We have all seen so much change in our world this past year and a half. We have also had to make changes in our ministry, but God has been faithful through it all.

One of the challenges for us is that we have been unable to host outreach teams from other countries. The government has a strict quarantine in place for all people entering the island, so that wouldn't be ideal for outreach teams.

Hosting teams was an amazing blessing for us because so many people would hear the gospel through our teams and we would be able to do follow up with them in our cafe. Since teams have stopped coming, it forced us to reevaluate what God was asking us to do. Rather than starting something totally new, we chose to partner with a local ministry in what they were doing. We still continued to do our normal English Rock ministry but in addition we started helping a non profit organization in serving families and specifically kids that are at risk. Keith meets with some middle school boys every week to play sports and hang out with them after school. They are from single parent families and would be home alone as the parents are always working. It has been a blessing for him to get to spend time with them.

We also had a new family join us in Taitung to work together. They have been a huge asset to YWAM Taitung and a huge answer to prayer. We couldn't be happier with the co-workers God has brought to us!

We were able to come to the States on furlough in May. We spent several weeks in Pennsylvania first and then we went to Arkansas for the rest of the summer. We've had a great time visiting friends and family and now we're headed back to Taiwan soon to get back to ministry. 

Thank you all for your prayer and support!

Back at it

The last few months

In August we returned back to Taiwan from our summer in America. We wanted to thank everyone for our time there. It was so great to connect with our sending churches, our family, and many friends. 5 days after we got back, Elliot and Ezra had to go back to school. We felt bad for them because they weren't completely over jet-lag but they were troopers. Currently, it is only us here. Our coworker left in September to go and do his DTS (Discipleship Training School). We were sad to see him leave, but we are also excited to see how God uses him and to see his growth after the school. For us, DTS was a key part in our lives and we grew a lot in our walk with Jesus. Since right now we are the only ones serving in our ministry, on nights that the Rock is open, we need to take our kids with us. The kids have been doing so well there and the people that come to the Rock seem to enjoy talking with them. Having the kids at the Rock does have its challenges, but overall it has gone better then we thought it would. Usually we kept the Rock open until 10pm but since the kids need to get to bed earlier, we have been closing earlier. Over the next few months, we will be hosting a few different outreach teams, and when they are here, we can operate with our normal schedule.

This year Elliot is in second grade and the Chinese reading and writing was becoming too challenging. However, we really wanted him to continue in public school. Magan was able to have a meeting with his teacher and discovered that his school is set up on an individual education program system. This means that each child can have their education track tailored to their needs. We were able to share what we want for our children's education and the school is working with us to create his education track. Basically this means that he is doing a little less Chinese, so that we can incorporate more English reading/writing into his education.

While Magan was in this meeting, Elliot's teacher shared that he is such a blessing to her. She said she recently share a video in class of the earthquake in Japan. In the video, some buildings were collapsing and the other students were saying "cool!", (because they are second graders) However, Elliot started crying and couldn't stop for a long time. He was upset because he knew that people had gotten hurt. His teacher said that she has been so touched by his compassion for others. We were able to share with her that God created him with this compassion and it's because of God's love. Elliot is being a light in his classroom and we are watching him grow in his own personal faith in Jesus.

BBQ with our church

Having fun at the Rock!

What's Next?
Over the next 3 months, we are hosting 4 outreach teams back to back. The holiday season is always a fruitful time for ministry here. We are able to share the gospel very easily through Christmas activities especially. We are looking forward to working alongside these teams as we go into the public schools and chat with people at the Rock.

Soon after we got back, there was a trash cleanup held by a bunch of the schools in our area. Elliot really wanted to be involved with this so Keith and Elliot signed up to help. 

One of our outreach teams helping another ministry "Taiwan Sunshine". They are a ministry that focuses on helping people with special needs

America Here We Come!

Hello from hot and very sunny Taiwan! We are so excited to be leaving on a plane this week to visit many of you in America! We are looking forward to two months of being with family, friends, and maybe even some foods that we've missed.

Our summer schecule:
June 18-July 15 - Lewisburg, PA
July 16-17 drive to AR
July 17- August 16 - Malvern, AR

We wanted to do a short update of what's been happening here. Recently, Magan started a Bible study at our Rock Cafe with some of the high school girls she has been discipling. They are new believers and it is such a joy to see their passion growing for the truth. The Bible study happens every Sunday afternoon.

Last week one of the girls was asked by her history teacher to speak in her class about the life of Jesus. How awesome! Her teacher, who is not a believer, wanted to have a history lesson on the life of Jesus. She asked Tina because she knew she was a believer. Tina prepared well and shared the gospel with her classmates for 50 minutes! She was nervous but very willing to be used by God in this way.

Also, last Friday, a university girl that we haven't seen in a while came back to the Rock. Magan was so glad to get to see her and catch up before we leave on our trip. The girl shared that she wants to believe in Jesus but she's been attending a church that is sharing things she believes is not in the Bible. As the conversation progressed, Magan discovered that she is attending a cult type denomination that also worships a Korean "prophet" in addition to Jesus. This "prophet" reveals things to the congregation that are definitely not supported in the Bible. More and more we are seeing these kinds of heretical teachings in the South of Taiwan. We know why we're here, why we had so much training in the Bible through the School of Biblical Studies and Titus Project. We are so thankful to be able to help people find the truth in God's Word.

America, here we come!
Blessings to you all,
The Lapps

Recent Holidays

I hope everybody enjoyed their holidays. During December and January we had an outreach team here. The team did a wonderful job. They especially loved doing evangelism in the city through basketball, soccer, ultimate frisbee, and at our Rock Cafe.  They were a sports focus outreach and made some great contacts so we are trying to do further follow up with the people they met.  Also during this time, Magan's mom was here visiting with us.  It was nice to be able to celebrate the holidays with her.

In February the Taiwanese celebrate Chinese New Year and also a local holiday known as the "Bombing of Master Han Dan". During Chinese New Year a lot of restaurants close but also, since it is a government holiday, most people have off from work and school, so during that time, tourism increases quite a bit here in our city.  We don't really leave the house much because most of our friends are busy and everyone is on holiday. During Chinese New Year there are a lot of firecrackers, even late at night. A few weeks later is the local Taitung holiday, and during that holiday, most of the temples in Taitung are involved in it. There are parades and firecrackers all over the city for 3 days and it is hard to drive around. At night there is a big event and they actually throw firecrackers at a certain volunteer. He is standing on a stand with a small idol and they carry him around while others throw firecrackers at him.  The videos we posted here show what happens in the streets during this time.  They will block off a street and parade the idol in front of businesses to "bless" those businesses while setting off firecrackers to scare "ghosts" away from those businesses.  Magan was working at our office and heard this going on outside, so she went out to video it.  They are doing their rituals in front of a tea shop across from the Rock Cafe.

The kids are doing well in school. The boys had 3 weeks off from school during Chinese New Year. This was a welcome break, because the Taiwanese don't get off from school for Christmas.  We always use the Chinese New Year break for some much needed family time.  Over this holiday, the Taiwanese spend time with family and friends and eat lots of good food.  We were invited to a friend's home for a delicious traditional Chinese New Year meal.  Instead of exchanging gifts, they exchange red envelopes with money inside. 

After the new school semester started, Elliot joined a violin class offered at his school.  So far, he is very excited about it and we hope he will enjoy learning this beautiful instrument.  Although listening to the process may not be very beautiful.  :)

What's in the near future?

April:  hosting an outreach team from South Africa

May:  YWAM's national staff conference/ celebrating both boys' birthdays

June-August : We will be in America for furlough.  We hope to see many of you this summer and catch up!

Summer 2017

BBQ with neighbors

Hello everyone, it is unbelievable that it has been a year since we saw most of you last. This past year has gone by so fast. Since our last update we have hosted a few outreach teams from different parts of the world and a God did a lot of cool things. It is really encouraging to see young people praying and seeking God, then walking in faith and obedience to do what they believe God is telling them. We saw healings, people saved and encouraged, and some returning back to the Lord after years away. God is good and faithful!

I will share a few of those stories.

BBQ with neighbors

One of the outreach teams were walking around to do evangelism and prayed for God to provide a translator for them. Within 5 minutes a local friend of ours drove by, saw them, and stopped to ask what they were doing. They told him they were doing evangelism and he offered to accompany them and translate. Shortly after, they met a homeless man with an injured leg. They talked to him and prayed for healing. He stood up and was able to move his leg again and walk. The homeless man said he used to go to church, but has not gone in a long time. He praised God and said he would return back to church that week. The man left them and they were talking to our friend that was translating for them. He then said, "Wow, I also need to return to church. I think God is wanting me to change."

A different team was also asking God who He wanted them to share with. Nearby the Rock Cafe there are some karaoke shops that are actually used for prostitution. Some girls on this team, felt like God was asking them to go into one of these businesses and talk to the women there. One of our Taiwanese church friends was willing to go with them and translate. After going there a few times and talking with the women, they found out that the owners , two women from mainland China, would like to get out of this business. They would like to move to Europe and start a restaurant, but in order to do this, they need to learn English. The girls on this team formed  relationship with these women shortly before the team left Taiwan. Now Magan and some other local missionary women are in the process to start an English class for them and hopefully help them get out of this business. Please pray that they will be able to build relationship with these women and that they will all come to know Jesus in the process. Pray for protection for Magan and everyone helping and also for the women involved in this business.

One night at the Rock, Magan was able to lead a girl named Zoe to the Lord!  Magan had never actually talked to her before, but she was an English teacher at one of the high schools in our city.  One of our teams had met her several months earlier and she had invited them into her English classes to practice with her students. They had hung out with her and shared the gospel with her. She came back to the Rock to talk with us because she was planning to move to another city nearby.  As she and Magan were talking, she started sharing about her time with the team and how, since the team had left, she'd started praying to God and she really felt like He'd been answering her prayers.  Magan was able to share more with her and pray for her to receive Jesus! The following Sunday she came to church with us and was worshipping her new Savior freely with hands in the air and tears in her eyes! It was really cool to see God working in her life. He is so faithful!

First day of school!

Family:
Ezra just started kindergarten this year and he is really loving it. For a while he has been asking when it was his turn to go to school. Ezra is so extroverted that he was pretty miserable at home before school started. When he arrived back home that first day, he was a totally different person. He was cheerful and he couldn't wait to tell us about all the things he did at school that day. It was really cute.

Elliot with his teacher

Can I go?

One of the things about living in a different culture is there are often things that we misunderstand or may be totally different from what we were expecting. A good example of this happened on Elliot's first day of 1st grade. We received a schedule and it seemed like we would be meeting the teacher and listening to the principal tell us about what to expect at this school. That day Keith was busy because he volunteers at a hospital for visa purposes. That meant Magan would need to take Maelynn to do all these things. It turned out that it was a pretty big deal and there was a big ceremony in front of the whole school for all the kids entering 1st grade. Haha, we have been here many years but are still learning new things.

Elliot is loving first grade and is learning to read in Chinese, which means we struggle to help him with his homework every day!  :) We are coping.










 We started the boys in Taekwondo so that they could get some energy out :)

Exciting things are happening!

Hello from Taiwan!

This is far overdue, but we will recap the last several months.

Jan/Feb
We had a DTS outreach team here for two months. It was the longest amount of time that we have ever hosted an outreach team and they were a huge blessing to our ministry. Because they were here longer, they were able to build deeper relationships with the same people. They had a huge heart for evangelism and because of this, they led 7 people to the Lord! Since they have left we have been plugging these people into Taiwanese churches and getting to do discipleship with them.

March- June
We hosted 3 more teams during this time. They spent the majority of their time doing evangelism out in the city and going into high schools to do English activities. Because of this, many new students are coming to our Rock Cafe to hang out.We've been able to share the gospel with a lot of new people.

In May we attended our yearly YWAM national staff conference.  It was a much needed time of renewal and reconnecting with our mother base that sent us out two years ago.  Unfortunately, on our way home, our van broke down on the highway, due to a tire blowout.  It caused a few extra problems with the van and it was in the shop for two weeks.  We stayed overnight in the city where we broke down and rode the train home the next day.  We were thankful for God's protection during the incident.

As far as our team, one of our members, Biggie from Zambia, returned home to get married. We are excited for him and this new chapter in his life, but we are also sad to see a good friend and co-worker leave. Another member of our team, Erin from New Zealand, also left for home. She grew up in missions because her parents are missionaries and now she is going back to university.  She is excited but the uncertainty of this transition is also hard for her. We are also sad to see her go. Right now we still don't have any hope of new staff joining our team, so that means the responsibility will be falling on Angwar and us. We pray that more help will be coming.

Family
Elliot will graduate kindergarten next week! It's been a challenge learning how the school system works in another country, but we really like his school.  When he started, he didn't know any Chinese at all and it was a tough transition for him. He is now speaking Chinese all the time and loves going to school!  Ezra will start in the same kindergarten in the fall.  He is very excited and wants to start right away.  Maelynn is 19 months old and is mostly very sweet, but she is entering the stage of throwing tantrums when things don't go her way.  She understands almost everything we say to her, although she isn't speaking much.  She uses baby sign language well to communicate.  In May, we celebrated the boys' birthdays with a scooby doo party. They turned 4 and 6.

Easter Sunday

riding the train when our van broke down

special mother's day ceremony at Elliot's school

Elliot and his friend Abigail at the birthday party

Maelynn and her baby doll

Keith took this picture while hiking with an outreach team

Hanging out at the Rock Cafe

What has happened since our return home from our furlough

Tinkerbell, Peter Pan, and Captain Hook enjoying the holidays

For Taiwan, this summer/fall has been an eventful one.   Around June- October is typhoon season.  This year has been especially bad because they had experienced multiple storms that were some of the worst in its history.  After we returned, we experienced a few typhoons, but none hit our city directly and as badly, as the storm that hit while we were on furlough in the US this past summer. Our city had a lot of damage.  Not long after we returned late August, we found out our landlord had put our house up for sale and 3 days after learning that, it was sold.  So we started packing up our house and looking for a new place.  We had started packing in September and in the beginning of October we had another tropical storm (It is a tropical storm  just before it becomes a typhoon, the weakest typhoon being a category 1).  During this storm, it had rained a LOT.  That day, Elliot was in school, Maelynn was taking a nap, and Magan and I had just gotten off of skype.  Ezra was running around the house playing when suddenly Ezra says, "There's water!".  Magan and I assumed he had spilled a cup of water and had gotten up to see what kind of mess he had made.  We quickly realized that water was rushing in from outside.  Our house sat just below street level and since the drains had gotten blocked, the water on the streets had no where to go.  So the water came into our place and all of our neighbor's houses.  The water just kept coming and coming in and there was no way to stop it.

Cleaning after the flood in our home 

 Since we were in the middle of moving we had boxes stacked all over our house so we quickly grabbed boxes and rushed them up to the second floor.  The water got as high as 7 inches, and around an hour later, it all started to drain back out of the house (Praise God!).  Since we had so much water in our house Ezra thought it was a great time to practice his back stroke and freestyle swimming.  He had so much fun while mom and dad were stressed out and trying to move things as quickly as possible.  Someone unplugged the drains and plus the rain had finally slowed down (after 2 days of pouring down rain) so the water started to subside.  Some of our friends in the city came to help us dry the floor and clean it so that it wouldn't mould as quickly. We lost some cheap book cases, the legs to our dining table are pealing, and we spent a lot of time repacking boxes and drying out the books we wanted to save.

Everything that was lost (not too bad)

 Overall we felt rather blessed it wasn't worse. Since all of that happened, we were eager to move into our new house, but we had to wait another week for it to be ready for us to move in.  We luckily had an outreach team here during our move and were able to move the majority of our stuff within 2 days.  So now we have mostly settled into our new place. We have been in the new house for almost two months.  In our next post we hope to put pictures of our new place.

In the month of November we celebrated Maelynn's first birthday and she started walking about a week before she turned one!  She's growing too fast.  :)

Playing Candy Land with their toys

Maelynn having some breakfast amidst the move