Saturday, February 1, 2014

February 2014 Grubb Mission Report

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).
A Work of the Chestnut Mountain Church of Christ, Chestnut Mountain, Georgia USA
*********************************
PLEASE PASS THIS REPORT TO THOSE YOU THINK MIGHT HAVE INTEREST IN OUR WORK!
*************************************
Surgery Scheduled
 
      I will have out-patient surgery on my right foot on February 11th. It will be another six weeks or so before I will be able to walk without the aid of my air cast. I solicit your prayers in this upcoming procedure.
 
**********************************
Fishers of Men Training Class
 
      On January 13th, we started a Fishers of Men Training Class conducted at the Chestnut Mountain Church of Christ. There are three new students enrolled for the class. I am also allowing some of our students from the last class to come to be encouraged in continuing in their teaching efforts. This class will continue through March 24th. Please pray much good will result because of the efforts made in this class. JMG.
 
***********************************
Southwest School of Bible Studies Seminar - Feb. 7, 2014
8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Feb. 9, 2014
AM Schertz
PM Southwest

************************************
Materials Available
 
       Through the distribution of our DVD’s and radio lessons, and now having the lessons on YouTube, more people are becoming aware of our website. There are sixty Chinese lessons currently posted there. You can access them at: http://www.youtube.com/user/TheCoJC. I update my Facebook page all the time. Be sure to check my Facebook wall for pictures and news about my trips and activities. Be sure to check out my website: www.grubbchinese.org.
 
John M. Grubb
 
******************************************************************************************
HUMOR FROM THE MISSION FIELD
John M. Grubb
 
It is essential that while in the mission field you keep your sense of humor. The way things have happened to us, that has not been hard to do. We hope you enjoy these REAL stories from the mission field.
 
Unscheduled Train Ride
 
In May 1983, the Tommy Alford family came to Taichung for a visit. As is our custom, we both greet and see off our visitors. They were traveling on the train, so that meant seeing them off right at the door of the train. In this way, we could help with luggage and say our good-byes.
 
When the Alfords were getting ready to return home, we were on the platform waiting for the arrival of their train. While we were waiting, we noticed some American VIP’s walking by us. I had read in the paper that morning that the Governor of Mississippi was going to visit our city and here he was! Coincidentally, Tommy is from Mississippi. Tommy recognized the governor and told me so. Well, me with my big mouth, yelled, “Hey, there are some people from Mississippi over here.”  The governor did not come over, but his wife and a Mississippi banker did come over and visited for a couple of minutes.
 
While we were talking to the governor’s wife, the train arrived. In Taiwan, trains only stop for three or four minutes so you have to “hussle.” We didn’t! We had boarded the train to help put the luggage in the overhead racks. While we were saying final goodbyes, the train began to move.  Roger, Daniel (my son), and I ran for the door. There was a porter there and he would not let us jump off. We were stuck.
 
There are several kinds of trains in Taiwan. Some stop quite often. Some just make a few stops between Taichung and Taipei. Unfortunately, we were on the kind that only stopped a few times.  We had to ride almost 90 minutes before we could get off the train! We had to purchase tickets for the ride, then had to get off the train and buy return tickets.
 
We made the best of a bad situation. We sat down and visited an additional 90 minutes, spent about an hour looking around a new city, then returned home on the train. What was supposed to be a two hour trip ended up being a six hour trip! Needless to say, we didn’t get much done that day. (Note: Tommy and Renee Alford are making yet another trip to Taiwan and will be riding on trains while there. As Ira Rice used to say about doing mission work: “don’t assume anything.")