Submitted by Olivia (from Gracpoint Hsinchu)…
The long awaited NTU (National Taiwan University) discussion small group “Pause” finally started on October 7, 2009 (clap + cheer)! Two years after Koinonia came to Hsinchu, Taiwan, we’re finally in a new city and new campus, making connections with new friends. This was very exciting and meant a lot to me.
I really liked the feeling of everybody coming together, working hard for a common purpose. This kind of community and fellowship was really attractive and brought so much strength to me. Beforehand, Carmen created our Pause flyer, Dino and Yang helped publicize on PPT, Mike prepared the discussion content, Eugene contacted an NTU professor about borrowing a classroom, and there were the delicious cookies Tim made by hand, as well as fruit and drinks prepared by Cynthia. All of the preparations were so that our NTU Pause event could go smoothly. Seeing the staff so excited to carefully plan everything made me feel very honored that I can serve together with the rest of our church to invite NTU students to come and share in the life and friendship I have experienced in the past at Koinonia.
Wednesday. Taipei. Weather was cold but hearts were nevertheless so full and satisfied.
I was very pleased to have four new friends join us for the first event. It reminded me of the story of the first Bible study in Koinonia Hsinchu where there were also four friends who joined. Such a coincidence really excited me and made me also look forward to how God will use Pause to begin to quietly impact NTU.
I’m very grateful to God for allowing me to have this kind of time after a busy day of work to slow down in the middle of the week and be able to fellowship with other church members and even start serving at church. This kind of feeling is even better than the happiness I felt when I was admitted to my first-choice university or when I won first place in a competition. It just seems so surreal because I couldn’t have imagined that one day I would begin to help out at church or even invite others to participate in church activities, it is so incredible (LOL)! Now after our first lively and warm gathering, I proudly look forward to the next gathering, to a new discussion topic and new friends we will meet, but also hope that through this little opportunity to serve I can better understand God’s heart and grow in faith. Praise the Lord and thank God for allowing me to join in His kingdom work.
PTL! I’m so amazed and thankful that Olivia can experience the joy of working hard with us to put on “Pause” at NTU. Truly God’s work gives us more joy than anything temporary the world can offer.
PTL for His faithfulness in your life, Olivia!! I’m so amazed too at the way He works, first in your life and now through you and our church on the NTU campus!
I still remember the first time we met in Tainan, how we found out we were both (lazy) business majors and how we both didn’t like accounting lol. Seeing how God has transformed your life has been such an encouragement to me as I strive to serve God in Berkeley. Thank you for sharing! Maybe I will see you in Taiwan this winter!
btw… looks like you gained weight, Tim So… @.@”
Praise the Lord! I’m so thankful that you are able to serve God in this way and grow closer in your relationship to Him! ??!
wow, thanks for your post olivia! It’s really exciting to see you serving. I really marvel at how God has worked in your life and how he used our little team of short-term missionaries last summer to connect you with his heart and his work. Praise God.
seeing all of you brought me to tears, i miss you guys! i was also reminded of the very first FNP at Koinonia.
thanks for sharing, olivia… i’m thankful to see you serving alongside Eugene and Cynthia and the rest of the Hsinchu staff and grateful for the opportunity we all have to share in the Master’s happiness.
Olivia! Wow, it’s truly amazing to see how God is working in your life and I’m blessed to have witnessed a part of it through a few short weeks here and there at Taiwan for mission trips. PTL! We’ll be praying for you guys!