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McLean

December 29, 2008

Dear Lim Sek-Iong, Peng-an!

Your letter arrived today, along with a Christmas gift of $100 for our family. Thank you and all our Taiwanese brothers and sisters in Christ for your prayers and loving kindness.

The past year has been another one of countless blessings for our family. Youngest son Mark reached the 20 year mark in his life. He is excelling in the 3rd year of his Business program at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo. During his 1st Co-op work-term this past summer, he was given freedom to explore several projects in the Human Resources department of a large engineering firm, the IBI Group in Toronto. His Co-op placement report, which included a new recruitment brochure he created for IBI, earned him two scholarships. Through January-April 2009, Mark will work as a research assistant for one of his professors who is studying organizational behaviour and how to cope with stress in the workplace.

Peter, who was born in Chang-hua, spent September 2007-August 2008 in a post-graduate program in Pedorthics. His studies included the biomechanical analysis of the way people walk, analysis of foot discomfort and ailments, the manufacturing of custom-made orthotic devices to correct people's feet, fitting people with orthopaedic-quality footwear, and other related topics. He just received word that he passed his national exams, so that he is now a fully certified member of the Canadian College of Pedorthists. In September Peter accepted a full-time job at a local BioPed franchise where he works Tuesdays-Saturdays with a very friendly staff and good clientele.

Our eldest son Andrew & his wife Heather celebrated their 1st wedding anniversary last September with a grand tour of Scotland and Ireland. They are the first of our clan to sign the official "McLean" guest book at Duart Castle on the Isle of Mull. Andrew recalls that for one breakfast in Aberdeen he had oatmeal porridge, kippered herring and haggis¡Xlife doesn't get much better than that! Due to a shortage of nurses at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Heather has a heavy load of responsibilities on the General Internal Medicine ward. She has also been taking continuing education courses in cardiology, possibly a future area of nursing care for her. Andrew is now in his sixth year as a paramedic with Toronto EMS. In his free time he convenes the summer camp committee for Knox Presbyterian Church.

Mary Beth has enjoyed another busy year working in International Ministries of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, where she attends to the financial side of the PCC's relationships with partner churches around the world and the financial needs of the PCC's overseas missionary staff. At Knox PC she coordinates the prayer chain where people have seen God's gracious and compassionate care through the whole range of human life. A major highlight in 2008 was a 2-week car trip with Paul to visit family and friends in the Fredricton and Saint John areas of New Brunswick. Along the way we spent three glorious days in Quebec City celebrating the 400th anniversary of Samuel de Champlain's founding of that culturally rich and beautiful city.

Gramma McLean (81 years old) has been blessed with another year of fine health and well-being. She is very active in her home church in Brampton.

I (Paul) made three 5-week trips to Taiwan in April/May, Aug/Sept and Nov/Dec. This past year the Hakka Bible translation team and I completed our review of Ecclesiastes, the Song of Songs, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Amos. We met all kinds of interesting translation problems along the way. For example, should Ecc 12:1-7 be translated word-for-word, or more figuratively as an allegory on old age (e.g. as in Today's English Version and Today's Chinese Version)? The group will use footnotes to include both possibilities. The group is preparing Amos for publication as a single volume edition. In 2009 we hope to complete the remaining prophetic books in the Old Testament, then make various revisions to our previous work on the New Testament, Psalms & Proverbs. Thank you for your prayers towards this goal. I enjoyed preaching at various Hakka churches when I was in Taiwan. I also helped two Taiwanese congregations in Toronto amalgamate into one new church, Toronto Formosan Presbyterian Church.

Please extend our heartfelt greetings to all the members of the TCCCNA. We thank God for the partnership that we share in the Gospel. May our gracious and loving God¡XFather, Son and Holy Spirit¡Xbless you abundantly this Christmas and enable you to serve the Lord and others with gladness in the New Year. (2 Corinthians 4:6-7)

Love from us all,

Paul, Mary Beth, Andrew & Heather, Peter and Mark