Auld Lang Syne... Good bye 2018! Hello 2019!

As I close out this last entry for 2018, I wanted to ask you to keep us in your prayers. Here are our top SEVEN prayer requests for 2019 --

1.  That we would grow in our love and relationship with Jesus! That our lives are daily surrendered in obedience to His will.
2.  That we would strive to share Christ through our words and actions. That others may know that we are Jesus' followers!
3.  That our service flows from being rooted and grounded in truth!
4.  That the fruit of the Spirit will be more evident in our lives.
5.  That the plans we have are aligned to His plans.
6.  That we would extend forgiveness and grace and mercy towards others and that our communication is honorable to Jesus.
7.  That next year at this time we will see that the LORD indeed has been faithful even when we've been faithless!

Thank you for walking with us through 2018...

Thank you for praying for us...

Thank you for being a part of our lives...

Seek Him First!

Looking Forward to 2019 -- Lovely

Where do I start?

Yesterday I went to a wedding by myself. The daughter of one of my Bible study ladies had gotten married in the States and came back for a Taiwan banquet! While riding there, even in the cold and rain, I thought... "It would be so nice to have one day a month just to do my own things."

So, that will be the first thing I'd like to put on my list --
1. To have one day a month when I can rest and relax and not have to do anything... Go for longer runs... ride around Taipei... go out with my Christian friends... do anything or do nothing! In fact, Mom Bea said that for the cruise in July, she'd be happy to stay on the ship and not go on any land excursions... I thought... that's a great idea. I think I'll just hang out with her and sit by the pool and do nothing...
2. Two cruises -- We never planned on going on two cruises but this is what God has done. I rejoice to see what He has planned.
3. Since I didn't do the 12 hour run in Feb. of 2018, I will be doing it in 2019. I'm actually looking forward to it with trepidation... I know the route this time... no hills... but will I be able to stay on my feet for 12 hours? What will the weather be like? How many kilometers will I be able to finish?
4. Speaking opportunities -- I have been assigned a few in this first half of the year... and the Chinese church invited me back again... So we will see what other opportunities the Lord will bring my way.
5. I want to keep up with my different language learning... but it's a wonderful goal... that I always add, "If only I had some free time..." In fact, ...
6. I'd like to have time to sit down and actually work together with our neighbor who is an illustrator and get a children's book published! Again... "If only I had some free time..."
7. I look forward to many things in 2019 -- our annual family portraits... time with friends and families... For the two cruises, we will hit a couple of new places -- Prince Edward's Island and Vietnam. I enjoy visiting new places... I always like to hear Abby's new songs, so I hope she'll write a few more... And I know that God has more breakthroughs and healings for 2019! I look forward to new insights the Lord has prepared for me. I also always look forward to the serendipitous trip the Lord prepares for me and my best friends. So... you see... so many things to look forward to...

How about you? What are you looking forward to in 2019?

Seek Him First!

Looking Forward to 2019 -- Abigail

After her first semester at Soochow, Abby has a lot that she is looking forward to for 2019.

1.  Playing more on the departmental basketball team and working on my own in order to improve my skills.
2.  Changing jobs... actually, I have to tell the cram school that I want to quit. And when I do quit, I need to find other jobs in order to earn my own allowance. I do find it easy to spend money! I love Starbucks coffee and bubble milk tea from the local shops.
3. My leadership and role in the music band that I started at Soochow University. I'd like for us to have opportunities to perform.
4.  I want to continue to write more songs and be more involved in the HOP worship team, either as a drummer or as a worship leader or as a vocalist or a guitarist.
5. I hope to have daily time with Jesus in the morning in order to have more wisdom in all my decisions throughout the day.
6. I really want to do well in all my classes as well as my ministry involvements and my internship that is required for next semester.
7. The trips we will have in 2019!
(If I might add one more... maybe to have a boyfriend in 2019!?!?!?!)

Seek Him First!

Looking Forward to 2019 -- Isaiah

What are the things that Isaiah is looking forward to in 2019?

1. Leading the Soochow University Tennis Team to the Nationals
2. Doing well in all my classes even though I am double majoring in English and International Trade. I hope to get two scholarships at the end of each semester. Not only the scholarship because Dad is teaching at Soochow, but an additional scholarship from the International Trade Department because of my high GPA.
3. I continue to pray for Vikki and her family to come to know Jesus!
4. More steady and stable tutoring jobs. I have to earn my own pocket money, which includes paying for my own gas and scooter maintenance.
5. Being more involved in leading worship at HOP.
6. Playing on the Soochow University English Department Basketball Team and going on tournaments
7. Trips abroad this year, including a few days in Washington DC after the summer cruise!

Seek Him First!

Looking Forward to 2019 -- Alan

Today I will post what Alan is looking forward to in 2019! I had to limit each person to only 7 things.

1. How God is going to fulfill the new HOP vision!
2. Two cruises -- one in January with Lovely's sister and brother in law and another in July with my family.
3. Two kids involved in HOP ministry and being at Soochow University.
4. To continue to pray and rely on God to protect my two kids in their college life -- keeping them away from temptations and growing in their love for God.
5. Attending and being a fan and support for the kids' sports teams.
6. The continual search for a HOP pastoral couple and my involvement as an elder of the church.
7. To take every opportunity to share Jesus with my students.

Those are Alan's 7...

Seek Him First!

Personal Verses of Focus for 2019

Today I will post the verse(s) each person selected for 2019!

Alan -- Acts 1:8


Isaiah -- Isaiah 40:29


Abigail -- I John 2: 15-17


Lovely -- Psalm 105:4


Seek Him First!

Our Annual Christmas/Year-end Newsletter

Over our Christmas breakfast, we shared about our highlights from 2018. 

Here they are--

Alan:
1. Going to Australia to see the Grand Slam, which fulfilled one of my item on my bucket list. I always thought I'd go to see the US Open, never thinking I'd be in Australia. It was a wonderful father/son experience as well.
2. Grandma's arrival has been a major change in all of our lives.
3. Supporting Abby through her college interview process as I drove her to all the different schools.
4. Going with the English Boy's basketball team to Tainan. That was fun as Isaiah was on the team.
5. McKenna's wedding on July 7th in the States, which was also my 60th birthday!
6. Having a FAMILY TRIP to northern Calfornia was very special as we saw many wonderful friends -- Rex Manu and his family, Nancy & Serge and their kids, Judy and Jon and some of their kids, Lovely's old friend, Angel and her family, as well as my nephew Chris who lives in Fort Bragg's.
7. Taking two groups of students to two different places for two different events all in the same month -- Debate Team to Shanghai and a group of 6 to Miyasaki (Isaiah was part of this group).

Isaiah:
1. I decided to double major in International Trade. This has made my school life very busy as I have classes on two campuses and I have to take Applied Calculus.
2. I have a girlfriend. Her name is Vikki. She is also in the English Department.
3. Grandma moving to Taiwan as I now sleeps in the living room.
4. I'm more involved in the HOP Worship Team as well as the Tennis team at Soochow University.
5. Going to the Australian Open with Dad.
6. Our Family Trip this summer to San Francisco.
7. Going to Miyasaki, Japan and experiencing the culture and meeting the people.

Abby:
1.  I finished with the Joint College Entrance Exam.
2. I won the Mayor Award upon graduating upon from Nanhu Senior High School.
3. I felt such regret during the application process as once the choices were made, I couldn't change them. I actually can say that I hated the process and was exhausted and disappointed. I ended up at Soochow University, Social Work Department, but I was not satisfied with this choice.
4. Spending part of my summer in the States and having my cousin, Hailey, do my hair.
5. Grandma moving to Taiwan. I was tested beyond my breaking point. I lost my cool and realized how easily it was for me to get angry with her. She has some nasty habits that were irking me and all of us.
6. I started to work at the local cram school. It was very challenging to prepare for my classes each week.
7. I joined the SW Departmental Girls' Basketball Team and have made some wonderful friends at school.

Lovely:
There are just too many highlights for 2018. I can't even begin to share my thoughts and feelings. Daddy George passed away in February and we moved my mom to Taiwan. What I tell people is that this is a season in my life when I don't have that much freedom... I have to always consider who is going to be home to take care of Mom... It's very restricting... God has been my constant source of all I need... and He continues to bear me up upon His shoulders! 2018 had many unexpected surprises that were both good and bad... but one thing remains true -- God is good... all the time!
Tomorrow, I will share what verse each person picked for their 2019 FOCUS!

Seek Him First!