Merry Christmas,
Happy (Western) New Year,
and
Happy Chinese New Year!
We get two New Year’s celebrations here in Taiwan. The first, the Western New Year on January 1st, is a one day holiday. But for Chinese New Year everyone gets at least a week off. Although Chinese New Year is not until next month, schools are out already, and won’t resume until after the Chinese New Year. That means I’m on vacation, though Karen won’t get off until Chinese New Year itself.
Karen's Christmas program went well with her kids at Jackson Five (see photos).
Our family Christmas celebration was pleasant, though short. Christmas is not an official holiday here, so Karen didn’t get the day off. But we celebrated on Christmas Eve and had a nice time.
On (Western) New Year’s Eve, we joined the celebration in Taichung Park hosted by the Abba Love Church. They asked me to speak again this year, and to lead in a prayer for Israel. The event was moved further into the park this year, so it didn’t have the excitement of being right on the street corner as before. But it was still a very pleasant way to usher in the New Year. It also got lots of attention from the many people strolling through the park that night (see photos).
Other than that, there’s not much to add to our last newsletter. So I'll take this opportunity to give a greatly overdue update on our ongoing dental and educational ministry in the Philippines, administered by Pastor Arnel and his wife Grace. This last school year (2008-2009), we supported 12 kids from Pooc (where Karen used to hold a Bible study). This money enabled them to go to school by providing for their transportation, lunch money, and various school expenses.
As they report from the Philippines: “The financial support has helped the students advance to the next level of their schooling. This school year, one student is expected to graduate from college with a Bachelor of Arts Major in Business Management, six (6) are expected to graduate from High School. Three graduated from High School last school year and will enter college in October.”
I’m also overdue in posting our ministry financial report for 2008-2009. You can see it at www.totheends.com/fin2009.htm. The donations this year nearly offset the expenses of our trip to the Philippines and other expenses (other than the Dental/Education Fund). This is great, because it makes an additional trip to the Philippines possible. We’re planning another trip this coming summer.
David and John are doing well in home school. They recently received their yellow/blue belts in Tai Kwondo. David earned enough money from his job at Jackson Five to buy a PS3 for Christmas. As you can imagine, the boys are very excited about this.
Thanks again for your prayers and your support. May God bless you and all you are for him!
All the best in Messiah Jesus,
Jeff & Karen Harrison
and Tammie and David and John
Please pray with us:
1) Pray for Jeff and Karen in their teaching jobs, that God would use them to reach souls for his kingdom.
2) Pray, too, for the other doors of ministry that God has opened to us in Taiwan, including the English language church service at the Presbyterian church.
3) Pray for Jeff's work on his Ph.D.
4) Pray for the boys in homeschool, tai kwondo, and Chinese classes.
5) Pray for Tammie in her classes at Emory in Georgia. Pray, too, for God's direction for her life after she graduates this spring.
6) Pray for us to continue to grow spiritually in spite of our busy schedules.
7) Pray for health and safety.
Thanks for your
prayers!
Contact and Support Information:
Thanks so much to those who support us financially. You can make donations to our ministry on-line or by check. Checks should be made out to “To The Ends Of
The Earth Ministries” and sent to:
To The Ends Of The Earth Ministries
c/o Paul Hartmann
27603 - 398th Ave.
Armour, SD 57313-5527
On-line support can be made using either your PayPal account
or your credit card. Visit our Support Page and scroll down the page until you see
the box labeled, “I want to support your work with a financial gift.” Press the “Donate” button and follow the
instructions. A “Donate” button is also
located on our Home Page.
For correspondence, please contact us by e-mail at: Jeff@totheends.com or by postal mail at:
Jeff and Karen Harrison
c/o Glad Tidings Bible College
P.O. Box 105
17 Chieng Chung St.
Taichung City 401
TAIWAN (R.O.C.)
Please do not send any money to us in Taiwan. Use the U.S. address above instead. Thanks!
