Praise the Lord! This morning in Yilan, the skies finally cleared, reminding us of God's faithfulness in hearing the prayers of our brothers and sisters. The change in weather was a tangible blessing and lifted our spirits. During the morning devotion, Brother Chang Li led us through 1 Corinthians 2, encouraging us to lean on the Holy Spirit and God's power as we share the gospel with others. His message was a timely reminder that it is not through our own strength, but through God's wisdom, that we can make an impact.
Care Visit
In the afternoon, we visited a sister in Dongshan Town. She first encountered the gospel over 20 years ago and has remained steadfast in her faith ever since. Despite living in a family steeped in traditional idolatry, her commitment to God has never wavered. When asked by her family to participate in ancestor worship, she either gently refuses or avoids it altogether, standing firm in her belief. She is a close friend of Sister Joby from our church, who had shared with her about our upcoming mission trip. Excited about our visit, she reached out to Pastor Soo after finding his contact details online and came to meet us through the Yilan Missionary Association. When we visited her, she warmly welcomed us and shared stories of God's guidance and provision in her life. Her testimony was powerful, showing us that even in a place like Yilan, where less than 0.7% of the population are Christians, God faithfully watches over those who love Him.
Luodong Night Market
In the evening, we made our way to the famous Luodong Night Market. After a brief time of worship and prayer, we split into groups of two or three to share the gospel with the people there. By God's grace, we had the opportunity to share the good news with more than 40 individuals. Seven of them expressed a desire to learn more about the Christian faith, and we were blessed to lead three in a prayer of commitment.
God's hand has been so evident today, and we are filled with gratitude for His presence and guidance in all we did.
Thanksgiving and Sharing
Flora
This afternoon, we visited Sister Jin Ruifang in Dongshan. Although her understanding of biblical truths isn’t deep, the Lord has kept her heart steadfast in faith. Despite her husband's family following traditional customs of burning incense and worshiping ancestors, Ruifang firmly believes that as a follower of Jesus, she cannot participate in those practices. God's protection has sustained her, giving her a heart that earnestly seeks the truth. Her pure-hearted pursuit of God is precious in His sight.
In the evening, we went to Luodong Night Market for street evangelism. I had a conversation with an Indonesian woman and shared the gospel with her. Initially, she was open and listened to my explanation, but when I offered her the five-colored beads and a cross, she quickly declined, explaining that she and her family are Muslim. I ask the Lord to open her heart, that she may come to know and accept the true and living Savior, Jesus Christ, who deeply loves her. May God work in her life to reveal His love and truth.
Jessica
Today, our short-term mission team went to Luodong Night Market to share the gospel. Although some people declined to listen, the Holy Spirit led Mrs. Deng and me into a claw machine shop, where we met a young girl and her mother. While they were focused on playing, God opened a door for us to share His love with them. Mrs. Deng and I preached the gospel to the mother and daughter separately. Hallelujah! By God's grace, both of them were moved to accept Jesus as their personal Savior, and made the decisive prayers right there. I am so thankful for God's mercy and His saving power that touched the hearts of this mother and daughter. To Him be all the glory!
Felicia
Thank the Lord! Today’s weather was much better than the past few days. Although there was a light rain in the evening, it didn’t hinder our visits or evangelism efforts at the night market. Our team had the opportunity to share the gospel with about 10 people tonight—two of whom had previously heard the message, while eight were hearing it for the first time. Although only one person expressed a willingness to believe, the seeds of the gospel were planted in each of their hearts. I pray that God, in His mercy, will one day cause these seeds to sprout and grow into a deep faith.
Fanly
I am deeply grateful to God for guiding Vincent and me safely to Yilan County, Taiwan, yesterday afternoon. As we drove through the area, we saw many temples—both large and small—as well as two prominent Falun Gong centers. The constant drizzle that surrounded us felt like a physical reflection of the spiritual atmosphere here. The Holy Spirit moved within me, and I found myself urgently praying for this "hard soil." I couldn’t help but wonder, “God, if the weather remains like this tomorrow night, how will we carry out our mission?” In that moment of doubt, a verse from the Gospel of Mark came to mind: "Do not be afraid, only believe." (Mark 5:36) Yes, I reminded myself, our role is to loosen the soil and plant seeds—the rest is in God's hands.
I praise the Lord for hearing our prayers. Today, the rain held off, and we were able to go to Luodong Night Market for street evangelism. Although no one in my group decided to accept Christ that evening, there was one encounter that left a deep impression on me—a mother and her daughter. The mother, a devout Taoist, firmly told me that she was not open to Christianity at this time, and she seemed eager to leave after declining our conversation. But as she began to walk away, the Holy Spirit nudged me to ask her something: "Are there popular singers in Taiwan, like Jay Chou or Tsai Chin?" She unexpectedly brightened up and said yes—both were singers she admired. I shared with her that they are not only talented artists but also devoted Christians. This revelation intrigued her, and she sat down, inviting me to continue talking.
What happened next was even more incredible. Her six-year-old daughter suddenly chimed in, saying, "My teacher told me about Jesus!" The little girl began sharing what she knew about the Lord. I took this opportunity to explain the gospel using the story of the five-colored caterpillar, and the child listened intently—twice—with patience and focus. I praised the girl, telling her how blessed she was to hear about the gospel at such a young age. To my surprise, her mother no longer seemed resistant. She smiled warmly and allowed her daughter to keep the gospel tool I gave her. Before leaving, the mother politely thanked me, and they both said goodbye with kindness.
I continue to pray that the Lord will guide them, using the daughter as a bridge to draw the mother closer to Christ, step by step. Thank you, Lord, for Your presence and for planting seeds in their hearts. All glory and praise be to You!
Wendy
Tonight at the night market, as I was searching for someone to share the gospel with, the Holy Spirit guided me to approach a 12-year-old girl. I thank and praise the Lord for what followed. After sharing the message of Jesus Christ's salvation with her, I asked if she would be willing to do a prayer of decision and accept Jesus as her personal Savior. Without hesitation, she said yes! I was overwhelmed with joy and awe, and thinking, “God, this is entirely Your work! How marvelous are Your ways!” It became clear that God had already prepared this young girl’s heart, making it good soil, ready to receive the precious gift of salvation in Christ. May all the glory and praise be to our Lord Jesus Christ!
Eileen
During these three days of short-term mission, every conversation and every prayer has been a unique and powerful experience. Each encounter has deepened my understanding of my mission and responsibility as a Christian. In the diverse and lively environment of the night market, we’ve had the opportunity to share God's love and blessings with people who may have never encountered the gospel before. It fills me with great joy to see some individuals willing to stop, listen, reflect, and even pray with us, brings me great joy.
Vincent
Thank you, Lord! Tonight, our short-term mission team went to the Luodong Night Market for street evangelism. It was such a blessing to witness every team member’s heart for service, as each one tirelessly sought out opportunities to share the gospel with others. I pray, Lord, that You will touch the hearts of those we encountered. May the seeds of the gospel be sowed deep within them, may Your blessings be upon the people of this land, guiding them towards Your truth. Amen!
Chanli
Thank the Lord! Today, Mrs. Hwang led us to Luodong Night Market to share the gospel. We met two young people, Cao Ruichen and Chen Ruicen, who patiently listened to our message. While they were not yet ready to accept Christ, they were open to receiving prayer and a blessing. I believe the seeds of the gospel have been planted in their hearts.
I continue to pray that the Holy Spirit will move in their lives, softening their hearts and leading them to salvation. May God’s love and truth take root in their souls and draw them closer to Him in His perfect timing.
Prayers
- Please continue to pray for good weather on Friday, and ask the Lord to lead us to effectively preach the gospel at Toucheng Night Market;
- Please pray for visiting another family tomorrow, and ask the Lord to move everyone in their family to trust the Lord together;
- Please pray for the people we come into contact with, and ask the Holy Spirit to open their hearts and be willing to hear the gospel;
- Ask the Lord to protect our steps and give us the courage to sow the seeds of the gospel in Yilan and let more people know Jesus as their savior.
We believe God is at work in Yilan and eagerly look forward to seeing His hand at work in the lives of those we meet. May the light of Christ shine in every corner here!