I am now in Taiwan (the country where Ray Peng is from) for a 7-day mission conference (with 1200 university student believers) Amazing!!!

George Verwer is here as a main speaker, many young people are challenge and more than 50 of them were out to the stage to confirm their commitment for mission in their future. Many tears and touching moments were seen for the last few days. I thank the Father to bring me here, my heart was so touched by the committed young people and I am challenged. Seeing the passion for people God has given to these young people with pure-heart, tears come.

As I still don't know what is my next step, I will be back to Hong Kong (which is just 1.5 hour flight from Taiwan) mid July and then I will be jobless.

On the contrary I feel that my spirit is not as worried and bordered as at the last few months, though it's tired, I feel that JOY suddenly creeps into my heart. Hardly believe it. Surely I shall continue to wait upon my Lord for HIS direction. Please pray for me that I can understand HIS guidance correctly and I can have the courage and wisdom to obey HIM totally and promptly.

This conference is from July 4 - 10, there are around 2000 people (include students, speakers, workers & volunteers), so the conference is held in an university. When we first walked into our quarters, what I could say, "here's like a prison more than quarters for students". (I now know how beautiful the student quarters in universities in HK). Do you remember the 2-bunk bed on the ship? All beds here are on the upper bunk and are above 2 meter high. No kidding, I pray not to fall whenever I climb up and down my bed. Thanks God, 4 nights gone, there is not accident.

Thank you for all my prayer warriors who have prayed for the conference and for me. I have to tell you guys, I see the Spirit worked/works amazingly and freely at the conference. That's why the days of living in "a prison" doesn't bother me much. After the meeting late at night, students gathered around the speaker asking questions/prayers, they just don't let him go for rest. Some stayed individually at the hall afterwards to pray and meditate on what is heard. I saw such eagerness of students to learn more and know more about how to serve HIM and/or go for mission. I hear and also believe that the Spirit speaks to many of us here and draws us close to the Father & the Son. One friend told me, his roommate came back from one meeting, though late at night, cried and prayed for one hour on his bed. I hardly believe from what I see and what I hear, as these 1200 university believers, young, intellectual and somehow proud, but their hearts are so sincere and wide-opened for the work of the Spirit, so ready and keen to commit their lives to serve HIM. Amazing, isn't it? I previously thought I can only see this in China or India. No, it is happening right here and right now.

I am thankful that I can experience it.

Last 2 afternoons, more than 70 organizations (both local and overseas) joint hand for a big exhibition (for local & overseas mission works) for the students. OM Teams from ACT (Asian Challenge Team - 3 members), from Doulos (Ray, Wah Sha and myself), from Central Asia, from North Africa, from Macau Training base, from Taiwan, from Hong Kong, and George, wife & Brain .... totally 19 OM people. Few hours preparation, things worked together well, our OM exhibition room were displaced and presented in a very creative way. Ray presented Doulos shiplife powerpoint, ACT people prepared snack, tea and skirt from Nepal for people to try, there is corner for chatting with missionaries and corner for prayers and inquiry. We enjoyed working as a team here in Taiwan. Our exhibition was well visited in numbers as well as by the amount of time they spent. For two days, we have to shout for students to leave so that we can unpack and restore the room for evening class. Hallelujah!

Last night, I made a girl cry! I was washing clothes in the pubic shower room and started a good conversation with two students. They are very interested about the ship. I shared with one of them about the amazing things God did on the ship and how God brought me through many struggles on the ship, I saw tears in her eyes. We then prayed together ..... at the shower room ..... her eyes were flooded with tears as she saw how God answered her prayer regarding how she should give her struggles to God.

When I went for lunch this afternoon, meeting a group previously visited the OM exhibition room, they asked me to sit with them. Later, 1 student came and told me sincerely that he really want to join the ship. The thing now bordering him is raising the financial support from the church (because the church is not mission minded). He said if he tells his father, his father may support him 100%. He doesn't know whether he should do that.

These are just a few students who are able to talk to us, believed there must be "many many" who are very interested and with good potential to join but don't know who to ask. We are all going to leave Taiwan. What can I say, I can only ask you to pray and pray hard for these beautiful young fellow that

1. their hearts for mission will not go cold.
2. pray for a team of workers to come and join OM Taiwan to catch as many from these group of potential servants of God as possible.... and surely promptedly.
3. pray for the girl I talked to/prayed with in the shower room and the guy at the lunchtime.

Thank you

Blessings
Maggie

from mission Conference in Taiwan

Ray Peng

July 10, 2004