Taiwan Times - November Issue

Here is a copy of Mark's latest newsletter.

The Taiwan Times

By Mark Wolfram

Reporting on God’s mission in Taiwan

November 2007

Jamming with Jenny

Hello again everyone! While in Taiwan, I have had many chances to play the guitar. On a given week, I usually play guitar for 2 or 3 Bible Studies or fellowships. In addition to playing this semester I have had the chance to help a couple of students as they learn guitar. I am very hesitant to say the words teach, because I don’t really know how to teach guitar. I just kind of learned on my own, started playing songs I was familiar with, and was never too much for the technical side of things. However, I am happy to show students chord charts and play through songs with them.

Every Monday this semester I have been jamming out with Jenny, a Junior 1 (7^th grade) student here at Concordia Middle School. Jenny has been very consistent in attending both On-Campus Student Fellowship and Friday Night Bible Study. She is always there eager to participate and learn more about God’s love in Jesus. At both of these Bible Studies, we sing a lot of praise and worship songs. Her desire to learn guitar has grown as she desires to play the songs we sing at OSF and FNBS.

We started back in the first part of September with a couple of repetitive songs with basic chords like C, D, G, and A. Jenny has been a quick learner and since then she has learned about a dozen songs. This afternoon when we practiced, she was able to play a new song on the spot, with obscure chords like Em7 and Dm. She has also began playing as part of the music team for OSF. For the past 3 weeks, she has helped to lead songs for the students who live here at Concordia Middle School. She has talked about in the future helping to play at Friday Night Bible Study as well. Praise God for Jenny and her willingness to use the talents God has given her to praise and glorify Him. I am very thankful for the opportunity to work with someone so eager to learn about God’s love and sing songs of praise.

It’s Prayer Time!

Here are the prayer requests. As always we lift these up according to the will of God, praying for Him to be glorified through everything.

1. Pray that God would continue to increase my trust in Him, in all things.
2. Pray that God would give me energy, strength, and passion to continue to serve Him to the best of my ability in my teaching and relationships here in Taiwan.
3. Pray for my continued learning of Chinese. Pray that God would help me to continue to improve, and that I can use my knowledge of the language to bring glory to Him.
4. Pray for Salvation Lutheran Church, as we do not have a Pastor at this time. Pray that God would prepare the people and future Pastor for work together in the kingdom.
5. Pray for my students that I will be teaching this year. Pray especially for my Advanced English students. I do not have Bible class with them, but pray that Christ’s love may be present in all that I do, and that I would seek opportunities to meaningfully share the Gospel with those kids.

May God’s peace, love and joy be with you all,

Mark

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1-2