Happy New Year!

Thank you for praying for us. Derek and I are safely back in Idaho after our trip to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Thailand. We experienced a lot in the jam-packed three weeks. It was exhausting but wonderful -- good to see family and friends and meet new friends. Our two wedding receptions in Taipei and Hong Kong went well. We thank God for protection (a few in our families had health issues), for sustaining us throughout this time, for good fellowship, and for teaching us new lessons. A few pics:

DC sporting farmers' hats in Eastern Taiwan (it's bound to start a new fad!)

Saying goodbye to guests after our Taiwanese wedding banquet, with Chantal's parents (center) and Derek's parents (right). Two days later, we had a similar Chinese wedding banquet in Hong Kong.

Dim sum with Chantal's grandparents in Hong Kong

Lunch with our dear friends from Northwestern -- Karen and Sharon -- in Hong Kong. It was good to see them (and many other friends!) again.

Our short trip to Chiang Rai in Northern Thailand, together with team members from my home church in Hong Kong, was especially valuable. We got to see the situation of the church among the Chinese refugees and an tribal group there, and we had the privilege of teaching TERM (The Emmaus Road Message) material to adults and The Lamb material to children in Mandarin. We stayed with the Thai-Chinese children at the church-run orphanage for five days and got to meet some of the cutest kids (and most talented singers and dancers). Some of the things we experienced and learned on this trip will definitely be a help in shaping our vision for future ministry. We thank God for that opportunity. Pics coming...