The Missionary Team
Dennington Family
|
Gregg (U.S.) and Eva (Denmark) live and minister in Toufen while overseeing the Hakka church planting efforts. Eva remains the Grande Dame of the team, having lived in Taiwan for 20 years now. |
Basic
Profiles:
| Gregg Dennington | Eva Dennington |
|
Age: 46 Birth Date: October 5, 1957 Home Country: United States Home Town: Kansas City Taiwan Arrival Date: October, 1988 Chinese Name: Deng Ling De E-Mail: greggeva@hakkaministries.org |
Age: 44 Birth Date: August 1, 1959 Home Country: Denmark Home Town: Ringsted Taiwan Arrival Date: December, 1982 Chinese Name: Mai Su Shien |
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Bits
And Pieces
How
God led to Taiwan
Gregg:
I
first came to Taiwan in 1983 on a short-term outreach. The people were
wonderful, but the sights, sounds, smells, and heat were a bit too
much for this Kansas-raised boy, so I got on the plane one month later
vowing never to return. Well, my "never" was pretty
short-lived as God immediately began to draw me back to live and
minister here. Five years after this "wooing" from God
began, I stepped off the plane onto Taiwan soil again … and into His
call for my life.
Eva: From
the book of Daniel, God challenged me to go to another nation and
learn the language and culture of the people. Going for further
training in Honolulu, I was encouraged to consider the unreached
peoples of this world. As a result of these two callings, I came to
Taiwan in 1982 to start learning the language and culture so that I
might later be able to minister to the unreached Hakkas.
Favorite
worship song
Gregg:
Worthy
Of My Praise
Eva: It
Is Well With My Soul
Most
difficult adjustment in Taiwan
Gregg:
Other
than the obvious language frustrations, it would probably be the heat
and humidity during Summer months.
Eva: Being
in a very different nation doing very different things than at home
has caused a lot of dirt in my inner life to come to the surface.
Most
enjoyable thing in Taiwan
Gregg:
The
hospitality and generosity of the Hakka people.
Eva:
Friendships with the people … the great depths of relationship that
a Hakka friendship brings.
Favorite
scripture
Gregg:
Hebrews
12:1-3
Eva: Philippians
1:20
Gadget
that can't live without
Gregg:
Electric
vape-o-mat mosquito repeller
Eva:
My Handspring PDA
Desired
talent
Gregg:
Any
kind of mechanical or handyman ability
Eva:
Ability to train a dog
Favorite
Chinese food
Gregg:
Sliced
eggplant and ground pork (See
Tasty Treats recipe)
Eva: Stir-fried mustard
greens
Most
craved home country food
Gregg:
Doughnuts
(especially Krispy Kreme doughnuts!)
Eva: Anything served on a
dessert tray
Nicest
ministry memory
Gregg:
When
one of my old English students - who I'd shared the gospel with many
times over ten years but to no apparent effect - came up to me at a
Christmas Celebration and announced that he wanted to believe in
Jesus.
Eva:
In 1986, my coworker and I (before I was married) were trying to plant
a church in one of the villages without any success. One day we came
to the end of ourselves and just cried and cried and wanted to give
up. God encouraged us to keep trusting. Later that day, a man knocked
on our door to say that he and his wife had decided to follow Jesus.
These were the first converts in our ministry to the Hakkas in what
was a true move of God.
Exercise
program
Gregg:
Walking
our dog, Lester.
Eva: Run
5 km three times a week. Go swimming once or twice a month.
Would
recommend the book …
Gregg:
The Jesus I Never Knew (Philip Yancey)
Eva: Intimate
Friendship With God (Joy Dawson)
Toughest
adjustment on furlough
Gregg:
The
affect of a new diet on my - ahem - gas-producing regions.
Eva: A
sense of no longer belonging there anymore.
Nicest
thing about furlough
Gregg:
Family,
friends, and just stepping into a quiet place of rest and refreshment.
Eva:
Family, friends, church, etc … and times of reading and quiet
moments
Appreciates
most about ministry team
Gregg:
They
are all so grateful.
Eva: Their
desire to please God.
Previous
jobs
Gregg:
Travel
agent, K-Mart assistant manager trainee, director of Baptist Student
Ministries at Washburn University, night clerk at small motel.
Eva: Christian
bookshop clerk, nursing home aide
Favorite
leisure-time activity
Gregg:
Reading
Eva: Learning
new things on the computer … going out with local friends for
fellowship … running … listening to opera
Most
proud of …
Gregg:
My
wife!
Eva: Passing
my driver's license exam in Chinese at the age of 40. (Never had one
before.)
Would
recommend the CD …
Gregg:
88 Elmira St.
(Danny Gatton)
Eva: WOW
Worship - Blue Cover (Various Artists)
Desires
to grow in …
Gregg:
Humility
Eva:
Zeal and hunger for God
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