra and the Sprinkler

2009-07-22T21:20:00.003-07:00

Okay, so the plan was to go with Jen and Sierra and say hello to Mother, who returned yesterday from Ontario. Well, the sprinkler and the flowers ... what can I say .... I'd like to think that Sierra got wetter than I did but I'm not sure. You can't feel the "kisses" on the cheek but that's what's happening while we sat by the flowers. Sweet! Then she got interested in running up and down the ramp Stephen built for Mom's walker ... then it was her mom's shoes as she ran up and down the ramp ... and the lizard she was talking to on the TV and looking for Lorna who was resting on the couch.

Arriving

2009-04-15T17:35:00.002-07:00

Thursday Morning - ChengDu

I safely arrived here yesterday afternoon with all my luggage. Koert and Gea met me at the airport and we headed home in a taxi to sit down to coffee and cake and stories. Lots of catching up to do.

However, some things are important to get to right away, to just around the corner in the hairdressing shop we HAD to get our hair washed. After sitting for many hours on airplanes I wanted to walk so we headed off up the street. You'll see a couple of pictures of what we saw. Life happens all around. Dinner was wonderful and it included the green veggies with lots of garlic, a fish dish that actually had the cloves of garlic whole in the sauce -- YUM! -- tou fu and so on and so on!

I've had 5 or 6 hours of sleep and am catching up on some e-mails and making plans for the next days while I'm here. Want to make the best use of every hour I have.

Heading Out to Asia

2009-04-13T23:30:00.002-07:00

So it begins ..... after many "up in the air" moments over the past several weeks, I'm through security and at the gate awaiting departure. There are still a couple of hours so the chances of having a snooze between now and boarding are pretty good.

I'm grateful for all the people who assume responsibility while I'm gone and do the good work that goes on from day to day around Partners in Hope. I've fired off enough e-mails to enough people these days to remind me, and anyone who things otherwise, that this truly is "partners" in hope. It takes the commitment and service of so many to make the welcome felt and to provide the open heart that people enjoy when they come through the doors of the house or a meeting.

I'll be arriving in Hong Kong around 4pm pacific time and have about 3 hours there before connecting on to Cheng Du. The temperature in Hong Kong today was 27 and in Cheng Du it was 28. I have long sleeves and long pants for the airplane but I'm ready to get changed in Hong Kong.

I'll post here and on Facebook for the first few days I'm away.

Plans for Trip to Asia

2009-03-09T11:38:00.003-07:00

The week after Easter I hope to be on an airplane heading to warm weather and friends in China and Taiwan. I had planned to get there more than a year ago but things like Lorna's health delayed plans. However, the time has come and I'm in contact with a travel agent to get things moving ahead.

I'm looking forward to chats with friends, good food, time to explore work with some of the women in Taipei who are hurting, visit some of the schools and churches where I worked for a number of years. And yes, I'm quite sure that I'll be calling some of you on Skype from Starbucks!!!

End of Winter

2009-03-09T11:14:00.003-07:00

So apparently winter wasn't quite done here! Drove through flurries to the prison yesterday. Woke up to a couple of inches of it on the ground today! Mother was laughing a bit at me as I headed out the door -- I've been spending nights with her for a few weeks now. I was scheduled to do quite a bit of driving today with the appointments I had and I've called off several of those but we'll see what the rest of the day brings. It's after 11am now and things seem to have eased off.

As I said to someone in the house earlier, it's a bit unfair having the office in the house. If they give a snow day, I only have to walk across the carpet and don't really have an excuse to be lazy! Sad! All I have to do is look at the news of the snarled commute and I'm very thankful for my "non-commute."

So, I've added in the pictures so folks in Ontario can have one last laugh at us. I do want you to know that there are buds under those snow flakes and in just a few days I'll have pink and white blossoms to show you ... it won't be long!!!

Family Visits

2009-02-05T10:08:00.004-08:00

We had a fun 24 hours with Jeff and Tilly on Saturday/Sunday. They flew in from Calgary to our lovely green lawns and a clear sunny sky with brilliant views of the mountains .... after weeks of fog and other "stuff" we are finally getting some nice days and this is when the beauty of Vancouver just shines.

We chatted, looked at pictures, went on a tour of the downtown, made a phone call to Bob so we could "trash him" and did the usual things that happen at Mom's house when part of the family gets together to visit.

My only question to Tilly after meeting her, "Why Jeff? Do you know what you are getting into ... look around at the Quick family ... and this is the best part out here on the West Coast!!"

They were able to join us for our final church service in the all-purpose room at Salvation Army Family Services. Next week we'll all be hanging out at the Rio Theater at Broadway and Commercial ... a vibrant area in Vancouver where we hope to make a real difference with God'slove and truth.

Then they were off to MissionsFest ... the big annual gathering at the Trade and Convention Center that showcases mission work around the world. I haven't heard how many attended this year but it's usually in the neighbourhood of 30,000.

Mom's headed off to Ruth's for the week ... I heard all the shopping plans as they were coming together so we'll see what comes of that.

Mother's Hospital Visit & My Bone Chip

2009-01-09T14:18:00.004-08:00

Well, we called her Mother Teresa as she came through the door. While the paramedics got her signed in, I took the picture.

When we were ready to take Mom home from Sunday afternoon here at my house, her heart did a bit "funny." Where else but in Vancouver would the paramedics have to stop and push stuck cars out of the way before they could get the ambulance to the hospital! Well, that's the story on Sunday evening.

Anyway, after several hours of instability her heart returned to normal rhythms and rates, for which we are very grateful. She's done well all week. I've been spending nights with her but we're kind of taking care of each other because on Monday, after all the slipping and sliding we've done around here in the ice and snow, I went inside the house, took off my shoes and promptly slipped and chipped a bone in my right wrist. So, that's a bit of an inconvenience with a cast bringing stability but getting in the road of things like what I'm doing right now, typing. There's less pain every day so it shouldn't keep me down for long.

With all the bruises in Mother's hands and arms from the IV's and a cast on my arm we decided we'd start a rumor about getting after one another .... we're not sure who won and who lost!!

Just Another Friday -- Or Was It?

2008-11-21T23:40:00.004-08:00

It's Friday night and time to finish things up. Four roasts of beef are cooling in the kitchen. We'll cut them tomorrow for dinner on Sunday. Earlier today we peeled, cooked, and prepared the potatoes and carrots and got them into the fridge.

I just sent off an e-mail to the church secretary with music for the next few Sundays. I'm such a last minute person and she needs the input to prepare the program that gets displayed on the wall for all of us to follow while we worship.

The mortgage payment was due on the house today so there was a late night run to the bank to get that deposit in so the direct deposit payment could go through without any problems.

I've been working on the website to get the Christmas content finished and to brighten up pages with videos and formatting (see my post on the Partners in Hope blog thanking Kent).

The phone was mercifully quiet. Catherine just came down with milk and homemade cookies ... that's a bonus. Several of the other women came in for a hug along the way. I romped around a bit with Sierra on the floor in the kitchen before she went to bed.

It's the winding down of a long but productive day that began just before 7am when I put the coffee on for the 7:30 prayer group that is meeting in our den while our pastor tends to his brand new baby and the 3 other young sons in their home. Then it was off to pick up Rose so she could be part of the group. After prayer meeting there was a letter to compose for the food co-op boxes, lunch to plan (thankfully Jo Yule and the rest come to cook and Alayne did the shopping at the grocery store for me.)

The house filled up with food co-op volunteers and a surprise visit from a missionary friend who is on her way to Thailand early Sunday morning. A couple of folks needed bills paid and their money sorted out since this past week was welfare cheque week and we help them administer their funds over the course of the month. One of the guys had an appointment at the hospital at the end of the afternoon so I took him there and joined in his relief when he found that some rather "icky" procedures were not going to be necessary after all. I forwarded the fax to Lorna from her oncologist telling her that her CT scan shows her tumors are stable and she's doing well.

Just another Friday at our house ... but not really ..... the number of people that streamed through this house today to pray, to lend a hand or just to visit is a great sign of generous hearts. That makes any day more than "just another day."

The Joy of Promises - Support Found In Monday Gathering

2008-11-17T23:34:00.004-08:00

For the past three weeks at our Monday morning support group following breakfast at Salvation Army Family Services drop-in we've been discussing how we can more fully enter into the life that God has created us to live. We know the world of addiction doesn't solve any problems but to leave alcohol and drugs behind we really need something to hang onto and something to fill the void we experience.

Today there was a very gentle and hopeful spirit in the room as we shared our experience of learning to trust that God keeps his promises (see meditation for Nov 17 at www.partnersdailymeditation.blogspot.com). We all have ways we want to learn to believe God more but we also have experiences where we've tried out God's promises and found them to be dependable. So, whether it was a mother with a couple of young children who shared, or a person facing medical problems, or someone expressing an experience of fear to be overcome, we realized that new peace is growing in us as we welcome God by trusting Him.

Music is such an important part of our sharing and we sang some simple songs including one that expresses the words of Psalm 23 - The Lord is My Shepherd. There's so much hope that God says He is giving us and the chorus of that song helped us to express our response to that hope when it says, "And I will trust in you alone for your endless mercy follows me and goodness will lead me home."

Valuing Volunteers

2008-11-17T23:29:00.003-08:00

We had lots of rain in Vancouver last week and one night with lots of wind. That cleared the trees along our street of leaves. Many of them ended up in the eavestroughs on the roof. The back roof of the house is flat and so the leaves clog two drains that keep the water off the roof ... except we got about 8-9 inches of water build-up. The wind also tore up the tarp we had on the roof the garage to keep water from flooding in. So, you can understand how grateful I am that several volunteers came by this weekend to clean the drains, clear the roof, retarp the garage roof and rake leaves. I couldn't begin to keep up with all this kind of maintenance -- not to mention that I don't look forward to climbing up the ladder onto the roof -- my mother might but I'll let that one go, thank you. So once again, volunteer hours and willing service make a huge difference in the life of Partners in Hope and personally as I clear a couple of major tasks off my "to do" list. Thank you friends for helping.

Autumn Beauty

2008-11-12T18:48:00.003-08:00

While I appreciate the fall colours out here on the West Coast I often think of the richness of colour I grew up with in Ontario. However, I have to say that this year the colours in the trees here in Vancouver has been awesome. We had a couple of really cold days early in the season and it brought the reds and the deeper colours out. Our street has some really old trees and just at the corner is one lovely one that has the mixture of yellow/orange/and red leaves. It was stunningly beautiful until the rain washed the leaves into the street. We've raked 3 times in the past week and you should see the sea of leaves I drive over as I leave the driveway. Soon the city will come to clear them out but for now they are quite something.

The leaves and the cold that brings out the colour remind me that we need all the seasons and all the weather in our personal lives as well. There are some things around me that have felt a bit "cold" in recent times but I know that if I will keep doing what I know to be right before God that beauty will come out of it all.

I don't know if you ever check out our meditations on that blog connected to us -- www.partnersdailymeditation.blogspot.com -- but you'll see in today's post (Nov 12) how we need to be faithful to trust God and do what we know to do and God will do amazing things in our lives. I've seen God do that for me -- and I share a couple of examples in that posting -- and I have a couple of situations where I am looking for God to work that way again.

Saturday in the Kitchen

2008-10-25T13:18:00.007-07:00

Most of the time Saturday is a time to clear my desk (always in dire need) and prepare food for Sunday in the kitchen. I got to the kitchen a bit early this morning, not so much to prepare food but because Sierra followed me to the coffee pot. We bounced a ball for a while. She climbed in and out of a yellow plastic milk crate and then it was bubbles .... we washed dishes together and she loves the bubbles so I gave her a couple of big bowls of bubbles and she felt them and played with them and stuck them on her face and tried to figure them out.

I don't have pictures of that but I did put a bunch of pictures her mother and Kelly had of her onto the website http://www.sierrasmithvideos.blogspot.com/.

She learns something new every day. She's curious about everything, particularly if it's behind something else or under something .... she loves to ride anything. She wasn't too thrilled when I wouldn't let her play with the dials on the gas stove but she got over it pretty quickly as soon as the door of the fridge opened.

I used to think Oscar our cat was a riot when he'd hang around my feet when I was cutting meat on Saturday night's with the electric knife --

Now it's Sierra with her exploration of the bowls and pots in the cupboards and her lightning fast darts to any cupboard door that opens or is not sealed with those baby-safe devices. It's a daily adventure!!

Housing Conference Preparation

2008-10-16T10:14:00.002-07:00

This is Homelessness Week here in Vancouver. We are encouraging participation in thinking, praying, and acting on behalf of homeless people. In Matthew 25 Jesus encourages us to do compassionate action on behalf of these kinds of people as a way of blessing Him and caring for Him.

Partners in Hope exists to do just that. There is a discernment process that goes along with it all because there are many reasons why people find themselves in desperate circumstances. Most of the time we want to offer help that's practical to people ... and that's the key point .... "we want to offer help that's practical" and then see what a person wants to do with that help.

There are some people who are homeless and in trouble because they are running from themeselves or from a variety of things that have happened in their past. They sometimes are not ready or willing to do anything but avoid their problems and their responsibilities. So, there are times when the help we offer is the question, "Are you ready to leave these circumstances?"

I'm participating in a conference where we try to look at housing and the church's need to do something about homeless people and one of the points I will be trying to communicate is the need to match the help offered to the person's real need. Sadly, there are people who are ready to move to better circumstances who also find that resources like affordable and clean housing simply are not available to them.

As a believer in Jesus, I know that if we will depend on Him, that He will meet our needs. So, that's one of the initial invitations I make to individuals as well. I know from personal experience that housing is important to God, my housing and that of others. How many times in the Women of Hope house have we had to "pray in the mortgage payment" and every single time in some very creative ways, God has provided. We actually are doing that this month with the payment needed on the 21st and I can tell you that there is great settledness in my heart that when we need to have that money in the bank, God will have provided it. I've just seen Him pay the bills since 1994 and can't imagine that this month would be any different.

So, what are we doing to get to know the needs of individuals and help them to find hope in healthy ways as Jesus teaches us? That's the question I'm looking to provide answers to at Broadway Church this weekend. If you read this message before Friday afternoon, I'd appreciate your prayers that we'd all become more aware of God's heart and God's plan for the homeless here in Vancouver and beyond.

Thanksgiving Monday

2008-10-13T14:05:00.003-07:00

Great day yesterday with full vans for church and a full house for turkey dinner. The Leeburns come in early on Sundays to get things heated up and ready to go ... what a help that is! Sarah was happy with me because it was her day to be in charge of clean-up and on a holiday weekend we use disposable dishes ... she got lucky! Somewhere before the end of this day I'll post a video with a number of people telling us something they were grateful for. It's habit at evening meals and on Sundays that we each give our name and something we appreciate before we eat. I couldn't get to the big circle in the back yard before dinner but I went around the house afterwards and asked those who were willing to be taped to introduce themselves and say something. I have some errands to do and then I'm off with some others to visit in the prison in Maple Ridge but it's pretty likely that before the day is done I'll get something up for us to see. It's too good a day to miss the moment of gratitude.

Check out my last couple of meditations at www.partnersdailymeditation.blogspot.com and give something of gratitude yourself for others to appreciate.

Dairy Queen Visit "For" Mother

2008-10-09T23:42:00.002-07:00

We've met Mother at the airport and been "forced" to stop at the Dairy Queen on the way back to her place. She's called me from Orillia to let me know she's made a trip to the Dairy Queen. So, in an effort of selfless sacrifice, we (Lorna, Treena, Gillian, and Elsie) went to the Dairy Queen here on her behalf and now send pictures to my dear mother to let her know that the Dairy Queen awaits her when she returns .... even if it is the dead of winter!!

Tuesday -- The Day Off With The Ten Commandments

2008-10-07T10:39:00.009-07:00

It's Tuesday mid-morning. Each day both on Facebook and on our Partners blog I post a meditation. (http://www.partnersdailymeditation.blogspot.com/) Particularly on Facebook with the women in the house (present and graduates) we have an ongoing conversation about the thought for the day. In these days I've been sharing about the Ten Commandments. I've had some other things to do in the past couple of days so I was "behind" in my own reflecting around the commandments ... one of the main purposes of the commandments is to demonstrate how much we are in need of a Saviour and one who forgives us ... I don't have to reflect very long on any of these commandments to realize how far short I come. I was on the phone with a friend and she was saying how it's what God sees on the inside about these things not just what the folks see on the outside that is so challenging and that's true.

I just looked in my pictures to see what I might stick alongside these thoughts and saw just the title more than the picture of "Jesus is Lord" and I know that's the longing in my heart even though it doesn't always get translated into my attitudes and actions.

"Who is the Real Jesus" is a question that's being asked in the sermons at Immanuel Church these weeks as we study the Gospel of Mark and what does it mean to really follow him and have an authentic experience of life with God, with ourselves, and with others? It's something I never want to quit asking ... don't want to slip into the "paralysis of analysis" where I existed for a number of years .... I am a wrecked sinner outside the grace of God and I'm ready to live in that reality. I neither want to try to be my own "Messiah" nor do I want to "keep on sinning" in order for more grace to be active in my life. I want to find ways each day to be with God and let God be with me in ways that shape me every single day.

I have to tell you that I don't find it at all convenient when I give God permission to do that and it's in the inconvenience that so much of my "ugly side" floats to the top and looks and smells a lot like the trucks in Taiwan that were loaded with "swill" that they were taking off somewhere to either dump or recycle (and I really don't want to know which! -- I think for fertilizer) .... in any case it looked bad and in the hot weather it smelled disgusting ....

I've got a long way to go yet to get the inside pure in the way God wants ... I long for that .... I know the desire for that pleases God .... I know God uses even the "swill" of my life for good when I get my attitude and actions lined up in repentance before Him.

I think that's what gives me more hope every single day than anything else. That's the hope I long to pass along to others that I meet along my journey.

Saturday - The In Between Day

2008-09-27T17:07:00.004-07:00

It's a day to sort the papers on my desk, get some food ready for lunch tomorrow, and prepare for the upcoming week.

Friday was busy with the food co-op as it was the first week of the operating month ... we go from welfare cheque week to welfare cheque week .... I'm grateful for the many folks who come ... Jo Yule who cooks lunch along with Joan Rogers .... I just tell them what we are having and they make food arrive on the plates in time. We have a bit of a laugh because it really is a bit of "throw in a bit of this and a bit of that" and then the great surprise when it turns out tasting good!! :) Is there another way to cook?

I try to keep Jo busy in the kitchen so she won't notice the time I want to spend with her husband Alex, a retired dentist who is awesome in having set up a free dental clinic in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver and another one opening up in Abbotsford. So much laughter and vision and willingness to do both the big and little things in life. I'm always touched and encouraged by these kinds of volunteers.

Then we have a crew from Gateway Training Centre in Langley. They are overseas missionaries in training and at the moment their training is in English as they prepare for cross-cultural work around the world. They are willing to do anything and to talk to anyone. We send them out all over the city and they willingly go. I've been busy shoving a camera in front of faces these days as we try to get people telling their stories for you to hear and then getting those stories up on the blog or the web. It's quite gratifying to me to hear how God is touching people's lives over time and for a long time.

Did I know what Partners in Hope would look like when I came here 14 years ago? Not a chance I would have envisioned this!! God in his mercy ..... :)

I hope you'll join us at church somewhere tomorrow. Your "somewhere" could be Taiwan or Toronto or right here in Vancouver. I know I'm looking forward to lots of joy and those wonderful moments of rest for my soul as we worship God and learn from His word.

What a life He's giving me.

Mom Learns New Things -- Teaches Me Too!

2008-09-26T11:26:00.004-07:00

My mother is a great example to me of someone who, even though she's 86 years old, continues to learn new things. I introduced her to Facebook a few weeks ago and it was so much fun to go over to her apartment the next afternoon and find her typing up chat messages with her grandkids -- 3 at a time when I arrived!!

I hear Mom share stories in meetings, listen to her pray, laugh with her while we colour her hair orange and purple, and watch her scooter off down the street on "The Red Peril" and it's such a reminder to me that joy stays alive when we let it live in us. Curiosity about life. Enjoyment of simple pleasure. A willingness to be real.

I've been trying to learn some new things in order to share the joy and the good news as people get their lives back from addictions and other destructive life habits. So, I'm learning how to edit our website. I'm making little movies with Windows Movie Maker and putting them on YouTube. There are web based photo albums at Picasa and daily meditations on Facebook and audio feeds. I'm having to delete this and that and make changes. I'm losing some things and learning better how to put some files in safe places while I "play with them." Sometimes it's fun. Sometimes it's frustratingly slow. Sometimes it's time to just get on the phone to Kent and say, "Help!"

Check out some of my efforts at www.partnersinhope.ca (most of the bits I'm talking about are in the community news section.) and then go out and try something new today and see what joy it brings you.

Just Another Gorgeous Vancouver Day

2008-09-16T17:47:00.001-07:00

It's picture perfect today and the sun is warm. Summer's been extended a few more days. The flowers in our yard are lush (I'll try to get a picture to you) but the scenery is just stunning wherever you look today. If you haven't come to Vancouver, you need to think about it.

While you are here, I can introduce you to all sorts of activities that will show you beauty that is beyond even what these pictures can tell .... it's the kind of beauty that may look a bit different on the outside but it's amazing when you see it. That's because it's the beauty of changed lives that I see as people begin the journey back to hope and the life for which they were created.

It's true that since it's my day off I'm spending more time looking at the first kind of beauty today but I bumped into a friend this afternoon who just recently came to faith in Jesus and her face that had previously been filled with sadness (and there are lots of people who can confirm this) was bright with a smile and there was a jump in her step that just made my heart happy. She's got a long way to go to find her way into all that God has for her but these early steps are just precious and I feel so honoured to be a part of this bit of her journey.

Encouraging Words

2008-09-14T23:20:00.006-07:00

I don't know if you were able to go to church today or not but I heard some encouraging words from an old story near the beginning of the Bible. Some people were having a tough time and a whole group of other pretty nasty folks were out to get them .... really give them trouble and hardship .... The leader of those being attacked, Moses, encouraged the group with these words: "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."

I often don't quite know how to face the challenges in front of me and there seem to be no good options sometimes. However, I have found, repeatedly, that when I stop and ask God for help that things work out and I manage to get through pretty well. I still have to apply myself and do my bits but God is so "right on" in time and in action that I'm slowing moving into a place where I expect good things to happen even when I see potentially disaster around me.

On the other hand, I still know how to worry and let things bang around in my head a fair bit. There's still a part in me that thinks I have to solve the problem situations myself and figure out what needs doing. I can't be lazy and wait for a lightning bolt to hit me but I can rest when I've done what I can, knowing that God will help me. God will stand guard and stand up for me .... that's the God who made the amazing mountains I see every where I go .... pretty impressive Creator with pretty impressive power, I think. He's fighting for me.

I take great comfort from that, don't you? I think I might just go to bed and have a good sleep on that thought!

Overnight Retreat

2008-09-14T22:59:00.002-07:00

Arrived back late last evening from a leadership retreat. We really suffered in our surroundings up at Pender Harbour as you can tell from the pictures .... Fresh air, tranquil water, blue sky, flowers and trees .... mountains in the background ... it took some time to get used to all of it!! Lots of time for laugher and prayer and thinking and planning. We even managed to fit in a broken arm ... not mine fortunately! It's amazing what you can do in 24 hours.

Birthday Thanks

2008-09-11T14:01:00.004-07:00

A special thank you to all who have written, called and in so many ways made this a special birthday celebration. Facebook was a wonderful gathering place for many greetings. E-cards made me laugh -- some of them until I almost cried. We had dinner together here at the house with about 15 -- great excuse for Chinese food. The weather was warm and sunny. It was a day to remember. Thank you.

Labour Day

2008-09-01T16:23:00.002-07:00

On Labour Day I am grateful that I don't have to labour and also grateful for the many people who help me live the dream of my life here in Vancouver. The volunteers, those who pray and give from a distance, those who listen to me and keep me honest, those who keep in touch when they don't hear from me for a long long time .... those are the labours of love that make this a Labour Day of gratitude for me.

I'm off to the DQ with my mother and Lorna and Terra and Jen and baby Sierra .... don't want to be accused of going there on my own!!! I have a debt I owe to Lorna and Terra so it's the only honorable way to deal with the debt!! That's my excuse today and I'm sticking with it.

Back On The Job

2008-08-28T11:09:00.003-07:00

Just back from holiday and ready for a new season.

It's very exciting for me to see the new website and notice how much easier it is for resources to be made available to others. So, Kent Morgan and Richard Campbell are the two stars.

Winnie Ollerhead, our summer intern from Church Army, was a great joy. She came early in June and left this past Monday morning. In between she lived among us with faithful service, a generous spirit, and gracious kindness that touched all of us. We are blessed to have shared these weeks with her.

In the meantime many others walk together and work with us. Alayne co-ordinates the food co-op. Mun Hee heads up the street outreach. Catherine takes responsibility for the house. And the list just goes on and on.

Lots of new beginnings as we enter the fall season. I'll try to keep you posted as we move along.

Elsie

On My Way Home

2006-11-26T03:13:00.000-08:00

It's Sunday evening here in HongKong ... just past 7pm. I've completed the first of 3 legs back to Vancouver where I will arrive "before" leaving here if we just look at the clock!

It's been an eventful week in Chengdu. I want to save posting pictures until I get back in Vancouver. Lots of people filled each day. I've tried to keep track of most of what took place. I do have pictures and movies.

For those of you who met my missionary friend Gea when she came to Vancouver a few years ago, we had several hours working with computers transferring information and helping her learn how to do some new things. I have a couple of really helpful Chinese programs that will make it much easier for me to write and read and communicate with folks in Taiwan and beyond.

After our gathering this morning in the home of a friend we had a lovely Chinese feast in a local restaurant. I told the folks I needed to quit eating or the plane wouldn't be able to get off the ground. We managed to do that well but we had a bit of trouble getting into the Hong Kong airport and had to do an extra little fly around. It always gets the blood pressure going a bit more when you are almost on the ground and you "whoosh" up into the air again.

I'm safe and sound. After chilly days in Chengdu I am wearing far too many clothes even for the airport here. All my bags are checked through so this is how it will be for the next while. I understand why they eat hot (peppery) food .... it's one way to keep warm for a while!!! I have had numb lips sometimes, I tell you in the middle of a meal. I save every mouthful of rice -- it's the best way to cool down your mouth after the hot food. I also love the fried green vegetables and we always had lots of those with plenty of garlic. That helps anything go down well.

Look for an update tomorrow with pictures -- if I sleep well on the plane I may have lots of quiet hours in the night when I get home tonight.

Thank you all so much for praying and sharing as we moved along these days. These days have been yet another turning point in my life, I believe.

Blessings all..... Elsie

Taipei Airport on Monday

2006-11-19T19:15:00.000-08:00

Hello all,
MONDAY AIRPORT: I'll have to show you pictures later. I'm at the Taipei International Airport ... flight will go to Hong Kong in a couple of hours. I'll have about 4 hours there -- long enough to visit with a friend who works for Cathay Pacific Airlines -- and then I'll be on my way to ChengDu.

These have been precious days for me here in Taiwan. Some part of me is not ready to leave. There is another part that misses all the wildness in Vancouver. It's been great to share with people here their vision for Taiwan and to have them share in what we are doing in Vancouver.

SATURDAY TAICHUNG: Saturday I spoke to a church group -- a new outgrowth of a church that is full on Sundays so they are beginning services on Saturday. Old friends from years ago were there as well as new friends. Lively worship and a real sense of God's presence throughout. Then it was a lunchbox lunch and a train ride back to Taipei. I arrived at suppertime to meet a friend and have the evening and dinner by the HsinDian River. It was raining a bit when we got there and foggy but we were in a protected outdoor area and the weather was warm so it was fresh and lots of wonderful smells surrounded us while we sat overlooking the river. The hostess of the restaurant has a son in Vancouver who lives near the Nanaimo Skytrain centre so it's a small world. She'll call me when she comes to Vancouver early next year.

SUNDAY TAIPEI: Sunday was "oldtimers day". I attended the first church plant that is now more than 25 years old. There were lots of familiar faces and stories to share one with another. The pastor there -- I think I mentioned it to someone, maybe even somewhere else in this blog -- was a street contact and convert of a young boy (the son of my missionary friends) years ago. He and his wife are retiring at the end of this year so I got to be part of the "secret movie" that is being put together for that upcoming celebration of their lives and ministry.

The afternoon home group gathering with a dozen folks was led by the wife of a student I introduced to the church and who will become the next full time pastor. He's now a seminary graduate, has worked in the seminary as a dean for several years and is now moving ahead to give leadership to the work here in North Taipei. He has three lovely daughters -- we joke that the youngest child looks just like him and isn't that a pity!!! She's beautiful actually.

A quiet evening back at the house with Amy while we reflected on changes we've seen in our lives in the past years and what brought that forward for us. One last sidewalk cafe dinner -- if I eat any more food they won't be able to roll me onto the airplane.

MONDAY MORNING: At 6:50 am Amy and I rolled my suitcases to the transit station. We said goodbye there and I headed to the school for a final assembly with the Grades 6 - 9 students. It was time to give them a warning about the dangers that await kids and how to live in a safe and healthy way. I tried to both show them the troubles people can get themselves into and the way we can avoid them. I traced back some of my own poor thinking at their age and suggested some alternatives that help us follow God's truth.

MONDAY TRAVEL: Then it was a taxi ride, a bus trip to the airport, check-in and now I'm in a transit lounge have a couple of quiet hours before the next part of the trip. I understand from my friends in ChengDu that they have wireless internet in their home so I may try to have more contact along the way in the next week.

Jose Kitty Elsie

2006-11-16T19:59:00.000-08:00

This pastor and wife (Jose and Kitty) were early converts in our Taipei church. About 17 years ago they came to Taichung on the start-up team here and for the past 9 0r 10 years have been the pastors.

It's lovely to have some days with them in their home.

Mid Week in CentralTaiwan

2006-11-16T19:11:00.000-08:00

These have been travel days ... each day in a new city. Pictures here represent the rice paddies that you see every where there is space ... they are less and less however with development near cities.

Two pictures from TouFen. The church among a previously unreached people group "The Hakka" has really grown in recent times. They have miraculously been able to purchase a ministry centre in a bankruptcy sale. I saw the building when I was here a couple of years ago and now I see how every room is cleaned up, fixed up, and made useful for prayer, for classes, for training, for outreach and so on. They owe no money. This is a people group that 20 years ago had a couple of tiny churches of maybe 20 people ... this particular church now has 11 home meetings and more than one hundred that attend the Sunday celebrations. They have really given themselves to prayer and God is blessing them. We have much to learn from them.

Eva (in the picture at the desk) and her husband Gregg are heading up this work. Gregg was sick when I was there so I don't have a picture of him.

The last pictures is a missionary who is currently heading up a Bible Study literature ministry (Precepts Bible Studies). You may have heard of them. The picture is of Nancy, myself, and Di, her office manager/translator/teacher.

On Wednesday I came to Taichung in the central part of the city. I tried to "sneak into" the school where I taught so I could see the people "I wanted to see". From 20 yards inside the gate I ran into people and so for the rest of the day the word spread and I went from high school to elementary school to the dorm ..... I was ready for a good nap when I came home.

Two evening home meetings at the church here in Taichung. Great to meet people and to hear their stories as well as talk a little bit about Vancouver. I will share more in the Saturday morning church service here.

Church in South Taipei on November 12

2006-11-12T17:49:00.000-08:00

SOUTH TAIPEI CHURCH: Had a great morning with the South Church. I forgot to get the words to "My Life Is In You" in chinese but I'll try to get them before I come back so we can all learn them together!!! I shared with pictures and garbled Chinese what we are doing here.

Shared with a home group about opportunities in the area of the homeless and prostitutes here in Taipei. Then we went to lunch with the youth and talked about evangelism opportunities and ways to connect to people in a kind and effective way.

Spent some time over coffee with one of the church elders talking about all kinds of things related to the churches around the island.

Then it was time to get to the train station and head south to HsinChu. I'll spend today (Monday) here and just take some time to catch up. More tomorrow.

Two Visits to the Beach

2006-11-12T17:16:00.000-08:00

BEACH VISITS: I'd like to tell you that I've been serious and involved the whole time I've been here but I have to confess that Friday after chapel I was off to the beach in DanShwei. The new transit system takes you right to about 300 yards from the beach. It is now SO convenient. So, Friday I was there in the hot sun with Carla, retired secretary from the school. We had a nice meal in a restaurant overlooking the sea, a walk along the sea walk and coffee in Starbucks. Now, that's a tough way to spend an afternoon!

Saturday afternoon we went across the bridge with the home Bible study group. So, we looked on both sides of the water on separate days. Dinner that evening was in this huge seafood place in the basement where they had painted the walls to look as though it was under the sea. Wonderful relaxing time

Saturday 11.11 Visit With OMF Missionary

2006-11-12T17:04:00.000-08:00

HAIRDRESSER: Well, I made it to have my hair washed and for the famous massage! It was even more famous than usual because my housemate went with me to get her hair cut and told the hairdresser how much the foreigner loved the massage ... I was a few minutes late for my appointment downtown because she just kept on going .......

OMF MISSIONARY TERA: I spent several hours with a Dutch missionary here in Taiwan with Overseas Missionary Fellowship (started by Hudson Taylor). She has handed over the work with the homeless so she can devote her time to the women in the streets. It's exciting to hear how she's made contact with this woman or that one, of the Christian couple running a noodle stand in the market I showed you earlier in the week. The girls come there and it's a great "neutral" place to be with them and get to know them .... lots of small ways that things are beginning. Many prayers for the right way to move forward, the kind of support to gather, the first needs to try to meet when the girls do leave the lifestyle.

POSSIBLE CO-WORKER: In one of the churches a long time friend shared with me how she's nearing the point where she can officially "retire" from her company and she's interested in maybe doing this kind of ministry. So, we'll get the two of these folks together. I talked to one other guy who has wanted to help the homeless but didn't quite know where to begin so we're getting him connected to the current leader of that part of the ministry. I spent some extra time with the church home group in the neighbourhood just sharing my heart for folks there and talking about ways they could do things that felt "safe" for them. I see possibilities for linking people and time and opportunities. I've collected "a ton" of e-mail contacts and will try to keep people communicating with one another after I leave. I spoke to about making inquiries into employment opportunities networking .... it's not my strong area but it certainly is an important part of the puzzle with no social assistance available for those who quit prostitution.

I have to say that I am very encouraged by what I see happening already, how I see the hand of God involved, and potential among churches and people that even I know for sharing ministry.

Thursday Group Hello

2006-11-09T18:47:00.000-08:00

Hello to the Mission Possible Group: Just want you to know that I am thinking about you. It's about 6:45pm your time when I am writing this. I have to tell you that it is about 75 degrees and sunny at the moment and I am off to spend a day at the seaside.

Now that you hate me, let me also say that as I tell stories of how God is touching and healing people in Vancouver, many here are encouraged and given permission to look for healing for hurts they have long buried.

Thank you for your openness and honesty that allow God to do wonderful things inside that heal and strengthen.

In our chapel service with the school kids today we did several little "thumbs up/thumbs down" games to help the kids relate their own feelings to various scenarios. My prayer for each of you tonight is that you will both have a "thumbs up" day and make someone else's day a "thumbs up day" as well through your kindness and care. Have a laugh together. Pray for each other and when you think of me, pray for me.

Check out Ephesians 2:10 and 2 Timothy 2:20-21 -- remember that you are made good and God's plan for you is to live goodness today with all the dignity and joy that God can pour into you.

I send my love to all of you. Elsie

Thursday Friday

2006-11-09T17:59:00.000-08:00

Thursday afternoon: I visited a centre named Operation Dawn which is reaching out to the homeless and is building a work program to help alcoholics recover and get work. The second floor had several guys preparing vegetables for lunch boxes for about 70 people. A few others were resting -- obviously early in their coming away from alcohol. Upstairs was a small dorm for 7 or 8 of those who are well enough to work every day as well as a smaller room for those who are detoxing. An office and a classroom are on the top floor. At street level is a shop selling second hand goods. I'm happy to see groups like this finally getting their feet on the ground in some Taiwan neighbourhoods.

NOODLES! NOODLES! NOODLES! Dinner Thursday was beef noodles. We travelling down a couple of narrow alleys to get to this place which is famous. It's a greasy little place but I tell you, there were line ups outside along the park across the street. One of the restaurant staff would come down the line, take your order, and then in groups of 10-12 take you into the restaurant when a table cleared. Soup noodles are such a part of life here for meals or snacks.

HOME MEETING! After dinner I climbed in a taxi for a short ride to the home of Victor and Jenny Wu. Couldn't remember the name of one of the streets but managed to direct the taxi driver to where I wanted to go. I met Victor and Jenny in 1980 as we began to plant our first church in Taipei. They are retiring at the end of this year. You can see them on the right side of the home group picture -- 2nd and 3rd from the right. We had lots to talk about -- they know several members of my family who came here to visit me. They also visited Birch Bay where Mom has her trailer. Lots of stories to share together. He was an engineer in the army with more intelligence in his little finger than I will ever have in my brain. Jenny was an English teacher in a high school so she was able to help me find the words I needed for a long time when I was learning to speak Chinese. They were actually brought to our home Bible fellowship by the young son of the missionary couple I worked with. You are never too young to be an evangelist.

MOTORCYCLE RIDE ALERT!! It took a while but I had my first cross town ride on a bike last evening. The weather was warm and the traffic was moderate so it was pretty nice. Everyone is still alive and although I saw a couple of police cars along the way, there were no flashing lights in my rear-view mirror, so that's a reasonable outcome!

EARLY MORNING CHAPEL: I was out the door and off to school at 7 am today. Chapel for grades K-5 started at 8 am and I needed to get the Power Point up and working in the gym. It was great fun to share with the kids -- how many times in the past did we sing and share and learn together sitting on these same mats in this same gym. It is my great desire to see them know their value in life as they come to know Jesus and live for him on a daily basis. I so long to see them not waste days and months and years and only find Jesus when they are sick and worn out and tired. I've posted a picture of some of the group of kids who were there a couple of hours ago.

PLAYING AT THE BEACH! Called home and have a not-so-good connection on Skype. I'm actually off to the seaside town of DanShui after I post this. I'm going to play in the sunshine today. It will probably be about 80 degrees when we reach midday. By evening it cools off enough to sleep each night. Lots of humidity though. Tonight will be one more meeting in the north part of the city -- a combined prayer group of 4 or 5 home meetings.

Sung Shan Home Meeting

2006-11-08T19:32:00.000-08:00

These are some of the 10 or 11 folks who were part of the home meeting I attended on Wednesday evening. We shared together from James 3 about the influence of our tongue. The leader had prepared the Bible study on paper the week before and divided it into sections. Tonight's meeting had each participant giving their "talk" on their section. Once they'd shared others could weigh in on what the verses were saying but I thought it was a good way to get people studying and sharing together from God's word.

Brenda (in the wine coloured shirt) is a full time worker in the church who has a great heart for outreach. We spent a long time chatting yesterday about how to be an example and a challenger towards getting others involved. I'm hoping she'll visit Vancouver at some point to see what we do. There is a clear anointing of God on her life and ministry.

Tour in West Gate Area

2006-11-08T19:29:00.000-08:00

Here are the pictures I promised you from yesterday's walk. To protect the dignity of some, there are limits to what I can show you. For example, you won't see pictures of the prostitutes but I'll show you the lane where they live and work.

Tour 1 - Crossing Over

2006-11-08T19:25:00.000-08:00

At most street corners where you see the "pedestrian walk" sign you will also see a timer letting you know how long you have to cross the street. I find them pretty helpful.

I'd like to cross the street with you and take you to a part of Taipei that is hidden from many but seen by God. I love people that I see in this area. I would like to see many people working here to bring good news to those who live in darkness and the shadow of death here.

Come and have a look with me.

Tour 2 - Welcome to the West Gate

2006-11-08T19:22:00.000-08:00

This is the west gate area of the city. This is an old area, a tourist area, a downtown area where the sex trade flourishes. Here's a bit of a look at the variety of lifestyles you can find in a small area. If you walk the perimeter it wouldn't take you more than 20 minutes. Everything you will see is within a few hundred yards of this transit station.

Tour 3 - Majong

2006-11-08T19:19:00.000-08:00

The sex trade and gambling are like left hand/right hand partners. Wherever you find one you will usually find the other. Just to the right of the transit station is this park and all around the park in the shade were many men gathered in little groups playing majong.

Tour 4 - Homeless in the Park

2006-11-08T19:18:00.000-08:00

Just beyond the guys playing majong is a homeless guy ... this is not the main park where they stay but it's becoming home to some.

Tour 5 - Lung Shan Temple Wall

2006-11-08T19:16:00.000-08:00

Just beyond the park is a very famous temple where thousands of tourists and pilgrims come each year. This is one outside wall.

Tour 6 - Temple Items

2006-11-08T19:14:00.000-08:00

Just beyond the temple and on several lanes surrounding it are numerous shops where idols and lights and incense, paper goods to be burned for the gods and so on are sold. The spiritual darkness as you walk through is palpable.

Tour 7 -- Gold Shops

2006-11-08T19:11:00.000-08:00

Across the street from the park are numerous shops selling gold. At intervals along the way are the alleys leading into the Hua Xi market, lined with brothels. It's quite a mix .... clothing stores, gold shops, everyday life and throughout are scattered these "doorways into the alternate lifestyles"

Tour 8 - Brothel Alley

2006-11-08T19:08:00.000-08:00

On this little lane, just across the street from the train station and the park there are more than 20 brothels. It's a whole labrynth of narrow (about 6feet wide) passageways with doors half open, girls sitting on chairs or at tables, waiting ... waiting ... guys walk up and down the wider lanes patrolling .... older women do the "sales pitch" to invite the guys to come in. It's a dark dark place even at midday.

Tour 9 - Market Entrance

2006-11-08T18:43:00.000-08:00

These alleys all feed into this market which is famous with the tourists -- Hua Xi Street Night Market

Tour 10 - Snakes

2006-11-08T18:33:00.000-08:00

Mixed in with tea shops, dollar stores, noodle shops, massage parlours, souvenir shops are the "snakes and potion" shops where various aphrodisiacs are prepared for the guys going to the prostitutes.

Tour 11 -- Noodle Shop

2006-11-08T18:32:00.000-08:00

There are too many of this kind of shop to count. Each has it's own specialty when it comes to noodles and fried items.

Tour 12 - Massage Sign

2006-11-08T18:30:00.000-08:00

This particular shop had a sign that advertises a variety of massages -- once you are inside there are more deals to be made.

Tour 13 -- The Mother of Dollar Stores in Canada

2006-11-08T18:28:00.000-08:00

This market has several stores that have "everything." They were dollar stores before people took this kind of sales to Canada and other places. You name it and you can find it here.

Tour 14 -- Juice Stand in the Market

2006-11-08T18:26:00.000-08:00

Wednesday Afternoon

2006-11-07T22:38:00.000-08:00

No pictures until I get home later this evening. I went walking and didn't want to carry my computer with me to the West Gate area where the markets and the prostitutes are located.

Many things in Taipei have been incredibly modernized in these past few years. It seems such a contrast, therefore that the dark filthy alleys just outside the tourist area where the girls work look like they did 50 years ago. When I download the pictures I'll take you on a journey from the hi-tech transit system, past a brand new park with beggars and old men playing majong and gambling, through the Long Shan Temple boulevard with dozens of shops selling items for home or temple worship. Directly across the street are a line of shops selling bright shiny gold -- which Taiwan is also famous for. Enter any of the alleys in between these shops and you'll find brothel after brothel after bothel. Halfway through those alleys the main "Snake Alley" market intersects where you can find tourist shops, snake potion shops, noodle stands and a host of other small shops. Most of the security gates are down on those shops at noon but come midnight this lane will be hopping.

I decided to walk through the side alleys and take some pictures during the day because I had an experience years ago when someone decided that they didn't want me doing that or anything else in the area and "walked behind me" up and down several streets until I was out of the area. Lots of girls were busy working even this early in the day. I wish I could give you a picture of the worn out eyes behind the painted faces. It's an intense emotional experience to walk through these dark dark lanes and consider the lives represented by those who live and work and visit there. Many corners have small temples or worship areas with incense burning, metal buckets for burning temple money, red lights and statues. Old men and women are "keepers of the temple" and sit nearby.

I had a chat with one of the leaders of the ministry to the girls in the area and we'll spend some more time together later in the week. The opportunities for ministry are tremendous. I'll have more to say.

I got back on the transit train and went to the main railway station to book my ticket for the weekend. I could hardly find my way around with all the changes. Grabbed a "sushi to go" for a late lunch and headed over to the school to meet friends. We'll go for tea and then I'll head to the north part of the city for another home meeting.

Last evening's home meeting in the southern suburb of Yung Ho gave all of us a chance to be challenged about anger and impatience and forgiveness. I heard stories of neighbourhood evangelism that had brought some of the group to the church. Lots of patience is exhibited by people as they share their faith and then wait for the Holy Spirit to draw folks. One man was sharing how his mother had come to church last week for the first time on her own. He'd brought her to several special functions but when he arrived last Sunday someone told him his mother was already there. Something is happening. He says he expects to have 4 of the 6 members of his family at church this coming Sunday to introduce to me.

More stories and pictures tomorrow.

Some Sights From These Days

2006-11-06T18:08:00.000-08:00

1. A street of food vendors where university students eat -- near the school I visit
2. A women bent with age
3. The transit system entrance -- what a difference this system makes in getting around
4. Bikes and sidewalk cafe tables intermingled
5. Starbucks -- what can I say?

2006-11-06T18:05:00.000-08:00

These are the rice fields I love. Not so many frogs right now because it will soon be harvest. You can see the heads full of grains of rice starting to bend over and getting yellow. By the end of the month the harvest will come in.

2006-11-06T18:02:00.000-08:00

This little guy lost his mom in childbirth. We visited him, his grandmother (who is raising him) and his dad (in the blue shirt) on the weekend. Very traditional and welcoming country family.

Schedule Changes

2006-11-06T17:51:00.000-08:00

Tuesday 7th -- Bethany Christian School; Tea with Chinese Teachers, Home Group in Gung Gwan (South Taipei)
Wednesday 8th -- Bethany Christian School; The Spring (Ministry to Homeless); Home Group in Sung Shan (Middle Taipei)
Thursday 9th -- Ministry to Homeless Centre, Da An Home Group (Middle Taipei)
Friday 10th -- Chapel with K-5 students, Fun afternoon with Carla, Combined Home Group/Prayer Meeting in North Church

I'll just give you those days for the moment and then update when I get to the weekend.

I speak to students about two things: finding their purpose every day in doing what God says is important and watching out for the things that can become harmful in their lives.

I speak to church groups about similar things but more specifically try to show Jesus stated purpose of coming to be with outcasts and sinners and then his command to us to go and make disciples. I also speak a lot about things that we find it necessary to hide because of pain and shame -- it's very difficult for these kinds of things to be mentioned here. Since I'm a bit more "at arm's length" these days, things can get mentioned in conversations that wouldn't otherwise be said. But, it needs to become the habit in the church and in fellowship groups to do this kind of thing by first being open ourselves and then by welcoming others to share whatever is in their heart that needs to come out.

There are blocks of time every day for fun things and I walk a lot. I'll be much healthier when I get back .... one day I think I will count the number of stairs that I go up and down. Everywhere you go there are stairs to climb. No need for fitness clubs here!

More tomorrow. Elsie

Tuesday in the Sun

2006-11-06T17:40:00.000-08:00

Good Morning,

I'm on my way to school, at the end of the afternoon I will go for tea with 2 Chinese teachers. AT 7pm I'll meet up with a home group and spend the evening with them.

I just added a couple of pictures to show you some friends we went to lunch with, and relaxing at home. Amy was one of my roomates for about 5 years when I lived here in Taipei. She has come to a strong faith. Some people would say she'd have to in order to put up with me all those years! I probably couldn't disagree.

It's been fun to have a few minutes along the way to talk on "Skype" with my mother in Ontario and other members of my family. What a great way to stay in touch. Mom is such a great example of the fact that it's never to late to learn new things.

She was also telling me how their women's group has packed and now mailed boxes of Christmas gifts for our Christmas Eve outreach. I had an e-mail message from someone else in Nanaimo telling me about some things they have. So, it's great to be here doing things and have everyone taking part in their own way there in between. There are too many other people doing so many things each week to even mention. It really is what makes us Partners in Hope.

Monday was a school day, visiting a class, some teachers. I spent some time at the south church visiting the secretary and getting my itinerary all buttoned down for this week. Things have changed a bit since I first put in the itinerary. I'll update that for you in a moment so it appears at the top of the blog.

The more I walk around and see people and hear stories of what occupies peoples' time, the more I long to see all of us really find those activities in life that really matter. There are so many distractions and we can do so much good when we stay simple and live generously out of what we have been given. I am blessed by every contact here. So many people want to give and want to help and want to do whatever they can to make my time here the best it can be.

I'll have pictures of school kids and home meeting friends in tomorrow's post. Blessings all. Elsie

Back In Taipei

2006-11-05T03:54:00.000-08:00

This is the picture I took about an hour ago at one of the transit stations I went through as I travelled from the airport back to where I am staying. It was like rush hour in Central Station in Hong Kong!

It's been a full and satisfying day. My Chinese felt more fluent this morning even though I suddenly had to extend what I had planned to share and talk for 50 minutes rather than 30 as I had expected. It's an interesting experience to plan what you want to say, re-write it in English that models Chinese ways of saying things, and then add the vocabulary! It requires that I stay simple and clear in what I have to say. I've been checking my tones with Chinese folks before every talk so I don't say too many wild things.

I was asked to share today about coming out of the wilderness of hopelessness and despair and I certainly know about that journey both from my own experience and through what I've observed in the lives of others. Many things are pushed down and hidden in a culture such as this one and it's so important that at least in the church we find a place to be honest and to find God's healing.

We had a great meal together after the service and I had a chance to visit with all sorts of people. Then we headed off to the ocean for the baptism (see pictures below.) I had to run from the beach after the last person was baptized and get to a taxi we'd arranged to meet me in order to get to the airport in time. No traffic jams on the way to the airport so things went smoothly.

After a 40-minute flight back to Taipei it was time to come home, stopping along the way where I have an internet connection to send this update.

Jetlag has been minimal -- certainly hasn't gotten in the road of anything I wanted to do -- I did sleep in the car for an hour on the way south yesterday but I've been up in the morning and doing things all day until at least 10pm. So, that's been an easy adjustment, for which I am grateful.

My prayers are with each group as you worship today, that you will draw close to God, hear His heart, and enjoy His goodness.

Baptism At The Sea

2006-11-05T03:50:00.000-08:00

A great celebration at the ocean with 7 being baptized. The water was warm -- much warmer than any baptism water I've been in in Vancouver!!

Enthusiastic singing, loud prayers of blessing -- a real celebration that attracted lots of onlookers on the beach!

Pictures from Sunday Church

2006-11-05T03:47:00.000-08:00

Sunday service in Kaohsiung. About 100 people crammed into a small room on the 10th floor for worship. Pastor Jang is a friend from more than 20 years. He's doing an amazing job leading this church.

Sunday in Kaohsiung

2006-11-05T03:24:00.000-08:00

Welcome to church -- sign outside the door inviting folks to the 10th floor for the service

2006-11-05T03:20:00.000-08:00

Youth Group in prayer for the upcoming service on Saturday evening.

Saturday Trip To South Taiwan

2006-11-05T03:07:00.000-08:00

Saturday

I'll have to add pictures later since they are saved on my camera and I didn't bring my cord along --

We left Taipei around 8 am to head south to visit the family of a friend who died a couple of years ago in childbirth. Her husband's family is raising the child (custom) while the father continues to work here in Taipei. One of the home groups in the church has responsibility for caring for this family -- including praying for the salvation of the grandparents as they raise this little guy. So, every month, some folks make a 3 hour trip to their place to care for them. They've been doing it for a couple of years now and just recently the grandmother said she had a vision of people coming to pray for her. I got to be part of the group that was there and prayed for her.

A rush to the train station in order to catch a ride to Kaohsiung since I am scheduled to speak to the youth tonight. I had a call from the pastor while we visited this family "checking details" with me. I found that a 15 minute sermon was actually to be a 50 minute teaching for Sunday morning as well as the 30 minute talk to the youth tonight ... hmmmmm

When I arrived at 7 pm I found a group of about 20 youth singing and praying (see pictures) for the group that would begin at 7:30. They pour out their hearts on behalf of youth in their city. In a church of about 120, about 50 are youth because of the vision this pastor had in building the church.

I shared about finding our purpose in life (Ephesians 2:10) and what a difference it makes in the lives of people in Vancouver who do that. We also talked about the various addictions that can affect us that seem more "socially acceptable". The muted giggles (embarrassment) let me know that some folks were hearing and considering what was being said.

Back to the pastor's house to prepare for Sunday morning at about 10 pm.

Friday Morning in Taipei

2006-11-02T19:08:00.000-08:00

Good Morning From Starbucks on the corner of the street where I am staying in HsinDyan (southern suburb of Taipei). If you look closely towards the centre of the final picture you'll see the Starbucks circle and I'm seated on the 2nd floor.

Even though it says something after 7pm it's actually after 11am on Friday morning here in Taipei.

I had a good flight ... slept a lot so should be able to put a full day in and not worry too much about jetlag. Amy was at the airport to meet me at 6am local time and then she headed off to work.

I thought I'd let you see the lane off the main road into the apartment where I am staying as well as the local 7-11. You can find them on every few corners here as well but the shelves and coolers are stocked with slightly different things than in Canada. I started the morning with guava juice which I love.

I'll take it fairly easy today with just a visit to Bethany Christian School where I taught for a number of years and then over to the church office to pick up my plane ticket for going south. Actually a number of folks are going to the centre part of the island tomorrow so I'll travel with them and then get a train the rest of the way but fly back after the baptism service at the ocean on Sunday afternoon.

More pictures to come. I don't have internet access at the house where I'm staying but I've purchased a 30-day pass that works at places like the Starbucks -- it costs about what an hour does in Vancouver at a Hotspot.

I have to say that it touches my heart to be here and talk to folks I've known for many years. Amy was a new Christian who came to live with me for 4 or 5 years and now she has her own place and has a couple of relatives staying with her as well as me. So, full circle. We talked non-stop in the car from the airport .... so far my Chinese is holding up. My days in the dictionary these past weeks have helped.

It's fun to walk up and down the streets, even in the rain. I traded in my sweater and socks for a T-shirt before I picked up my luggage at the airport. It's probably about 22 or 23 degrees and muggy with on and off rain. Someone thought there was a typhoon but none of that here. The winds are really quiet.

My prayers are with the meeting in Mission Possible tonight ... should be starting in about 15 minutes from the time I am posting this.

I'll be in touch.
Elsie

Taiwan Travel

2006-10-29T09:33:00.000-08:00

Here is my itinerary for my upcoming trip

Pray for Elsie in Taiwan and China
November 2-26

ITINERARY

Wed. Nov 2 – 1am – Fly from Vancouver
Fri. Nov 3 – 6 am – Arrive Taipei
Sat. Nov 4 – Fly to Kaoshiung
Sun. Nov 5 – Preach – Kaohsiung Church
Mon/Tues Nov 6/7 – Morrison Academy – Taichung
Wed. Nov 8 – TouFen – with Hakka missionaries
Thurs. Nov 9 – HsinChu – with Bible Study group
Fri. Nov 10 – Bethany Academy
Sat. Nov 11 – ShrLin Home Group
Sun. Nov 12 – Preach – Taipei South Church
Mon./Tues Nov 13/14 – Street Work in WanHua
Tues. pm Nov 14 – Taipei Home Group
Wed Nov 15 – Taichung Home Group
Thurs. Nov 16 – Taichung Home Group
Fri. Nov 17 – Taipei
Sat. Nov 18 – Carla and Eve in Hsin Dyan
Sun. Nov 19 – Preach – Taipei North Church
Mon. Nov 20 – 2 pm – Fly to Chengdu, China
Tues – Sun, Nov 21-26 – Chengdu, China
Sun. Nov 26 – Fly from Chengdu 4pm
Sun. Nov 26 – Arrive Vancouver 6:10pm

Please pray for:
 Fruitful visits in churches and school
 Raising up of an outreach work among the prostitutes in Taipei
 Travel safety
 Protection for all contacts along the way
 Clarity of communication in Mandarin