Hey all, it's getting to be that time again to send you all another update. Life in Taiwan continues to be as busy as ever. We celebrated Thanksgiving this year a week early which turned out to be a great day, it helped that we couldn't work so we had an afternoon and an evening to just relax and enjoy the day. Following Thanksgiving, the next morning we had the annual Turkey Bowl, a football game that is organized here every year. It was a hard fought battle, but I'm proud to say my team won five to three.
This past month now we have been going through the prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Daniel and some others. As we've looked through the prophets, we have really gotten to see the patient heart of God as he continues for hundreds of years to call his people back to him in repentance and instead of turning back to God, the people of God choose to continue to turn their backs on God, to worship gods of their own making rather than the One who created them. They would do things as terrible as burning their children in fire thinking that by doing so they were appeasing some god. You see, back in that time, each nation had different gods, and not just one, sometimes hundreds or even thousands of gods would represent one nation, and God's people would constantly take on the new gods that they encountered from these other nations. As I look back on how those nations would turn to other 'gods' or idols, it is easy for me to think of how foolish those people were. It is easy for me to look back on people who would physically bow down to idols that couldn't give them true life and think that there was something wrong with them and they were crazy, but the reality is, we still do it today. How many of us, myself included, will spend more time on facebook in a day than time alone with God? How many of us don't think we could go a day without our smartphone or ipad? How many of us care more about being in a relationship, or having money more than we care about our relationship with God and our spiritual wealth? Or how many of us think that if we just get one more thing we will be satisfied? The reality is, although we may not physically bow down to things like the people back then did, we all have things in our lives that at times will take the place of God. The author Tim Keller gives this definition of idolatry, "It is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you what only God can give… An idol is whatever you look at and say, in your heart of hearts, “If I have that, then I’ll feel my life has meaning, then I ‘ll know I have value, then I’ll feel significant and secure.” There are many ways to describe that kind of relationship to something, but perhaps the best one is worship." This is what the prophets called out for hundreds of years in the Bible, and I have realized that this is something we can't assume that we are above. We too have idolatry in our lives and we are not any better than those who went before us.
As you all probably know, my time here doing the School of Biblical Studies is nearing an end and a new season of my life awaits me. Before I left to do SBS, just as I thought the same about DTS when I did my last school here, I thought I was going to be here for the time of the school, move back to Fargo, get a job, and pay off loans while I waited on God to reveal to me what is next. For the past couple months, I have been praying about what would God want me to do after I graduate from SBS. In the past, God has spoken to me in some really crazy ways where it had been evident to me as I was making my decision, but this time was much different. Usually, after I prayed once or twice I would know or there would be significant progress made when I did pray. This time, I felt like I was not hearing anything from God. It seemed like silence. I would ask what was next and unlike before, there was no solid answer that I could go back to. But as I began to meet with leaders here on base and think about it and pray about it, I was realizing that God doesn't just speak through crazy circumstances, rather, he often speaks simply through His word, the Bible. He often speaks through people and the wise counsel of people who have been walking with God for a longer period of time. It's not always an audible voice, a shooting star through the big dipper (this actually happened to me once haha), or a crazy vision, but often what we see the Bible telling us. So as I prayed and wrestled through with what God would have me do, I really felt like he began to show me through these much more practical things what he wanted to do. Through conversations, I began to realize that I needed to be using my time to prepare myself for the future and for a full-time and long term ministry, whether it be in the workplace or in missions or in the church. I began to see also the desperate need of the Taiwanese to hear the gospel. I began to realize that going back to Fargo was simply because I didn't know what I was going to do next so to me it was the next logical step because it was what I wanted to do. There was a lot more that played into my decision, but what I decided to do was to go home for a year and live in Williston so I could pay off the college loans I have left to pay and then I will be coming back to Taiwan for at least two years.
This was both an incredibly difficult decision to make but at the same time, a very joyful one as well. I love Fargo and there is so much I will miss about the city, most of all, the relationships I was able to build there. Between River City and Cru and the Ranch there is so much I will miss about Fargo. It was honestly one of the most difficult parts of the decision I made to come back to Taiwan. Outside of leaving family, that takes the cake for the most difficult part of this decision. But on the other hand it has been an incredibly joyful and freeing decision because this is absolutely where I believe the Lord has me in this season of my life. I am not wondering now about what is next for the first time in a long time because I have made my commitment and know that unless God is very clear that he wants something else for me Taiwan is where I will be for this time.
I have a couple requests from you. The first is a prayer request. The prayer request is that God would give me the grace to finish this school strong. We are all tired and it would be easy to just coast for the last three weeks I have here but I want to get the most out of the school, every day. The other prayer request would be for a smooth transition. I have place to live in Williston, but that I would be able to get a job and get settled in and that all that would go smoothly as I transition from live in SBS to life in Williston.
My last request is simply for finances. I am still about eight hundred dollars short of what I need to finish. I would greatly appreciate prayer for finances and support if you are able to financially support. If you would like to give financially, you can send a check to my family at 805 12th Street SE, Watford City, ND, 58854 and they will get it to me. If you are thinking about supporting financially, you can reach me as well at kleppentr@gmail.com. I appreciate it.
I am so honored by each and every one of you to have you as a part of my life. I know I say this almost every update, but I really appreciate the support I have from all of you. Financially, prayer, and your friendship and support truly are valuable to me. I am excited to see all of you when I return to Fargo on December 16.
His Servant,
Travis
This past month now we have been going through the prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Daniel and some others. As we've looked through the prophets, we have really gotten to see the patient heart of God as he continues for hundreds of years to call his people back to him in repentance and instead of turning back to God, the people of God choose to continue to turn their backs on God, to worship gods of their own making rather than the One who created them. They would do things as terrible as burning their children in fire thinking that by doing so they were appeasing some god. You see, back in that time, each nation had different gods, and not just one, sometimes hundreds or even thousands of gods would represent one nation, and God's people would constantly take on the new gods that they encountered from these other nations. As I look back on how those nations would turn to other 'gods' or idols, it is easy for me to think of how foolish those people were. It is easy for me to look back on people who would physically bow down to idols that couldn't give them true life and think that there was something wrong with them and they were crazy, but the reality is, we still do it today. How many of us, myself included, will spend more time on facebook in a day than time alone with God? How many of us don't think we could go a day without our smartphone or ipad? How many of us care more about being in a relationship, or having money more than we care about our relationship with God and our spiritual wealth? Or how many of us think that if we just get one more thing we will be satisfied? The reality is, although we may not physically bow down to things like the people back then did, we all have things in our lives that at times will take the place of God. The author Tim Keller gives this definition of idolatry, "It is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you what only God can give… An idol is whatever you look at and say, in your heart of hearts, “If I have that, then I’ll feel my life has meaning, then I ‘ll know I have value, then I’ll feel significant and secure.” There are many ways to describe that kind of relationship to something, but perhaps the best one is worship." This is what the prophets called out for hundreds of years in the Bible, and I have realized that this is something we can't assume that we are above. We too have idolatry in our lives and we are not any better than those who went before us.
As you all probably know, my time here doing the School of Biblical Studies is nearing an end and a new season of my life awaits me. Before I left to do SBS, just as I thought the same about DTS when I did my last school here, I thought I was going to be here for the time of the school, move back to Fargo, get a job, and pay off loans while I waited on God to reveal to me what is next. For the past couple months, I have been praying about what would God want me to do after I graduate from SBS. In the past, God has spoken to me in some really crazy ways where it had been evident to me as I was making my decision, but this time was much different. Usually, after I prayed once or twice I would know or there would be significant progress made when I did pray. This time, I felt like I was not hearing anything from God. It seemed like silence. I would ask what was next and unlike before, there was no solid answer that I could go back to. But as I began to meet with leaders here on base and think about it and pray about it, I was realizing that God doesn't just speak through crazy circumstances, rather, he often speaks simply through His word, the Bible. He often speaks through people and the wise counsel of people who have been walking with God for a longer period of time. It's not always an audible voice, a shooting star through the big dipper (this actually happened to me once haha), or a crazy vision, but often what we see the Bible telling us. So as I prayed and wrestled through with what God would have me do, I really felt like he began to show me through these much more practical things what he wanted to do. Through conversations, I began to realize that I needed to be using my time to prepare myself for the future and for a full-time and long term ministry, whether it be in the workplace or in missions or in the church. I began to see also the desperate need of the Taiwanese to hear the gospel. I began to realize that going back to Fargo was simply because I didn't know what I was going to do next so to me it was the next logical step because it was what I wanted to do. There was a lot more that played into my decision, but what I decided to do was to go home for a year and live in Williston so I could pay off the college loans I have left to pay and then I will be coming back to Taiwan for at least two years.
This was both an incredibly difficult decision to make but at the same time, a very joyful one as well. I love Fargo and there is so much I will miss about the city, most of all, the relationships I was able to build there. Between River City and Cru and the Ranch there is so much I will miss about Fargo. It was honestly one of the most difficult parts of the decision I made to come back to Taiwan. Outside of leaving family, that takes the cake for the most difficult part of this decision. But on the other hand it has been an incredibly joyful and freeing decision because this is absolutely where I believe the Lord has me in this season of my life. I am not wondering now about what is next for the first time in a long time because I have made my commitment and know that unless God is very clear that he wants something else for me Taiwan is where I will be for this time.
I have a couple requests from you. The first is a prayer request. The prayer request is that God would give me the grace to finish this school strong. We are all tired and it would be easy to just coast for the last three weeks I have here but I want to get the most out of the school, every day. The other prayer request would be for a smooth transition. I have place to live in Williston, but that I would be able to get a job and get settled in and that all that would go smoothly as I transition from live in SBS to life in Williston.
My last request is simply for finances. I am still about eight hundred dollars short of what I need to finish. I would greatly appreciate prayer for finances and support if you are able to financially support. If you would like to give financially, you can send a check to my family at 805 12th Street SE, Watford City, ND, 58854 and they will get it to me. If you are thinking about supporting financially, you can reach me as well at kleppentr@gmail.com. I appreciate it.
I am so honored by each and every one of you to have you as a part of my life. I know I say this almost every update, but I really appreciate the support I have from all of you. Financially, prayer, and your friendship and support truly are valuable to me. I am excited to see all of you when I return to Fargo on December 16.
His Servant,
Travis
