December 2004 Archives

Tomorrow 11 of us will travel to Hong Kong to renew our visas. Traveling to new places often makes me think of the journey we are in the Christian life. Christmas and new years is supposed to be about remembering often forgotten truths. Traveling is the same, how many things will I take for granted about the trip tomorrow. Will I be grateful and surprised that my bike works as I ride it to the train station?

Will I even pause to think about all the people it takes to run the complex machinery which makes the railway system run so smoothly? What about the miracles of flight how can such big airplane be suspended on two little wings? In the midst of all the rush and seeing new things I hope you will join us as we have a time of reflection this new year, remembering the things we oft forget, and being grateful for all have. Even the smell of stinky tofu!

And may God fulfill his word in 2005 and bring “peace on earth and good will to all men on whom his favor rests.”

Ben Jacob

Well, I hope you weren't too bored with my last update, because I'm going to pick up where I left off last month. Let's see...I just got done talking about my ride to the boat.

When we arrive at the port, Jane (the teacher who drives me there) usually asks me how to say "get out of the car" in English. I tell her, "get out of the car." However, it sounds kind of rude to tell a person, "Get out of the Car!" once you park. If you know a better phrase than "get out of the car," I might tell Jane next time. Anyways, the boat leaves at 7:30 and it's about a 15 minute ride. sometimes during that time I finish my breakfast that Jane gave me, study Chinese, or finish up (sometimes start up) my lesson planning. However, being in the miniority has it disadvantages (or advantages; it depends on how you take it). In Kinmen, especially traveling on a boat to small Kinmen, I stick out like a big white thumb with blue eyes. Some people like to test out there few English words on me to, I think, impress their friends. For a couple weeks straight a young guy would come up to me and say to me a few English phrases like "Hello! How do you do?" along with his Chinese and Taiwanese, while his friends were laughing in the background. I guess I shouldn't receive a lot of pity on something so small, but on Monday mornings I kind of dread these little conversations. Please pray that I would be a good witness to everybody, all the time, at all costs.

Ok, my first school is Joh-wen. It's the biggest school of the three on the island, but probably only averages around 20 students a grade. I teach with Lilly in 5th and in 6th grades. She is the principal's daughter, and since she lived in England for two years, her English is very good though a little Britishy. She does a good job at controlling the classrooms, and she really pushes them hard to learn English. Every now and then, she helps me with Chinese in the afternoon during rest time. In 4th grade I teach with Sandy. Since she is also their homeroom teacher, her students do very well in English. They tend to suprise me with the words that they know. (Onion? How many 4th grade students know the word, onion?) The 3rd grade teacher's name is Irene. Like Sandy, I taught with her last semester. She taught me probably the most successful game that I have consistently played in the classroom from grades 3rd to 6th. And then there's Namor. Who was definitely sent here by God. He was one of the first Taiwanese persons that I have ever met here. As a school soldier, he has to stay here for two years at his assigned school (Joh-wen). His English is good, and he sometimes teaches me Taiwanese in the afternoon, which I enjoy (Taiwanese is a fun, but rude sounding, language). We have become good friends, and I will really miss him when he leaves in April.

Wow, look how much I have written, and I haven't even talked about my first class! Maybe I'm starting to become a little gabby. Ohhhh, I love it here! (ATT: friends in America- I'm still ok.)

Prayer requests:
Next semester.
I need to decide by Jan. 10 if I'm going to teach here for another year.
Language learning (I like to know whoever had the bright idea of building the tower of babel in the first place). (Genesis 11:1-9)
For the Christians here and are spiritual growth.
Salvation for the none Christians.
Well, that about covers it (Matthew 25:31-33)

Andrew Stewart
(Matthew 11:28-30; Philippians 1:21)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Many people have asked me how I will spend my Christmas in Taiwan.
My Christmas here in Taiwan was a very nice Christmas, and it is one that I will always treasure as a special Christmas. Yet this Christmas was one of the strangest Christmases that I have ever had.

Christmas morning started out at 7:00 when we all met downstairs for a time of reading the best story of all and sharing some team moments. Then Mr. Anthony was our Santa, as he passed out the gifts. This was a sweet time for me to be with my team; I enjoyed seeing them get their gifts as we spent time together. But, that time was so short.

At 8:00 my ride came to pick me up. I had to go to school; my school was having a sports day on my Christmas day. At first I was so sad that I had to go to school and be going somewhere on Christmas day away from what I usually do, but when I got to School my attitude changed. When I walked in the door, and saw all of my little friends everywhere! As they all started calling out my name my heart melted and I realized what a Scrooge I had been. What is Christmas really about, anyway? It’s about Christ and about how much he loves us. As I walked around the room I saw all of my kids. I started giving them hugs and high fives, having fun just playing. I got to see my classes quote the story that I have been teaching them for two months, it was so cute. I stayed at school till 12:00 and I got home in time to have fun with my team.

Around 1:30 we had the Ying Pan team over for Christmas and we got to spend time playing and fellowshipping together. Holly fixed a wonderful meal of sandwiches and yummy party foods for us to eat. Justin, one of our friends who teaches English herein Ji Ji, also came over and we played some cards with him. We ended our Christmas night with Daniel playing his guitar to some Christmas songs and then we got to sing happy birthday to Jesus.

I am most grateful for the team on which God has placed me and how he has blessed me this year in so many ways. I have grown from each blessing. I Love you Ji Ji team.

Sarah Deluca
Ji Ji Taiwan

Christmas here in Taiwan could probably have been described as one of the most unique ones for most of us here as it was the first one away from home and family. It has been incredible Christmas at the same time as we had the opportunity to see first had God’s faithfulness. He will never call you to follow Him without walking there before you. “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” Isa 30:21
In so many ways I can look back and see His loving care for each of us whether it was through a teacher helping us find a real live Christian Book store tucked away in the heart of Hualien city where we could find a nativity set or through the thoughtfulness of a teacher who simply recognized that this must be a difficult time to be away from home and family.

I heard a pastor once make the comment, “You can tell how good your Sunday was by how bad your Monday is.” Now that may be exaggerating quite a bit, and I love the classes I teach today, but it was still hard to have Christmas really be over and have to go teach School again this morning. Even here though, God was faithful. I wasn’t sure exactly what I was supposed to be teaching this morning since we are about done with the curriculum for the semester in a couple classes, but on the way to school the teacher suggested I teach a little about a subject I had gone over a lot in one of my other schools. We also had a chance to talk a little about what is going on in January as far as when the exams will be and what they need to know, which was really helpful as I have a better idea in planning the next lessons.

It will definitely be a long week, especially for those who are going to Hong Kong this weekend to get their visa’s renewed, but also for those of us who will be left behind. I know that God’s faithfulness will not fail and that because of that I can wake up each morning excited to see what God will do. “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.” (Lamentation 3:22-25)

Reporting live from Hualien,
Christina Furrow

This Christmas update is brought to you with two perspectives...

(Daniel)
Well, once again it’s Christmas Eve. I’m sitting here at the computer listening to the smooth sounds of some Christmas jazz while drinking a Root Beer. As the lingering sounds of “Oh Holy Night” float through the room my mind is taken back to other times and other places. Memories of smiling faces, loving looks, warmth, family, peace, candle light, bright eyes, excited shouts, and a true understanding of good will to all men. I can’t help but have my mind head out on its way wandering around back home to Kansas where the tree would always stand, decorated by my siblings and parents. In the background there was maybe some Barber Shop Christmas music playing; in the kitchen you could smell Jesus’ birthday cake cooking. You knew that later in the evening after you had all gone to bed, dad would be up for hours on end trying to get that new bike of yours put together. The thoughts in his head probably were not “Ho ho ho” or “peace on earth” as he crashed his knuckles against the frame every time the wrench slipped. Hey, it’s the thought that counts.

Thoughts…

Yeah, thought’s of Christmas. That’s what I’m thinking right now. But along with thoughts of Christmas and my family there also come thoughts of the rest of you. The rest of you faithful and loving people who have been praying for us each and every day during our time here in the field. There is no feeling in the world like knowing that there is someone who loves you and is thinking about you. Christmas gifts can help you feel that way but so does the spirit of comfort that comes when people are praying. I can’t even begin to tell you all how many times I’ve felt that spirit. When things were going bad and when it seemed that the whole world might be falling apart it was at those times when I felt it the most. The smooth and complete peace that comes when you know people are praying. You have a power against Satan’s kingdom that you would not otherwise have. Because of you we are able to do our work here. Because of you we are able to have a truly merry Christmas this year! May God give you His warmest blessings and bring you the gift of true peace this Christmas. May He be faithful to you in the same way you have been faithful to us. God bless you and keep you and may His mighty radiant light shine upon your family this year!

We all serve a truly awesome Lord. There is not like him, nor will there ever be. So many nights ago He came to earth to bring us life by giving His. Our prayer is that we would be able to remember that sacrifice in the following year as we too strive to sacrifice for the children of Taiwan. The light that we all know and feel burns dimly in the hearts of the people of Taiwan. There are a few bright lights here and there but most of the people here go though a Christmas full of “things” and “parties” but no peace. Please pray that this would be a great opportunity for us to share that light with the people around us. Although we love the feeling that Christmas brings, it’s our responsibility to share that light with as many people as we can. May God give us the chance and opportunity to do just that this year.

God bless you this Christmas and thank you so much for your continued prayers for the team. We couldn’t do it without you!!! Really…

(Joshua)

Now I wish I could say I’ve been looking forward to Christmas in fact in some senses I’ve been wishing it was already past and I wouldn’t have to think about it this year. I didn’t it think it would be this hard being away from the people I love. In fact it’s been really hard.

I’ve asked God why is it that the only thing I want for Christmas is something I can’t have. After all God everyone else is getting what they want for Christmas. This is a question that’s been running through my mind this last week.

Something God showed me two days ago was through one of my students. I was spending the evening with kids in Si Paw my school in the mountains. Now the kids put on a wonderful Christmas play/concert. Near the end of the evening it came time for them to have there dance party. (if that’s what you call it) Now I’m not someone who can dance let alone one who wants to but I found myself attempting to with the kids.

Christine this evening wouldn’t leave me alone for the life of me. If I could give her all the money in the world she still wouldn’t have left me alone. You see she kept pulling at me then would try to tickle me but it ended up hurting and even with my persistent attempts to have her stop she kept on going.

I finally gave up and said God what is up why won’t she leave me alone? It was as if he said... “Josh, why don’t you stop being selfish… how about you try loving her?” I finally sat there and allowed her to mess with my hair and make my face into whatever animal she could think of. As I sat there God gave me glimpse into this whole thing. No one takes the time to listen to her let alone shows her any attention. After my heart was broken she all of a sudden stopped and said … Josh teacher, I love you; Merry Christmas.

You know in all the hustle and bustle of our lives during this holiday season we find ourselves searching for the perfect gift whether its an Xbox’s to a big plasma TV or a new book to a diamond ring. We get caught up in the selfishness of getting what we want.

Christ over 2000 year’s ago didn’t come to earth so that we could turn this season into getting what we want. Yes it’s great to get gifts I’m not discounting that but we miss the greatest gift ever given, Jesus Christ. The reason he was born over 2000 years ago was to bring life, peace on earth, hope and love. Through Christine God has reminded me once again the purpose of this season. I don’t know if any of this makes any sense to you but although I didn’t get what I wanted this Christmas I was able to give Christine what she wanted most… love.

So this morning after spending Christmas Eve shopping and staying up to make the changes to the website I found myself with joy inside my heart. Yes the fact still remains that I love and miss those dearest to me and I wish I could be with them right now but I’ve been reminded of God’s great love for me in sending His son. After all he also came for me and you.

Who are we that the Lord above the earth would care to know our names? Who are we that He would choose to send his Son born of a virgin to be the savior of the world? Not because of what we’ve done but because of who He is and what he’s done we have life, hope, peace and love.

May the Lord richly bless you and your family this Christmas, and amongst all the joy you have this morning and through out the day, may you be reminded of our dear Saviors birth.

We love you all,

From Daniel, Joshua and the Light2taiwan team

Merry Christmas

I prayed last night that this Christmas Eve would be unique and memorable for our team. Maybe I should’ve prayed that it would have been fun and easy…
We left at 7 am this morning for a two-hour drive to a small school waaaay up in the mountains. And I do mean waaaay up. We would go up one mountain, around, and down again, and then our driver would laugh and point to the next mountain and motion that we were going over that one as well. Our driver was really cool- he was nervous about talking to us, even in Chinese, but he stopped at a 7-11 on the way and bought us all breakfast. The school we taught at in the morning was fine- the kids had very decent English and it all went very smoothly. We had a 20-minute ride even further into the mountains to our second school. This school really touched my heart. The kids’ English was really bad and maybe everything didn’t go quite as well on the outside as it did in the morning. But during our third class time I sat on the side of the basketball court with three little first grade girls on my lap and two more on either side of me. I couldn’t move because they were holding on to me so tightly. When I looked into those kids’ eyes, I saw kids that were hungry for love. They all showed it in different ways- there were the tiny little kids that got into a fight right in front of me, the boy who grabbed my hand, kissed it, and said “I love you, teacher!”, and the little girl who got hurt and ran to me for comfort. When I kissed the top of her head, all the other little girls wanted me to kiss their heads too. :-) I guess I can’t really explain the feeling. I just felt like these kids were missing something. I’m beginning to realize what it was. They had Christmas trees everywhere and could sing “We wish you a merry Christmas” backwards and forwards, but like the majority of our world, they were missing the whole purpose. They needed love, but not just anybody’s love- they needed Jesus’ love. I’m realizing now that this is why this Christmas has seemed so hollow and empty this year for me too. I didn’t feel Christmassy this year. Sure, we have a tree up. Yeah, I went Christmas shopping and got everybody their presents. We baked Christmas cookies. But still the warm fuzzy feeling wasn’t there. Well, guess what. God gave us an amazing gift on Christmas called Jesus. With or without the warm fuzzy feeling, Jesus is still Jesus. With or without the tree, shopping, cookies, and Christmas music, Christmas will always be about Jesus and His amazing love to us. Jesus is here when the warm fuzzy feelings are gone. He is Emmanuel- God with us! He is a friend when all our friends seem to be gone. He is a father when our fathers are halfway around the world. He is hope when all hope is gone. He saved us, He loves us! And Christmas is celebrating that amazing gift. Wow.
Well sorry about that. I started out writing an update and ended up thinking through a lot of things for myself. I’m sorry this wasn’t a better update- after all, it’s Christmas Eve so this should have been a good update. Oh well…
I hope each and every one of you has a marvelous Christmas with the ones you love- and if you get a chance, take a minute to pray for us here in Taiwan far away from the ones we love. May Jesus’ love be with you always!
Merry Christmas with love from
Christina Moody
Nantou

Kinmen is so great, Kinmen is so fine, though teaching here is strange when it's Christmas time!
Around this time we miss our families oh so dear but juinor highers make us smile and bring us lots of cheer :) OH,

Kinmen bells, Kinmen bells, our life here is grand! Christmas parties, stories, fun, we sure like this laaaaand.
Kinmen bells Kinmen bells, our life here is grand! Team and friends and gifts and food, we sure like this land.

Noodles, rice and squid, let's not forget the shrimp makes for entertainment when dining with our team.
This Christmas will not be like any other year, with friends and oranges, waffles too we'll have a great time here! OH,

Kinmen bells, Kinmen bells, our life here is grand! Christmas parties, stories, fun, we sure like this laaaaand.
Kinmen bells Kinmen bells, our life here is grand! Team and friends and gifts and food, we sure like this land.

What fun it is to tell the Christmas story here, to see the face of those that God is drawing near
We love you all a lot and appreciate your prayers, have a Merry Christmas and a Haaapppy New Year!

Have a fantastic Christmas, from the Kinmen team(aka:the "retirement" team)

Thought of the day: "Though I am weak, He is strong."

Question of the day: In an advent wreath, why are the candles pink and purple???

I have a hard time believing that it’s almost Christmas. Having lived in Northwestern Ontario, for the past 17 years I’ve always had a white Christmas. No snow in sight here in Taiwan! Sledding parties, frosty air, getting all bundled up any time I went out, hot chocolate, ice skating, and lots of snow are all things that to me have been synonymous with the Christmas season. Besides drinking the hot chocolate I won’t be experiencing any of those things this year. 70 degree weather just isn’t very frosty! Another thing that always went along with Christmas was lots of time spent with my family. This year they’re on the other side of the world. It just wasn’t feeling like Christmas to me. Until…I started focusing on what Christmas was really about.

I’ve come to see Christmas as a sacrifice of love. “The Word (Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Christ left all that he had in order to demonstrate to us God’s amazing love. And so I will not be doing many of the things that I normally do at Christmas time I can still experience Christ’s love. In fact his sacrifice means more to me this Christmas than it ever has. As I go into “my” schools here in Taiwan my prayer has been that God’s love would flow through me to the students and teachers. I pray that they will begin to see that Christmas really isn’t about a tree, or Santa Claus, or presents or just a holiday that “foreigners” celebrate, but that it’s about a love and a gift that is unchanging.

May each of you experience and know Christ’s love in a new and deeper way this Christmas season.

Katrina – Hualian, Taiwan

WAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!
That's the only thought that would come to mind as I looked around at the HUGE crowd of people gathering in our tiny church for our Christmas party!

For weeks our team had planned, prayed, prepared, and now it was finally time for people to arrive. We didn't know how many we would have. 10? 30? 50? Whatever the case, we certainly didn't expect over 100! Yet as our dear friends poured in, including teachers, students, highschool friends, and service-men who work at our schools, our small building began to seem even smaller. At one point I looked over the many heads at Lucas, with what must have been a panicked look in my eyes only to meet the same look coming from him! What to do with all these people??!! I mean, this was great, but the games and activities we had planned wouldn't work quite as well with such a large group.

We decided to bite the bullet and start and just take it as we went along. We began by teaching them Joy To The World, and they learned it surprisingly quickly. Then we went on with various activities including a Christmas symbol memory game, a scavenger hunt (carrying out simple instructions to "Find Megan and wish her a Merry Christmas!" or "Sing Jingle Bells as a team with Ginger") a Christmas tree making contest, the Christmas Story, explaining various family Christmas traditions, and cookie decorating.

Whew! When it was all over and the last person had left, it was a very tired team that cleaned up the last of the mess and made their weary way home. Yet it was with great joy that I look back, not only on the party itself, but on all the planning and preparation that came before it. Many happy hours were spent with my precious dorm girls, Susan, Jilly, and Angel as they helped me roll endless Christmas tree, ginger bread men, and star shaped sugar cookies. Then there was the shopping, cutting, sorting, gathering, and everything else that had to be done.

It has been good to have something to consume our time and thoughts during this time of year. Throughout all our busy preparations, our deepest desire continues to be that our dear friends will come to know the True meaning of Christmas, and that we will be given the opportunity to share a small bit of Christ's love with them.

It was thrilling to have one of my highschool friends tell me, "I am so glad I could come here and hear the true meaning of Christmas. I never knew this before. When my friends ask me about it, I will tell them that THIS is the real meaning. It is not just Santa Claus and reindeer!"

Praise the Lord that this one boy was able to catch the significance of this holiday, enough to be able to explain it to his friends. I pray that he will soon come to know, in a personal way, the true Reason for the season! This is my prayer for all my precious people here. Please pray that the Lord will touch the hearts of those He has chosen and call them to Himself. We can plan, pray, prepare, and preach, but it is Christ alone who can save.

This Christmas, what a privelege it is to be given the opportunity to share His Truth with so many. Even on this dark island, God's light is continually shining as we seek to bear it to those whose hearts are bound by darkness. May our lives and lips express His love in such a way that others, looking at us, may see instead, His face and be drawn to His perfect light.

"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shines in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." 2 Corinthians 4:6

From Kinmen Island,

Rebekah Gilley ~ Phil. 1:20

It is truly incredible to serve an awesome God. I can not imagine life without the direction and love of Jesus Christ. The ability to live life to the fullest is available only through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It is so vitality important to keep Christ as the center of all things as you are serving Him.

My week went great, as usual. :) Teaching is going well, and as Christmas is approaching I have been having the opportunity to tell my students about how I celebrate Christmas in America with my family, in the snow... Sometimes I also am able to talk about what Christmas is really about. Next Monday, I will be giving a short talk to the whole school (700+) about the origin of Christmas, and then some of my classes will be singing Christmas songs. Lots of fun.

Our character classes on Friday went very good as well. Both of the schools we taught at were very small, and so we were able to have time for more personal contact with the students. For one of the class hours we went outside and the students could pick which one of us they wanted to be with, and we would talk with them and play games. It was very good. I really like our Friday classes as they are much more relaxed, and we can have fun with the students!

Today I went to Chung Ho, my Tuesday school, for their school track and field day. There are 600+ students at that school, and I teach them all :) It was great to see them and to hang out with them outside of the classroom. I also like all of the teachers at that school, and the principal is a very nice man as well. So much fun!!! My students made me join the rest of the teachers in a relay race at the end of the day... I think I did alright, because ten minutes later I had learned how to say "you run very fast" in Chinese ;) I even got a free umbrella out of it.

With Christmas a week away, we are getting ready to celebrate the birth of Christ together. It will be a little hard to be away from home during the holiday season, but we will do our best to have fun. As you may have noticed, some of us like to have a lot of fun :) I am so thankful this year for the gift God gave of his Son. Pray that we will be able to share this gift with as many people as we can. Our team doing great together, and it is such a blessing to have such an encouraging group to work with. Pray that we will continue to be unified in Christ as we all focus on the same goal. Please remember our students and teachers, and everyone else we come in contact with, that they will see the love of Christ in us, and want to know the reason for the hope that is in us.

Faith, Hope, Love.

From Nantou,
~ Joel

Thursdays are always fun! I never look forward to getting up early, but once I get to school it is worth it! I start off teaching Kindergarten! They are so adorable! They like to practice the little English that they know. Which means I am told “Good Morning” all day. I come to class and they say “good morning,” I come to lunch and they say “good morning”, and anytime I see them through the day I hear “good morning”. Each week at lunch, I take turns sitting at the two kindergarten tables. As I was getting ready to leave lunch, I heard “Good morning, Zai Jian!” (Meaning “Good morning, Good Bye”) The teachers were trying to explain that my name was Holly and not Zai Jian. They called me that through most of lunch. It definitely put a smile on my face!
The second class I teach is second grade. I have fallen in love with these kids. They took some time to warm up to me, but now it is amazing. There is one boy, who always comes up and says hello or gives me a hug! Last week I asked him if he wanted to be my little brother and he said yes. So now, I have 6 little brothers and 4 little sisters.
Third grade is one of the funnier classes. We have a tradition of reading “Curious George” in class, and when it is time to read, they gather around me to hear about George and his fun adventures. Even Allen, the English teacher, enjoys hearing about George.
Then you have 4th grade. They probably dislike English the most! But, after being given a good dose of homework, they have become more agreeable, and are willing to work with me in English class. Today, they wanted to know when I was leaving Taiwan, so I told them January, but then I told them that I would come back in February and they were very glad to hear I was coming back.
Fifth and Sixth grade are a little different. I am not responsible for teaching them, but assist in teaching. For the past few months we have been working on 3 Stories for English class. We read the story and then they talk about the meaning of different words, then we listen to the story on CD. There is not a lot of time for interaction in class, so it took me a little longer to get to know them. The girls have been spending more time with me. Today in the 6th grade we went outside, the boys played basketball and the girls jumped rope. It has been a long time since I jumped rope. I have had a blast getting to play with them and talk with them. I have been working on learning their names, and that really seems to make them happy!
Tonight, a friend asked me what I would miss most about Taiwan while I was at home for Winter vacation and then when I went home for good. The one thing that came to mind was the people. I would miss the smiling faces of the Taiwanese people. I would miss the friendliness of those in Nantou County. Taiwan has become my home away from home!

I am so grateful for my time here! The Lord has used this time to teach me so much! It is encouraging to see that the Lord is at work! May God bless you this Christmas!

Holly Polson
JiJi, Taiwan

Wow. Another day, another week. This week is different, though. Instead of the normal, "Yes, it is," or "No, it isn't" Coco and Momo dialogues, I'm teaching "Jingle Bells" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." I love sharing about "American" holidays. This time, the more I say about it, the more I remember about home and the holiday life.

There's a party planned for Saturday night- Lucas is heading it up, and we're already on our second round of invitations. We've got Christmas songs, a scavenger hunt, Christmas tree competition, Christmas story/traditions, and cookies to fill up the evening. It's been in the making for quite a while, and we're all pretty pumped about it. There's one thing about Jingmen: it's so small- and word travels very fast. That basically means that the whole town, if not island, has probably heard about it. What an awesome thing! We're all excited, hoping it will be a good time for people to come and hear the real meaning of Christmas- our Saviour's birth- plus enjoy some festivities with an American flare.

So..let the festivities begin, and let the Truth be declared among the people! "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.."

~Ginger
Kinmen, Taiwan

p.s.Please also remember to pray for the individuals here-that God will fill us with His peace- especially this next week..we're a bit homesick!

Well I sit here with a Dr. Pepper looking and reflecting back over these last few weeks and I think of a friend back in Chicago who would ask me… “Hey Josh, on life’s roller coaster where are you?”

Well these weeks can be described as a roller-coaster up and down back and forth. I’ve gone upside down, straight up, and also straight down. Many times I’ve wanted to hit the emergency stop button and say ok God let me off this ride.

As Christmas time approaches it’s really weird in the fact that I find myself with no snow, no cold weather, and not being with the people I love. In some ways I don’t believe Christmas is even going to happen. The only indication that Christmas is here is a dancing Santa that I found amongst the stores in Hualien and at best the English on this thing is well something to laugh at.

Seriously though, God has been bringing me through some times of just depending on Him even moment by moment for strength to carry on each day. I’ve been blessed in so many ways over these last weeks but with blessings come disappointments as well.

The week after arriving back here from our Teacher Reunion I had the chance to go to a wedding with Isaac. It was an amazing experience but the part that got us both was the faith of the believer here in Taiwan. Although they may be few they have a great and strong desire for God and sharing that love with others. We stayed with a couple in their home that evening. This allowed me to see really how people live in Taiwan. The room in which we stayed was no bigger then 6 x 10. The floor had a mat that covered it with a blanket and a pillow. Now I was expecting that anyways but what I wasn’t expecting was to find that it was the master bedroom for the husband and wife. Here is a family that gave their all for a bunch of strangers that they had never met. Now I have to be honest they had nothing. The things that they did have were all old. The shower that they had was nothing more then a big bucket to stand in… at the end they would have to pour the water down the drain.

They also went all out in feeding us that morning even went as far as insisting on driving me in there broken down car to my home that’s more then 40 minutes away from them. Isaac and I came to the conclusion that the church is more alive here then any of the churches we’ve seen in America in the longest time. They have nothing and yet are so eager to share their faith and the little they have with everyone they meet.

The biggest lesson this week that God shared with me was just the other evening. I was feeling really down and honestly I went up to our roof to yell at the Lord. I was tired of my situation and more then anything being told to wait. After all I don’t want to wait… patience is one of the last character qualities I want to develop in my life right now. I started telling God how unfair it is for me to be away from the people I love for Christmas and the long wait I have still ahead of me. About that time I said “Lord you don’t know what I’m feeling what I’m going through” he calmly assured me that he did.

It was as if God was saying you know you’re just starting to get a small glimpse of how I feel. I created all you see in the people in it, and how I long to be with them, how I long to fellowship with them and yet they ignore me, they are far from me. I just wait longing for them to come and be with me.

God has been showing me much through these last few weeks and although the times have been rough the comfort comes in knowing that God knows what I’m feeling, He knows what I’m going through and He’s promised to never leave me.

So when life’s roller coasters take you for a ride know that God is right there with you if you’ll let Him.

I pray that the Lord would richly bless you all. Thank you for your continual prayers and the encouraging Christmas cards.

Joshua Smith
Hualien

Merry Christmas!!!
I am finding it hard to believe that Christmas is only 11 days away, and that it is approaching very rapidly. I am amazed at how fast this semester has gone, in 2 ½ weeks it will be January, wow.
I have kept busy lately doing the normal things, i.e. teaching, eating, sleeping, as well as spending a lot of time Christmas shopping. I’m pleased to say I think I’m about done. This is a good thing, as I need to mail stuff home, soon.
Tomorrow I have classes in the morning, at Tsao Tun Elementary School. It should be a fun day; my teacher will be helping prepare for an English drama this week, so I will have the classes all to myself.
In the afternoon, my team has a class for the teachers that work here at the Ying Pan. We are going to teach about Christmas. It’s always nice to have a holiday to teach about, and it’s usually more fun than other subjects as well.
Then in the evening, we are going to dinner with Morgan Sun and Sandy from King Car, some of the government officials from Nantou, and the Jiji team. We are going to a steak house in Nantou that we have eaten at before, it has good food.

Please keep us in your prayers as we teach, as we prepare for Christmas, as we serve our teachers, school and government officials and King Car, and the people here. Pray that we would really live for Christ, and that we would look to Him for strength. Pray that God would continue to draw us to Him, and through our relationship with Him, use us to minister here.

Wishing you all Merry Christmas,
Chase Hiebsch
Ying Pan

This update is late. But after you read it you’ll understand why.,,

Well, this has been a long weekend to say the least. Long yet good. It has let to a very slow week. Isn’t that always the way. You run and run all weekend even though it’s supposed to be your chance to rest and then when the week comes you are almost glad for a break.

Yesterday started out for me as a really good day. I was having a blast at school, some of the hard classes I have on Monday were really good. The kids were having fun. I wasn’t feeling very tired and was really wishing I could stay longer than I was able. Something I’ve figured out over the last few months is that my teaching can be very much controlled by the way the children respond. I know, some of you who are reading this must be thinking “Duh, stupid” but I really mean it. You might think that it’s not such a big deal. You might think that if the children are not all that energetic than class will be a little slower but for the most part it will stay the same. This, at least for me, is not true in any form. If my students decide they are going to be little pain in the tails than it is very much a struggle for me not to be one right back. If the children are really hyper and bouncy than I tend to let them run more and play games with them. If they are excited than I find myself being a little more creative with class and more confident to play “dumb” games with them. I know they won’t give me that “I’m to cool for you” look.

That was how my day was going. The kids were having fun and so I was having fun. The two teachers that I work with were really communicating will with me and it was just nice. Everyone needs to have a day like that at some point in their short life. After I got in the car and arrived at my house the day took a very different turn…

I had been running my laptop on the battery power all day at school because I hadn’t brought my power cord. So I went upstairs to plug it in and charge it up. I plugged it in and went downstairs. About an hour later I came back to my room and started using my computer. I noticed that the battery hadn’t charged. “Darn”, I thought, “I forgot to flip the switch on my power strip.” But when I checked it I saw that yes, it was on. This was starting to get disturbing very quickly. So I wiggle the cord around on my AC Adapter and the little green light on it turns on. This means that it’s charging. Good.

After about 10 min I went to move my computer and when I bumped my AC adapter it turned off. Nuts…it didn’t turn back on either. So I start freaking out. This is normal for me. If I don’t have a computer I can use, I start to break out in a cold sweat. Suicidal thoughts will come creeping into my head and I have to make sure I stay away from any windows or I might fashion myself into a missile and propel my human body out said window thus ending the freak session. This would be a bad thing at our house. We only have two stories and I probably wouldn’t die from a fall that far and would end up just laying in the middle of the street with two broken legs until some nasty old beetle nut chewing geezer tossed me on his moped and ran me to the witch doctor hovel the call a hospital. This thought is not at all appealing to me and thus I must show the utmost of self control when I’m having a freak session. Just trust me on this one, ok?

So the first thing I think to do is to try and make the thing work. So I run into Nantou where Isaac helps me find a voltmeter. This is off point but he’s a nice guy and that chocolate milk stuff he gave me was good. I go back to Ying Pan for about an hour where Isaac and I try to rip the thing apart to find out what is the matter. I think the transformer housing was made of some bizarre alien titanium because it was NOT going to come apart without a very large power tool. Eventually we have to give up without really getting anywhere and I come home. The whole time back on the bus I’m praying that the Lord would make this thing work. I can’t really do my job without my computer and I have a lot of projects and information on it that I need really bad. So when I got home I went upstairs and plugged it in. Sure enough it starts working without a hitch. I was excited to say the least. I hadn’t really wanted to go without my computer.

Alas and alack!!!

The darn thing stopped working after about 5 min. It hasn’t started up again yet. So now I don’t have a computer. Thus the reason this update is late. I’m a sad sight to see. I walk around looking like I’m dying of a hangover or something. But really I’m just dying of computer withdraw. I have the shakes and this odd vibration in the pit of my abdomen. A cold sweat will break out for no reason on my forehead as I stare off into space.

You know, back home when I actually had money I would carry a computer in my car just for stoplights. I had one in every bathroom, just like magazines at your house. At the dinner table I had to have a wireless mouse to use or I wouldn’t be able to eat. When I was younger my mother used to have me sleep with a keyboard instead of a teddy bear. It’s bad man. Really bad...

(for those of you who are slower than the average person or are one of those people who believes everything you read on the internet I’ll say right now that I made that last paragraph up)

So I call Dell Tech Support to get some help with my computer. It’s under warranty so I should be able to get a replacement part with no problem. HA HA HAAH AHAH A!!! Not with a Dell Tech you don’t. I get this little girl who was like age 16 or something. At least that’s how it sounded. She didn’t know squat and assumed I didn’t either. Though in her mind I knew a little less squat than she did. I hate talking to people like that. After blowing 25 min with her I got off the phone. I called back the next day and got Scott. Now, Scott was the man! He was cool. He saw right away that I was an advanced user and actually listened to me when I explained why I thought the power cable was bad. He actually treated me like I might know more than my name. So after talking to him Iwas told I should get the power cable shipped to my house sometime on Tuesday. It would arrive on Wed. My family can mail it to me sometime soon thereafter. So maybe if all goes well I can get the dumb thing sometime before I die of old age.

There’s always that hope.

Daniel,
Ji Ji

Though updates aren't exactly my cup of green tea, I will try hard to describe my life on an Island. The good, the not so good, and the kind of weird.....

Monday

Normally I try to get up early on Mondays, because I leave for school early. However, in order for that to work out I have to go to bed early on Sunday- which after a long afternoon nap, is no small task. Oh, the trials I go through.....!

Ok. So after I pray and read the Bible, I like to go on a run. If I start early enough, I usually run through the town. Suprisingly, they are a lot of older people who are up at that time: playing basket ball, hauling meat, digging oysters, hacking fish, or just on a walk. Yea, they usually stare at me when I run by, but I'm pretty used it now. What's neat about an early morning run is that I can actually run through the town without worrying about traffic. I like to spend that time in prayer for the city.

After I run, I usually have enough time to study Chinese. When I first came here I had no desire to learn this language until I realized that without it, I couldn't communicate with my students. Since then, I have shockingly enjoyed learning Chinese though I can't exactly say that it's going smoothly. Maybe it's those tones. I still can't get all of them down, or maybe it's my work ethic. Though I can't say, "How can I get to the bus stop?" I can say "The domestic animals are thriving" Needless to say, I have a lot to work on; although, I'm have lots of fun in the process!

At 7:10am Jane, my Monday school's Vice Principal, picks me up and takes me to the 7:30 boat. Normally she has to take the 6:30 boat. She's incredibily busy, but she takes a later one in order to provide transportation for me. What an energy giver! Once I get into the car I'm greeted with a breakfast sandwich, coffee, and a giggling, middle aged woman. Between giggles she says, "Good Morning" and "be careful." I have bonked my head many times trying to get into her car. Though her English is limited, it is improving, and she loves to speak it with me. Every now and then, she doesn't know how to say a word in English so she she says the Chinese word and asks me how to say it in English. Sometimes I actually know the word (or at least I think I do), but usually she waits until we get onto the boat, so she can look it up in the dictionary. One time she told me that she thinks our conversations are funny, because of all the hand motions we do. Since living here in Kinmen, I think my charades skills are now five times as good.

Well, see what a long letter I have written unto you- and it's not even 7:30am Monday morning. And people think life here is dull..... Oh well, I'll try to pick it up next time. Until then, I covet your prayers, and thank you for enduring through this grueling email (I once said that I'd better learn Chinese because I'm losing my English).

Andrew Stewart
Matthew 11:28-30; Philippians 1:21, Isaiah 43:4

Top ten things you know you are a genuine Taiwanese person when…

I never noticed how incredibly blonde can be.... or perhaps how utterly clueless I can be. These last few weeks I've been really "blonde" and spacey!
For instance...the other night Chase, Joel, and I went grocery shopping at Care4 (An Asian Wal-mart). I went and got some spaghetti sauce while they got the noodles, and then I met up with them in the noodle isle and put the sauce in the cart. I then went on discussing with Chase how I had never eaten a certain type of instant noodle. Pretty soon I heard a soft Asian male voice. I, being me, didn't notice it right away. However, Chase did hear and told me that some one was trying to talk to me. I then proceeded to turn around and to my great "BLONDENESS" discovered that I had put the spaghetti sauce in this gentleman's cart and not ours. I assume my face was red, because the guys were trying hard not to laugh at that very moment! I don't think that I was helping the situation any by repeatedly saying under my breath (as if anyone BUT them could understand me!) " DON'T say anything!!!!!"
It's so wrong! Lately I haven't been able to understand a lot of what people have been saying, or I just get what they say mixed up! It's the worst with Chase... you'd think I needed a translator it's so bad! O.k. so I kind of do...that's what Tina's been doing. Joel just gives me "Joel looks" and laughs.... I can't really do anything about that one yet cause, I haven't mastered the art of scowling at him.... (GRRRRRRRR) one of these days though.... he’s going to get it!! Ike just sits there and thinks interesting thoughts in his head... I try not to guess what he's thinking in those moments of my embarrassment.... I might regret it if I do understand.... (wo de.... EMBARASSING!!!! AHHH... Those of you that don't understand this part of the conversation.... won't ever know!!! Hopefully?!! ) OH the blonde moments in life...what to do with them? Do you ever have days like that?

Yesterday I had the wonderful privilege of going shopping with one of my English teachers. (I'll call her Ally!) Ally has become a good friend that I really enjoy being with, and like anyone who has ever lived (or is currently living), life has been handing her ... shall we say “challenges” lately. Who hasn't had those seasons in life where you really have no idea what is happening in your life, or why things are happening? I know I've had my share of them and I'm only 22!
Ok! So right about now you maybe wondering, "How does her ‘blonde moments’ as well as her outing with a teacher relate? "Is there a point to this update?" Well ...yes there is!
As I've mentioned earlier, I've been quite baffled at the way I have been so ...not myself. I've been continually asking the Lord "Why me? Why now? Why did THAT happen? Is there a reason for my embarrassing moments?" *sigh*
I do have to say that what has happened to me the last couple of weeks HAVE been pretty funny. I shared my wonderful experiences with Ally last night; I don't think I've ever seen her laugh so hard. (Good thing no one was around us at McDonald's!) After the laughter had died down, she said to me "THIS is why I like to be with you! You are always making me laugh and you make life seem like it is fun. Like there is still hope!" Hearing that come from Ally made me want to cry, out of relief and joy. You see, just the week before she had shared with me about the problems she was facing, and told me that she was thinking about giving up with what life was handing her. Ally knows I am a Christian, and I've repeatedly told her that my source of joy comes from Jesus. I can do nothing in my own strength, even something like being happy all the time! Then it dawned in me, “To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven” Eccl. 3:1. All my "blonde moments" weren't accidents in God's eyes, those moments were put there for a purpose! As I sat there I realized that God had just used me and my quirky little stories to give Ally hope and strength to endure something that she wasn't sure she could do.
How many times have I prayed “Lord, use me today, let me be that vessel You work through to touch the lives of others!” How many times have I felt defeated at the end of the day thinking that I wasn't used by Him? Too many times, in that one moment I was humbled before my Lord.
Maybe we'll never see what all God uses us for, or how He does it, but He does use us, all the time.
"A girl, I want a girl." Ally said towards the end of the evening. That was it. My cries were heard before God's throne, and my prayer was answered. She wasn't going to give up anymore, and neither am I; someday she'll know my Savior as her own. I'm praying in faith!!!
Please continue to pray for us as we minister here. Thank you all, again for your prayers, encouragement, and support! Hearing from you does encourage all of us here, more then you'll ever know!
In case I don't write again before Christmas.......MERRY CHRISTMAS!

With much love,
Mai
Ying Pan Team, Nantou

Luke 1:37 "For with God nothing is impossible!"

Have you ever gone on a long trip. A trip so long that there is no way to completly understand how far you have really traveled (this is especially true when you travel by airplane). On my trip from the U.S.A. to Taiwan the airplane had a little screen on the back of the seat that was in front of me. I was able to view my trip from the skies point of view. I was amazed at how far away from home I was really traveling. I could not believe it. I was traveling away from all that I had ever knew to a country that was completely foreign to me. That thought alone was enough to make me spend quite a bit of time crying. And yet there was another feeling welling up within me. One of adventure and excitement. I was on my way to Taiwan! I was happy. I was sad. I was excited. I was scared. And through it all I knew that God had brought me here and He would lead me every step of the way. When ever I arrived I went to call home and tell my family that I ws safe. It was 1:00 am and I was afraid that I might wake every one at home up when I called. Suddenly I realized that there was now a eleven hour time difference between me and them. I would not wake anyone up. Wow I had really traveled that far. Even though I had seen it on the map with my own two eyes it did not hit me until I had realized that fact. I had been on a long journey.
That is much like my spiritual life. When I begun my spiritual journey five years ago I could have never imagined what a journey it would be. God has brought me far. I am not always aware of it until I look back in my journals. Because I had been keeping a journal at the time that I got Saved and have continued to do so I can look back over the years and see the Lord's faithfulness and goodness to me. He has brought me through many joyous and heart breaking times. And at times I don't realize what a journey it has been until I open up the pages of my journals and read of how the Lord has brought me to where I am now. I did not realize then what a journey it would be. Just like my trip to Taiwan was not over the moment I arrived, my spiritual journey is not over. Just like there are still many things to learn about in Taiwan, I still have much more to learn spiritually. I need God's refining every day. I am only 1/4 of the way done with me time in Taiwan and I know that there is much in store. I have only been Saved for five years and there is much to learn. God is good. He is faithful. He will lead me every step of the way.

Time has been going by way too fast! I can't believe it's December already.......

I am really missing having Christmas at home right now. However, we are not without Christmas things! Our team got together a couple nights ago and decked up our dorm. It really looks nice. We even found a fake Christmas tree to put up! Between the two stores on this island that have Christmas stuff, we found enough things to make our dorm look like an American Christmas. It's going to be so fun inviting our Chinese friends over to see it!

I think God is really going to use our being in Kinmen this Christmas. It's going to be fun to be busy with Christmas activies and having people over.....This week has been crazy.....

Here's a quote by Eric Liddel to think about:
"We are all missionaries.... every one of us..... We either draw people closer to Christ, or repel them away from Christ."

What kind of missionary do you want to be?

~Lucas Stewart
Kinmen, Taiwan

Update of the events in the life of the Hualien family starting from December 2nd.

Do you remember being a kid and having to wait for something a really, really, really long time- like a whole week?! I remember Christmas season being especially torturous for me as a kid. We weren't allowed to even THINK about Christmas until after our family returned from the annual thanksgiving trip to Louisiana. But once we did, oh boy! It was out with the tree, decorations, Christmas music, and the eager anticipation.

As a kid my mom had a tradition of making a paper chain for the three of us kids. She would write a special Christmas activity on each link of the chain and make sure there was a link for each day of December until Christmas. Early each morning my brothers and I would race downstairs to open the next link and see what special thing we would do that day. Maybe we would make gingerbread men, go sledding, watch "A Charlie Brown Christmas", or maybe it was some planned activity, like a Christmas party or a concert at church. But once the link was opened, did I sit there staring at in sheer joy, happy that at last I had opened that particular link? Of course not, now that THAT link was open, I couldn't wait until the NEXT day to see what we were gonna do tomorrow.

Now that I'm at least a little bit older, I don't have a paper chain (especially here in Taiwan) and Christmas doesn't have quite the same sense of anticipation as it used to. We even have the great distinction of being the last team here in Taiwan to put up our tree. Maybe if I still got trampolines and doll houses for Christmas I'd be more excited about it.

But I've been thinking a lot about waiting on the Lord and being patient lately and well, I'm realizing that not much has changed since the little girl Tina wanting to know what was in that next link. When I find out what's happening today, I want to know what's going to be coming tomorrow. I suppose part of this is human nature, but do I really want to spend the rest of my life being impatient for the next link in my chain? What happens when all the links have been opened, the chain is gone, and I realize that I haven't enjoyed it?

So my challenge to you and to myself this Christmas is ENJOY the wait. Enjoy all the gingerbread men, sledding trips, and Charlie Brown reruns while you wait. That's your life- that's MY life. Pray for us this Christmas season. Pray that we'll keep our focus on our mission and not getting distracted by missing family member. Pray that we'll show the love of Jesus to ALL those around us, even when they trample on "our" rights. Thank you so much for your prayers. I'm off to help with finally getting our tree up. Enjoy those Charlie Brown reruns...

Sheng Dan Jie Kuai Le!
Kai Shi for the Ying Pan Team

I have to say that I was not sure what this week would be like after being on vacation. Would I need a vacation to recover from the vacation?

I arrived at school on Monday and it was so wonderful to see their smiling faces and hear "Hello, teacher," and "Good morning, teacher". My teacher informed me that during one of my class periods, I would go visit one of the 1st grade classes , since their exposure to foreigners is limited. She told me to spend maybe 10-15 min in the class. I got in there and they started talking to me and asking me questions and 10- 15 min turned into 35 min. It was such a blast. I told them about my family and they asked questions like, "Does America have good food?" I responded with a definite yes! Then they asked me to bring them something American so they could try some. I also let them look at my eyes, since my eyes are far from the color of the Taiwanese people. I took my glasses off so that they could see my eyes better, and after a few minutes, one of them asked me to put my glasses back on to see if my eyes changed colors with my glasses on. Both Monday and Tuesday made me realize how much I missed not being around the Chinese people.

One thing that I was reminded of tonight was the important of having a right focus. I have said over and over again that I want to have a ministry mindset and always take advantage of ministry opportunities, but tonight, I saw something a little different than a heart that was willing to give whatever. Tonight, I saw that I was willing to give "whatever" as long as I could decide when I would give, how much time I would give, or I would be willing to give if it was fun and interesting. That is not true giving. So, this week, when that certain opportunity comes, I want to make sure I have a good attitude. Who knows, I could have a wonderful time, IF I don't let my selfishness get in the way.

I praise the Lord for the truth that He has allowed me to see over the past few weeks! He has continually shown Himself to be faithful in everything! Thank you again for your prayers!

God Bless,
Holly Polson
JiJi, Taiwan

For most people the Christmas season officially starts the day after Thanksgiving. Well, for me it was a few days later as the Monday after Thanksgiving I was scheduled to teach four classes about the big American holiday that we had just celebrated. I talked a little bit about what Thanksgiving is and then preceded to tell the story behind the holiday. Everything would go well up until I came to the part where the pilgrims met Samoset and Squanto, and then every time the kids would bust up laughing. OK, they are a little strange being Indian names, but not that funny. Finally the teacher I was working with filled me on the joke. In Chinese tofa means hair, and Squanto sounds like the Chinese word for no-hair/bald so I was telling a story about Samoset and a bald guy.

With Christmas rapidly approaching the four of us girls here planned to spend today shopping for presents. The only problem was that the weather didn’t co-operate and scheduled a typhoon on us. We weren’t going to let a little rain dampen our spirits and sallied forth anyways. We had second thoughts when we stepped outside into a river of water, but as we weren’t sure when we’d have another opportunity decided to go shopping went on anyways. We were completely drenched by the time we made it to the train station and Jo, who was already in Hualien, called to tell us not to attempted it. but we had made it so far we weren’t about to turn around and just walk back so into Hualien we went. We were able to do most of our shopping in only a couple stores and by the time and the rain let up before we went home giving us a chance to dry out.

As we went to different stores looking for gifts and decorations, we noticed a common theme. All of the stores had Santa’s, stockings, garland, and trees. A lot of Christmas music was being played. Everyone and their neighbor was wearing Santa hats, but no where could we find anything having to do with the real significance of Christmas. The Taiwanese people in general seem to have a fascination with the idea of Christmas as a ‘Cool’ American holiday, but have no clue what it means or what to do with it. Everywhere I turned there was Christmas, but Christ had no part in it. I began to wonder what influence I have on people by the way I celebrate Christmas. Am I so wrapped up in my little traditions that I have left Christ out? Please pray for us here in Taiwan that in this season, we would be able not just to tell stories and sing fun songs with our kids, but that we would be able to introduce our students and friends to the Living Lord Jesus who makes Christmas truly Christmas.

Christina Furrow
Singchen, Hualien County