Like the apostle Paul, I think I am better spoken through written letters but if you’d like to see it, I made my first video update and uploaded it to YouTube.
Please take a quick read of my written update below as well though, (My future plans and prayer requests are at the bottom)
Here’s the link to the video at the bottom of the post:
Ok so 9 months has gone by since I arrived in Taiwan and I have graduated from the School of Biblical Studies by the grace of God!
There is way too much so say about these last 9 months which is why I have been writing updates along the way but I can say this without a doubt: This has been the best 9 months of my life thus far and is the best decision that I have ever made to obey God and come to Taiwan.
It is hard to sum this up in a few things so I will focus on some big ones.
Biggest things learned:
-A bigger passion for the word of God
-A deeper love and compassion for others
-Greater understanding of God’s character and faithfulness.
-Studying the word has opened my eyes to seeing not only the bible differently, but the way I see the world has completely shifted.
–Something most significant that I have seen change from this time is my heart.
In the past, my decisions, the way I viewed sin, and the way I saw basically everything was filtered mostly though only my mind, but in studying the bible daily, God has shown me that each decision I make needs to go through not only my mind’s filter, but primarily through the filter of my heart and of Jesus. By this, I mean to say that I have gained an understanding of engaging my heart in everything I do, not only my mind, which enables me focus on what is right to God, not merely what I think.
Our actions are completely futile to God if they aren’t motivated from the heart.
-This is the primary thing that Israel has always had a problem understanding. They thought that their actions and rituals and worship and prayers were all important because of the actions themselves, not recognizing that their hearts were not in it. Everything that they did was pointless because they didn’t do it from their hearts.
-The 9th value of YWAM is to have a biblical world view and in doing SBS, God has not only helped me grow in that but also I have seen growth in all the other 17 values that YWAM has and I have seen that all of the 18 values are completely biblical.
Check them out here: http://www.ywam.org/about-us/values/
-I will be volunteer staffing SBS with YWAM for the next 2 years in Taiwan. That includes teaching the bible to students, ministry and preaching the gospel throughout Taiwan and being an overall servant here with YWAM for one purpose.
Obedience to The Lord.
I believe The Lord has called me to Nepal eventually but for now He has postponed that for a time that I am here in Taiwan. I know that He will provide all my needs as they are brought up.The first steps are: A 3 month Mandarin boot camp to learn some basic Chinese and then starts the year of SBS and the first book I will be teaching is 1 Timothy.
I still need to find a place to live long term here as I have been living in the SBS housing until now which is not available past March, so please pray for an inexpensive place to live or that people offer to support me monthly so that I am able to find an average place with a few people. Also for continued wisdom and for relationships to build strong here between the Taiwanese and I.
-Budgeted monthly cost of living for the next 2 years will be $850/month which allows for emergency situation savings.
That being said, I do not have that amount of monthly support yet, but I am fully confident that God will provide.
If you would like to help support me, please email me for details and I would love to chat on the phone or have a Skype call with you if you’d like. Tax receipts through YWAM are available if you desire them.
Thank you so much to everyone for your current support prayerfully and financially!
Love is the answer,
Humility is the key,
Jesus is the way!Your brother and friend,
Jacob President
Presidents in Taiwan 