After almost 2 years living in Taiwan, God gave me the opportunity to go back to Canada/USA to visit with my girlfriend Amber’s family, my mom and dad, and my family in Christ in Victoria! While praying about how I would ever be able to go back to visit some day, God answered and Amber’s parents along with mine, bought plane tickets for us both to come to America and to Canada! God is so so good. I am going to keep this short and sweet and attach the link to a video I made of my last 2 years in Taiwan so you can have an idea of what has been happening 🙂

The first year in Taiwan was one of the most unique experiences of my life, with many tears and battles, many more hours of deep study in the word, many victories, and heavy character building. There were many beliefs that I had about the Bible and about God that I realized were wrong and misguided. I was undiscipled, but through a grueling process, God broke me and started to reshape my heart and head yet again. I built amazing relationships with friends that have played a big part in my life. I began to understand God’s heart more and my own heart through the process. My life was turned totally upside down and the beginning of a good foundation was being laid.

Then God told me to stay longer in Taiwan. Two years for starters. He had said that He wanted me to stay and staff the School of Biblical Studies and to disciple and help others begin to see the truth of the word since it changed me so so much and was continuing to do so. I submitted to Him and took a short Chinese language course, then began to staff and prepare to teach my first books of the Bible. WOW… What a huge responsibility this is! What an honor and privilege! Something that cannot be taken lightly. The second year of living in Taiwan I fee like I have grown even more than the first year.. A lot more actually. It also shows me how much more there is for me to learn and grow in.

I would go into all the details but this would become a book and I again am attempting at a short update *wink*.

Grace. This is the one of the biggest and most noticeable parts of my character that I have grown in. Grace in more ways than one. Firstly, I have grown in understanding how much grace the God has given me throughout my life. At one point last year, I asked a few people if they would be honest and tell me of some blind spots that they saw in my life because I waned to continue to grow. There were a few things that were difficult to hear but I was willing to listen and try to make changes as He made these things known. I was told by 3 people that I needed to give more grace to others and to have more grace on myself. It was totally unexpected but God had prepared my heart to hear it days beforehand. I wasn’t sure exactly how to do this but I just trusted that God would help me understand more as time went by. Understanding the grace that God has had on me, put me in a place where I was able to give more to others around me and also to myself. I am not sure how to put it into words eloquently, but I have noticed a big change in my thinking and heart in this way. Others around me have also told me that this is a way I have changed so I guess something is happening eh.

Anyway, I am seeing God work in so many people here and I have been honored to be able to preach the gospel to people almost weekly to people who have never heard of Jesus before. Even more than that though, God has been using me greatly to disciple others in His word as I also continue to grow. I have also been able to serve the base here by doing maintenance work and facility work where needed.

This trip to America was so amazing and I was so so blessed to see many of you when I was visiting. I love you all so much and I hope to see you again! (also those who I didn’t get a chance to see)

Here is the link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPMSI7uHUc8

God bless you.

Your brother in Christ,

Jacob President