Having made it back here safely despite the pandemic dramatic consequences and impacts on our daily life, having faced all uncertainty, confusion in my plans, travel restrictions, challenges related to quarantine, Covid-19 PCR tests, paperwork, and visa complications, I definitely came out of all these, stronger. Stronger in my faith in God, stronger in my trust in his faithfulness, stronger in my daily walk with Jesus.
Today, when I reflect on the past fifteen months I spent with my wife and daughter far from Taiwan after my service in Yunlin and Hualien, when I think about my current commitment in Chiayi enjoying sharing Christ's love and joy with kids and coworkers, when I project myself further in the future, right into the plans God has prepared for my family and I here in Taiwan, only one statement comes into my mind: "Make every moment of mine count for God".
Yes, making every moment we spend here in Taiwan serving God count for his glory, making every smile we address to a kid in class or during break time count for life for him, making every single love sharing moment with a Taiwanese coworker or friend count for eternity, making our days on this beautiful island count for the glory of the Gospel of Christ, what an awesome and lovely journey!
And I'm glad I'm not alone on here! He who calls us and appointed us to serve here is on this beautiful journey with us…every day! And besides, I strongly believe that, somehow, each one of us serving today on this island has been called for this very purpose: To make every moment count for His Gospel. Whether serving in Taipei, Hualien, Taitung, Yunlin, Nantou, Chiayi, or any other location where we represent the love of Christ through our services, our relationships and our commitment in teaching English and character, we should make sure we make every moment count for us, for others, and above all, for God.
May God help Voice Missions' every single day count for His glory in Taiwan! May God help all Voice Missions missionaries and partners' commitment count primarily for the Gospel and the kingdom here in Taiwan, and also in all the surrounding countries!
Carpe diem! Make every moment count. Treasure what the Lord has given you and bless others with the love of God that is in the store of your heart, to glorify Him forever!
"These are evil times, so make every minute count." Ephesians 5:16 (CEV: Contemporary English Version)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yarmonth Drissou (Yar) is 37 and is from Togo. He is married and is a happy dad of a seventeen month old girl. In his hometown, Yar used to be French and English language teacher in both elementary and junior high school for 5 years before responding to God's call upon his life by quitting teaching and moving to Switzerland for a three year Bible college program. He is a professional graduate with a Bachelor of Theology and is hoping to pursue his postgraduate studies for a Master of Theology, Bible minister and a writer fond of poetry and philosophy. “Eurêka” and “Le procès de Tromal”, “Les leurres de Syviera” are his published books so far. After his Bachelor degree in Switzerland, Yar was waiting for the 2017 fall semester to make it to Dallas Theological Seminary when God opened VOICE Missions' door for him in Taiwan. He served here a year in 2017 and returned in February 2019 for a semester, and now is here again for a longer-term mission.