April 2005 Archives

Wednesday was a loooong day for all of us here in Hualien. We taught our usual classes in the morning and then taught a teachers workshop in the afternoon. By the time we got home I felt like my brain was fried even though I still had some lesson preparation for the next day before I could go to bed. However looking back, all I can say was that God is so good. The teachers workshop was very different from the one we put on last semester or helped out with in Nantou. To start with, we were not the ones who planned what to teach, instead we were told what to teach and how long it needed to be. Secondly instead of working with each other we were working with local English teachers, but not the ones we work with at school so it wasn’t always to get together and figure out what we were going to do. It was very stretching to still not be sure what exactly was going on when we arrived, but it was amazing to see how God worked out the details when we put our trust in Him. Also to see that the end result was that the Taiwanese teachers seemed very pleased with the way it went and they are a lot better judge of something like this than we are. The verse summarizes the day the best is Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

Christina Furrow
Hualien, Taiwan

Hello friends from Kinmen, presently we're in the windy season: cereal liable to fly out of bowls unexpectedly, the foggy season: the airport closes and opens on the whim of the weather and the sunny season: niiiiiiice!

Friday morning was an exciting time as we were able to go to the High school for some classes, hang out with the students, do some English activities, and all in all try to give them a little break from their grueling study schedule. Some of these students have a lot of pressure right now to pass tests and are often at school everyday for 11 hours! They need our prayers!

The event that has affected us the most recently is that, James, the service man that has lived with and helped us out for over a year moved back to Taipei last week. He's a great guy and really became a part of the team here. We'll miss you James!

Living in Kinmen is still wonderful. I mean where else can you, on any given walk get five "hello's" with accompanying smiles directed towards you. Where else can you be invited to sing in Chinese at a concert for the town (ahhhhhhh!). And where else can you eat worms as part of a normal natural family dinner ;).

Well that's just a few of the recent happenings here, I'm headed off to hear some of my students sing! See ya!

Thought of the day: GOD IS GOOD!
Question of the day: Have you ever eaten worms?

Megan Jefferies
The Kinmen team

I finally got to teach all of the kids at Si Paw yesterday. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to teach all the kids. Over the last 6 weeks I’ve been going in expecting to teach my classes only to be left with about 1-2 to teach. Sure a break is nice but 6 weeks in a row was getting a little weird.

Classes went considerably well the children were excited as always and were laughing I think more at the story then anything else. They got a new book that week that they where all excited about. “Dirty Birtey” was defiantly a dirty book. It was funny as it went along and talked about the different things Birtey was doing. Its hysterical teaching the kids words like YUK, GROSS, and DISCUSTING.

During lunch the children where asking me about my plans for this next year. I began to tell them that I would be teaching camps this summer and then I would go home for the summer break. When I told them I was coming back to Taiwan the table full of little girls got all excited as they said “you will come back to teach us.” I was just about ready to cry as I told them that I’m going to be stationed in Nantou next year. They started to cry and said they didn’t want me going to Nantou.

I was talking with Karen and Chase who are visiting us here for the weekend. I found myself referring to my students as my kids. Really these children have become our own. It’s an amazing chance and privilege that we have to be with these kids. I even talked to a lady in Starbucks today who’s teaching here in Hualien. As I told her what I was doing her mouth dropped and she asked how she could do the same.

For many of us we’re wrapping up our second semester. It’s really hard to believe that I’ve been in Taiwan for nearly 10 months now. About half of our team will be returning home after this semester (Some are returning after being here for the last 2 years). As we are wrapping up we are finding it to be quite emotional. I know for my team and what I’ve heard from others on the team they’re asking how they’ll fit back into an American culture, what will they do when they get home, what does God have for us next?

Really please pray for those that are going home. It’s a really hard thing to leave behind the last year or 2 years of your life here in Taiwan. I know for all of us it really has become home and we’ve really come to love Taiwan and its people. Please pray that God would give us the strength we need to finish this race and that we would each return home with honor.

We really do appreciate all you’re prayers for us and most of all we love hearing from you. Please let us know how you’re doing and how we can be praying for you.

Joshua Smith
Hualien

Hmmm, where to start? There is so much happening around here, and there is always something happening or going on. I have reached the 9.75 month mark, and am 9 weeks from coming home. As that time approaches, I find myself thinking about it more and more. However, I am still called to my work here and need to continue, to keep my focus. This is my desire, but sometimes it is much easier to desire it than to carry it out.

I have had some rough classes this week, I don’t know the cause of the increased difficulty, but my students have been harder to teach. I’m glad it’s not like this all the time, or I would get discouraged. It is a good reminder that God is in control, and that I should give my time to Him, and allow Him to work in my classes. Today was rough, but I’m looking up, and know that He is in control.

There are a couple of fun events coming up in the next week. First, my team is hosting a “teacher night” for all of our teachers. We are planning and ice cream social for Thursday night (tomorrow night). If everyone shows up who is a possibility, we will have over 50 people here, wow! If only part of them show up we will most likely have over 30 even then. I’m looking forward to a great evening with teachers and friends. I know the rest of my team is looking forward to it also.

The other thing that is coming up quickly is a week of vacation starting Monday. My team has planned a trip to southern Taiwan for a couple days, and we are really looking forward to that as well. We will visit Kaoshiung and Kenting, two places I have not been yet. It is a lot of fun making memories.

Please pray for strength, patience, and endurance for myself and my team. We are approaching the summer break very rapidly and that means camps for some, and home for others. Until then, we still have a lot of teaching left to do, and we need to keep our energy and efforts on that. Pray that God would use us in these last weeks of the semester.

From Ying Pan,
Chase Hiebsch

"...Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer...Rejoice with them that do rejoice and weep with them that weep..."
Romans 12:12&15

Why are we here? To have a good time? To enjoy life? To get something out of what we do? I don't think so. I am thankful that I can say with assurance that every one of our team here have come with the purpose of bringing Christ to others...and bringing others to Christ. It is so important to reach out with His love and be His arms and His hands as we take part in the lives of those He brings across our path. Sometimes, though, it is hard to keep this constantly first and foremost in our thoughts. Sometimes it hurts to love. Here are a few thoughts and conversations the Lord has used recently to remind me of this important truth.

"What is the difference between knowing and KNOWING God? How can I really KNOW Him?"
A friend in Kinmen

"Thank you for praying...when you pray I feel calmer and that helps me a lot."
A student about his recent exams

"Is Joy different than Happiness? What can bring real Joy?"
A friend in Kinmen

"I have never seen my mother...and I don't know my father very well...he is really great, but I don't see him that often."
A dorm kid

"Well...he has a difficult situation... He doesn't have a mother, so all his teachers love him as a son. He needs love and attention."
A teacher about a rather energetic and naughty student

"I have really enjoyed living with you...you have really made me like part of a family. It is hard for me to go, but I have to."
Our serviceman the day before leaving Kinmen

"Sometimes thinking of the spiritual warfare that these kids are facing, and knowing that Christ's power in us is strong enough to overcome it, I just want to throw myself between our kids and these powers and say, 'Leave them alone!' Then I remember, Jesus has already done that on the cross."
A team mate

"This burden that I have for the people of Taiwan hurts so much, but I don't want it ever to go away...I want to always be able to weep for them."
Another team mate

"I have never felt so driven to prayer. I am past the point of trying to help them on my own...this is His work...not mine. I pray that I will be a usable vessel in His hands."
A team member

"When we work, WE work...when we pray, GOD works. Pray until something happens."
A friend in Taipei

"Oh Mom, sometimes I think it would be easier if I didn't care or love at all. Then my heart wouldn't be breaking over these kids and the decisions they are making...but if I didn't care I wouldn't be in Taiwan to begin with, would I?? And didn't our Lord's love for us bring Him pain and suffering? OK...pressing on in His name..."
A conversation with my mother

"Remember, when talking to the Asian about Christ, to point out that He is the WAY - His priciples and virtues are best. He is the TRUTH - His Word is the only truth, and His Gospel our only hope of salvation. He is the LIFE - He alone can bring meaning and purpose to life...only a personal relationship with Him can change a person."
A visiting pastor from Singapore

"I don't know Jesus."
"I know. That is why we came to Kinmen...to tell you who He is so you can come to know Him too."
A conversation with a student

"For I am with thee...and I have much people in this city..."
Acts 18:10

Keep praying for Kinmen. God is doing a work here...His hand is moving in people's hearts and lives, including ours. Sometimes we can't see what He is doing...sometimes it looks like He is not working at all...but that is what faith is all about. I'm glad that the way to have faith strengthened is not by striving after great faith, but simply by resting in His faithfulness. Our God is mighty and strong! We can trust Him fully...those who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.

"We can't see God's hand, but we can trust His heart."
Our pastor's wife

Rebekah Gilley
Kinmen Island

Last time I finished up Monday's. In this update I'll give you a brief outline about what my Tuesday's sort of look like.

4:55-5:30- Get up, prayer, read the Bible
5:30-6:00- Exercise
6:00-7:00- Language Study
7:00-7:50- Take a bus, boat, then van to She-Ko Elementary school
7:50-8:50- Last minute preparation for class & playing with kids
8:50-12:00- Teach four classes
12:00-12:30- Lunch
12:30-1:20- Play with kids
1:20-1:30- Go to my afternoon school, She-Ann.
1:30-3:45- At Shen-Ann where I teach two classes
3:45-3:50- Head back to Harber
3:50-4:40- Take a boat and bus back to Jincheng
4:40-5:00- Buy dinner and return home
5:00-5:30- Eat dinner
5:30-7:00- Rest, search the internet...........
7:00-8:30- Go to prayer group at the college
8:30-10:00- Study Chinese, talk to friends, go on a bike ride.......
10:00-10:30- Devotions then Bed

Well that's about it. Please pray for us that God would be glorified in all that we do.

Matthew 5:14

Ps. The school serviceman, James, who has lived with us as our translater, has finished his service. He left today. He has been a great friend to me, and I can confidently say that the whole team will miss him very much. Please pray for him as well as Terry. He is taken James' place. May God bless them both.

Andrew Stewart,
Kinmen Team

Things have been really busy for me lately. I have wanted to do things with friends yet have not physically had the strength to do many things I would like to do. But, this past Friday was very encouraging. I had an appointment in the next town over, and after I had finished, I went my to see my friend’s cram school. (Cram School- a private school where kids go to study after school.) I stopped by to say hello and see what his school was like, but ended up spending a few hours there. We sat and chatted for a while and then I started talking to his students. Before too long, the junior and senior high students had pulled me into playing a game with them. It was really neat, that I had just met them, yet when it was time for me to leave, they wanted to know if I could come back. I think that is one of the best afternoons I have had in a long time!

This weekend, when we had our team meeting one of the things we prayed for was that we would have opportunities to talk with our teachers, and that we would see and take advantage of the opportunity. Today, I was really hoping for an opportunity to talk with my teacher and was given the chance and she even initiated it!
I was working on writing some verses down, and she said she had a question. A friend of hers said that when she had a problem she would pray and read her Bible. So, my teacher asked me if that was true. I was very glad to have such a chance and shared with her that it was true.

I know that God answers our prayers, but it is so encouraging when you see it happen!

Holly Polson
JiJi Team

Earlier this month I was on a friend’s website and on it she had posted her Happy Book. You maybe asking what is a happy book, so I will explain what it is. Back when she was my boss under a high stress job she would encourage us to look on the bright side and so in her office she kept a book titled The Happy Book. In that book we were to write funny, exciting and frustration things that happened. As I though of all this information I decide to make a list of happy things for this month and share them with you.

•We got an unexpected free day
•We went out with our translator for dinner to a traditional restaurant
•On Sunday afternoon we had our first picnic on the beach
•I now have a computer that is in English(for the past six months the computer I have used was in Chinese)
•Seeing the finished work of last semester’s English Committee, our CD Sounds Great is now published
•The English Drama script I have been rewriting and refining was finally accept and a proved by the Principle who originally was the author who wrote it in Chinese
•Enjoying a fast ride home on the back of Gracia’s bike
•Going to Taipei and meeting up with all of the IBLP TESOL Teachers and the IBLP staff in Taiwan to have a refreshing conference
•Getting followed by a green haired guy along with his Chinese friend in black in Taipei who proceeded to take hundreds of pictures of us thankfully we recognized them as friends of ours who know we were going to be there and so they decide to be just a little crazy
•Totally forgetting someone at the conference centre that I was suppose to bring with me to the night market in Taipei
•Trying to de-stress students who are taking their midterms without know much of their language
•Teaching drama that will be perform in Chinese
•Arriving at a meeting that is suppose to have about six Chinese people there and realizing that they are not coming and it is just the six IBLP TESOL teachers
•Finding out twelve hours ago that I have a new brother, but then not being able to get back on the internet to tell my family congratulations and yes I did find out the news

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (I Th. 5:18)

Josephine Papp
Hualien Team

One week ago all of us teachers enjoyed a "Weekend Retreat" in the big and wonderful city of Taipei. The retreat brought joyful reunions, spiritual refreshment, lack of sleep...and...all in all... a bunch of WEIRD PEOPLE all together for the first time.

As part of the Kinmen team, the Taipei retreat was an opportunity for us to experience the BIG CITY LIFE. The amazingly huge buildings, the people, McDonalds, the wonders of the MRT, and the fact that a Night Market consists of more than 10 people, still marvels me today.

I would now like to share with all of you some of the thoughts, quotes, and things overheard from The 4th Annual Taiwan Retreat 2005:


"...Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
-Hebrews 11:1

"But without faith it is impossible to please him..."
-Hebrews 11:6

"Guys! It's not like chocolate! It's chapstick! Apply liberally!"
-Christine Jefferries

"Stop Confusing me."
-Mai Lewis

"SET!!!"
-Ben Jacob

"That wasn't meant to be funny..."
-Lydia Deluca

"Good point."
-Tim Chen

"You guys! It was like, really scary!"
-Ginger Jernigan

"Some days I wake up and see a building, and I say to that building, 'get away from me! You are suppose to be far away!'"
-Lydia Deluca

"No. They don't have cold coffee. What color clothes do you want?"
-Sandy Hsu

"When you see God for who He really is, and you see yourself for who you really are, you can't help but be changed."
-Chase H.

"I just want to be like Karen Chen."
-Everyone (Admin note: Not everyone just most of the girls)

"In this place, Lord, be glorified!"
-The Team

"My GRACE is sufficient for you, for MY POWER is made perfect in YOUR WEAKNESS!"
-JESUS

Lucas Stewart
Kinmen Team

Yesterday I woke up to my phone ringing...
Me- "...Hello?"
Jeremy- "I-thick...ni zai na li?(Isaac, where are you?)"
Me- "Ummm...upstairs, you want me to come down?"
Jeremy- "Yes."
Me- "Ok."

Well, that is the shortened version. Anyway, I ended up coming down, just to find out that we (Jeremy, Milly, and I) couldn't play basketball because the court was all wet from rain the night before.
Hmm, so, what could we do? I gave the kids a few ideas, and soon, we were on our bikes, riding into Jhongshin Village. We spent a couple of hours around there, just hanging out, talking, quenching our thirst with ice cold 'hong cha'(red tea). Then we headed back to the Yingpan area, where it had dried up a little. Basketball was the game for a while, then the kids had to leave, they were headed to a baseball game...

I love these kids...

There are times when I just wish that I could always be here for the kids. Just to play with them, help them, love them. It doesn't matter if they can't speak English. It doesn't matter that they aren't the best students. I just want to be a true reflection of Jesus to them.

May God give us the vision, the love, to see past others's faults, and to see their true needs. To give them ourselves. And give them Christ.

What song will be played at your funeral? It’s that at least once a month we see a funeral in our little city of Singchen. That combined with the way the taxi cabs and mopeds drive over here has me thinking about the end of my own life. Our team is approaching the end of our service time in Taiwan. Our schools are in the process of writing books about us, and we have been ask to record some of our experiences for King Car publications. I keep asking myself this question. If their was one song which would summarize my time here in Taiwan what would it be? Some of you may know the song from which the following lyrics are taken

And now the end is near
So I face the final curtain
My friend, I'll say it clear
I'll state my case of which I'm certain

I've lived a life that's full
I've traveled each and every highway…

And now comes the part of the song grips, challenges and covicts me

And more, much more than this
I did it my way.

The last verse of the songs states

For what is a man, what has he got
If not himself, then he has not
To say the words he truly feels
And not the words he would reveal
The record shows I took the blows
And did it my way

Sadly I look back many times of time in Taiwan where I did take the blows and did it my way. But Praise be to God that there is another law at work in my members. This is illustrated by the song Grace Alone

Every soul we long to reach
Every heart we hope to teach
Every blessings left behind is only by his Grace

Grace alone which God supplies
Strength unknown he will provide Christ in us
Our Corner stone I will go forth in grace alone

Two songs, two philosophies. So today ask yourself which one will be played at your funeral?

Benjamin Jacob

Well, let's see what kind of an update I can write in five minutes, while my internet is still working and before I leave to go to youth group at the church. :-)

This past week I didn't do much besides teach and be sick. I would teach my classes each day, and then come home and sleep until I had to get up and go to school again. I didn't have to skip any classes, though -- for which I am truly grateful. I'm starting to feel the crunch with July bearing down upon me, and knowing that I may not come back again.

My dad came for almost two weeks at the beginning of this month!! He got to visit almost every single one of Samuel's and my classes, as well as meet a ton of our different friends here. It was a blast to have him here, and he was a huge hit in class. :-D The three of us also got in a lot of "family time," and God just really blessed his whole stay.

Okay, gotta run! God bless, and thanks for the prayers!

BJ Bavido
Kinmen Team

Something thats been rather profound in my life the past couple of months is a quote by Frederick Buechner- "Joy is a mystery because it can happen anywhere, anytime, even under the most unpromising circumstances, even in the midst of suffering, with tears in it's eyes" This quote says a lot of what I have been feeling over the past several days. Sometimes situations feel so hopeless, that nothing good could come out of them, then all at once I get this wave of joy that can only come from God. I find myself thinking "I can't believe I'm here doing what I'm doing" and I get this goofy, uncontrolable grin.

God is teaching me to "Seek Him and learn to love Him more fully then I did yesterday"

Christine - Kinmen Team
James 1:2-5

How do I even begin to write about this past weekend? The twenty-five of us English teachers hadn’t been together since Thanksgiving, and when you add the Chen family, Taipei, and plenty of spiritual refreshment time to the excitement of seeing everybody again, you have a pretty awesome weekend. Some of the highlights for me included parading around Taipei 101 with green and pink hair, serving the ball OVER the net several times during speed volleyball, chilling with some of the awesome TAs from Winter Camps, and of course the sessions, prayer times, and simply hanging with teammates. I came away from the time feeling extremely exhausted but very refreshed and encouraged. Okay look what I just did. I had so much to write about the weekend that I squished it too much and now you got the “Readers Digest” version of my weekend. Heh heh… That’s okay cause I wanted to talk about something else anyway.

You know, maybe I say this a lot, but I’m constantly amazed at the doors God opens for us. I mean, at schools alone I work with what? 600 students? Yeah, and that’s just Monday through Thursday. Fridays we go to a different school each week, which allows us to get to know anywhere from 50 to 1000 students per Friday. Just thinking about that is amazing, and then when you add the extra stuff God has been allowing us to do recently, it’s overwhelming.

Just today I was reminded of how much my life is watched here and how many people know us. I stepped into my deaf kindergarten class this morning for a minute to talk to the teacher for a minute. Now last year I played with those kids almost every break cause my English classroom was right next door but this year I’m working with a different teacher so I hardly get to see them. Anyway I walk in the door and am instantly swamped with my little guys. They grabbed my hands and literally dragged me into the room. Tyler and Danny were even wearing the t-shirts I gave them last year! I was so proud of Tyler too- his Chinese is getting so good. Anyway I played with them for my break time (it’s a wonder my camera still works after THAT) and it wasn’t a huge thing but it made me feel loved and reminded me how many people- little and big people!- are watching me. What kind of a witness am I being? The times when I have a rotten stinkin attitude about something, there are people watching me too. Kinda makes you stop and think, doesn’t it?

I was ordering dinner at a little noodle place and these five boys were sitting there and started talking to me. They were probably sixth grade or so. They knew where I lived! They probably come play basketball there and had seen me before, but I was still rather shocked cause they didn’t even look familiar to me but they sure knew me.

Pray for us as we have so many people we impact each day in small ways and big ways. As my time in Taiwan comes to an end for now, I am burdened even more to pray for these people- especially those for whom I’ve been praying for two years now. They need Jesus. Please join me in praying for them, and pray that God would send people with a vision for this place to carry on here next year. It’s not easy leaving “my” friends and “my” students in “new” people’s hands but I know God is hand-picking people to come over here.

Well I suppose I should stop blabbing now. You’re probably half asleep, aren’t you? Well that’s okay. So am I, which is probably why this update isn’t the greatest. Sorry… Your prayers are coveted by each of us and you are definitely appreciated for the work you do on our behalf. God bless you all!

Tina Moody
Ying Pan Team

I can’t remember enjoying a time of fellowship together in such a long time well it’s been about 4 months but today was extremely special. As the Jiji team shared in the morning and the Nantou team in the afternoon God really taught me a lot and brought me away encouraged and smiling through what He’s been doing in and through everyone else’s life. I’m amazed at how God has been faithful to us and how His hand has been with many of us over these last nine months.

This afternoon I headed out with a group to go meet up with some TA’s at TGI Fridays. After meeting with them for a few minutes Chase, Joel and I headed off to Chili’s to do guy things and to eat some awesome food. It was funny because Chase and I both had a hard time packing it all away.

After dinner we looked at some electronics and headed back to conference center. Now because we got back so early we needed to find a way to keep ourselves occupied… thankfully that wasn’t too hard.

As the time was nearing for us all to meet back together I realized that no one was around. I decided to call Karen to see where everyone was and found that they locked the place up before they were supposed to. Unfortunately everyone ended up walking around the compound (ok maybe not a compound but that’s where they kept the former SARS patients) to get to the other entrance.

After everyone made it back, we all took time to pray for not only our individual needs but the needs of the different teams. It really was a sweet time of fellowship and prayer together. Yes, we even had some good laughs when Ben blurted to everyone that his father had kissed me. The time of prayer together was last chance we could all come together before the Lord and it was just very special.

A few of us headed downstairs afterwards to play speed Volleyball which is always an awesome game to play. It was a lot of fun smacking the ball over the net into the wee hours of the morning and then all of us heading off to bed where we would continue to talk for a couple more hours.

Overall coming into this weekend I was really afraid of something’s. I was actually thinking it might have been better to just stay home. In the end I have to say this weekend was the very thing that I needed. The best part is that along each way and moment God gave me the strength I needed for the situation. God truly was faithful and has renewed my visions and goals while being here in Taiwan. I’m starting to realize that sometimes the hardest things in life end up bring about the most blessings. God has asked some hard things of me or at least they seem hard and impossible yet I’m determined more then ever to keep waiting and trusting Him with that little thing called faith that I have so little of.

As we shared what we learned from God’s heroes of Faith found in Hebrews 11 and how in spite of all that God asked them to do they just said “Ok God, you’re asking what seems to be an impossible thing but I’ll trust you” and the best thing is that as they obeyed and followed after God He was with them and blessed them. Even in what I learned from the other teams I know God desires to show himself strong in my life and through my situation as He did with countless others.

Really words can’t begin to express the things God has been doing here this weekend in all of our lives I wish you could be here to experience it with us… I’ll stop boring you and end with a verse God gave me for this weekend.

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

Joshua Smith
Taipei

You know what's funny?

-This week I got to teach the "Will You Marry Me?" lesson to 9th grade. Talk about fun. They spoke LOTS of English..

You know what's sad?

-This is James' last week to live with us. His required- two year military service will be over, and a very happy James will return home.

You know what's good?

I think Terry, our new serviceman, will fit in nicely with our team. He seems like a nice guy so far.

You know what's strange?

- I think we are.

You know what's blissful?

The thoughts of a real American-beef hamburger.

You know what's scary?

Seeing young kids like our students be controlled by demonic powers. I've seen it happen. In fact, I saw it on Tuesday.

You know what never changes?

God. I'm so glad I gave my life to Him.

~Ginger Jernigan
Kinmen team

Speaking the Unspeakable

They say the best way to learn a language is it to live in a country where the language is spoken. After 9 months in a Chinese speaking land the most significant thing I have learned is what not say. A true life story will illustrate today’s lesson.

Several weeks ago I attended a volleyball tournament with a team of six graders from a school where I teach. I had been working out with them, coaching and helping them get ready for this tournament for the last several weeks and we were all excited. For those of you who have never seen me coach or attend an athletic event, I have two gears; comatose, and cheer like Shaq is setting up to shoot the front end of one-in-one to send game seven of the NBA finals to overtime. That day I was in the latter gear. The building was rocked with sounds of killer spikes mixed with the groans and cheers of the audience and I stalked the sidelines, clapping my hands, and shouting encouragement and directs to my troops.

The head coach dose not speak English, most of the players don’t speak English even though they sit under my tutelage an hour every week. The judges, the opposing players and coach, and the vast majority of the 25 fans who packed out the tinny gym don’t speak English. The only person who speaks English is the other assistant coach my teaching buddy Ed. (This is like Yao Ming and Houston Rockets only reversed, I now know a little about how the poor guy must feel.)

The game and dinner at McDonalds are on the line (our dear coach is a master motivator). The score is tied we have the serve a hush falls over the crowed. The impact of human flesh striking spherically formed plastic echoes through the gym. The serve clears the net and the crowed can breath again as the opposing team sets up their attack. In that emotional pack moment I burst out a motivate cheer common to US coach Let’s GO GO GO. The cheer does not seem to have its desired effect so I repeat it. Then I remember.

Contrary to what you may have heard I do attend Chinese class every week, and I do study hard, and do really try and understand what our teacher is saying. In fact that day I clearly remember the lesson we had several nights before, and were we had learned the Chinese word for dog. I remember him saying for us Go. Oh sounds just like English. Yep he said just the same. No one ask why the America coach for Shing Chen Elementary school was screaming DOG DOG DOG at his kids. Though I did see the stone faced judge crack a smile at me.

Thanks for putting up with this long update. At least if your ever at greyhound race in China you will know what say.

Blessings,
Benjamin

Ps. Those girls scouts out their who did not understand all the big words I used or frequent reference to basketball players e-mail me and I will explain.

Psalms 125:2 As the mountains [are] round about Jerusalem, so the Lord [is] round about his people from henceforth even for ever.

Today during one of my breaks at school. I sat looking out the window at the mountains that surrounded my school. As far as the eye could see there were mountains. It was impossible to see all of the mountains that took up a majority of the view from my classroom window. There was a light fog that covered some of them making the view quite peaceful. As I took in all the beauty that was in front of me my mind started to think about the plans that God has for my life, particularly the months following my return to America.

It is like the sand on the sea, the hairs on your head, the vastness of the mountains, or any other part of his handy work. Only God knows exactly what plans he has for each person. As I reflect on all of this I think about all the many plans that God has for me. As of now I do not know what all of those plans are, but I do know that God cares for me. He will show me step by step what those plans are, and how they are to be accomplished.

I am Going to be leaving Taiwan soon to go back home. I am a little scared at all that God has for me. I know that it will be time for me to go home but thoughts of going home do, at times, leave me feeling a bit uneasy. This uneasiness would cripple me at times if it was not for the fact that I know that God has the mysteries of the world figured out. With that in mind I can rest assured that he has my life figured out also.

Sarah Deluca

Wow the here has flown by so fast! I can't believe that it's already midterm for the 2nd semester of school, let alone the fact that I'll be able to see my family in a couple of months!! I don't know if I can handle all this excitement in my life right now!

Things here in Nantou have been busy. We started teaching at a junior high school neaby, and so far so good! I have about 40 students in my class,yeah YIKES! No, actually I'm really looking forward to being able to build up friendships with them, and being part of their lives.

I think that is an area that the Lord has been stretching me in a little bit more. To become part of people's lives and not just stand on the sidelines of life and yell a word of encouragement to them now and again. Being here in Taiwan you can't help it!

Today I was playing basketball some 6th graders from my school. It was a really short game being as it was between a 10 min. recess period. At one point in all of our funness one of the boys fell and ended up with a little hole in his uniform right above his knee. As we were heading back inside the school he started to tell me about how his mom was going to yell at him for getting the whole in his uniform.Sensing that he was a little nervous about being scolded by his mom I told him that the whole wasn't that noticeable and perhaps she wouldn't be as upset as he might think. Then he proceeded to tell me that she would be even more upset because he had been playing basketball. At this point I looked at him and aske whether or not his mom had ever seen him play basketball before. He was pretty good at it from what I saw, or course I'm not a very good judge when it comes to sports. He tried to laugh a little but just repeated himself in English." She doesn't like me to play basketball!" With that the bell rang and we both went our separate ways for the day.

As I was thinking about what he said to me, I started to pray for him. I prayed that his mom wouldn't be upset and that he'd be able to play basketball with his parents blessing and encouragement.

Why would I worry about something like this in young boys life, enough to pray about it, you might ask. Last semester there was a young junior high boy that wasn't allowed to pay basketball at all. His parents wanted him to work only on his academics. The boy ended up committing suicide leaving a note behind stating that he could handle the pressure of school anymore. For a normal elementary child they get to school at 7:00 in the morning and don't leave till around 4:00. Some students go straight to a cram school where they do just that. Cram more academic subjects into there day. Sometimes they don't get home till late, 8:30 maybe. For some of them this in an everyday schedule. One of my teachers was telling me that she was disapointed with the test results of a math test from her 4th grades. Little did I know that these little kids were learning how to divide and mulitply decimal problems.

So I do pray for my students, and that God would use me to be an instrument of hope in their lives. I want to be someone they remember for life, and that they remember God's love shining through me.

Question for the day! Who's life are you letting God be a part of through you today?

Thanks again for all your prays and encouragment! You really do brighten our day when we hear from you.

Mai Lewis ~ Ying Pan, Nantou~
Luke 1:37 "For with God nothing is impossible!"

I guess I will try this again, I just finished writing this, but erased what I wrote, so here goes round two.

Today was a very long day, for a couple of reasons. Usually we only go to one school on Fridays, but since we are gonna be in Taipei next week, we did two schools today. The first one was in Shuili, which is about thirty minutes from here. Originally I had been told that we would have three large assemblies with different students each time, so I was very surprised to find out when we got there that we would have the same kids for two and a half hours, so we quickly had to come up with some more material to teach. In the end, it all worked out fine. The kids for some reason were not very well behaved today, and did not really want to pay attention, but they got better later.

I’m sorry this is so short, but I can’t remember anything that I wrote earlier. Maybe I will make a record for having the shortest post ever.

Anthony

I know it’s been almost two weeks since Easter but I experienced a very special Easter day and wanted to share some of the highlights with you.

It started at 5:30 in the morning when my alarm rang. Our team (along with Mr. and Mrs. Jacob, Ben’s parents) met on the beach for a sunrise service. I love watching the sun rise and this morning was no exception. It was beautiful! We sang, prayed, read God’s Word and just stood and watched the dawn of a new day. As I tried to soak in the scene spread before my eyes – the mountains on one side lit up by the rising sun and the ocean on the other with its golden pathway, I couldn’t help singing the song “Wonderful Grace of Jesus.” Hearing the mighty rolling sea and seeing the towering mountains as I tried to comprehend what Easter is all about – the amazing grace of Jesus Christ, is something that I won’t soon forget!

“Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Greater than all my sin;
How shall my tongue describe it,
Where shall its praise begin?
Taking away my burden,
Setting my spirit free,
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

Chorus:
Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
Higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain,
All sufficient grace for even me,
Broader than the scope of my transgressions,
Greater far than all my sin and shame;
O magnify the precious name of Jesus,
Praise His name!

Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Reaching to all the lost,
By it I have been pardoned,
Saved to the uttermost;
Chains have been torn asunder,
Giving me liberty,
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Reaching the most defiled,
By its transforming power
Making him God’s dear child.
Purchasing peace and heaven
For all eternity –
And the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.”

At about 7:30 we got back to the dormitory and some of us went back to bed for a few more hours of sleep. We gathered again at 11:00 for a pancake brunch. By the time we cleaned up the kitchen it was time to prepare to go to the orphanage where we were going to have a “Resurrection Celebration” with the kids. The orphanage is here in our small village of Sincheng and is home to between 60-70 kids. That was definitely a highlight of the day!

First Gracia taught them the song, “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” with the help of our teacher friend, Linda, who translated for us. Then Mr. Jacob told the Easter story using Josh and some flannel graph figures as visual aids for the kids. Linda translated and did an awesome job! The kids were very attentive and had lots of questions to ask at the end. Meanwhile the rest of us were hiding plastic eggs filled with candy in the garden outside. (Thanks for having them all filled and ready to go Mrs. Jacob!)

After the story and the kids’ questions were answered we had the egg hunt. That was so much fun to watch! They had never experienced something like that before and the look of delight on their faces when they found the eggs was priceless! I’m not sure who enjoyed it more – us or the kids.

We let them hunt for about fifteen minutes and then had them gather back inside. Who knows if all the eggs were found? With over four hundred it’s hard to tell! They’ll probably be scouring that garden for several weeks! Thankfully the one special egg wrapped in tinfoil was found. It was empty symbolizing the empty tomb. After explaining why it was empty we gave the child who found that egg a special little gift. Then we sang Jesus Loves the Little Children for them. And then – it was time to say good-bye.

It will be a long time before I forget the day. My prayer is that it will be a long time before the kids will forget the message that was shared with them. In fact, I pray that it will be a message that they remember for the rest of their lives and take to heart. Join us in praying that the seeds sown that day will bring forth much fruit not only in the lives of the kids, but also in the lives of the orphanage staff who also heard the Easter story.

May the Lord bless each one of you,

Katrina Nisly
Hualien, Taiwan

Whoa, another day passed and gone. It is astounding when I stop and reflect upon the last nine months of my life, to realize how rapidly this time has passed. Perhaps this is because from that time until now, there has not been much time. Free time, that is.

Take today for example.

This morning was a fairly normal day at school. My first class of the morning went very well, even though yesterday was a holiday which sometimes causes first grade to be a little rambunctious. :)
My second and third classes, fifth and sixth grade, were good as well. In between classes I helped two fifth graders with their English competition speeches. There was an English speech/personal performance for fifth grade students that was held at Ying Pan Elementary school today, with the winners taking a trip to the US this summer. so I was going over some last minute changes with the two girls who wanted me to help them.
Anyway, Wednesday is only a half day for elementary schools, so normally we have the rest of the day off. However, not this week. Today Ying Pan team taught our first junior high school class. My class was really good! I had fun getting to know them, and talking with 30 students who can understand and respond to almost anything I tell them. So, for the rest of this semester, we will be teaching one class at Jung Shing Junior High school. I think it will be a good experience for, as I know it will stretch my teaching ability. We are thanking the Lord for this opportunity to reach out to another group of students.
This evening, Sandy from King Car came by with a teacher from the school in Washington that King Car has been working with. They stayed for about half and hour talking with us. It is really interesting to hear all the different ideas that King Car has :)

So for a normal day, it was not too bad. You would be amazed to find out how much you can do if you use all 24 hours of the day :) Actually, for as much as we do, we still find plenty of time to have fun and do stuff. It is just that we never really have what you might call a "normal day". Which is quite entertaining, and it keeps us busy!

I am very grateful for the wonderful team that I work with here, and the extended team as a whole. God has put us together, and as each one of us seeks the Lord with our whole heart, we will be able to do great things in His unity. In two weeks, all of the teams will get together in Taipei for a retreat! Please be praying that this will be a good time of encouragement and fellowship for us.

God bless each of you as you seek Him with your whole heart and seek to do His will. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement. It is a great comfort to know that we have brothers and sisters upholding us to the throne of Jesus.

Till we meet again,
~Joel

Alright, I don't know how many updates I did on my Monday's, but I'll finish it in this one.

Monday Night:
Before 4 o'clock my faithful bus driver drives me to the dock. Sometimes on the boat ride back someone will try to talk to me in English or Chinese. However, around that time my brain is fried, so I'm not very gabby unfortunately. When I arrive at Big Kinmen, I take another bus to my dorm.

Most of the time I try to grab a "bian dong" on the way back. Now, the English word for "bian dong" is "lunch box." However, when I was in America I never heard of the phrase "lunch box," probably because to my knowledge in America there is no such thing as a "lunch box." Anyway, a bian dong is a rice meal. You get a box of rice then you get to choose what you want with it, kind of like a buffet. Besides, bian dong food is more adventureous. However, after my 6 classes and 2 boat rides, I am not in a mood for another adventure. So you might be wondering why I get bian dongs..30NT, that's why!!!!!!!!!!! When you can get a somewhat decent meal for around $1.00, it gets my attention.

After I meat my meal I have less than an hour to get ready for Monday night class. What is it? It's a 2 hour class of 4-8 JR high students who have are not doing well in school, inside and outside the classroom. It is a challenging time for me, especially after such a busy day. My attitude varies from "bring 'em on" to "I'm to sick to come!" Thankfully my brother, who has a great burden for these precious kids, is in charge, and I think he has done a great job under the circumstances.

Usually how the class goes is we prepare a little lesson then do some one on one tutoring. One of the guys I helped was Luke. He might be the hyperest 8th grader in the world! While some of the others glare or sulk, there is never a dull moment with this kid. He jumps around and screams out answers (and other words) with a huge smile on his face. At first when I helped him, he would eagerly ask me who to say this or that in english. I was very encouraged. However, as the weeks passed he got louder and bouncier. One time he grabbed my Chinese dictionary and looked up an insulting Chinese word. When he found it, he excidedly ask me how to say it in English. When I looked, I saw that one of the synonyms for that word was "tender". So I turned to him and said, "Tender". Immediately a devious smile spread across his face, and he began going to people and calling them "tender"cackling while he did it.

Due to the number of volunteers, I longer teach the Monday class. Right now, I am just "on call". Though the class has changed over the semester, the need is pretty much the same. Please pray for Lucas and for the other American teachers that help him. Though work like this is exhausting and sometimes depressing, I believe that by God's grace, a difference has already been made in their young lives. May that continue.

How do I finish my Mondays? I try to go to bed before 10, because I do almost the same thing on Tuesday.

Lord willing, I tell you about it next time!

May God bless you indeed, widen your boarders, may His hand be with you, and keep you from evil (1 Chronicles 4:10).

Andrew Stewart
(Mt.11:28-30; Phil.1:21)