atkin david brenda 2011 taiwan
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missionary newslettersTRANSCRIPT
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November, 2011Field Address:
David & Brenda Atkin
67 Wen Hsin S. 1st Rd.
Nan Tun District
Taichung 40876 Taiwan011-886-42-381-8447
VOL. XIV, #11Forwarding Agent:
Kathy Murrellc/o Team ExpansionPO Box 51
Bement, IL [email protected]
The pain throughout my body was more than I could bear. I couldn't move, and as afternoon blurred into the night ~ in that dark hospitalroom, I began to pray that I would die. I had made a horrible mistake! TTts experimental surgery, at best, was going to leave me paralyzedfor life. The tears streamed down my face as I looked over at my exhausted wife, trying to sleep on a hospital cot. My thoughts tumed tomy kindergarten-age son: who would play catch and vi,frestle with Noah? The nurses had given me morphine through an l-V in my arm. Ithad done nothing but cause terrible hallucinations. I was searching for sometNng, t had no idea what it was — maybe the three ribs cut-outof my back that morrflng. Then, in the darkness and through the pain, the agonizing search was over and I began to see dearly, not a hallu-dnation; a vision that lasted all night!
Noah was older, perhaps junior-high age, and we were riding our bikes together. Isaw us in Taichung; Isaw us in Tainan, at the fort. Isawus riding tfrough our old home, in Kaohsiung. I saw us near the lighthouse, in Kenting. I saw us in Taitung, Huaiien, and at the orphanage, InLotung. I saw us biking along the ocean, and in the cities! It was so real! I even saw Noah and I meeting Brenda at a hotel! In the vision,Noah and I biked around the entire island of Taiwan! But, ^ the visbn was not over! Isaw us biking in the US: in themountains, and on the plains, pulling into church parking lots speaking to groups. I even heard the clip-clop ofhorse's hooves in the Amish country of NE ONo! By the time morning dawned, and nurses entered the hosp^alroom, Noah and I had biked aaoss America, coast-to- 'tf coast!
The pain was still beyond tolerable, but I clung to the vision f « as a sure sign from the Lord that I would walk again! Godwas not finished with me In this life, nor with bang a husband and father, nor in ministry! Now, several years later, true to the vision — Noahand I, tNs past July, completed a 10-day b'ke around Taiwan on the "Jesus Loves You" tour. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
And, now, faithfdl partners in our ministry to Taiwan, it is time to announce plans forA the summer of 2013, to commence just 18 months from now! Lord willing, we will
4-^ bike from US coast-to-coast, and from church-to-church; representing Team Expansion and unreached people groups around the world. We antidpate the trek to take a little
less than 3 months, and we hope to be hosted by as many as 100 churches. We also hope to beat the NACC, In Louisville (Team Expansion's headquarters), July 9-12.
Over the next year and a half, there is much to do, both in Taiwan and espedafly in the US. Hon-^estly, I've waited this long to share the coast-to-coast vision with you, in hopes that the conviction
of tNs endeavor might go away. I don't know why God has called us to this, or how this fits withinGod's eternal plans. We're convinced that somehow it does. So, please Join with us in prayer forsummer, 20131 ~DLA (More info will follow, especially during next summer'sfurlough! The route, on the map, is subject to MUCH change!)
www . T E A M EXPANSION.QRG/ATKIN
Summer 2012Furlough
Our upcoming furlough is fastapproaching, and we want to seeyou! Have we scheduled a dateto visit you?
We've already booked a coupleweekends and a week of VBS. If
you haven't already, pleasee-mail us to schedule a date for
next summer! Thanks!
i rs.e ui •• ——•i
" FOR TRMANE-mail us to join the 10:02 team!
Nan-tun ElementarySchool Bible StoriesEvery Thursday morning wehave the opportunity to visit two6th grade classes at Nan-tunElementary School, sharingstories from the Bible. Thereare 30 students in each class,so 60 neighborhood families!We are praying that this amazing opportunity leads to Kingdom growth!
Brenda &
Noah's
6th Grade
V'ball
Squad Capture First
Place
In October!
"Bridge of life" SeriesMust Know/Must snare
stories frotn the BIhle €
PRAY WITH US
• Nov 20, picnic @ MCA• Monday Adult English Class• Nan-tun Elementary SchoolBible story telling• Night Market Booth outreach -needing new location• Bridge of Life series• Lance & Kim expecting #2 -pray for good health• Church multiplication plans• Plans for Christmas outreach
events
• PCM Thanksgiving in Lotung• 2013, Bike USA plans
The Come Christian Churchwill complete the 10 stories ofphase one of the Bridge ofLife series in November,which brings us from Creationand up to the period of thekings. After a couple weeksof review and testimonies, wewill begin the 10-week phasetwo. The purpose of this series Is to prepare disciples forKingdom service, and churchmultiplication. Lord willing,we will complete the series bythe end of April. Your prayersfor this series are greatly appreciated!
"Oh, Say Can You See..."
A team of MLB stars from the US, led by RobinsonCano, recently played a series of 5 games againstthe Taiwan national team. A small choir from MCA(Including David, Brenda & Noah) had the opportunity to represent the USA by singing our National Anthem before game two. What a thrill! The US wonthe game, and Noah, was ecstatic to collect all kindsof souvenirs, including: Cano's wrist band, a gameball, Sandoval's batting gloves, and the hand-writtenline-up card from the US coach, Bruce Bochy!
Night Market Outreach has hit a snag, asour ideal location has been
sold. Please pray that wefind another "ideal" location.
Also, our live nativity, inDecember, is right acrossthe street from our nightmarket, in the park. Pleasepray as we seek ail thenecessary permits!
Team Expansion:David & Brenda Atkin
October, 2011 - General Fund
Opening Balance $11,604.09
Received (Individuals) 356.36
Received (Churches) 9431.75
Expenses 5953.28
Ending Balance $15,438.92
20/20 Vision Fund 7614.87
Detailed report sent to all supporters.All gifts to this ministry are tax deductible!
Thank you for your partnership with us!
Georgia Sharpe
From: Reggie Hundley [[email protected]]Sent: Sunday. November 06, 2011 8;04 AMTo: Georgia SharpeSubject: Fwd: Time for Taiwan - Atkin Prayer Update (11/6)
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
From: DAVID ATKIN <[email protected]>Date: November 5, 2011 7:19:19 PM CDTTo: David & Brenda Atkin <datkin@,leamexparision.org>
Subject: Time for Taiwan - Atkin Prayer Update (11/6)
Greetings from Taiwan:
"But ifserving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whomyou will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods oftheAmorites, in whose landyou are living. Bui as for me and my household, we will serve theLORD." (Josh 24:15) Can one person make a difference? With God's help,HE CAN! Joshua led Israel in taking the Promised Land, but he also led themin following the Lord! No matter what, Joshua was resolute In his faith — areal man's man!
The Come Christian Church continues with #8 in the Bridge of Life series, and will learnabout Joshua and the conquest of the land of Canaan. May we be as "strongand courageous," (Josh 1:6) as Joshua, in living out and sharing our faith.
After only two months, we lost our ideal night market position. The property was SOld.Please pray that we can find another favorable spot. In December, we plan to
do the live nativity again in the park (across from the night market). Please prayas we seek approval from local gov't leaders.
Continue to pray for the 60 6th grade students at Nan-tun Elementary School, as weshare Bible stories with them on Thursday mornings.
Please pray for Team Expansion, as the Team Leader Summit will be held thiscoming week in Louisville. Having just recently returned from Japan, andwith much on our plate in November and December, I made the decision notto attend. Nonetheless, Taiwan will be well represented by other TL's fromaround the island.
The November, Taste ofTaiwan newsletter should appear in your inbox this week.
Thank you for your partnership with us here in Taiwan! May you be "strong and courageous,"like Joshua, this week!
In His Service,
David & Brenda Atkin
Team Expansion in Taiwandatkin@,teamexpansion.org
www.teamexpansion.org/atkin
Georgia Sharpe
From: Mission Services [[email protected]]Sent: Saturday, November 12, 2011 7;14 PMTo: Georgia SharpeSubject: Fwd; Time for Taiwan - Atkin Prayer Update (11/13)
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
From: DAVID ATKIN <DAtk.in@,teamexpansion.org>
Date: November 12, 2011 7:06:44 PM ESTTo: David & Brenda Atkin <datkin@:tcamexpansion.org>Subject: Time for Taiwan - Atkin Prayer Update (11/13)
Greetings from Taiwan:
"Whenever the LORD raised up a judgefor them, he was with thejudge and saved them out ofthe hands oftheir enemies as long as thejudge lived;for the LORD relented because oftheirgroaning under those who oppressed and afflicted them. But when the judge died, the peoplereturned to ways even more corrupt than those oftheir ancestors, following other gods andserving and worshiping them. They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways."(Judges 2:18-19) Over and over again, the Israelites, rather than leading the nations to the Godof Abraham, Isaac & Jacob; turned away from the Living God to worship idols. Even moreamazing than Israel's habitual swift departures from the God of their ancestors, is God'scontinued compassion and deliverance of a stubborn people.
Part #9 of the Bridge ofLife series focuses on the judges God raised up to lead Israel ~ for about400 years from just after Joshua to Samuel. Even more intriguing, though, we'll see a flowerfrom Moab bloom, and see God's plan for a Redeemer taking shape.
Thank you for the many kind words of affirmation we received in response to the Coast-to-Coast, Church-to-Church endeavor. We have been praying for several years that the Lordwould use this in some way to bring nations to Him. Please pray with us for the summer of2013. Let us know if you have questions, though at this point answers may be sparse. However,we'll do our best to keep you informed as we make progress toward this endeavor.
The Come Christian Church is planning a couple Christmas outreach events: the two-nightlive nativity and a youth group party. Sheow-Yi (or, Micah), one of our young men, came tothe Lord through a Christmas outreach similar to these. Please pray that the Lord will guide ourplanning, and many more will be led to Jesus through these.
Next Sunday afternoon, the 20th, we will have an all-church picnic and softball game onMCA campus. So many of our members have family who are not yet Christians. Fellowshipactivities like these are planned to give opportunity to invite these family members to meet ourchurch in a non "threatening" environment. Please pray.
Our nightmarket outreach, scheduled for the evening of the 26th, is in need ofanother ideallocation for our booth. Please pray that one will be found.
Thank you for your prayers and partnership with us! And, speaking of the "flower from Moab;"may you, too, bloom where you're planted! Who was that "flower from Moab?" Her name isRuth, and she became the great-grandmother of a shepherd boy name David. You know, God isat work in your life too!
In His Service,
David & Brenda Atkin
Team Expansion in Taiwandatkin@,teamexpansion.org
www.teamexpansion.org/atkin
Georgia Sharpe
From: Mission Services [[email protected]]Sent: Monday, November 14, 2011 8:53 PMTo: Georgia SharpeSubject: Fwd: Computation error resolved in Sept. financial
Interesting!!!
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
From: DAVID ATKJN <[email protected]>
Date: November 14, 2011 8:49:34 PM ESTTo: David & Brenda Atkin <[email protected]>
Subject: Computation error resolved in Sept. financial
Greetings from Taiwan:
Our faithful partners, in Wilmington, OH, just recently asked a very good question. In fact, itwas so appropriate, 1thought I'd pass the response on to everyone.
Paul, in Wilmington, asked, "Looking over the above mentioned (Sept.) report, there are twoitems that are rather large and 1 was wondering if you would let me know what they consist of?They are under miscellaneous and are "Unspecified Equip." and "Other."
Here is a portion of what 1wrote to Paul...along with a couple additional notations.
The "unspecified equipment" for $1503 was to replace my office computer that crashed, alongwith a new external information storage (hard drive). We believe a nearby lightning strike killedour old ones.
The "other" category of $2,658 was Team Expansion's way of making up for an accounting errorthat had been growing for several months because of an ongoing Excel computation error. Ouraccounting records in the US said we had $2,658 more than we actually did. After an audit ofour books, the "field cash" computation error was discovered (we were doubling our "field cash"in Excel). To fix the discrepancy. Team Expansion added the $2,658 to our Sept. "other"expense, which made our Team Expansion account balance correctly. So, no, we never saw orhad or spent the "other" funds; and I'm not sure 1 understand why our Team Expansion office, inLouisville, fixed the problem that way.
1 should have written a note about the error to include in the October newsletter (which includesthe Sept. financial), but 1 didn't know that was the way Team Expansion was going to fix theproblem until after the newsletter was written. So, sorry for the strange report. 1hope what I'vewritten makes some sense.
Thank you for your partnership with us! If you ever have any more questions, don't hesitate toask —we really do enjoy receiving correspondence from our partners in this ministry.
Blessings to you and yours!
In His Service,
David Atkin
Team Expansion in Taiwandatkin(Q)teamexpansion.orq
www.teamexpansion.orq/atkin
Georgia Sharpe
From: Mission Services [[email protected]]Sent: Saturday, December 03, 2011 8:31 PMTo: Georgia SharpeSubject: Fwd: Time for Taiwan - Atkin Prayer Update (12/4)
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
From: DAVID ATKIN <[email protected]>
Date: December 3,2011 7:38:21 PM ESTTo: David & Brenda Atkin <[email protected]>Subject: Time for Taiwan - Atkin Prayer Update (12/4)
Greetings from Taiwan:
"Nowfaith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." (Heb11:1) From Creation to King David we see what pleases God: the righteouslive by faith.
This morning the Come Christian Church will review the first 10 stories in ourBridge ofLife Creation, mankind and marriage, the fail, Noah, Abraham,Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Ruth & the Judges, and David. Can you tell a storyabout each of these 10 topics or individuals?
Jack & Tammy Hageman, Kimberly's parents, return to the US this morning.Please pray for safe travels for them.
The youth group, nine teenagers, met last night and made final preparationsfor our Teen Christmas Party, We are prayingfor 30 teens to attend on Saturday, Dec. 17th.
Our live nativity on Dec. 23 & 24 has moving to the front of our Come Christian Churchbuilding (our home). The city cannot guarantee that a politician won't plan a last minute electionactivity in our local park. And, for some reason, last minute political rallies trump well-plannednativity scenes. Please pray for our nativity in the new location.
I (David) am coughing as I type this ~ a cold. Please pray I get over this soon. Like you, wehave much to do leading up to Christmas. In addition, the weather has turned colder (nothinglike Midwest winter weather though), and 1am coaching Noah's 6th grade softball team, andtheir tournament is in Taipei next Saturday.
Tabitha Skyped with us this past week, and her semester finals are this coming week. She isreally busy right now. Holidays are a hard time to be away from your children. Thank you forpraying.
Lord willing, our December newsletter will be comingto you soon. Thank you for your faith inthe Lord, faith in us and this ministry. We are blessed by your partnership!
In His Service,
David & Brenda Atkln
Team Expansion in [email protected]/atkin
Georgia Sharpe
From: Mission Services [[email protected]]Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2011 6:35 AMTo: Georgia SharpeSubject: Fwd: Time for Taiwan - Atkin Prayer Update (12/22)
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
From: DAVID ATKIN <[email protected]>
Date: December 21, 2011 10:21:17 PM ESTTo: David & Brenda Atkin <[email protected]>Subject: Time for Taiwan - Atkin Prayer Update (12/22)
Greetings from Taiwan:
"For to us a child is horn, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince ofPeace." (Isa 9:6) Coinddentally, though I don't believe in coincidence whenit comes to Kingdom ironies, in our Bridge ofLife series this Lord's Day,Christmas Day, we will learn from the OT prophets about the Messiah, whomthey all foretold would come.
Just a few minutes ago, at Nan-tun grade school, two classes of sixthgraders heard the Christmas story — most for the first time! The smell ofcookies baking wafts in from Brenda's kitchen, Joanne is hard at work on thevisitor card for the nativity outreach, and in a half hour Lance and I will goand get our nativity barn out of storage. This afternoon we will erect thenativity barn and fence for the animals. Tomorrow and Saturday, in ourbusy metropolis, we pray, many will slow down in their busyness longenough to contemplate the nativity scene and why God would choose toenter the world in such a way. Perhaps some will ask, "What does this meanfor my life?"
Please pray for us and those whom the Lord calls to the nativity thisweekend.
I don't know if Christmas morning we will have an update. I'm not surewhat kind of condition we'll be in. It's our first Christmas without one or
both of the girls back — that makes it feel a little different. However, onMonday morning. Lord willing, Brenda, Noah and me will be off for a fewdays to visit friends in Okinawa (less than an hour from Taipei). We'relooking forward to a little R & R. Noah is looking forward to Taco Bell on ourUS military base there!
So, Merry Christmas to you and yours! Thank you for praying
In His Service,
David & Brenda Atkin
Team Expansion in [email protected]
www.teamexpansion.org/atkin