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Saturday, 27 September 2008
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Currently Listening
A New Day Has Come
By Celine Dion
A new day has come
see relatedWow,it has been forever since I've blogged!I feel terrible for being so out of touch with all my friends,but my family doesn't have internet,and the only time I can get on the internet is when I go to the library(the closest is twelve miles away),or when I go to my aunts' house.
I have been home almost three months.A lot has happened.Too much to tell!I just got back from a trip to my visit my sister Melody,my brother in law Michael,and their two adorable(and a little spoiled!)kiddoes,Josiah,who is four,and Lydia,almost three.They live in Maryland.I stayed with them for three weeks,which was awsome,because I hadn't seen them for a year and a half.Melody and I took a Saturday to take the metro into D.C.,and see the sights.We had so much fun!And for lunch we walked for about an hour to reach a Peruvian restaurant my brother John had told Melody about.It was wonderful!I had canchitas,and chicha morada,and papa a la huancaina.We got pollo a la brasa con salada y papas fritas,and inca cola to go.I made me want so much to go back to Peru.
My brother Andrew shocked me when I first saw him after returning from Taiwan.He's taller than I am now!And he actualy has some muscle.He just recently joined the football team at the Christian school that's a part of the church we're members at now.He's doing well!I am so glad for him,because he's pretty shy,and now he's making some new friends.He's been asking me to go fishing with him for a while now,as I've never gone fishing in my life.I told him sometime next week,as long as I don't have to kill the fish.
My sister Rebekah has just joined the volleyball team too.Last night was her second game,and it was a winner!I'm hoarse now,I yelled so much.
Sometimes it's so hard to understand the will of God.I guess the point is,you don't have to understand it to do it.When I left Taiwan,I wasn't sure why the Lord wanted me to stay in the States with my family for a time,but I was sure that he did.I still can't see very far ahead of me,what the next bend in the road is going to bring,and I will admit,sometimes it has been very hard to still trust that the Lords' will for me is better for me than my own.I'm a planner,a dreamer.I like to have everything laid out before me,to know what's in my future.Waiting on the Lord,and not rushing into decisions is something it's been taking me a long time to learn.Please pray for me,that I would be attentive to the Lords' leading,and stop wanting to make my own plans!
Love you all!
Till next time.
Tuesday, 17 June 2008
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Currently Listening
In Between Dreams
By Jack Johnson
see relatedOkay,so I figured it was about time I blogged again!I realy wish I took the time to get on here more often.But seriously,life has been very busy these these last few weeks.School's almost over,and I'm about to go home.Tomorow it will be exactly one week that I have left here in Taiwan.Waahhh!No,I'm excited to go home,mainly just to see my family and friends,and I know it's time.I could actualy realy use a break soon.Not getting much sleep these days
Alright,so another reason I haven't realy been blogging is that I'm not sure if anyone even reads what I write anymore.The last few times I blogged I got zero responses.So I would like to ask you to comment on this one if you actualy read my blogs.
This week is my last to teach at all my schools.Actualy,tomorow is my last day to teach,period.Thursday I'll go to school,but the Taiwanese teacher will just be reviewing the the textbook material with the children for tests,which are next week.So this week has been a little difficult.Saying goodbye to my students is very hard to do!Especialy this afternoon,when I was getting into teacher Via's car to leave,the kids were having their break,and a bunch of them ran up to the car,surrounding me,hugging,and saying goodbye.I hadn't cried during any of the goodbye's I've said so far,but I lost the battle as we drove away.For a little bit.The hardest part is when they ask you why you want to leave them,and go away,"why you not want come back Taiwan?"The Lord knows,I do.But not now.I hope someday...but it's all in his hands.I will be happy anywhere I go,as long as I'm where I need to be.
But this past week has been incredible.How can anyone not belive that there is a God?The way he works is so unmistakable.How do I deserve to be blessed so far beyond what I could ever ask or think?I have been so incredibly exousted this week,I don't know how I have been able to make myself get up in the morning,but he always gives the strenth,and fills my day with so many showers of little blessings that I forget how tired I am.
Today teacher Via,from Ruei Suei,saw how many bags I was carrying(I have been making popcorn,and playing balloon games with my kids the last two days,and carrying the popcorn maker,the popcorn,butter,salt,balloons,etc.around with me all day,as I ride my bike to school or take the train),and she told me she wanted to take me home.On the way,she stoped at this coffee store,that also sells teapots,saucers,and seuvenirs,and said she wanted me to buy some coffee there.The coffee from Ruei Suei is famous.So I looked around,smelled some the owner ground up right in front of me,and decided I had to buy my Dad some.He loves coffee.And I found a realy cute saucer mug and pop set,the pot fit right on top of the mug like a lid.So I told her I would buy those,as well as some coffee.I went to go get my purse out of the car so I could pay for it,but Via stoped me,and said that the lady wanted to give it to me,as well as some chocolate covered coffee beans(which I LOVE!),and some cristalized sugar.It turned out that the owner had two sons who go to Ruei Suei Elementary school,fifth and sixth grade,so I don't teach them,but Jonathan does,and she knew we were on the same team.When I first saw her I had guessed her to be around twenty or twenty-two,she is absalutely gorgeous,and then I heard about her sons,and I just had to ask her how old she is.She told me thirty-nine!I was absalutely shocked.She just laughed,and said,"I drink tea all day long".
"What kind?"I had to know.She said green tea.And then added that she doesn't like sugar.
Anyway,this lady was so sweet.She asked what I thought about Taiwan, said she hoped I would come back,and then gave me a hug!I am often amazed at how kind and friendly Taiwanese people can be,even when they don't know you.
Okay,this is getting long,and I have to sleep,but I will try to blog again soon.I am overflowing with things to tell!
Friday, 23 May 2008
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Exactly one month and two days from now I will be on a plane headed back to L.A.,and on from there to DFW.So I only have about four more classes with my kids,and only two with my kids on Wednesday.
Isn't life such a vapour?We're born,we live,make choices,some good,some realy bad,our whole life is realy about the choices that we make.We study to become something,we work,maybe get married,have children,if we live long enough watch them grow up,and then,finaly we leave this world to go to one of two places,depending on the most important choice we ever made.
So...choices.Something I've been thinking about recently is why we make the choices we do.Is is because it's what we want to do,or because it's what we think others want us to do?Do we make the same choices out of habbit?Because we're comfortable with them?Because they aren't risky,or maybe because they are?Because we wan't to hurt ourselves,or others,or because we want to help ourselves or others?Or,is it because,superseding everything else,our own desires,or those of others,reaching beyond,and becoming the most important thing in our minds,because it's what the Creator of this universe,the One who gave us life wants?
These are some of my favorite verses in the Bible.I couldn't count how many times they have comforted me;
Matthew 6:25"Take no thought for your life,what ye shall eat,or what ye shall drink;nor yet for your body,what ye shall put on.Is not the life more than meat,and the body than raiment?
Behold the fowls of the air:for they sow not,neither do they reap,nor gather into barns;yet your heavenly Father feedeth them.Are ye not much better than they?
Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
And why take ye thought for raiment?Consider the lilies of the field,how they grow;they toil not,neither do they spin:
And yet I say unto you,that even Soloman in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Wherefore,if God so clothe the grass of the field,which today is,and tomorrow is cast into the oven,shall he not much more clothe you,O ye of little faith?
Therefore take no thought,saying,What shall we eat?or,What shall we drink?or,Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
(For after all these things do the gentiles seek:)for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.)
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness,and all these things shall be added unto you.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow:for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
I know he is quoted a lot,but Oswald Chambers writes:
"Jesus sums up common-sense carefulness in a disciple as infidelity.If we have received the Spirit of God,He will press through and say-Now where does God come in this relationship,in this mapped out holiday,until we learn to make him our first consideration.Whenever we put other things first,there is confusion.
"Take no thought..."Don't take the pressure of forethought upon yourself.It is not only wrong to worry,it is infidelity,because worrying means that we do not think that God can look after the practical details of our lifes,and it is never anything else that worries us.Have you ever notices what Jesus said would choke the word he puts in?The devil?No,the cares of this world.It is the little worries always.I will not trust where I cannot see,that is where infidelity begins.The only cure for infidelity is obedience to the Spirit.
The great word of Jesus to his disciples is abandon.
So are we willing to reliquish the "right"to make our own choices?Will we look to the Lord to guide us in every decision that we make,even little ones we don't think will matter in the long run?I know that what Oswald Chambers said is true for me.It's not the big things that choke the word in me,and destroy my faith,it's letting little worries and cares overwhelm me,and not looking to the one who said to give them all to him,and he will care for me.
Let Jesus be the one who makes the decisions in your life.Look to him for the right choices.He'll never let you down!
Saturday, 05 April 2008
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It's so hard to imagine:In less than three months I will be gone from this place.I know that when I made the decision not to return,I was sure.But it's normal to second guess your decisions,right?
There hasn't been a time when I made a decision that was hard for me,but I knew was the Lords will for me,that I have regreted my decision.It's always been better than I imagined.Taiwan is the most major example I can think of.I would suggest to anyone coming here for at least a year before college.At dinner last night we were all talking about how everyone on the teams here in Taiwan has changed this year.Realy!Coming and serving here in Taiwan will test you;you will probably be able to identify your faults more easily.You will probably either be strengthened in your beliefs,or weakened,depending on how close your relationship with the Lord is.The biggest test,I think,will be in your relationships.Are you willing to look beyond someone's quirks,differences in opinion and belief,and just be their friend?To realy try to get to know someone you would ordinarily ignore,who is too different?To forget about being "cool",and go talk to the person no one else is talking to?To let the love of Christ fill you for the people around you,even those who drive you up the wall?To be flexible when you need to be,but firm when necesary?Are you willing to come out of your shell,and just spend time with people?To manage your time wisely,and put first things first?And lastly,are you ready to have the time of your life?
As I said,I can see the differences in all my friends here from when I first met them last year.I'm sure they see differences in me!Some changes for the better,some for the worse,but the majority are for the better.These people,these wonderful,amazing people,people who before last July were complete strangers,some of whom it would seem I had absalutely nothing in common with!They are now some of the best friends I have! The Lord has put such a love in my heart for each and every one of them!
And my students
.Sometimes I wonder how on earth I am going to leave them,to hug them and say goodbye.To walk away knowing there's a chance I might never see them again.May,Angel,Woody,Victor,Teresa,Sandy,oh,I could go on and on.
I hope this entry has not been too depresing.Right now,I could use a big hugBut on to happier things,today was fantastic!!!Lucas,Charity,and Sarah just left,and I always hate to say goodbye to people,so that's the reason for my moodiness."The sun'll come out tomorow!"
Keep trusting,that no matter how hard something the Lord tells you to do may be,all things will work together for good,to them that love God,and are called according to his purposes!
And a little note to my family:I can't wait to see you guys!I love you so much.
Friday, 04 April 2008
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Some of the english teachers at the English Village in Taoyuan are here in Hualien for a short vacation.Sarah Conelly,Nathan,Donald,Lucas,and Charity.Today we went to Sansiantai,an island about a thirty minute drive from here.And we stoped and looked at whatever we wanted.We borrowed a van from the Yuli church.Lucas drove.Here are everyone's thoughts at the moment(we just got back).
Lucas:"Amazing sights.Quite a plight.All until night."
Charity:"Time doesn't matter any more".
Nathan:"We've come a long way,baby".
Donald:"WEST VIRGINIA,an exageration".
Jonathan:"Goin' for a drive.Hualien style".
Sarah:"A soul's reflection in a tide pool".
Susanna:"Can I go back and play with the baby monkeys"?:(
This is a very good kind of tired.Me is happy.
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