November 19, 2006 Prayer Letter

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

A Sunday afternoon. Peaceful. Xiuman and Johanne (16 months old) are having a nap. Aien (7 years old) is with me. As I type, she is writing a letter to her grandma.

At the university, last week was midterm week – half of the first semester is gone. I am teaching an undergraduate course in computer science and another course for graduate students in Scientific English. The Friday night Investigative Bible study continues – meal at our house followed by the study. We finished the Old Testament last semester and are now studying the life of Jesus. One concern for me is that the 4 new students who have joined the study are all undergraduates – no new graduate students. Recently, I was encouraged (and challenged) in a meeting with a student who graduated last year (he accepted Christ and was baptized at the end of last semester and is now in military service). He had a few days leave and so on Sunday attended two church services and then called me to study the Bible with him on Monday. Please remember another student who had almost decided to get baptized but then changed his mind after we read how Jesus obeyed his mother in turning water into wine. (his mother is opposed to his baptism.) Also pray for wisdom for us in talking with students – especially on these types of issues. Unlike previous years, my wife and I are not helping out with the course: “Introduction to Christianity” as we cannot keep Johanne quiet during the 2 hour class (he is a very active little boy)

Updates, prayer requests, other...

In her checkup last week, the physician found a small lump on the right side of Xiuman's chest. Lord willing she will be admitted the hospital next Tuesday to have it removed and checked.
Professor Fann needs to undergo further chemotherapy for cancer in lungs and one other place. Continue to pray for healing and salvation. Also wisdom for me in how to help him.
Bible Study in cooperation with Wugu Church. Same group of 4 non-Christians and 1 Christian attending. While none have confessed faith in Christ, their faithfulness over 2 years of attending the study is encouraging.
I still have no graduate students but some undergraduate students are now helping with research. So this is positive.
I have a research grant and need to spent time to spend the money to buy equipment and organize my research. I seem to be making limited progress on this.
Need to decide on which church to attend. While there is agreement on the need to select a church suitable for student work, there is some difference in opinion between my wife and me on this issue.

Future plans

Our whole family is planning to visit Oakville for 3 weeks during the month of February. This will be the first trip to Canada for my son, and for my wife since the funeral of my father almost 5 years ago. It seems hard to believe that he has been gone that long.

Bye for now,
Jonathon White
November 19, 2006
http://www.xiaotu.ca