AiYouLiLiang

23.01.01 God's Great Faithfulness — Canadian Sabbatical

To live 1 day in His service
is better than
To live 1000 years in alienation
为他而死比永远活在异化中好

The great faithfulness of God — in contrast to our often unfaithfulness to Him — was on display in 2022. Looking back over the year spent on my teaching Sabbatical in Canada, I would like to count my family's many blessings.

1) Financial Support

Just as we were leaving, the National Science Research Council (Taiwan) gave me supplementary (on top of my normal salary) support for 12 months (3 months is normal — COVID-19 fears reduced the number of applications). Sufficient funds so that neither my wife nor I would need to take on extra jobs. Xiuman could be free to relax and be a mother. God's timing is perfect.

2) Broken stove at my mother's house.

Simultaneously a neighbour was remodelling their house and placed their much better stove(in better condition, with new spare parts), outside their home, with a sign, "FREE". God's timing is perfect.

3）Research on Healthy Lighting

3.1 A key barrier that I needed to overcome in my research – and something I have never done before – was redesigning the dynamic lighting system to get safety approval for deployment in Canada. Thank God for the provision of David Wang (met through my wife) who has been able to guide me step-by-step through the process, getting safety approval for the first unit in the first week of June of this year and an additional 12 upgraded units at the end of summer. Before meeting him, it was difficult to get an audience with the inspectors that enforce the standards to know what is acceptable. God's timing is perfect.

3.2 Construction of Ressam Gardens Memory Care Centre has proceeded in perfect synchronization with my research allowing systems to be placed in 6 rooms. God's timing is perfect. Another system is installed at the conference rooms of the Alzheimer Society (Hamilton) and a third system in the TV room and nursing station of the Thrive Group' St. Peter's Residence.

4) Rejection

In the first week of June, Aien (Charity) and I were preparing an offer and obtaining financing to purchase a low-cost condominium in Chicago across from Moody (the rent on her current apartment was being increased significantly. After 2 visits by Aien and much prayer, we submitted an offer. It was rejected. Thank God. Without my knowledge, my wife had made transactions with borrowed money and lost the money. God then provided Aien (and a Thailand student) an affordable studio apartment across from Moody (excellent faith building and you can ask her how it happened). God can be trusted, as we follow Him!

5) Church blessings

5.1) Involvement at Wentworth Baptist (English, Sunday AM and Tuesday evening outreach to children in the community), at Milton Missionary Baptist (Chinese, Sunday afternoon), and occasionally sharing (online) at the English evening church in Taiwan has been really fulfilling.

5.2) For my 2 sons, personal follow-up, weekly online Bible study and an occasional outing with Jerry (Chinese church's youth pastor) have been a great blessing. Originally Leon refused to attend Chinese church (English only), but Jerry's friendship has had him wanting to stay for Sunday school after church even when his mother wants to go home! As a young man Jerry has faced and struggled with issues that my boys face. Praise God.

6) House Sitters

The long-time tenants moved out of the house I own in downtown Hamilton at the end of August, giving me a chance to make needed repairs after their long tenancy before new tenants moved in a month later, and at a time I was not overly busy with research. When she gave notice she mentioned how blessed she felt to have been able to live in the house and how before moving to the house her life was a mess and she was looking at homelessness. White Family: Christmas at David & Sheila Wang's house

Blessings for our children.

7.1) Aien (Charity) (@Moody Theological Seminary). Enjoying her courses, enjoying her job with campus security. honoured by being invited to be a paid research assistant to a new faculty (she accepted), invited to be treasurer of the student council, entering into the honour society at Moody, opportunity to attend the American Counselling Association annual meeting (paid by Moody), having her thesis proposal well received with her supervisor saying she hoped they could publish the final version and 2 faculty members suggesting she consider PhD studies.

7.2) Johann (Grade 11-12). He now has now found a "direction" for his studies (music piano and composition, target U of T music) and thus is focusing more on this area. He wishes to stay in Canada to complete high school (needs to take grade 13 as he must complete English ESL). Please pray for him as he is struggling with video games and it seems his love for God has diminished. I am thankful that Michelle, a sister from church who has a son of similar age, is willing to host him at her house

7.3) Lien (Grade 8-9) Although he no longer studies piano, God has given him the opportunity to make use of his skill in playing monthly (or more) at the Chinese church. As he plays his skill is increasing by God's grace. He wishes to stay in Canada but will return with us at the present time (see below). He works part-time teaching English and music online.

7.4) Ruth (Grade 7). From the time when she first attended a performance of Bolshoi Ballet in Russia (before she was able to remember) Sheila, a Chinese sister gifted her with Ballet lessons in Oakville. For the last few months, she has been attending classes (taking the bus on her own), 3 days a week. Before Christmas, she had the opportunity to perform in "The Nutcracker Suite" in two roles: a party-boy and a mouse-captain, for over 5 performances before Christmas. Dream come true for her. Her teacher told her she has great potential. In addition, God has allowed her to foster parent/train a beautiful Labrador retriever (Ruby) from Lion's club who will in the future， LORD willing, become a service dog. She has recently started a small company: grooming, sitting, walking, and bathing dogs and cats. She has had a few customers, has a website, and appears on google maps. These God-given experiences have given her both focus and motivation: She wants to study both ballet dance (she spends hours practising dance at home) and studying to prepare to apply to veterinary science (U of Guelph target).

8) Sharon, my wife

. It has been a difficult year for her. Thank God for his refining grace. She has taken seminary courses in Chinese online, while teaching English online, praying with others online, and sharing her faith online. — which she finds very rewarding.

9) Return to Taiwan

Ruth wanted to attend a camping trip to Northern Canada with her classmates Feb 6-10 but it did not seem possible as it would mean a Feb 11 flight to arrive in time for school on Monday, Feb 13. I was amazed that tickets to fly that day 25% cheaper than almost every other day in January/February! Only 4 tickets were available at that price, which I believe confirmed to me that Johann can stay in Canada.

I would like to write more but I think this Email is too long already!

Thanks to God,

Jonathon