T16 - Multi-lingual Spirituality?

Well today started the same as yesterday: me fluffying my way through some hymns on the piano for morning prayers at 6am! After breakfast I joined the kids for their morning devotions and then headed up to my room to prepare for the afternoon class I was giving. I had been asked to share something of who I was, what England is like and what I was doing in Taiwan. The class was from 2.30 till 4.00. I’ve never had to plan a lesson before, but at least there was no ofsted to contend with! I put together some powerpoint slides to show people where I lived, where I went to school, university and work and simply explained that I think God wants me to be become a minister. After an hour or so of an English lesson mixed with English cultury-type things we discussed a verse of the Bible together - Jeremiah 29:11:

“For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord, “plans for you to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

It was great seeing the kids all chipping in, as they do during morning devotions, to discuss the passage and what it means for them. I haven’t a clue what they were saying, but it was encouraging nonetheless! After the discussion I couldn’t help but introduce the song, ‘Our God is a great big God’, with the focus on the last line, ‘…how wonderful to be a part of God’s amazing plan!’ They even enjoyed the actions!

Because the girls thought that they had fluffed the dance that they performed on teacher’s day, they had arranged to do it once more that afternoon. American cheerleading seems to get everywhere…..

After half an hour the guys from the high school arrived for crazy table tennis (it’s amazing how energetic table tennis is when its 30+, and the air con is off to stop blowing the ball around!) and tea.

In the evening I was invited to the church prayer meeting. The hour-long meeting in the church was perhaps the most enriching spiritual experience I have had in Taiwan to date. Using powerpoint, the minister led the people in singing and praying through scripture passages. Seeing these peoples devotion to prayer and to God was incredibly encouraging, challenging and lifting. Earlier in the week I had been told that the original congregation of this church was around 20 elderly people from this rural part of Taiwan. They had stepped out in faith when the new minister came and were able to raise enough funds (without any external help) to build the four-storey school and guest house within six years. I therefore had a lump in my throat when the minister showed up on the screen Romans 12:1

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer you bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship.

At the end I told them what a privelege it was to be with them, not just to give the odd lesson to some kids, but to stand side by side with Christian brothers and sisters such as these. It doesn’t matter what language you speak you can still be encouraged, challenged and lifted by an spiritual experience. May there be many more!

This entry was posted on 01/10/2009 at 07:59 am and is filed under Paul's diary. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.