Sat, Feb 9th - 3:37PM

Dear Friends & relatives,

1. These last few weeks have been awesome.  I went to the Advanced Seminar from the Institute in Basic Life Principles.  I went to it before but I felt that I never went.  It was a great refreshing time for me.
2. Chinese New Year is filled with many Spiritual battles.  You see people in the streets burning paper money.  There are dancing idols in the streets with people banging on large drums and costumes.  The demonic forces were out in force.  In the midst of all of this I too was experiencing some loneliness and depression.  I am eternally grateful for other missionaries who can pinpoint the source of these things.  It enables me to go on to the things that God has called me. 
3. At the language school we had an awesome Chinese New Year Celebration.  The food was great.  We had a great time with students and teachers alike bringing food.  There was all kinds of delicious food that was Chinese style as well as food that was typital of other countries.  It went on all day.
4. I had an awesome time with the Higher Ground Filipino Church camp.  These young people have a great heart for God.  Some of them worked all night then stayed up all day for the camp.  I was greatly blessed by their commitment to the Lord.  I had the opportunity to speak to them about motivational gifts.  They were like sponges soaking up every word.  Sometimes that really scares me.  I really need to be in tune to the Lord.  That is why I am soooooooooooooo greateful to all of you and your praying for me.
5. Pastor Chris gave me a very large garbage bag filled with many different kinds of bread.  What to do with sooooooo much bread?  Well I know of a pastor who has six children here in Taiwan.  So I went to his home and they took some bread.  Then I was praying and the Lord lead me to Pastor Rose in the old section of Kaohsiung.  She was so excited about the bread.  She was able to give the bread to six needy families.  She told me that it took her about one hour but the people were extremely grateful.  Praise the Lord!  What an outreach.  It is a marvelous thing to share between pastors and ministries and see God magnified in the eyes of the believers and the non-believers alike.
6. During these past weeks I've seen more accidents than in the past.  I went to Taitung and on my way back home a young man passed me then spun out of control and crashed into the mountain with his brand new car.  He wasn't hurt but I was reminded except for the grace of God and the prayers of the saints these kind of things could very well happen to me.
7. As I was praying with one of the ladies a couple of weeks ago I had a vision or an impression about the church I am going to speak at in Taitung.  Prior to knowing that the people were elderly and that they were what we call Yen Zhu Min (Original People), I saw a picture of them sitting in their homes telling Bible stories to their friends, neighbors, and relatives.  I then found out that they were truly elderly.  So our team is going to Taitung 16-17 February and the topic is "People of Influence".  We will relate this to the vision of making disciples and how to go about telling Bible stories in a certain sequence with questions embedded so that people can become familiar with the Bible, who is God, Who is Jesus, and the purpose for salvation.  Please pray for the team.
8. We are planning on a return trip to this mountain village in April.  The pastor's wife told me that when her husband graduates from seminary he will be in charge of 7+ village churches.  The elderly that we train in this village will be the teachers for the other village churches of the Bible stories and this method of evangelism.  It is quite exciting to me to see God's hand in all of this.
9. My Chinese is getting better everyday.  But I feel like I am a perpetual student.  It is difficult to study Chinese and Taiwanese during the day and in the evening be involved in ministry.  As a result I've taken to giving myself a one week rest every few weeks.  If I don't pace myself I know that there will be burnout.
10. The Tuesday evening Discipleship is going well.  These men and women are between 50 and 70+ years old.  They are memorizing Scripture in English and Studying the Word of God.  They are determined to grow closely to the Lord.
11. The Saturday afternoon discipleship is on hold for the month of February because of Chinese New Year and work commitments.
12. Wednesday the 13th in the evening I'll be leading worship in a home meeting where the family are mostly non-believers.  So we'll sing in Taiwanese, Chinese and English.  Pastor is going to share the Gospel with the family members.  Two of the girls know Jesus but the father and the other siblings do not.  However, they are open.  Pray that they would get saved.
13. Bible Study with one of the teachers at my language school is doing well and we are enjoying the Bible Study.  I get to use my Chinese and she gets to use her English.  We are studying the parables.
14. Wednesday morning prayer meeting at the school is also going well.  Please pray that more of the people in the school will lead.  I don't want to do all of the leading.  Pray that others would get the vision for prayer at the school.  It does take a bit of work.  However we do get to practice our Chinese or Taiwanese.  I know that it is difficult for all of us to do that but it is necessary.  When the Koreans are not there we can use English.  But when people from other nations are there we must use Chinese or Taiwanese to convey our prayer items.  It is quite interesting.  Weekly we have around 15 to 17 people.  That is almost all of the students who are there studying at that time plus teachers and administrative staff as well.
15. I have the privilege of ministering to the Chaplains in a Christian Hospital in Ping Tung.  We've been studying the book of Ruth.  We've been especially tuned into the aspects of grief and the commitment of Ruth.  I've had the privilege of leading them for a couple of weeks since Pastor David was on vacation in the Philippines.  In the future I'll be leading them on the first and second Wednesdays of the month and he will take the rest.  After Ruth our plan is to study the Book of Esther.  Please pray for these chaplains.  They have a very difficult job in ministering to the sick, dying and their families and friends.
16. Starting 13 March we will start two more English Bible Study classes Thursday evenings: 6:30 to 7:40 Foundational English Bible Class; 8:00 - 9:10 Intermediate English Bible Class. Pray that many people will attend especially non-believers.  This will go into the beginning of May.  These classes usually last for about 8 weeks then we have a two week break.  However, since I'm going to the States for more than a month we will continue when I get back in July with the next session.
17. The Sunday morning English Worship is floundering.  It is difficult to find an appropriate time for the English Worship.  We may have to quit for now and maybe have an Advanced English Bible Study Class.
18. The Chinese Church is doing well and is growing.  Praise the Lord!!!  A few weeks ago we appointed deacons.  One of my disciplees is also assistant to the pastor.  Since these two things have occurred pastor has been more refreshed and the daily administrative jobs are in others hands.  This is really freeing to the pastor.  The deacons also have been very faithful in their roles in the church.  Things are going quite smoothly.  We've started around three cell groups.  Each of the leaders are trained and are still being trained.  As the church grows please pray for the spiritual growth and sensitivity of the church.  We really need your prayers for the cell group leaders. Many of the leaders are the disciplees that God has given me.  This is an exciting time.
19. I've spent some time talking with the Filipino pastor here about two Filipino ladies. One had three brain surgeries.  The broker took her to his home and they don't know where this place is at.  So, they cannot visit this woman.  Please pray for her and her full recovery.  Her name is Annie.  Her husband also works in Taiwan.
20. Another lady is accused of murdering her broker.  Please pray that the truth would be totally revealed.  Pray for God's hand to work in this trial.  She has two attornies: one is from the Filipino church.
21. Our team is planning a trip to the Philippines at the end of August.  Please pray for our preparation and the spiritual soil to be fertile when we get there.
22. In general my health is good.  However, I've noticed some problems with my heart.  I've seen the doctor and we are watching it closely.  Also, please continue to pray for the total manifestation of God healing me of diabetes.
23. Again thank you very much for praying for me and the ministry here.  Without your prayers the enemy would prevail.  But with your prayers I know that God will prevail.

God bless you!

Xiao Yang

Scripture to Ponder: Daniel 10

Daniel's Vision of a Man

 1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar). Its message was true and it concerned a great war. The understanding of the message came to him in a vision.

 2 At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks.

3 I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.

 4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris,

5 I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of the finest gold around his waist.

6 His body was like chrysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.

 7 I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; the men with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves.

8 So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless.

9 Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.

 10 A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.

11 He said, "Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you." And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.

 12 Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.

13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.

14 Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come."

 15 While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless.

16 Then one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing before me, "I am overcome with anguish because of the vision, my lord, and I am helpless.

17 How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe."

 18 Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength.

19 "Do not be afraid, O man highly esteemed," he said. "Peace! Be strong now; be strong."
      When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, "Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength."

 20 So he said, "Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come;

21 but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince.