Auld Lang Syne...

It's December 31, 2019... It's time to say 'good-bye' to 2019... and welcome 2020...

Looking ahead, there are many prayer requests:
1. Taiwan election on 1/11... There are three candidates... and let's just leave it at that... Please pray!
2. US Election on November 3rd... I don't know who are the candidates... but I definitely know we should be praying.
3. HOP Pastoral Couple... we are still searching for someone suitable.
4. Tutoring jobs as well as other part time jobs.
5. Many speaking opportunities and the ladies Bible studies and Soochow Bible study.
6. Isaiah and Abby -- their walk with the Lord and for mentors and Christian friends to keep them accountable.
7. Strength for the care of my mom.
8. Remodeling our kitchen, possibly in late June and early July.
9. Summer plans in the States.
10. Growth as a couple and as a family.
11. Discernment as we counsel others.
12. Daily wisdom and discernment in all our decisions that we would honor God as a family and as individuals.

We want to wish you a Happy New Year. God indeed is our Alpha and Omega...

Seek Him First!

Abby's...

It rained all day... Isaiah and Alan were up early to watch the Chargers game... they lost to Kansas City Chief... 31-21. The kids and Alan went off to school... and I dropped Mom off at 9:30 and had tutoring at 10:30! The morning went by quickly and I had several errands to get done... including mailing off our Christmas/New Year Newsletter! I came home and had lunch and made dinner... I was going to go out for a run... as there was a break in the rain... but physically I was too exhausted... I thought I was going to get sick, so I took a long nap! It felt so refreshing... I had tutoring tonight and we finally had our family time... We wanted to do it last night but the kids had too many things to get done!

Here is Abigail's...

Reflections of 2019: “Renewal and Restart”

     This past year hasn’t been easy, not only for me, but also for my family.  The year has had a lot of ups and downs like a roller coaster.  I’m a roller coaster lover, but I was quite stressed on this particular one.  Having no cell phone and laptop for nearly 4 months, I learned to cherish the relationships I have with friends and family around me.  I also learned how to weigh what’s important and what wasn’t.  So when I had a short amount of time to use my phone, I would know what to do on it and not waste time.  I rediscovered the joy of reading books and also developed the skill of observation, since I couldn’t use my cell phone on the bus or MRT like most people.  I came to realize that loneliness doesn’t have much to do with the outside circumstances.  It’s a focus.  With or without a cell phone, there was still a sense of loneliness.  Reading a book gave me a temporary sense of satisfaction but I still felt lonely.  However, I praise God for my family for not giving up on me.  They did and still do give everything they have to connect with me.  They pray, take me to the movies, play sports with me, buy good food and drinks for me, and support me in all my activities.  That’s a blessing in itself.  A sense of belonging is the cure to loneliness.   So I look back at this year, and two words come to my mind: “renewal” and “restart”.  I’m a sophomore in college, but I feel like I have a brand new beginning, like a freshman.  Not only did I renew my relationship with family, but also with my Heavenly Father.  He knows me the best, and treats me the best.  I chose 1 Timothy 1:7 as the verse for next year because I know that I’m a child of God.  And as a child of God, I have received the gift of the Holy Spirit.  He accompanies me, comforts me, and guides me.  So I choose not to live in fear, loneliness, and discontentment.  I want to rely on the Holy Spirit’s power to reject sin, to discover others’ needs, and to love self-control in order to overcome procrastination.

Prayer requests, plans and thoughts for 2020:

1. I can contribute more in my departmental basketball team.
2. I can be more involved in serving in the high school youth group.
3. I can manage time and money better.
4. I can learn all the knowledge necessary to reach my future dream.
5. I can participate more in my college youth group.
6. I can bring people to know Christ and be a better testimony to others.
7. I can value appreciation, acknowledgment and reciprocation in my family. 

Seek Him First!

Isaiah's...

The kids were gone early today... as their tournament continues... Isaiah's team did not make it to the top 8... but Abby ended up winning third... although they should have been second... the other Soochow University team won second place... Abby was really bummed! Alan went to watch Abby's games today as they were at a school that was only 10 minutes away from home!

Isaiah made it to church to drum for the worship team, but Abby didn't... She went out with her friends after the award ceremony...

Even though it was the fifth Sunday, we still had Love Feast... and we ordered just the right amount...

Now... here is Isaiah's Reflections...

Reflections of 2019:

January -- Went on a cruise to South East Asia with the family, had lots of fun and got to go to Uncle James’ house in Vietnam.

March~April -- Entered the nationals tennis tournament since we won third place at the Northern Taiwan preliminaries, in doubles, I only lost the first of all six of our matches.

June -- Finished my first year of double majoring in International Business and Management and English

July~August – Had an amazing trip to the States, went on another cruise to the East Coast and traveled around DC, met some new friends and even started to look for internship opportunities in DC.

September ~ October – Selected as Captain of the Soochow Tennis Team and rejoined the Departmental basketball team, took 30 units and hope to be able to do well.

November~ December -- Dated Vikki for two years, turned 21 years old (could vote in Taiwan and drink in the States J) 

Prayer Requests for 2020:

a. Continue to achieve grades that will enable me to receive scholarships.

b. Apply for and be accepted for an Internship in Taiwan or the States.

c. Improve my overall health, especially my knees that already have cartilage problems and also allergies that I hope is getting better. 

Seek Him First!

Alan's...

It was an early start for everyone today... Abby headed out to her basketball competition and Alan took Isaiah over to his... Isaiah won one and lost one... Abby had an easy first game and a very close second game... 

I worked on our newsletter and got it printed and will send it out on Monday! 

The weather was nice, so I took Mom out for a walk... She went only once around the block and said she was ready to go back... 

We had our family time this evening and watched some TV... 

Here is Alan's answers to my three questions!

Verse of Focus for 2020:

Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Reflections of 2019:

As I look back over 2019 it has been a year in which I have experienced a sense of anxiety as well as a time of joy and personal reflection.  As a father of two adult children who this November turned 20 and 21, I have experienced many personal struggles in how to challenge them in overcoming the temptations that they face as young adults yet giving them the freedom to grow in making their own decisions.   Through all this one positive thing that has come about is the increase in prayer and being more connected and united with Lovely. More than ever before we realized the importance of time to pray together as a couple as we team together to be parents. We love our children immensely and yet release them daily into the hands of our Heavenly Father as they mature and develop in their own unique giftedness. The realization that we are in a spiritual battle for our children was the theme that rang deep in my heart throughout 2019. The Lord brought many experiences that helped me bond with my adult children in deeper and more rewarding ways. A highlight of this past year was celebrating my mother’s 90^th birthday on a cruise as well as with family and old friends in Washington D.C.

Prayer Requests for 2020:

To become more reliant and confident in God’s plan and power than to dwell on the issues that I have no ability to solve or control.

To daily acknowledge that God’s plans and timing are higher than mine and I want to release my children into His hands and not try to figure out solutions but to trust in my Heavenly Father more.

To plan the 2020 English Cultural Week at Soochow University sponsored by the English Department at the end of April.

To seek for a suitable pastoral couple for HOP and to arrange speakers. As the main overseer, it will be almost three years that HOP has gone without a pastoral couple.

To see Isaiah and Abigail involved in a great internship in 2020--an experience that would prove valuable for their personal growth and for making connections for their future job possibilities. Isaiah will be starting his senior year in September 2020 and it is very possible that he will graduate with a double major by May of 2021 since he is cranking out and taking a full load every semester! It usually takes five years, but Isaiah just might do it in four! And Abby is not far behind!  

Seek Him First!

Verses of Focus 2020

So, here is the second installment...

The verses we've selected for ourselves and as a family for 2020!

Alagata Family Verse: Proverbs 19:21



Alan's Verse: Philippians 4:6



Lovely's Verse: Psalm 115: 14-15



Isaiah's Verse: Galatians 6:9



Abby's Verse: I Tim. 1:7



Seek Him First!

(My verses for 2019... It's been a great passage of focus...)