Schindler Update 2012_05_16

May 16, 2012

Dear Faithful Friends and Supporters,

Greetings from Taipei! We are all moved and have settled nicely into our new apartment. We couldn’t ask for much more in terms of the location of this apartment, as it’s only a 2-minute walk to our church, surrounded by local food shops, near a small park, and close to many friends. We thank God for His wonderful provision for us! Our prayer is that we may be a light for Him to our neighbors and people around us.

How can you being praying for us?

• Please continue praying for our housemates, Niall, Hannah, and Edie (1 year old) Dunne. They will be returning to England June 5th, hopefully just temporarily.
• Please pray their case finds favor in the eyes of the government, and that the band is allowed back into the country to continue serving the Lord through music. 
• Please pray for a fruitful pre-ALPHA course we are running in a daughter church of Truth. Many non-Christians are taking the 11-week course- pray for hearts to come to know Jesus!

Please pray for God’s wisdom in our various ministries- Erich as he serves at church reaching out to working class families; and Kelley as she serves at Garden of Hope, leading Bible studies and serving at local shelters. 

Let's praise the Lord together!

• Praise the Lord for opportunities to learn- Erich is currently attending a conference at a local church on church planting. Pray for new insight and creative ideas.
• Praise the Lord for wonderful relationships Kelley has been able to build with the women at the shelter. Pray for more opportunities to share about Jesus and His love with these hurting women.
• Praise the Lord that 2 weeks ago 5 members of our international cell groups were taken into membership at Truth Church. Praise the Lord for the body of Christ!

Thank you for your time in reading this, and for your continued prayers and support! We are so thankful to have such a wonderful ‘team’ standing behind us!

For the Glory of God,
Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2012_04_19

April 19, 2012 

Dear Faithful Friends and Supporters,

Greetings from Taipei! This is the last update we’ll be sending from the apartment we’ve called “home” for almost 4 years. As our landlord and his family are moving back in, we are in the midst of packing and moving to a new place. We thank the Lord for His provision of temporary housing for our housemates and us, as we await their visa situation to stabilize before finding permanent housing together. We’ve had a wonderful 4 years in this apartment and have been blessed to allow numerous others to call this place ‘home’ as well during the last years. It’s our prayer that our next home can be used for the Lord just as much as this one has!

How can you being praying for us?

• Please pray for our housemates, Niall, Hannah, and Edie (1 year old) Dunne, as well as the band Niall is a part of (Transition). They have recently encountered visa/work problems that are out of their control and have the potential to send them back to England. We trust the Lord together for a miracle that will allow them to continue serving in Taiwan through their music ministry!
• Please pray for an added measure of strength and grace in these extra busy days as we balance moving, various ministries and study, and normal daily responsibilities. May our focus stay on Christ!

Let's praise the Lord together!

• Praise the Lord for 2 great Bible studies Kelley has the privilege to lead each week at the Garden of Hope. The groups are a mix of Christians and non-Christians, and each week has great discussion and input. Pray for closed hearts to be opened, and for open hearts to be renewed!
• Erich has recently joined the “Discipleship Training Department” at our Taiwanese church. Praise the Lord for this good fit for him, and for the doors that will open for ministry because of his position there.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20f.) 

For the Glory of God,
Erich and Kelley Schindler 

Schindler Update 2012_03_15

March 15, 2012

Dear Faithful Friends and Supporters,

Greetings from Taipei! A highlight of the past month was having 2 weeks with Kelley’s mom as she visited with us here, and experienced our daily life up close.  Now that we are out of language school and into full-time Chinese-based ministry, it’s truly amazing what doors the Lord is opening for us. Some are direct answers to prayer, while others are unexpected but welcomed! We’re learning, growing, and being stretched in numerous ways. How thankful we are for God’s grace and presence with us each day!

How can you being praying for us?

• Pray for Erich as he perseveres in his seminary studies. It is a big learning curve, as it’s completely in Mandarin, so pray for clear understanding and a solid grasp of the material. He’s also leading a new Christian, a cook from a working class background, in a one-on-one Bible study. Please pray for this man, Liang Sheng, to continue growing in the Lord, and for Erich to have the words to lead him to know God better.
• Kelley’s been very busy serving at the Garden of Hope (check out our website for more details), and has been doing shelter ministry for the last month. Pray especially for Tang-Tang, a 17 girl who Kelley’s been meeting with one-on-one for prayer, counseling, etc. She’s a hurting girl, and searching for love and acceptance – pray she’ll find it in Jesus! Kelley’s also leading two Bible studies at the center headquarters – pray for wisdom as she leads them.

• Let's praise the Lord together!We have to move in a few weeks to a new apartment (our landlord is moving back in!). We have found an apartment we like and that is big enough for the 5 of us (we’ll keep living with our British housemates). Praise the Lord it’s a good location, price, and size, but please pray we get the ‘ok’ to rent it soon!
• Two girls from ALPHA were baptized this past Sunday! It was touching to listen to their testimonies and hear about God’s work in their lives. Praise the Lord for these new disciples!

We couldn’t do what we do without the prayer, love, and support from you. Thank you for partnering together and for being such a blessing to us!

For the Glory of God,
Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2012_02_15

February 15, 2012

Dear Faithful Friends and Supporters,

Greetings from Taipei, where today’s weather is sunny and right around 80 degrees F. Having summery days in winter is definitely one of the joys of living on a sub-tropical island J The last month has been no exception in terms of keeping busy, but it’s been a month of being challenged and growing in different ways. Additionally, we celebrated the Chinese New Year with our friends here (a highlight of the year for sure!) and were warmly welcomed into the home of our Taiwanese friend, Shou Yu, for the big New Year’s Eve dinner.

How can you being praying for us?

• Erich’s seminary studies resume on February 20th. Please pray for a good semester of learning, and time to complete the Chinese assignments. His application for the volunteer position at church is still being processed, but he will most likely begin serving in the mercy ministry department within the month.
• Pray for Kelley as she adjusts to her new ministry of serving abused women and teenage moms. She’s also been asked to hold a Bible Study at the center, so pray for wisdom and strength for her. 

Let's praise the Lord together! 

• A couple weeks ago we took part in a conference called “Kingdom Culture” in a city in the south of Taiwan. This conference was an amazing experience and very challenging in terms of prayer and faith. Praise God for using his servants to encourage and teach us, and pray we’ll continue putting into practice all that we learned!
• Erich is beginning to lead a man, a cook from a working class neighborhood, through a weekly study on the basics of the Christian faith. Pray for him to see this man through Jesus’ eyes, and to have wisdom as he leads him. 

The joy of the Lord is our strength! May we all continue knowing and loving our Lord more each day. 

For the Glory of God,
Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2012_01_18

January 18, 2012

Dear Faithful Friends and Supporters,

Greetings from Taipei and Happy 2012! We’re only a little more than halfway through the month of January, but it’s already been a busy couple of weeks for us. We welcomed Erich’s mom and brother to Taiwan on January 5th, and had a wonderful 11 days together. We visited many places, met with lots of people, attended our church, played games, and ate lots of good food! We’re so thankful for the time together. Now, it’s less than one week until the Chinese New Year. This week we’re getting caught up on things, meeting with people, and doing various church activities before the New Year’s Eve on Sunday, after which Taipei will become like a ghost town, as most people return south for the week to be with family.

How can you being praying for us?

• January 30^th-February 4^th we will be participating in a conference called “Kingdom Culture”, taking place in the south of Taiwan. Please pray for us to be refreshed and encouraged, as well as to hear from the Lord.
• We have prayerfully been considering what ministries to explore and invest in, now that we are out of full-time language school. As a February, Erich will be joining the staff at Truth Church as a full-time church co-worker serving in the “mercy ministry’’ department, as well as continuing his studies at China Evangelical Seminary.  Kelley will serve 3 days/week at a center which serves abused and battered women, women caught in sex-trafficking, and teen moms, and 1 day/week doing translation for church and serving in the local orphanage. We are both thankful for God’s leading, and for these opportunities to serve Him!

Let's praise the Lord together!

• Kelley’s ALPHA group has continued meeting weekly,  and 2 girls are going to be baptized in March. Their names are Cherry and Yu Rong. Please pray for continued spiritual growth for them.
• Our former landlady, Pearl, came to church on Christmas Eve and then to our home for a meal. We’ve been able to spend more time with her recently, and have seen God working. Pray that she’ll soon come to know the one true and living God!

We wish you all the peace and joy of Jesus as we begin this New Year! 

For the Glory of God,
Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2011_11_15

November 15, 2011

Dear Faithful Friends and Supporters,

Greetings from Taipei! Wow, it’s hard to believe that we are already in mid-November and have only a little more than 6 weeks left in the 2011 year. Since we last wrote many exciting things have been happening here in Taipei. We’ve met with the leaders ministering to the youth and children of working class families to discuss creative ministry opportunities, we’ve continued seeing the Holy Spirit work in the lives of Seekers through our Bilingual ALPHA course, the Lord has added to our numbers in our international cell groups, and we’ve been challenged in our faith as we participate in a 30 day prayer and fasting event through our church leading up to the Christmas season.

How can you being praying for us?

• We only have 2 weeks of our Bilingual ALPHA course left. Pray for the sharing this week on “What is the Church?, as well as for our ALPHA celebration night on November 25^th. Pray for open minds and hearts to receive Jesus!
• Pray that we hear clearly from the Lord as to what ministries we are to invest our time and energy into. The options are many (youth work, children’s ministry, orphanage work, etc.), but we desire not to act out of our own interest, but to discern God’s leading. Pray for unity and for good communication between our Pastor and us.

Let's praise the Lord together! 

• Cherry, a Seeker from ALPHA in Kelley’s group, is very open to spiritual things, and over the last 3 weeks has begun praying everyday, reading her Bible, and going to church. Pray that she will make the decision to commit her life to Jesus and follow Him wholeheartedly!
• Erich has had opportunities to reach out to non-Christians through the medium of sports and build relationships with them. Praise God for this outreach and pray for good conversations that will lead people to knowing who Jesus is!

What a mighty God we serve! Thank you for your love, prayers, and support!

For the Glory of God,
Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2011_10_17

October 17, 2011

Dear Faithful Friends and Supporters,

Greetings from Taipei! The 2011 year is sure flying by. I realized this yesterday as in church our pastor mentioned in the coming weeks we will have a church wide prayer and fasting month leading up to the Christmas season. After thinking about it a minute I realized Christmas is only a little more than two months away- unbelievable! We are in sort of a ‘transition’ phase right now as we are finished with full time language school and are prayerfully seeking what God has next for us. The opportunities are many, but we desire to hear God’s voice and not act out of our own desires.

How can you being praying for us?

• We are busy these days meeting with our Pastor and other church leaders as we learn more about ministry opportunities, especially in relation to the poor and working class communities. Pray for wisdom and discernment to hear God’s voice.
• Our Fall 2011 Bilingual ALPHA season has had a great start! 5 weeks are finished and we have 6 more to go. Please be praying for the Seekers to grow in their understanding of who Jesus is. October 29th and 30th will be our ALPHA weekend retreat. This is perhaps the most important part of the season- please pray for God to do a great work in many lives!

Let's praise the Lord together!

• October 1^st and 2^nd we had a wonderful retreat in the mountains of Taipei with our international cell groups. Many Taiwanese co-workers joined as well, and the Lord truly blessed our time together. Praise the Lord for faithful co-workers and laborers in the field!
• Erich has had a great start to his classes at the local Chinese seminary. He is enjoying learning and being challenged through his classes.

As always, we thank you for your love, interest, support, and prayers on behalf of our ministry here. What a privilege to serve the Lord together in His Kingdom work!

For the Glory of God,
Erich and Kelley Schindler

P.S. Starting this month, our monthly prayer email updates will be going out mid-month. In the meantime, please remember to check our blog for updates and pictures. 

Schindler Update 2011_08_07

August 7, 2011

Dear Faithful Friends and Supporters,

Greetings from Taipei! Today in church we celebrated Father’s Day. Taiwan’s Father’s Day is August 8^th because “ba” is the word for both the number “8” and “father” in Chinese. So, what better day to celebrate than “ba ba” (the 8^th day of the 8^th month)? Because this culture is very people oriented, families that are non-church going are often willing to come on special days like these if their children or friends invite them. It was wonderful to see the church full of many new faces, and to be reminded of the great love our Heavenly Father has for each of us.

How can you being praying for us?

• We are down to the final stretch of full-time language classes- only 10 more days of class! Pray we will finish strong and continue using our language ability for God’s glory.
• With the end of full-time language classes comes the opportunity for more focused ministry and immersion into Chinese culture. The Lord has been opening doors in terms of orphanage ministry, small group service, seminary classes, etc. Please pray for continued direction and wisdom as we make decisions.

Let's praise the Lord together!

• We’ve had two wonderful pre-ALPHA events over the last month, with each having many non-Christians in attendance! Pray for many of these Seekers to sign up for our Fall Bilingual ALPHA course, and for them to come into a saving relationship with Jesus.
• Erich continues to have weekly opportunities to meet with non-Christians guys, most of whom are former classmates. This was something he was praying for, and we are so thankful to God for answering his prayer and for the relationships he’s building. 

We want to say a special thank you to all of our financial supporters. We are incredibly blessed by your faithful giving, especially in the midst of difficult financial times. It’s a privilege to serve our Lord together!

For the Glory of God,
Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2011_07_02

July 2, 2011

Dear Faithful Friends and Supporters,

Greetings from Taipei! The month of June was a bit of a whirlwind for us. From having house guests, to flying to the States and back (Kelley), to taking one Chinese test after another, to applying at a local Chinese seminary (Erich), to cell group meetings and events, etc., etc. there was hardly a “down day” all month long. But, we are thankful for the strength of the Lord, which allows us to handle anything that comes our way. We are hoping the month of July will be a bit less busy, but one thing we know for sure- life is always an adventure on this island J

How can you being praying for us?

• This coming Friday will we have our last mid-term exam for our full-time language studies. It will cover a lot of material, so please pray for good comprehension and time to adequately review.
• Saturday, July 9^th, will be our first pre-ALPHA activity. Please pray as non-Christians are being invited to attend that the response will be positive, and that this will be a great kick-off to our next season.
• Two Sundays a month Erich has begun praying for people after the service (people with needs come to the front), and one Sunday a month Kelley has been asked to join the translation team. We are happy for these areas to serve- pray we’ll be a blessing to others!

Let's praise the Lord together!

• This past month we have seen the Lord answer huge prayer requests for several of our friends here. This has been not only an encouragement in faith to them, but to those around them too.
• Next Sunday, July 10^th, will be sharing a meal with our former Chinese teacher and her husband, as well as a former classmate. These are great times to share about our life here, and we pray for opportunities to invite them to church or Bilingual ALPHA. 
• For the Lord’s continued hand of protection over Kelley’s dad as he’s recovering from major heart surgery.

 We thank you once again for your love, prayers, support, and interest in the Lord’s work in Taiwan!

For the Glory of God,
Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2011_06_16

June 16, 2011

Dear Faithful Friends and Supporters,

Greetings from Taipei! First off, our apologies for sending this update out 2 weeks later than usual! Kel was in the US visiting her parents as her father, Craig, underwent major heart surgery. We wanted to include an update on Craig's situation in this prayer update. After a long 6-hour stretch in the operating room, Craig's surgeon finally emerged to announce that the operation couldn't have gone any better! It was special for Kel and Connie to receive this wonderful news together. In the following days, Craig has been regaining strength, and is now at home recovering. From what we heard last, he even made a walk to the mailbox on the 4th day following his operation - way to go! :D A BIG THANK-YOU to all of you who were praying for Craig during this time. The Lord is truly our best physician, and the Healer of our whole being!

Following Kelley's safe return to Taipei, she jumped right back into language classes and ministry. Here are some ways you can continue praying for us:

Pray with us for:

• We just began the final 10-week stretch in our Chinese classes. Pray for perseverance and discipline as we study this amazing and intricate language.
• We are preparing several pre-ALPHA activities this summer, to promote our upcoming Fall 2011 Bilingual ALPHA Course. Pray for many Seekers to join us as we go hiking, visiting tea farms, and sharing life together.

Praise God with us for:

• We were able to share about our Fall 2011 Bilingual ALPHA Course in two different university classes in Taipei, and invite 90+ students to join the course. Kel has already made friends with some of them on Facebook, and we're excited to see them again at ALPHA!
• Reinforcements are on the way! This summer we will be joined by 3 new American missionaries. These new friends will be tentmakers, supporting themselves through English teaching while helping us spread the good news of Jesus to our Taiwanese friends.

Thanks so much for your sustained prayer, according to 1 John 5:14-15, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him." (TNIV)

Each and every one of the miracles we have seen God work in our lives have been the direct result of prayer. And we believe that the best is yet to come - for the USA and for Taiwan. So let's press on seeking His presence together!

For His Glory,
Erich and Kelley

Schindler Update 2011_05_04

May 4, 2011

Dear Faithful Friends and Supporters,

Greetings from Taipei! A couple weeks ago we celebrated a favorite day of ours at Truth Church - Easter Sunday. The significance of Easter Sunday is amazing for all believers, but there is something extra special about standing together and singing, “Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone… life is worth the living just because He lives!” with Taiwanese believers, many of whom have come from a dark past of Buddhism, full of fear and superstitions, into a bright and free walk with Jesus. They do not sing the words lightly, and their genuine love and thanks to Jesus is contagious. What a testimony to the resurrection power of Jesus!

How can you being praying for us?

• Pre-Alpha activities will be underway in the following couple weeks. These will include small group interviews, trainings, outings, etc., all in preparation for the next season of Bilingual Alpha. Pray for unity among the co-workers and for many unbelievers to sign up!
•  We have three more weeks left in this quarter of language classes, with only one more quarter left to go! J Please pray for perseverance and understanding as we desire to use the Mandarin Chinese Language to spread the Kingdom of God in Taiwan.
•  May 14^th we’ll be having dinner together with our dear friend/co-worker, Cindy’s, father (Cindy visited the States with us in 2008). Her father is not a Christian and very rarely invites people to meet with him. Cindy has been praying for his salvation for a long time and we are touched that he has extended an invitation to eat together. Pray that God would guide our conversation and we could be a blessing to him!

Let's praise the Lord together!

• We are both feeling much better after struggling with sicknesses the last couple weeks - praise God!
•  Kelley loves the mornings she spends at the orphanage taking care of the babies and is thankful for the relationships she is building with the nurses there.
•  Our cell group has grown from 5 to 12 people in the last month. Praise God for adding to our numbers!

We hope all of you know how greatly we appreciate your prayers, interest, and support! It’s all worth it Because He Lives!

For the Glory of God,
Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2011_04_07

April 7, 2011

Dear Faithful Friends and Supporters,

Greetings from Taipei! The weather is getting warmer each day, thus making us more aware that Taiwan's roasting summer is right around the corner. We are thoroughly enjoying this semester of language study, which we are finding challenging and useful at the same time. Each day we read and study magazine and newspaper articles, which provide us with a much broader real-life vocabulary. Additionally, this past month we were a part of a team translating a book from Chinese into English for use at our church. What good practice for our language skills!

How can you being praying for us?

• Due to the fact that many Alpha co-workers are still involved with the Seekers from our last course, we, along with the Taiwanese leaders, have decided to postpone our spring season of Bilingual Alpha until the summer. This way follow-up with last season's Seekers will not be cut short, and co-workers can have the needed time to pray and prepare.
• Erich has recently begun discipiling two young men, one a new believer and one struggling in his marriage and walk with Christ. Please pray for him to have wisdom and discernment as he meets with these men.
• Please pray for good health as our schedules can be quite busy, especially for Kelley, as she suffers a lot from headaches.

Let's praise the Lord together!

• We are thankful for the recent partnership in ministry with Lake View Bible Church in Manheim, PA. 
• We praise the Lord for opportunities to use our Chinese language in ministry- whether in church small groups, meeting new friends, or with our non-Christian teacher and classmates. 
• We recently enjoyed a four-day getaway with friends and co-workers in the Eastern part of Taiwan. It was a wonderful time of refreshment and being together with other believers.

As always, we are so grateful for your prayers, interest, and support. What a mighty God we serve!

For the Glory of God,
Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2011_03_03

March 3, 2011

Dear faithful supporters,

Greetings from Taipei! The past few weeks have brought an increasing busy schedule, but at the same time, many things which for which we praise the Lord. The beginning of February was spent doing various activities celebrating the Chinese New Year, the middle of February much time reviewing Chinese characters in anticipation of a new quarter of language studies, and the end of February a wonderful day outing with Christians and non-Christians promoting our upcoming Bilingual ALPHA Course.

How can you be praying for us?

• Our next season of Bilingual ALPHA is scheduled to begin on April 8th, with the month of March full of meetings, trainings, etc. in preparation. But, at this time we are facing a lack of co-workers to form groups. Please pray for willing co-workers to step up so that the course can proceed as planned.
• This week we began another quarter of language studies at the local university in Taipei. We’ve been blessed with another great teacher and look forward to expanding our language ability through our classes. Please pray for thorough understanding of the material and for opportunities to be a light among our classmates and teacher.

Let’s praise the Lord together!

• For wonderful times celebrating the Chinese New Year during the month of February, not only with church friends, but also with our former landlady, Pearl, and friends from other places. We are so thankful for our “family” here.
• For wonderful co-workers who are passionate about serving Jesus. We praise God for the team of believers we are privileged to serve alongside with here in Taiwan.

Our prayer is that each of you daily experience the joy and peace the Lord freely gives. We are so thankful for you!

For the Glory of God,
Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2011_02_05

February 3, 2011

Dear faithful supporters,

            Greetings from Taipei! And Happy New Year! Chinese New Year that is. Today is the first day of the New Year and celebrations abounded last night as the Taiwanese rang in the New Year with big family dinners and lots of fireworks! Tonight we’ll be gathering together with many friends to enjoy a favorite Taiwanese dish - hot pot!

How can you be praying for us?

• Last week the leaders of our Bilingual Alpha Course met together for prayer and planning of the next season. Before each season begins, we have several training sessions, prayer times, and group meetings. So, in order to have adequate time to prepare and plan, the next season will begin the first week of April. Please be praying as we form groups, train new co-workers, and invite our non-believing friends to join our Spring 2011 season.

• We are thankful for new doors the Lord is opening to us. One new opportunity for ministry is that Kelley has begun volunteering at a local orphanage in Taipei. Pray for good health as the children are often sick, and that she will be a blessing there.

Let’s praise the Lord together!

• Two weekends ago we watched with delight as two friends, both of whom went through our Bilingual Alpha Courses, were baptized. What a joy it is to see our friends turn from their old life and enter into a new life with Jesus!

• Our housemates, Niall, Hannah, and baby Eden, have returned from England. It’s been wonderful catching up together and we are all looking forward to sharing life and living in community together as we all seek to serve the Lord in Taiwan.

We once again thank each and every one of you for your interest in our life and ministry here, and for all the prayers prayed on our behalf!

For the Glory of God,
Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2010_12_03

December 3, 2010 

Dear faithful supporters,

            Greetings from Taipei! With only twenty-eight days of the 2010 year left, we find ourselves reflecting on the numerous joys, challenges, and blessings this year has brought us. If we were to choose one word to sum up our year it would be learning. Not only have we learned much more of the Mandarin Chinese language, we’ve learned more about leadership, balancing ministry and personal time, healthy conflict resolution, Taiwanese culture and way of thinking, and perhaps most importantly, we’ve grown in our understanding of the great love the Father has for us, and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

How can you be praying for us?

• We have two weeks of our Bilingual Alpha Course left. Pray that the Seekers will be willing to continue meeting in small groups after the course is finished.
• The month of November brought some difficult times for several of our friends. Please pray for us to know how to encourage them, and for the Spirit of God to comfort them with His peace.
• On December 16^th we are flying to the USA for a quick 3 ½  week trip. Erich’s grandparents have kindly paid our way so that we can be a part of their 60^th wedding anniversary celebration. The entire Schindler family will be together, so we’re looking forward to catching up with family over the holidays. We’ll be in the Chicago/WI area from December 16^th -28^th, and then in PA from the 29^th-10^th of January. Please pray for safety in travel and minimal jet-lag as we want to make the most of our short time!

Let’s praise the Lord together!

• Last Friday evening Kelley was the key speaker at our Bilingual Alpha Course, talking on the question “Why and How should we share the Good News of Jesus with others?”. We were thrilled because our Chinese teacher (whom we’ve had for two semesters and have become good friends with) came along with her British husband. They were very open in the small group discussion time and enjoyed it very much. Praise God for the seeds that have been planted-may they grow for His glory!
• Praise that the conference we mentioned in last month’s email update was very beneficial and refreshing for all who attended. A group of about 30 trained teachers and counselors came from England to minister to the foreign community at Truth Church. It was wonderful to be encouraged and hear solid teaching- in English! A rare treat these days…. J
  

We wish you all a blessed Christmas season with family and friends. Thank God for His precious Son, Jesus, the reason we live!

For the Glory of God,
Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2010_11_05

November 5, 2010

Dear faithful supporters,

Greetings from Taipei! The weather here is finally beginning to cool off and with that we are reminded that the end of another year is just around the corner. The month of October passed us by in a whirl, but not without its share of joys, accomplishments, challenges, and blessings. Just today we were on the phone with a friend back in the States and she asked us, “Are you still enjoying living and serving in Taiwan?” And, without hesitation our answer was “Yes!”. Praise be to God for leading us to this island and for filling us with a love for its people.

How can you be praying for us?

• Time management and balance- We are finding our schedules getting increasingly busier and are being given more and more opportunities to serve in different ways. While this is exciting for us, we feel we must stay focused on our main task right now- learning the Chinese language the best that we can (which is a long process!) So, please pray we’d have focus and be faithful stewards of our time.
• Bilingual Alpha Course- Our Bilingual Alpha Course continues to go very well. We have old and new friends attend each week, and we see the Lord stirring in the hearts of many. Pray especially for our weekend retreat coming up November 21^st and 22^nd. Pray for many to attend and come to know Jesus.
• Upcoming conference-  Next week, Thursday–Saturday, we’ll be participating in a conference at our church. A group of trained counselors/teachers are coming from England  to minister to the English speaking community at Truth Church. Knowing that often missionaries/foreigners face spiritual burn-out living overseas, they are holding a conference that will focus on inner spiritual healing. We pray that this will be a refreshing time for not only us, but for many of our co-workers and friends as well.

Let’s praise the Lord together!

• Language learning milestone- We have moved out of textbooks and onto reading magazine articles and newspapers- in Chinese! This is a huge accomplishment for us, and we are so thankful for the strength the Lord daily gives us to study and understand this language. May we use it for His glory!
• Pearl- We mentioned in our last update that our former landlady, Pearl, came to the first week of Alpha. Well, we are thrilled to say she has come back every week and is really enjoying it. We’ve been praying years for her, and are so excited to see what God is doing/going to do in her life!

This past week at our English cell group we sang:
“My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!

 My sin, not in part but the whole,
 Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
 Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!”

Thank the Lord for His Son, Jesus, and for the grace and forgiveness He daily extends.

For the Glory of God,
Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2010_10_03

October 3, 2010

Dear faithful supporters,

Greetings from Taipei! Wherever this email finds you, we hope you are doing well and are joyful in our Lord! September kept us very busy, not only in language learning, but in also in learning how to be better leaders for the foreign community at church, learning how to better serve and minister to the Taiwanese people, and learning how to live each day in faith and full reliance on Christ. We praise the Lord for His presence with us each second of the day, and for His grace that continues to carry us onward.

How can you be praying for us?

• Sharing God’s love everywhere we go- Our weeks take us many places. From our home, to the classroom, to the market, into taxis, onto buses, into coffee shops, and to eating from food vendors. Pray that everywhere we go our lives would radiate the love of Christ. Pray that we would have eyes to see how we can show Jesus to those we come into contact with. 
• Bilingual Alpha Course- Our Bilingual Alpha Course began last Friday evening. The Lord brought us 99 new friends!!  Pray for wisdom in following up each person, and for unity among the co-workers as we serve together.  
• Housemates-  We have embarked on a new adventure and now officially have permanent housemates. A British couple, friends and co-workers at church, have moved into our apartment and will be living with us for the foreseeable future. Due to many reasons, the Lord placed it on our heart to offer our home to them, and we are excited to live together, especially because in 2 ½ months they will welcome a baby daughter into the world! Our house is sure to be a full and happy one J Pray for a smooth transition into living together and that we would live as the church in Acts who, “were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.” 

Let’s praise the Lord together!

• Friends at Alpha- We praise the Lord that one of the 99 Seekers that joined our Bilingual Alpha Course on Friday night was our former landlady and dear friend, Pearl. If you have been tracking with us for awhile, you will know that we have been praying for Pearl for years now, so we are thrilled that she is willing to join this course, and we pray that she will come to know Jesus!
• Rest and Refreshment- Praise the Lord for times of rest. Yesterday morning the two of us escaped into the mountains for a few hours and enjoyed a time of talking, reading, and of course, drinking tea together. It was just what we needed after a rather long week of studying, preparing for Alpha, etc….!

Thank you for all your prayers on our behalf! What a privilege to serve the Lord together.

For the Glory of God,
Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2010_09_07

September 7, 2010 

 Dear faithful supporters,

Greetings from Taipei! As summer is coming to a close, we are reflecting on how quickly time passes by, and how we are called by God to make the most of each and every day. This summer has been full for us on many levels- learning, hospitality, serving, and trusting. With each changing season of the year, we remain ever grateful for the unchanging love and strength the Lord gives us and how He is the One who enables us to serve here.

How can you be praying for us?

1. Upcoming weekend retreat- This coming Saturday and Sunday we will head about two hours north of Taipei for a weekend retreat of sharing, hearing testimonies, and learning together with our American, British, and Taiwanese brothers and sisters. Pray this weekend will bring more unity among us as co-workers, and be a refreshing time for all who attend. 
2. Bilingual Alpha Course- We are three weeks away from the kick-off to our Fall season Bilingual Alpha Course. We have enough co-workers to form twelve groups- so that is potential to reach over one hundred unsaved Taiwanese! Pray for open hearts to attend, and for God to do a mighty work in the hearts of those who come.
3. Wisdom and guidance- As leaders over the foreigners at Truth Church we are daily in need of God’s wisdom and guidance as to how to integrate well and encourage the Taiwanese Church. Please pray for more ministry areas to open up, and for clear direction from God as we make decisions.

Let’s praise the Lord together!

• Our increasing understanding and ability in the Chinese language is giving us more and more chances to talk with and get to know the Taiwanese people. Praise the Lord for His daily help in learning this difficult language!
• We just spent a wonderful two weeks with Kelley’s parents. We are so thankful for parents who not only encourage and support us in what we do, but who are also willing to make the 24+ hour trip to come and see us!
  

Rejoice always! Pray without ceasing! In everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

For the Glory of God,
Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2010_08_01

August 1, 2010  

Dear faithful supporters,

Greetings from Taipei! We’re not sure how it feels for all of you, but we’re not quite sure where has the first half of 2010 has gone to.  If you asked us to use one word to sum up our life the past few months, it would definitely be busy! Our days never seem to have a dull moment, and we are daily learning what it means to rest in the Lord and find strength for each new day in Him! It would be impossible to keep up with our schedules if it weren’t for His grace and the faithful prayers of people back home. So, what is keeping us so busy?

1. Chinese studies- we continue to spend hours a day studying this language and are very encouraged for the doors, both ministry-wise and personally, language ability is opening to us. 
2. Caring for new missionaries/co-workers at Truth Church- we have had 7 new co-workers join us this summer. Five of them lived with us for a time, and we continue to stay busy helping them integrate, as well as seek the Lord’s will in terms of ministry opportunities for them here. 
3. English Clubs- during summer vacation there are two English/Bible clubs running. One at Truth Church and one at a daughter church of Truth. Both are helping to reach Taiwanese youth, and so far have been very successful!  
4. Ministry planning/vision casting- the next season of our Bilingual Alpha Course is right around the corner, so we are in the prepping/planning stages. In addition, we are praying and pursuing new ministries to begin that would effectively reach the Taiwanese for Christ. 

Please pray for us to have the Lord’s wisdom and guidance in all these areas!

Prayer Requests:

• As you read above we are very busy. Please pray for good time management and good health.
• Please pray for unity as we lead our Western co-worker team to serve together with our Taiwanese brothers and sisters.
• Please pray for our monthly support need of $400 to be met.

Praises:

• Praise the Lord for many exciting ministry opportunities ahead, and for increasing our co-worker  team to a total of around 20 people!
• On July 30^th, we celebrated 5 years (yes, hard to believe!) of marriage. Praise the Lord for the privilege of not only being married to, but serving with your best friend!

We are deeply grateful for all your love, prayers, and support.

For the Glory of God,
Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2010_07_03

July 3, 2010 

Dear faithful supporters,

Greetings from hot and very humid Taiwan! Today is a beautiful Saturday, full of bright sunshine and right around 100 degrees.  Erich is out on a river tracing adventure with his Chinese cell group members today, and I am organizing things around the house, catching up on emails, and then out to spend the day with a dear friend. It is hard to believe 2010 is already half way over- where does the time go?
June was another full and busy month. We are continuing to be challenged in our learning of the Chinese language, but are thankful as it isn’t as much “work” as it used to be, but comes more naturally day after day. But we still have a long way to go to reach our goal of knowing 6,000 characters (we are currently at about 4,000). Thanks to be God for His daily help and strength to accomplish all that we need to do!

Prayer Requests:

• The number of Western co-workers at  Truth Church is growing (praise!), so please join us as we are seeking the Lord’s will for new ministries to start at the church. We have many ideas, but need wisdom in knowing which ones would be most strategic in reaching the Taiwanese for Christ.  
• We have 3 wonderful classmates this quarter of study, one Indonesian, one Japanese, and one Korean. The Indonesian is a strong Christian, but both the Japanese and Korean are not believers. Kelley has started meeting weekly with the Japanese to help her learn some English, so pray that time together might open doors for sharing about Christ.  
• Please pray for our monthly support need of $400 to be met. 

Praises:

• On June 22^nd we welcomed 2 couples from the States to Taiwan. They will all be working as teachers, but are also looking for areas to serve and minister during their time in Taiwan. Praise the Lord for these new relationships and for His bringing more co-workers to serve together!
• On July 1^st, we celebrated our birthdays. We were overwhelmed by the love and kindness shown to us by our Taiwanese and Western friends alike. So thankful for the Lord’s provision for a “family” away from home.

It is a blessing to have a strong network of prayer warriors and supporters interceding on our behalf - thank you for partnering with us in His Kingdom work! 

For the Glory of God,

Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2010_06_01

June 1, 2010 

Dear faithful supporters,

Greetings from Taiwan!  Last week we exchanged our busy lives in the bustling city for three days in the middle of nature. We had a week of break between classes, and used this opportunity to get away and recharge, both physically and spiritually. Perhaps the greatest part of those few days away was having uninterrupted time to share together what the Lord has been teaching us recently, as well as having extended times of prayer.  Whether busy in the city, or relaxed in nature, one thing always stays the same- we serve a great God who wants to do even greater things than we can imagine! What a privilege to serve Him!

Prayer Requests:

• Our new quarter of language school began yesterday. Due to a scheduling conflict, we were placed into a class that is four chapters ahead of where we ended last quarter. It may not sound like much, but that equals about 200 new Chinese characters that we need to self study in order to catch up to our class’s level. Please pray for wisdom and quick understanding! 
• In three weeks we will welcome the first set of new teachers/co-workers that are arriving this summer (2 couples). Please pray for a smooth adjustment and insight into how they can best fit in ministry here. 
• Please pray for our monthly support need of $400 to be met.

Praises:

• Our Bilingual Alpha season had its final meeting last Friday night. Over the course we saw more than 100 Seekers come and hear about the Lord! Several are now going through a book entitled, “Begin Your New Life”, which goes deeper into basic Christian doctrine, and several groups are continuing to meet on their own.
• Praise the Lord for knowing our needs and always meeting them. The above mentioned ‘get-away’ was made possible through a dear friend’s generous giving. When we thought we wouldn’t be able to go away due to finances, the next day we received a card from a friend with the exact amount the trip was going to cost us, saying the Lord had told her to give this to us. What a kind and mighty God we serve!

It is a blessing to have a strong network of prayer warriors and supporters interceding on our behalf- thank you for partnering with us in His Kingdom work!

For the Glory of God,
Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2010_05_02

May 2, 2010

Dear faithful supporters,

Greetings from Taiwan! It seems like just yesterday we were writing our monthly update for April, and now we have already entered into May- how quickly time flies! Our days and weeks continue to be busy and there is hardly ever a dull moment.  The month of April was full of learning, building relationships, rain, several earthquakes, eleven new  believers baptized at Truth Church, and a deepening gratitude to the Lord for allowing us to serve Him on this island!

Prayer Requests:

• Beginning tomorrow we will have house guests on-and-off through August. Some are believers from other countries visiting Taiwan, some are new teachers/missionaries moving here who will live with us temporarily, and some are family members coming to visit. Pray we can manage our schedules well with extra people in the house, and that our time with them is a mutual blessing.  
• Please pray as we are in the process of praying/brainstorming for new ministry avenues at Truth Church that we can get new team members arriving this summer plugged into. Pray for wisdom and clear direction from God. 
• Please pray for our monthly support need of $400 to be met.

Praises:

• We just returned from a 2 day outing with all the co-workers and Seekers from our Bilingual Alpha Course. Total there were about 60 people that participated. Praise for the working of the Holy Spirit in many people’s lives, and pray that hearts continue to be open to the Lord. Also, praise, that Kelley was able to use her Chinese and serve as a translator for one of the services- first time ever!
• Praise the Lord for His daily protection, faithfulness, and wisdom. We are so thankful to serve such a powerful and awesome God!

Our prayer: Ephesians 3:20-21 ^“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.”

Many thanks to all of you for your ongoing prayers, love, and support! 

For the Glory of God,
Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2010_03_04

March 03, 2010

Dear faithful supporters,

2010 is quickly passing by as it is hard to believe we are already into March. The month of February was full of many different events and activities, among which some highlights include: getting to know new long-term co-workers at church, reviewing LOTS of Chinese characters, spending a week celebrating the Chinese New Year with friends, and a day outing with 130 people (about half of whom were non-believers) in which we advertised and invited them to join our upcoming 3E Alpha Course at church. The Lord has been so good to us, and has truly given us the desires of our hearts by allowing us to serve Him here in Taiwan!

Prayer Requests:

• We began full-time classes on Monday this week. By the end of our 3 hr. class each day, are heads are full and our brains are tired. Pray for perseverance and clear understanding as we seek to use our Chinese ability for God’s glory. 
• Our 3E Alpha Course begins next Friday night, March 12^th. We are trusting the Lord for at least 50 Seekers to register, and are greatly anticipating the Lord doing a mighty work. 
• Please pray for our monthly support need of $500 to be met.

Praises:

• This past Sunday we had a fantastic day outing to a nearby tea farm. The purpose of this outing to get to know Seekers who are thinking of joining in our 3E Alpha Course, and to encourage them to sign up! The Lord blessed us with beautiful weather and great conversations. 
• Praise the Lord for His daily protection- just today Taiwan had 2 earthquakes (a 6.7 and a 5.4). We are thankful for a God who is always watching over us.

Below are some lyrics from a song that we have been listening to a lot lately. Thank the Lord for his compassion and love!

"What boundless love, what fathomless grace 
You have shown us, O God of compassion. 
Each day we live an offering of praise 
As we show to the world Your compassion."

For the Glory of God,
Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2010_02_02

Dear faithful supporters,

We arrived back safely to our beloved home here in Taipei two weeks ago today. Upon returning, we dove right back into church life, leading our cell group, studying Chinese, and meeting new people. The Lord is giving us wonderful ministry opportunities, and we are very excited to see the great things He is going to do in 2010!

Prayer Requests:

• In our last update we asked for prayer that we be accepted to the new language school we were applying to for our next season of study. Praise Him that we’ve already been accepted! We have been informed that this school offers a generous scholarship to new students, so please pray if it’s His will one or both of us can receive this scholarship for our studies, as it would be a great help to us financially.
• In 2 weeks, Taiwan will celebrate the Chinese New Year. This is the biggest celebration time of the year, so please pray for our Taiwanese brothers/sisters who will spend extended time with their family members (mostly unsaved), to be a light among the darkness. We’ve also been invited to some friends’ homes, so pray for us to be examples of Christ’s love as well.
• Please pray for our monthly support need of $500 to be met.

Praises:

• As stated above, we were accepted (in the span of 2 days!) to our new language school!
• Recently, a young couple from England moved to Taipei as teachers and to join our ministry in Truth Church. Praise the Lord for these new co-workers and friends!
• Last week we attended a 5 day conference at our church on the Book of Isaiah. It was taught by a Messianic Jew from Israel, and was very enlightening and enriching!

Our prayer is that each of you may know and be filled with the peace and love of Christ every day! Thank you for your partnership in establishing the Kingdom of God around the world.

For the Glory of God,

Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2010_01_04

January 4, 2010 

Dear faithful supporters,

Happy New Year 2010! As this is being written we are in beautiful Germany for a three week visit with Erich’s family. It’s been a couple years since we’ve all been together, so we are enjoying this special time! We fly home to Taipei on January 18^th, and while we are having a good home assignment, we are both very excited to return to our church, language school, and friends.

Prayer Requests:

• Our home assignment has kept us very busy, and while it has been good reconnecting with family, friends, and supporters, it has left us both very exhausted. Pray that our remaining time in Germany can be restful and refreshing, so we are ‘ready to go’ when we return to Taiwan.
• We are planning on applying to a different language school for our next season of Mandarin Chinese studies.  Pray for us to get accepted if that is where God would have us, and for perseverance in studying as this school will be more intensive.
• Please pray for our monthly support need of $500 to be met.

Praises:

• We were able to meet with many family members, friends and supporters in 4 states during our home assignment. We had opportunities to speak about ministry in Taiwan over 11 times to various groups. Praise the Lord for all the connections He gave us!
• One of those connections was meeting with 3 students of our Alma Mater, Columbia International University, who are planning on moving to Taiwan this year. Please pray that they will join our 3E Ministry if that is the Lord’s will.
• Praise the Lord for safety in travels as we have flown 10 times since leaving Taiwan, and have driven many miles.

As always, thank you for all your prayers, love, and support you give to us.

We anticipate seeing the Lord do great things in 2010, and look forward to continuing our partnership with you as we serve the Lord in Taiwan together.

For the Glory of God,
Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2009_11_04

November 4, 2009

www.crossing7.com/reachtaiwan

Dear faithful supporters,

Greetings from Taipei!! Where has the time gone? November is here, and soon 2009 will be over. The past weeks has been full, to say the least. During October we learned another 200 Chinese characters (approximately 50 new each week), so totally we can read, speak, and write approximately 1700 Chinese characters. Our 3E Alpha course at church continues to go well, and each week around 15-20 Taiwanese non-believers hear truths from God’s Word and are given time to discuss the topics in small groups.

Prayer Requests:

• We leave in six days to begin our two month home assignment. Please pray for strength and energy to complete everything we need to before we leave- every day is very full with class, meetings, appointments, and packing!! Also, our dear Taiwanese friend, Beatrice, has been planning to come with us to the States, but has not been granted a visa yet. PRAY that she can get one in time, as she has already purchased her ticket!
• This weekend we will attend our 3E Alpha course retreat. This is characteristically the most important time in the attendees’ lives during the entire Alpha course. Pray for us co-workers to have wisdom, and that the Lord would do a great work in many lives! 
• Many friends and people we are close to are going through difficult struggles recently. Please pray for us as we try to encourage and help them.

Praises:

• We are so thankful for the community we have here in Taipei. The Lord has given us brothers and sisters to encourage us, pray with us, and walk through life with us. This is an invaluable gift from God, for which we are so thankful.
• We are thankful to have a strong network of supporters who pray for and encourage us. Thank you!

Here is a brief outline of where we will be during our home assignment:

November 10: Fly from Taipei to Columbia, SC.

November 10-14: Columbia, SC- Visiting supporters, friends, and our Alma Mater

November 14-30: Wheaton, IL/Milwaukee, WI- Visiting Erich’s extended family, as well as supporting churches

December 1- 28: Pennsylvania- Visiting Kelley’s family, our home church, friends and supporters

December 28-January 18: Germany- Visiting Erich’s family and friends

Many thanks and blessings! See you soon J

For the Glory of God,

Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2009_10_05

October 5, 2009

Dear faithful supporters,

Greetings from rainy and windy Taipei! As many of you know this side of the world has recently been getting hit with typhoons and earthquakes. Fortunately, so far Taiwan has not suffered any recent damage from the typhoons, just a lot of rain and wind. But we did have a rather large earthquake (6.1) early Sunday morning originating from the Eastern part of the island. We are praying for protection, especially as most of the island is still recovering from the August 8th typhoon that damaged the southern parts of Taiwan. 

Prayer Requests: 

• We have completed 3 weeks of our Bilingual Alpha Course at church. We have around 30 Seekers attending each week. Pray for their hearts to be opened to Jesus and for solid relationships to form between them and us co-workers.
• Our Chinese studies are going very well. We are daily being challenged and are so thankful for the many avenues we have to practice what we are learning. Pray for a clear understanding as we continue to learn this difficult language.

Praises:

• Through the Lord’s provision, we have received the needed funds to cover our travel expenses for our upcoming home assignment. A very BIG thanks to all who gave to help with this need!
• Erich has recently been spending time with two non-Christian Taiwanese guys, Wilson and William. They are both very open to Christianity, so please pray that he can be a strong witness and example in their lives.

As we anticipate our home assignment beginning next month, we are getting very excited to see many of you.. If you are interested in seeing us, please email us with some possible dates. The sooner the better, as our schedule is already filling up! Here is a brief outline of where we will be:

November 10: Fly from Taipei to Columbia, SC.
November 10-14: Columbia, SC- Visiting supporters, friends, and our Alma Mater
November 14-30: Wheaton, IL/Milwaukee, WI- Visiting Erich’s extended family, as well as supporting churches
December 1- 28: Pennsylvania- Visiting Kelley’s family, our home church, friends and supporters
December 28-January 18: Germany- Visiting Erich’s family and friends

Please let us know how we can be praying for YOU!

For the Glory of God,
Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2009_09_09

September 9, 2009

Dear faithful supporters,

Greetings from Taipei! Is anyone else wondering where the summer went to? It seems like it was just June and now we are well into September! The month of August was full of endings and new beginnings. We concluded level 4 of our Chinese studies, as well as ended the 10 week Alpha course at church. We began preparing for the next season of 3E which will begin on September 19 and entered into level 5 at school, with a new teacher and new classmates. It’s been a busy and challenging month, but the Lord’s faithfulness keeps us going!

Prayer Requests: 

• As many of you know, Taiwan was hit hard by Typhoon Morakot on August 8th and 9th. The southern part of the island was majorly affected and much damaged was caused. Please continue to pray for those affected, and for the Church to grow stronger in southern Taiwan through the testimony of Christian relief workers.
• Alicia, an American girl, is living with us during her 3 month stay in Taiwan. Please pray for her Chinese studies and that God will clearly show her if Taiwan is where she is to serve long-term.
• We are planning a home assignment (first in the States and then in Germany) from early November-mid January 2010. Out of the needed $5,000 to cover travel expenses, to date we have received $3,500- praise God! Please continue to pray for the remaining funds to come in.

Praises:

• The last week of August we enjoyed a much needed vacation together. We went South (to a part not majorly affected by the typhoon) and enjoyed the sun and water for 5 days. Thank the Lord for times of relaxation and refreshment!
• We already have 10 Seekers registered for our upcoming 3E Classroom! Pray for more interested people to sign up.

We are so thankful for our faithful network of prayer warriors and supporters around the globe! May God bless each of you for your service and dedication to Him! 

Keep checking our website: www.crossing7.com/reachtaiwan for pictures and other information!

For the Glory of God,

Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2009_08_04

August 4, 2009

Dear faithful supporters,

Greetings from hot and sunny Taipei! We’ve had another full and busy month of language learning (we can now speak, read, and write around 1100 Chinese characters!), various church ministries and Bible camps, hosting large and small groups of people in our apartment for celebrations and meetings, and deepening relationships with the members of our Alpha groups. Each day we are reminded of the Lord’s goodness to us and His faithfulness that is never ending! What a privilege to serve here!

Prayer Requests:

• An American girl, Alicia, will be arriving on August 12th. She will be living in Taipei for 4 months, studying the language and doing various ministries. Pray for a quick adaptation to Taiwan and for us to know how we can best plug her into ministries at our church. (part of our role is to shepherd all Westerners that attend our church).
• This Friday, August 7, we have a big achievement test for our Chinese studies. Pray for good preparation and understanding as we take the test!
• We are planning a home assignment (first in the States and then in Germany) from early November-mid January 2010. Altogether our extra travel expenses total around $5,000. Because of our monthly support deficit, please pray for the needed funds to come in!

Praises:

• This past weekend we attended a retreat with our Alpha members. It was a great time of getting to know them more, as well as having many opportunities to pray with them. Pray for the seeds that were planted to keep growing!
• On July 30th we celebrated 4 years of marriage! We thank the Lord for giving us to each other!

As always, thank you for your continued interest and encouragement to us! May the Lord’s blessings be upon you today! Keep checking www.crossing7.com/reachtaiwan for more frequent updates and pictures!

For the Glory of God,

Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2009_07_03

July 3, 2009

Dear faithful supporters,

Greetings from Taipei! Happy 4th of July weekend! We’re sure many of you are gearing up for picnics, BBQ’s, and fireworks with friends and family. It obviously isn’t a celebrated holiday here, but we are taking Saturday evening and all day Sunday to have a little celebration of our own. We, along with 2 good American friends, are heading to a beach in the very North of Taiwan. We plan to enjoy the time playing games, reading, swimming, and just taking a break from the responsibilities of normal life.  The last month has been a busy one, but full of God’s blessings and provisions.

Prayer Requests:

• The Alpha course at church is going very well. So far each weekend about 60 Seekers have attended. Since it is all in Chinese, we are only helpers in groups, but it has been a great experience. Continue to pray for hearts to be open!
• From July 2-11 (except the 4th and 5th) we are teaching a Bible summer camp to junior high and high school students. We have about 20 kids attending and are praying that many of them can understand more about Jesus through this camp. One girl, Fabiana, is especially interested in being a Christian so pray for wisdom as we talk with her.
• We continue to need monthly support. Please pray for our remaining need of $580/month.

Praises:

• Our Chinese language study is going very well. We have a wonderful teacher and are enjoying the challenges learning this language brings. Praise God for the strength and understanding He gives us.
• Praise the Lord for the wonderful friends He has provided for us here. As we both celebrated birthdays this last Wednesday (yes, we were both born on July 1st), we were humbled again at the love and kindness of our Taiwanese friends. They truly are like family to us and are a consistent source of encouragement.

Thank you for your emails, cards, and prayers on our behalf. We thank the Lord for faithful people like you who are our strong support thousands of miles away. Remember to keep checking www.crossing7.com/reactaiwan for pictures and more frequent updates!

For the Glory of God,
Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2008_01_05

January 5, 2009
Dear faithful supporters,

Greetings and Happy New Year from Taipei! The new year has arrived and with it come new opportunities for change, growth, and learning in 2009. Our prayer for this year is that we remain open and willing to be used and led by the Lord however He chooses. It is such a blessing that He allows us to take part in the great work that He is doing around the world!
We were able to spend a lot of time with friends during the recent holiday season, and had good chances to share with our Taiwanese non-believing friends the real meaning of Christmas. While that time of year finds us missing family and friends back home more than usual, we could not thank God more for the family He has given us here in Taipei.

Prayer Requests:

• We are currently leading a follow-up course with our group members from last seasons 3E. We are meeting weekly to discuss Christian topics, and we continue to pray for their hears to open to the truth of the Gospel.
• The next season of 3E will begin in February, after the Chinese New Year. Pray for the planning, registration process, and other details that are currently underway.
• We continue to need monthly support. Please pray for our remaining need of $825/month.

Praises:

• Over 15 people from our first season of 3E accepted Christ and are being actively discipled by our Taiwanese co-workers! Praise the Lord!
• At the end of this month we will celebrate the largest festival of the year, the Chinese New Year. That holiday will allow us a week of vacation from class and other responsibilities. We are planning a 3 day trip to the south of Taiwan and are already looking forward to this time of needed rest, being together, and relaxation.

Please continue checking our website for more frequent information and pictures. We appreciate those of you who write us emails, comments, etc., and are daily aware that what we are doing couldnt happen without the prayers from people like you.

For the Glory of God,
Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2008_04_09

April 9, 2008

Dear supporters,

It has been so good to be back in Taipei and walk the familiar streets and take in all the memorable sights and sounds.  Our days here have been full and we have gotten to re-connect with many of our church co-workers, as well as other fellow English teachers. This past weekend we helped to lead 3E and on Sunday we led a cell group prayer time for over an hour, with both English and Taiwanese speakers.
The past week has been very full in another way as well. Throughout our time in Germany, and then through our arrival in Taipei we have been doing a lot of processing, praying, and talking regarding our vision trip to Africa, our future, etc. And, the best way to sum up the result of all our processing, praying, and talking is Isaiah 55:8 which says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.” We thought we had the next step figured out, but we are confident that the Lord is leading us down another path. It has become increasingly clear to us that the place we are to serve as missionaries right now, is Taipei. The outreach which we served in, 3E, is in great need of leadership, which we could provide. Pastor Moses has been looking and praying for someone to step up and lead/restructure 3E. The attendance has significantly dropped in the past months, and the co-workers are heading towards a burnout. There is a huge need for discipleship of the new Christians, as well as follow-up time with the seekers. Many co-workers and attendees of 3E have said that things haven’t been the same in 3E since we left, and would we please pray about returning. In addition, our church is heavily involved with missions in China, which in a lot of ways is comparable to missions in N. Africa, and which we could be involved in. We know that this may come as a shock to many of you, but we also think that some of you may not be too surprised.
It is important to know that we are not making this decision based on our feelings. It is hard to explain, but it is something that we both are certain is the Lord’s doing. While our trip to Africa was excellent in that it met all of our objectives, (i.e.- we asked all our questions, got a good idea of missionary life there, etc.) we did not leave having the confirmation that we had hoped to receive that this was indeed the place God was taking us. We both wanted to feel that confirmation, and maybe even in talking with some of you led you to believe we had received it, but we did not. Our hearts and minds were confused because we were so sure that Africa was where God was taking us. While this is a big shift in terms of our long-term ministry, the Lord used every step along the way, including our vision trip to N. Africa, to make His plans for us clear. We are not saying that Africa will never be in our future. We have been open and remain open to wherever the Lord would take us. Right now He is taking us to Taipei, the place where our hearts and passions are. We are not sure how He will have us here, but as long as the doors remain open, we have to obey.
We know that you all have been praying and will continue to pray for our future. We will be returning to the States in mid-May and then will return to Taiwan in late July. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

For the Glory of God,
Erich and Kelley

Schindler Update 2008_04_22

April 22, 2008

Dear faithful supporters,

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11

Thank you
We want to begin this letter by thanking the many of you who responded to us regarding our previous update stating our ministry changes. We thank you for your consistent support, encouragement, love, and prayer. Each day continues to bring confirmation that Taipei, Taiwan is indeed where God is calling us to serve and we are excited as we embark on this journey together.

Ministry details
As we begin our long-term service in Taiwan, we will continue to serve at Taipei Truth Church. The English outreach we previously served in, 3E, is going to be restructured, focusing more heavily on reaching seekers. Rather than being open to the public, it will take on more of a “class” feel, allowing seekers to sign up for a course, which will introduce them to the basics of the Christian faith. We hope that with this approach, we will be able to retain more consistent attendees and have opportunities for better follow-up throughout the week.
When we return to Taipei in July we will both be taking on more leadership roles of this ministry. This involves personal evangelism and discipling new Christians. Discipleship will happen in Bible studies and through mentoring relationships.
There is much potential for growth and service at Taipei Truth Church. In addition to reaching the local community, the church is involved in ministering to the underground church in China, which we hope to participate in one day.
However, in order to begin reaching our long-term goals, our first priority must be learning Chinese. We will both enroll as students in a local university in the Fall and begin full-time language learning alongside our church involvement.

Our commitment to you
We strongly believe that what God wants to accomplish through us in Taipei cannot be done without the partnership and prayer of people like you. It is our desire to be a faithful representative of Christ as we serve here. Overseas missionary service is a commitment, both on the part of the senders as well on the part of the goers. In partnering with us, we commit to:

• doing our best to share the Gospel with unreached Taiwanese people whenever we can
• applying ourselves with diligence to the study of the Chinese language
• keeping you updated through monthly prayer emails

For the Glory of God,
Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2008_06_19

June 19, 2008

Dear Faithful Supporters,

Greetings from Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania! The time since we returned to the States has passed quickly as we have been busy meeting with churches and individuals, packing and selling our things, and enjoying time with family and friends. We will be in the Pennsylvania area until the 6th of July, and from there we will head out to the Chicago and Milwaukee areas to see some family and meet with different churches.

We praise the Lord that all the finances needed for our initial start up costs have been fully met! We thank each of you who gave to help us reach this goal.  We are daily humbled by the provision of the Lord.

Our monthly support is underway, but we are still needing churches and individuals to partner with us to see this amount met. We are currently at about 25%, and are praying for more committed supporters to capture the vision of the work that the Lord is doing in Taiwan, and want to join in His mission.

Prayer Requests:

• For strength as we meet with many people and churches.
• For more partners who will commit to supporting us monthly.
• For clear guidance from the Lord as we join our co-workers in restructuring our English outreach, 3E, once we arrive back in Taiwan.

Praises:

• For the financial provision that covers all our start up costs.
• A very good Taiwanese friend of ours, Cindy, is coming to spend the 3 weeks in July with us before we head back to Taiwan.
• For wonderful friends and supporters who stand behind us and daily lift us up in prayer – we could not do this without you!

We have a brand new ministry website: www.crossing7.com/reachtaiwan. Please visit for more detailed information.

For the Glory of God,
Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2008_07_08

July 8, 2008

Greetings from Wheaton, IL!

Our travels have now brought us to the Mid-West where we will spend the next 2 ½ weeks traveling between Wheaton, IL and Milwaukee, WI. Our time will be spent finalizing visa documents needed for Taiwan, visiting churches, and enjoying time with friends and family.

As we prepare to return to Taiwan for long-term missionary service, we again want to thank all of you who have been faithfully praying for us. The Lord has been so good to guide us each step of the way, and we have no doubt that He will continue revealing His plan for us step by step.

As you pray for us here are some specifics:

• Over the last couple of months we have been praying for committed supporters to partner with us both prayerfully and financially. As stated in previous emails, we need to raise $2, 300 in monthly support for the upcoming year. To date, we have approximately 30% of our monthly support raised. However, this is all from individuals, as we are still waiting for pledged church support to come through.

Our prayer is that people will realize that giving even $10 a month is a huge blessing. For example, just $10 US dollars will allow us to spend 3-4 meals building friendships and witnessing to Taiwanese seekers!

• Pray that all our visa documents arrive on time and that we find favor in the eyes of the Taiwanese government officials.

We want to remind you that we do have a ministry website up and running on which you can find information about our ministry, how to support us, and recent updates. It is: www.crossing7.com/reachtaiwan.

Please feel free to write us at any time with questions or comments. Our journey in Taiwan is only made possible because of the love and support of people like you.

For the Glory of God,
Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2008_07_23

June 23, 2008

Dear faithful supporters,

We wanted to send a final report from the States before we leave tomorrow on our journey back to Taipei, Taiwan. The past several weeks have been full of family, friends, and fellowship with churches, both in Pennsylvania and in the Mid-West.

Praises:

• Our missionary visas were approved by the Taiwanese government within only 3 days of being requested!
• We have had fruitful meetings with churches and mission committees, in which we were able to share in depth about our ministry in Taiwan.
• We have had our Taiwanese friend, Yen Chi, visiting with us for the past 2 weeks.  It has been a joy to introduce her to family, and share our life here with her.

Prayer Requests:

• A smooth transition back “home”, and that we would quickly find an apartment to live in.
• We are still in need of committed monthly supporters. To date, we are at about 50% of our needed support. We are trusting and have full confidence that the Lord will bring in the remaining amount soon.
• The month of August will be spent strategizing and re-structuring our ministry outreach. Please pray for unity among the co-workers, and a clear vision for the future.

The relationship we share is a partnership. Please feel free at anytime  to write us with ways we can be praying for and lifting you up as well.

For the Glory of God,
Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2008_07_30

July 30, 2008

Dear faithful supporters,

Greetings from the rainy, windy, city of Taipei! As you may have heard, Taiwan was hit with a typhoon this past weekend, but thankfully it has now passed. Since our arrival late Friday night, we have been overcoming jet lag, apartment searching, and reconnecting with people at church and 3E.

Prayer Requests:

• We are looking at two more apartments today- please pray we find the right one quickly, as we have guests from Germany arriving next week.
• Pray for unity among our multi-national leadership team for 3E. The next six weeks will be spent re-structuring our outreach for the Fall season. Our goal is to reach out to Seekers in a more focused way.

Praises:

• Our travels to Taipei were uneventful and safe. Also, we are thankful for protection during the recent typhoon. Thanks to all of you who showed concern for us!
• Today we celebrate three years of marital bliss :-) Thanks to the Lord for the way He has led us as a couple, and continues to grow us together.

Many of you have mentioned that you would enjoy more frequent updates in a blog format. So, we have created a ministry blog, which we will update weekly with pictures and short life updates. You can find it at: www.crossing7.com/reachtaiwan. Enjoy and feel free to leave us a comment.

May God continue to bless you as we serve Him together!

For the Glory of God,
Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2008_08_26

August 26, 2008

Dear faithful supporters,

Greetings from hot and humid Taipei! Being here at this time of the year brings back memories of our first days in Taiwan 2 years ago, and the constant state of sweat we seemed to always find ourselves in. But, regardless of the heat and humidity, we could not feel more peace or joy than we doing in serving our Lord here in Taiwan.

Prayer Requests:

• Our days are filled with meetings, as we are in the final weeks of planning and re-structuring our ministry. The new 3E will begin on September 20th. Pray for clarity, wisdom, and unity among the leadership team
• Pray for Seekers to sign up to take part in the new season of 3E. We will have 30 available openings- pray each spot gets filled!
• We continue to need monthly support. Please pray for our remaining need of $950/month.

Praises:

• We had an excellent visit with our friends from Germany. Praise the Lord for good talks and good memories.
• 2 girls have recently prayed to receive Jesus as their Savior! Pray they would stay strong in their commitment and desire to grow in the Lord.

Please continue checking our website for more frequent information and pictures. Thanks to those of you who keep in touch through letters and emails- it is always a joy to hear from you!

What a privilege to serve our Lord together!

For the Glory of God,
Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2008_09_21

September 21, 2008

Dear faithful supporters,

Greetings from Taipei! The days and weeks quickly pass by and it’s hard to believe the end of September is almost here. The last month has kept us busy, but along with the challenges and responsibilities have come many rewards. We can now write, read, and understand between 50-100 Chinese characters; we have made contact with many of the Taiwanese who are pastors of TEAM church plants, and we had an excellent kick-off to our 3E English outreach ministry. God has brought to us 38 Seekers who have committed to join our outreach for the next 10 weeks.

Prayer Requests:

• For a good understanding and clarity of mind as we study Chinese.
• Pray for the 38 Seekers who have registered and are now attending the first season of our new 3E outreach. For the next 10 weeks, we will be focusing on building relationships with them and praying for natural ways to share our faith.
• We continue to need monthly support. Please pray for our remaining need of $950/month.

Praises:

• The first meeting of 3E went very smoothly yesterday. Praise the Lord for the way our co-workers (Taiwanese and Americans) have worked together and prepared for this new season. We know the Lord has great things in store!
• A new missionary family has recently arrived in Taipei and have already become good friends. Praise the Lord for the good connection He has given us, and pray that together we will have opportunities to reach out to the Lost here in Taipei.

Please continue checking our website for more frequent information and pictures. We are thankful for all of you and continue to keep you in our thoughts and prayers. Please don’t hesitate to let us know how we can specifically be lifting you up! To God be the glory, great things He has done!

For the Glory of God,
Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2008_10_26

October 26, 2008

Dear faithful supporters,

Greetings from Taipei, where the weather is still quite hot and sunny. Walking to church this morning, it was hard to believe it was the end of the October, because we were both sweating! Another month has passed, and with each day come new challenges, growth opportunities, and rewards. One month remains of our first quarter in Chinese school, after which we will have a few days break and then begin again.

3E is going very well, and we are seeing the Lord's hand at work in the Seekers' lives. Yesterday, we took many 3E members on a trip to the middle of the island with our church, and had a wonderful day enjoying nature and talking outside of a church setting. On the bus ride home a Taiwanese co-worker presented the Gospel, and we are thankful for the seeds that were planted- pray for growth!

Prayer Requests:

• On November 11 we will have an achievement test for our Chinese learning. If we pass, we can proceed to the next level, if not we will have to repeat this quarter again. Pray for wisdom and good understanding!
• This week is a big evangelistic week in Taipei- Franklin Graham is here and is holding a festival for 4 days. Pray for open hearts and minds, especially on Saturday as we will take our 3E group members.
• We continue to need monthly support. Please pray for our remaining need of $825/month.
  Click here for more information on how to begin supporting us.

Praises:

• We had a wonderful outing yesterday and are thankful for the relationships that are deepening with our group members. Pray for more opportunities to share about Christ.
• Last Sunday we were able to bring a classmate of ours (a Vietnamese) to church with us. He is an non-Christian, so pray we will know best how to reach out to him, as well as our other classmates.

Please continue checking our website for more frequent information and pictures. As always, thank you for your emails, comments, and prayers! We are thankful for each one of you!

For the Glory of God,

Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2008_12_03

December 3, 2008

Dear faithful supporters,

Greetings from Taipei! The last month of 2008 is now here, and the weather is slowly starting to feel like December. The past month of November was full of language learning, deepening relationships, and giving thanks to God for His abundant blessings. We recently returned from a retreat with our missionary organization, TEAM, and had a wonderful time getting to know fellow missionaries on a deeper level. Our hearts are full of gratitude as we think of how the Lord has so faithfully led us over the past year in bringing us back to the place and people we love so deeply.

Prayer Requests:

• Today we begin  level 2 in our Chinese classes. We will have a new teacher and classmates. Pray for continued wisdom and understanding as we study.
• This coming Saturday marks the end of this season of 3E. A new season will not begin until after the Chinese New Year in January, so for the following 2 months we will be leading studies on basic Bible doctrines with our group members. Pray for open hearts and good discussions.
• We continue to need monthly support. Please pray for our remaining need of $825/month.

Praises:

• A girl Kelley began meeting with 2 years ago, who is now a part of Kelleys group at 3E, made a decision to accept Christ this week! She will hopefully be getting baptized around Christmas
• We both feel that over this year we have grown in our understanding of Gods character and His love for us. Praise the Lord that His ways are not our ways, and that He always faithfully leads us!

Please continue checking our website for more frequent information and pictures. Our prayer is that each of you enjoy this Christmas season as you celebrate the birth of our Savior! May you be filled with His peace and love. Until next year.

For the Glory of God,
Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2009_02_17

February 17, 2009

Dear faithful supporters,

Greetings from Taipei! The middle of February is already upon us, and we continue to stay busy with our language study and ministry at Taipei Truth Church. We currently both attend Chinese cell groups each week, which provide us good times to get to know other Taiwanese Christians and practice our language! In addition, every Monday evening we hold an English speaking cell group at our home, open to any English speaker who attends Truth Church. Currently, there are 9 of us in the group.

Prayer Requests:

• The second season of 3E Classroom had its kick-off this past Saturday, the 14^th of February. About 40 Taiwanese Seekers are attending this 11-week season.
  Please pray they will be faithful in coming and that their hearts will be opened to the Gospel.
• Please continue to lift up the Seekers that attended last season of 3E Classroom. Many have or are currently attending follow-up groups, in which they are studying the basics of the Christian faith. Pray especially for courage to follow through with baptism, despite the misgivings of some of their Buddhist family members.
• We continue to need monthly support. Please pray for our remaining need of $725/month.

Praises:

• We both scored over 90% on our second achievement test for our Chinese studies. We were tested on our knowledge of speaking, writing, listening, and reading 500+ Chinese characters, so we are quite pleased with our results!
• This coming Sunday, Chloe, a friend of Kelleys who accepted Christ during the last season of 3E Classroom will be baptized. Praise the Lord for His work in her life and pray that she can be a positive example to her unbelieving family members.
• This Friday, the 20^th, we will welcome Kelleys mom for a 12 day visit. We are very excited for her to come!

Please continue checking our website for more frequent information and pictures. Thank you for your love, prayers, and support you show us in many ways!

For the Glory of God,
Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2009_03_30

March 30, 2009

www.crossing7.com/reachtaiwan

Dear faithful supporters,

Greetings from Taipei! This week we will say goodbye to March and hello to April- how quickly time flies by! We are technically now in the rainy season, but this year has so far brought surprisingly little rain. I guess well just have to wait and see what the next few weeks bring! During the last month we enjoyed a 12 day visit with Kelleys mom, started level 3 of our Chinese studies which included getting a new teacher and classmates, continued being involved in both our Chinese and English cell groups, and most recently enjoyed a fun weekend at a camp with our 3E Seekers and co-workers. Our church is also in the midst of a 40 day prayer and fasting season leading up to Easter which we are partaking in. We are using this time to seek the Lord and pray for issues close to our hearts.

Prayer Requests:

• 3E Classroom is going wonderfully this season. Our current group of Seekers are very energetic and eager to learn both English and about the Christian faith. Pray for their hearts to remain open.
• Our Chinese class this semester is more challenging than any previous class. Our teacher holds us to a higher standard and is much stricter in grading. Pray for clarity, understanding, and good time management as we seek to learn this difficult language!
• We continue to need monthly support. Please pray for our remaining need of $725/month.

Praises:

• Our 3E Classroom outing was a great time of fun and deepening relationships among the Seekers and co-workers. Around 8 Seekers are currently being led through a study entitled Begin Your New Life, which is a basic introduction to the Christian faith. They havent made decisions to become Christians yet, but this is a great step towards seeing that happen!
• We are growing in our relationships with our classmates. Two girls we have known now for 4 months, as we were also classmates last semester. We thank the Lord for the chance to build a friendship with them and are planning to invite them to our churchs Easter celebration.

We have recently uploaded a bunch of pictures onto our ministry website, www.crossing7.com/reachtaiwan, so you can look at them and see what we have been up to lately. You are all a blessing to us!

For the Glory of God,

Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2009_05_07

May 7, 2009

Dear faithful supporters,

Greetings from beautiful and sunny Taipei! The days are progressively getting warmer which daily reminds us of the intense heat that a Taiwan summer brings.  The month of April was full of learning, spending quality time with friends, hosting an Easter Day dinner with 25 friends from church, and reaching out to Seekers at our 3E Classroom. Each day we thank God for His care and provision for us.

Prayer Requests:

• Next Tuesday, May 12th, we will have another achievement test for our Chinese studies. This is a very large test and will determine if we may proceed to the next level. Pray for good preparation and wisdom as we take the test.
• This coming Saturday we will jointly be speaking on the topic “God is our Provider” to our 3E Classroom Seekers. Pray for guidance and the right words to say.
• We continue to need monthly support. Please pray for our remaining need of $725/month.

Praises:

• One of classmates, a girl from the Caribbean island of Nevis, came to church with us on Easter Sunday. Continue to pray we can be a good testimony to those we study with.
• During the month of April 4 Seekers from our 3E Classroom accepted Jesus into their life!  Pray that they can be discipled and continue to grow in their new faith.

Please continue checking our website for more frequent updates and pictures. As always, thank you for your continued love, support, and prayers on our behalf. The Lord is doing a great work here in Taipei- how thankful we are that He allows us to take part in it!

For the Glory of God,
Erich and Kelley Schindler

Schindler Update 2009_06_08

June 8, 2009

Dear faithful supporters,

Greetings from Taipei! The month of May was a full and busy month for us. Since our last update we have taken and passed another achievement test in our Chinese class, said good bye to friends who moved away and hello to friends new to Taipei, attended a course at church (all in Chinese!) to be trained as ALPHA co-workers, continued meeting with and building relationships with 3E Seekers, and of course studied a lot of Chinese! Weve been blessed beyond measure at the Lords goodness in our lives and daily thank Him for giving us the privilege of serving here!

Prayer Requests:

• Our 3E spring season is now over, but we are encouraging our group members to join our church's ALPHA course, which begins June 20. This course will introduce them to the basics of the Christian faith and give them an opportunity to ask any questions they have. We will both be serving in small groups as helpers, so please pray for wisdom and strength, especially as it will be all in Chinese.
• There are several people (foreigners) who are planning to move to Taipei in the summer/early fall. Our pastor has given us the responsibility to care for them, so please pray for us to know how best we can integrate them into ministry and provide for their needs.
• We continue to need monthly support. Please pray for our remaining need of $580/month.

Praises:

• With our language skills increasingly improving we are having more and more opportunities to serve here. Thank the Lord for His help in learning this language and for the chances He gives us to serve Him!
• 18 of our 3E spring season Seekers are actively pursuing a relationship with Christ through different means. Pray for them to continue making steps toward a relationship with Christ.

We hope and pray you all are doing well! Thanks for your continued love, encouragement, and support you shower on us! Also, please remember to keep checking our website at: www.crossing7.com/reachtaiwan.

For the Glory of God,
Erich and Kelley Schindler