Friday, August 27, 2010

August 2010 - Summer Update


Its been a long time since we have updated our Blog. So what is the news from Calfornia?

The biggest news - God has blessed us with another baby...we will be expecting our 5th Child (a boy) at the end of October. See if you can find a picture of a heavily pregnant Lisa taken during our Anniversary visit to Ventura harbor?


use this link to view the photos individually or download them
or view the slide show

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SPECIAL FAMILY NEWS

Below is the latest scan of our baby - his face is away and you can see his ear and his muscles on his arm and the clumps on his head is hair!!



Psalm 127:3-5a
Behold, children are a gift of the LORD; The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them;




Bible Bee

We found out last week that Alexander and Daniel have qualified for the National Bible Bee final in Chicago this year by coming in the top 100 in the country for their age division. They both worked really hard over the summer so it was great to see their efforts rewarded. Alexander qualified in 1st place nationally and Daniel came 78th.

The 2010 National Bible Bee will be held at the Marriott Renaissance Convention Center Hotel in Schaumburg, Illinois, from November 11th through 13th.

We will be starting to raise funds soon as it will cost about $1,200 so send the two
boys to the finals. If you would like to donate please use the paypal donate button on the top of the page.

Here is a link to a slide show of the Children in our local Bible Bee group
http://smilebox.com/playEmail/4d5467334e7a51314d444d3d0d0a&sb=1

More details can be found on the Bible Bee Website

http://www.biblebee.org/

Seminary

I have completed my second year of Study at the Seminary. I have 3 more semesters left so we are expecting to come back to England Christmas 2011. I have enjoyed studying at The Master's Seminary. It's been very hard work but every day has been a pleasure. All the faculty and students here have been so supportive.

Its a relief to finish my languages now. There is nothing harder than learning Hebrew and Greek - by God's grace I even managed to get reasonable grades. I will be focusing on Theology, Preaching, and Biblical Counselling from now on.

Ministry

I'm currently leading a Bible Study in Alhambra which is about an hour from where
we live. The group is part of the Children's ministry of Grace Community Church. Its been a real blessing teaching this group. The Bible study really look after us and I feel privileged to part of such a faithful group of Christians.

I'm also teaching a Fundamentals of the Faith Class with another Seminary student, Jason Hauser. We are currently half way through the course and its been really enjoyable. Its challenging to present the basics of the Christian faith to a group with such different backgrounds. We have a great, friendly group and I'm looking forward to seeing how each one of them grows in their knowledge of Christ over the remaining weeks.

My work with the Drug and Rehab ministry in Acton has been tailing off. The center is the process of absorbing another Rehab center so all the men have left for now. My other opportunity to preach and teach in the Central Jail in LA has hit red tape and it might never happen. More promising is the prospect of starting an Evangelistic Bible Study group.

I'm also involved with the Children's ministry called AWANA where I help out and preach in front of 300 Children occasionally. Also, we go as a family twice a month to minister in an elderly persons care home. I had the opportunity to preach there earlier this month.

Family Life

Family life here in California is great. The weather, for me, is as perfect as you can get. It hardly ever rains and the temperature is always above 80 degrees. It hit 109 degrees last week which was a bit high but in the shade it was still pleasant as its not humid here. We moved up to a place called Canyon Country which is in the mountains not far from Six Flags Magic Mountain. We have made many friends here and it will be sad to leave them all. The Children love America. They love swimming, playing with their friends and have really taken to Track and Field. It was exciting to watch them all compete in a weekly track meets during the spring. They are all growing big and their personalities are blossoming.

Going back home

We will be back home in 16 months time - it will go fast - I'm feeling a bit apprehensive about going home as I'm not sure what God has in store for me when I return. But I am excited about the future. I have had good training here and want to start working in a Church real soon. I will probably come back to England in the summer to check out possible job opportunities and see see some of my friends and family. At the moment I feel that I want to plant a new Church but I'm open to any possibilities. If anyone knows a Church who wants a new Pastor or associate Pastor please let me know.

Chi Wah