Please pray for the leaders of our church body here in Taiwan. The people in the photo are willing to serve and help move forward the work of the Lord here in Taiwan. Pray that they will find encouragment and support as they work as a team and as individuals in their congregations.

In the photo, back row, left to right:

Chen DyanMing, Peter Chen, Jack Chen, Kevin Stellick, Michael Lin

Front row: Tsai Wayting, Carol Tang, Miss Lin, Sharon Lin, Allen Chen

This Taiwan event was a memorable one and put into practical terms how God allows Christians to glorify him even in hardship and even when surrounded by satanic forces that would seek to overwhelm all who enter.

Elisa is a Christian woman and member of our Lutheran church in Taichung Taiwan. She was baptized 3 years ago and has assisted with Sunday School for the past 2 years. Let me relate a recent experience. Elisa’s father was 90 when he died in late September ’05. He did not believe in Jesus. We went to visit Elisa at the public mortuary where visitation takes place for up to 2 weeks, in some cases, prior to the actual funeral. We were met by Elisa at the mortuary gate and she led us through the maze of corridors. Along the wall of each of the corridor wings there were funeral tables set up. The area where Elisa’s father’s table was set up had at least 50 other such tables. The chest high tables were about 3 ft square and were pushed together and up against the wall so that every possible inch of room was utilized. On top of each table was a 15”inch by 25”inch photo of the deceased, and the offerings for his ‘hungry spirit’. Offerings consisting of fruit, flowers, rice and water. Two large floral bouquets were taking up half of their 3 foot of real estate in front of the funeral table.

We went there to minister to Elisa and thankfully, also to her sister, Helen, a non-Christian and former EFL student of ours. What do you say to someone whose unbelieving father is now and forever suffering separation from the true God and his blessings? We can’t pray for the dead and change their outcome. As Hebrews 9:27 says “man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” We listened to Elisa and Helen tell us the many good and loving and honorable things about their dad. I shared Psalm 39:4-8 “Show me, O LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man’s life is but a breath. ((Selah))Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro: He bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it. “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you. Save me from all my transgressions.” Their dad lived a long life and they were blessed in so many human ways by him. Their love for him was evident as they shared stories of their dad. We thanked God for the blessings that their dad had become for them and we talked about the living, about you and me, about Elisa and Helen and their families and how God desires us to have even more blessings through Jesus. Elisa is a Christian. Helen had come to our EFL outreach classes for a year before continuing her graduate studies. Helen heard the gospel each time she came to class. Helen cognitively knew the gospel that the Bible teaches but never appeared to be moved to faith by the Spirit working through that message. Only God knows what is in her heart. We reminded them of God’s love and forgiveness in Jesus and that that is our sure hope that empowers us to live for Him and face even death. We prayed and we sang a hymn. Our time together that day was brief but we pray that Elisa will be able to continue encouraging her sister and that Helen herself may find a desire to know more of the God of loving forgiveness that she came to know in our classes.

Four days later, the funeral itself was held. The hall sat about 125 people and it was full. There were a dozen such halls in the complex and all of them were either funerals in progress or getting ready for the next one. It is a funeral factory. In the hall we occupied, the immediate family sat in the front two rows, women on the left and men on the right. Depending on how old the deceased was determines the color patches that are added to the cloth monk-like head coverings that each family member wore. The eldest son wore sackcloth on his entire body and a sackcloth head-dress with a red patch. If you are over 80 it is a ‘happy funeral’, therefore red is used. Because Elisa’s dad was 90 this was designated a ‘happy funeral.’ If you are under 79 when you pass on it is a ‘sad funeral’ for which the immediate relatives are to feel they have been scolded by the gods for not taking better care of their loved one.

We spoke to Elisa briefly before the funeral began to let her know she would be lifted up in prayer throughout the service, asking God to give her strength of faith in Christ to bear faithful witness to her Lord. Why would she need such prayer? You’ll soon know why. Her father was a nominal Buddhist and the ceremony chosen by the family was a Buddhist one. I’ll try to piece it together for you as best I can. The service lasted about 1 hour and began by all in attendance standing and bowing towards the 20 foot wide altar which was adorned with the same photo of the deceased that had been on his private 3 foot visitation table. All bowed in respect for the deceased. What is exactly meant by such bowing may differ from one person to the next. It can be as simple as a head-nod that is remembering the deceased and nothing more or can in fact be actual worship of the deceased lingering spirit, pacifying the spirit so that it will not bring any harm. Buddhist believe that the spirit lingers and must be satisfied before the Buddhist Exorcist can successfully help the spirit migrate from here to the great Western Paradise, their version of heaven.

After the assembly bowed to the deceased, the Buddhist Exorcist entered. He was dressed in saffron very much like you would normally see the Dali Lama dressed. He had two female helpers/nuns with him. They processed to the front and began moaning the non-intelligible incantations. Just read recently that it is believed that in order to be a true religion that comes from gods greater than men that it cannot be something so simple to be understood by common people. We could not understand a word that was moaned, it must have been the real religion! After they moaned for 10 minutes then they began chanting Ah-me-toe-foe, Ah-me-toe-foe, Ah-me-toe-foe in a guttural voice that made them sound possessed by the devil. Perhaps they were. I was told that Ah-me-toe-foe is what the name of Buddha sounds like in one of the Indian dialects. Buddhism began in India. The Exorcist left after 15 minutes and returned at the very end of the service to lead the casket to the western style hearse. In talking with a Chinese Christian brother seated next to me he explained that salvation of the spirit rests in the hands of the exorcist. The more educated the exorcist is, the more credentials he has, the higher his fees for migrating the spirit of your loved one from this earth to the Western Paradise. The brother shared that the exorcist was paid about 5000USD for his 30 minutes work of opening the road for the spirit to migrate successfully. Many exorcists drive Mercedes or have a driver and live in luxury. It is also common knowledge that some are fakes making good money off of unsuspecting people. What a racket!

After the Exorcist left, the jazz band that played pre-service music and was tucked away behind a curtain, played fill music. Ironically, they played an 11 note tune that for western movie ears always means that ‘this is a death scene.’ Very tacky. They played off and on during the service. The service continued with a woman, non family member, reading an emotional script lauding the good things that had filled the life of this humble man she kept referring to as ‘her dad.’ He never struck his children; he sacrificed all so that his kids had a good education; he served in the military with Chiang Kai Shek; he taught in a school. It struck me as odd that his wife refused to attend the funeral. Perhaps that is a nuance I have not yet uncovered. It may well be that her seeing him dead would only hasten her own death. At any rate, the eulogy went on for about 10 minutes and was quite realistic, though done by a hired hand professional mourner.

Next came the family involvement where each in turn came face to face with the deceased photo and were handed offerings to present to the spirit of the deceased. The 24” incense rod had been lit and handed to the first family member who bowed before the photo and then handed the incense to the attendant. A second attendant narrated telling each member what to do. Bow with incense, bow with flowers, bow with fruit, pour an offering of water for the spirit. After the water had been offered the one family member then prostated himself on hands and knees with forehead touching floor before the photo of the deceased. One by one each family member did this except for Elisa and her husband for whom we were praying. Cultural and familial peer pressure to participate fully in these rituals are overwhelming. Many weak Christians give in to avoid conflict. When the family finished then they all filled the center aisle and in unison prostrated themselves before returning to their side of the altar where they remained standing with their head coverings in place.

Next came the chance for those who were attending the service to participate in the worship. Many came in groups. For example, first came some government officials who also lifted the incense, flowers and fruit to appease the spirit. Next came a group of 19 dressed in military uniform and one of them represented their group and offered the offerings to the spirit on behalf of the group. Each group bowed 3 times before the altar for the deceased and then bowed to the men and women from the family that were lined up both left and right of the altar. Other groups came and did the same until it got down to those singles who remained and were invited to line up to do the same. Many of the groups, after finishing their worship of the deceased left the facility, some stayed. We waited till last and did not participate in any of it, but took opportunity to again speak words of encouragement to Elisa and her husband, Kevin.

The whole time we contemplated this funeral and our part in ministering to our sister and her Christian husband we tried to focus on what would bring glory to God. We sought to speak the truth in love and witness as we were able; to encourage fellow Christians in their time of trial and grief; to lift them up in prayer knowing the true God hears and answers. By God’s leading, other than Elisa’s sister Helen, another former EFL student was in attendance and her name is Edith. I spent 20 minutes talking with her and encouraging her to return to classes. Later that day we saw her again at the post-funeral meal and she had a chance to meet our EFL teachers in person. Pray for Edith, Elisa and Kevin and for us as we minister to Christians who face the cultural attacks on their faith and for others who are just beginning to learn of Jesus.

All glory to God!

In Christian love,

Kevin

What was your take on the Da Vinci Code? Why couldn’t it have happened? Why aren’t woman allowed to be pastors? What is the difference between being Lutheran and Mormon? Why do the Catholics emphasize Mary so much?

We have all been there. Maybe we are talking to a friend who is not a Christian, maybe we are talking with a new believer, maybe we are talking with a good Christian friend and then one of those questions come up. It is one of those questions that causes us to really look at what we believe. It is also the type of question that helps to create an opportunity to talk with someone about Jesus. Often times when these questions come up we might get a little scared or a little nervous. We might think of a friend who is better equipped to answer something like this – the friend who is just so good at words and at answering those types of things. Maybe in some cases we are that friend to people. We are that person that people come to when questions like these arise, and then we are suppose to know the answer and say the right thing.

I have been at both ends of this. I have been in many positions where I have thought that I was not the best person to answer the opportune question. However, many times I have been alone and have realized that I was the one that was supposed to answer this question. I always want to be able to say the words just right and answer the question most effectively, so I take a breath and I say a short prayer, praying that the words will come out right. In the end I have always been given the right words to say and have been calmed by the assurance God has given me.

Those questions still come up in my life, but it is a little different now. Now I am an English teacher in Taiwan. Before arrival in Taiwan, I knew that I would have the opportunity to share my faith. A lot of people are interested in my beliefs and want to hear why I believe just what I believe. This is a really great opportunity for me to witness my faith, but there is just one little problem. I don’t speak Chinese, and the people that often talk to me do not speak too much English. The English that is spoken is often a little difficult to understand. It is hard to dive into a deep meaningful conversation with a very limited vocabulary.

Though I have only been here for two months, I have been asked all of the questions listed at the top of this article and a few more. I have already had many chances to be a witness. Many opportunities I have had were not only at class time but at other activities that we do with out students. Romans 12:13 says, “Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Every week we invite any of our students to come to our apartment for a Monday night coffee time. Then once a month we try to plan an activity with anyone who wants to come. The activity for last month was hiking. Through the hike I had opportunities to talk to a few people about their beliefs.

The people here are very warm and friendly. They will give my roommate and I rides home from classes and take us to do many things around the city. They are also very attentive when we speak. They want to know what we believe. They will listen, but it is hard to know at times what they believe. Many of them have showed up for classes with little knowledge of the Bible, so we are very excited when they do ask questions and want to know more.

Every time I have been asked a deeper question I have still been able to give a response. Through the use of simple vocabulary the meanings of difficult concepts can be broken down. It is interesting to me to be able to explain these concepts without using an extensive vocabulary. I have never been the person to use flowery words in my speech. The average American could talk to me without feeling the need to look in a dictionary when the conversation ended. However, over here I have to be extra careful in how I say just what I say. Words that have multiple meanings, idioms, phrases that Americans have just made up are all out of the question when I communicate. It is back to basic vocabulary.

God does ask that we prepare ourselves for these types of questions. In First Peter it is written “…Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have…” 1Peter 3:15. This verse has given me a new focus now. I know that I can be prepared to do what the Lord wants me to in Taiwan when I am continually in his word. When we read the Bible daily we can share with someone that verse that we just read because it is fresh in our mind. God will help us to say the right thing.

So the next time you get asked on of these questions, take a breath and relax. God equips us all with his word to get through tough questions. When we are in his word daily we can be more comfortable and more relaxed at finding the right thing to say. God will give us the right things to say; even if we have to break it down a bit.

Christa Krause is a KW in Taiwan working with WELS mission family, Rev Kevin and Sarah Stellick

Have you had enough to eat yet?

Would that ever be the first question you ask someone when you greet them? My guess is probably not. For most people who live in America, this question might seem like a strange way to greet someone. Many of us take it for granted that we eat when we are hungry, and it’s not really a big deal. Why bother asking?

Well, with this American way of thinking, I came to Taiwan to teach English one year ago. I found it interesting and a little odd that this question “Have you had enough to eat yet?” is a standard greeting around here—equivalent to our American greeting “How are you?” At first I found it hard to get used to this new greeting. With my own logic, I didn’t think that asking about eating was as personal as asking someone how they are doing. I didn’t think it was a very important question to ask.

However, when I thought about it more, I realized that asking “How are you?” really is not personal at all, because we don’t know how to respond if someone answers anything other than the expected “I’m good” or “Fine, thanks.” I also found out that one of the reasons the people here ask “Have you had enough to eat yet?” is because there was a time not too long ago that the food supply was much smaller, and it genuinely was a concern that people were getting enough to eat. Even though food is plentiful here now, (and I have continually experienced the enthusiastic generosity of my Taiwanese friends to let me try ALL of their delicious foods while I’m here), I’ve come to appreciate the care and concern that people show for each other by using the unique greeting of asking if they have had enough to eat.

Well, as mentioned before, I have been living here in Taiwan for a year now, funded by WELS Kingdom Workers and teaching English outreach classes for the Taichung congregation. Since I have been here, the students I work with have extended their care and generosity in more ways than I ever expected. The people here love to treat the “foreigners” to traditional Taiwanese foods, so there have been many occasions where they have taken us to restaurants, invited us to their homes for a meal, or just taken us to a nearby food stand and sent us home with dinner-to-go. Often times, even after we tell them we HAVE had enough to eat, they will still thrust food into our hands before we can refuse.

Besides making sure we have more than enough to eat, they also have shown great kindness in making sure we get to see a lot of the interesting places in Taiwan while we are here. We have been taken on many different outings, from morning hiking trips, to weekend camping in the mountains, to snorkeling along the coast. I have climbed a giant hill made completely out of salt, sung karaoke at a hot springs campground, and hiked to the highest 7/11 convenient store in the country. For all these times our students and friends have taken us places, they have never expected anything in return, and have only reluctantly accepted even a little money for gasoline costs, etc.

Our students and friends here are also concerned about our safety while living in a large, busy city, and there is almost always a student who offers to drive us home after an evening English class so we are not walking or taking a taxi alone after dark. One student even offered that if no one else could take us home, he would ride his motorcycle alongside of us while we walked the 30-minute walk back to our apartment after class at night. In so many ways, the people here have amazed me with their thoughtfulness and concern.

They are concerned for our well-being and making sure we have had enough to eat, yet at the same time, many of the people themselves are still going hungry. Sure, there is more than enough food in the outdoor markets and stores to go around, but something is still missing. Many of their souls have not been filled with the peace of God’s love and knowledge of salvation. They have grown up learning to pray to their ancestors and other gods, and to be afraid of bad luck, evil spirits, and death. We teach them about the Bible and about God’s love in our English classes, and for many of our students, this is the very first time they are hearing the wonderful news of Jesus.

In this context, the question “Have you had enough to eat yet?” becomes vitally important. Do you remember the account of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the water well recorded in John chapter 4:10-12? The Samaritan woman came to the well, and Jesus asked the woman for a drink of water. When she hesitated to give it to him, he told her “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” (10)“Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is too deep. Where can you get this living water?” (11) Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (12) The woman thought that Jesus was talking about regular drinking water—that he was only concerned about physical thirst. But Jesus was concerned about the woman’s spiritual thirst, a thirst that only he can quench through his work of salvation.

In the same way, we are here in Taiwan as God’s messengers, making sure that our students and the people we meet are getting enough to “eat” and “drink.” For those who only know the cold, stinging hunger pains of sin and death, we want to give them an opportunity to let Jesus fill their souls with living water, so they never go hungry or thirsty again. It has been such a tremendous blessing for me to share God’s Word with our 100+ students on a weekly basis, and to watch the Holy Spirit work in their hearts as they find out more about what God has done for us.

Although it would be tremendous if 100% of our students came to faith after joining a few classes, we know that not everyone who walks through the church door will become a Christian. However, we also know that the Holy Spirit is always at work, and he has the power to create faith in people’s hearts even when we think it is impossible. It is very rewarding to witness those who have already come to faith or, like the woman at the well, are curious to learn more about the living-water Jesus provides. God promises us in Isaiah 55:11 “My word…will not return to me empty, but will accomplish the purpose for which I sent it.” What a comfort it is to know that we have this one and only all-powerful God on our side, working in the hearts of people around the world who are hearing his word, and promising us that our efforts to share the gospel will not be fruitless.

Of course, you don’t have to be in Taiwan, or even in another country, to make sure those around you are getting their fill of God’s saving grace. Every time you say a word of encouragement to a fellow Christian, or invite an un-churched friend over for coffee to help answer some of their questions about the Bible, you are showing your love for God. He even tells us in the Bible, “When I was hungry, you gave me something to eat…for whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:35, 40) God wants us to help take care of each other’s spiritual hunger, no matter WHERE we are or WHO we serve, because we are ultimately serving the Lord.

As the missions here and around the world continue to share God’s word, I am thankful to have so many dedicated brothers and sisters in Christ who are supporting our work. It is my hope that we continue to support one another in any way possible, whether financially, or sending notes of encouragement to the missionaries, or through prayer. Pray that the Lord will guide the leaders of our church, giving them the wisdom to oversee both the home and foreign mission fields. Pray that God would give each one of us a heart of complete humility and service to His kingdom. And pray that the Holy Spirit will work in the hearts of those souls around the world who have not yet been filled, so that we can ALL feast together one day at God’s great banquet he has prepared for us, and never go hungry or thirsty again.

Kristin Lehmann is a KW in Taiwan working with the WELS Mission family, Rev Kevin and Sarah Stellick.