Bang! The lightning smacks the sky right above our heads. There are few times in my life I've experienced lightening and thunder in perfect synchronization before, and even fewer times that I've experienced either lightening or thunder in Taiwan; it's always raining and never storming here. Just as the lightening strikes, there's a heavy sheet of rain that starts pouring down on us, and the palm trees start dancing madly. My scooter helmet doesn't have a visor and the rain drives at a steep angle into my eyes. I close them and wait until I've been driven safely home.
The rain stops as quickly as it started, so that when we get home we are soaked and there's no longer any precipitation to blame it on. I change into PJ's, grab a book, and heat up some tea. Although I had planned to travel to an island during these last few days off, I don't mind the storm. I am no different from when I was a child and the electricity went out: we would light candles, watch the storm from the porch, play games and hear stories. It was an adventure in its own right, and I was all excitement.
So I sit and read and sip tea, warm and dry with a kitten on my lap, and I think of how blessed I am. God has been so good to me here in Taiwan, just like He was good to me back in America. Just like I've seen Him bless people here and there, good and bad, believers and unbelievers ("the sun shines on the godly and ungodly"). He does so much more, far beyond what a "good God" needs to do. What I mean is I think He doesn't need to be this good to us, He just wants to be. God would still be "good" even if we are starving on the streets, even if like Job we lose everything and don't know the reason why. Anything more than that is simply His bountiful grace. Am I right? Either way, I know I owe all this to God. So thank you, God, for being so good to all of us!
Don't be concerned for me; Chiayi is a safe distance from the coast and our biggest threat is flooding. But please pray for the people on the coast, as well as in Japan who will get one of the typhoons after us.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Typhoon Season
I was planning to go traveling with the three free days I have this week, but seeing how Taiwan is sandwiched between two typhoons right now, I'm hunkering down with plenty to eat and read for those days instead. Typhoon Talim is going right through the Taiwan strait and should be hitting around midnight. Please pray for safety for those living on the western coast. Another one, Typhoon Guchol, is passing east of Taiwan and will hit Japan on Wednesday. The kids in Chiayi aren't worried; when I asked them about it, they were excited to get a day or two off of school.
Other than getting grades done, I have no more responsibilities at school. I plan to do a bit of souvenir shopping once the weather lets up and then pack up for home.
Can't wait to see everyone!
In Christ,
Anna
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Other than getting grades done, I have no more responsibilities at school. I plan to do a bit of souvenir shopping once the weather lets up and then pack up for home.
Can't wait to see everyone!
In Christ,
Anna
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Rain, Rain, Go Away!
It's been raining hard for five days straight and the sky has been night-black with clouds even mid-day. Even though I'm the kind of person who comes back from a bike ride soaking wet and grinning from ear to ear, I'm starting to feel like I'm drowning. When your mode of transportation is walking, biking, or by motor scooter, there is no way to stay dry. The rain always finds its way under your poncho, and you're only as dry as your umbrella is wide.
This week I had the pleasure of meeting Yule and Yiwan, a middle-aged couple from church that I've heard so much about from the other team members. Yule is retired from the Taiwanese air force and Yiwan is a music teacher in a public girl's high school (most high schools in Taiwan are segregated). Today I got to visit her classes. For the music appreciate part of the class, she uses worship songs and the girls sing very enthusiastically. Yiwan invited me to introduce myself and explain the songs "Give Thanks" and "Lord I Lift your Name on High". I've never seen a happier class. It was definitely a joy to see Yiwan's ministry that has been going on in a public high school for decades. One of my fellow teachers at Concordia School went to that girl's high school, and she had Yiwan as a teacher. "My first experience with Christianity was learning praise songs in Teacher Yiwan's class", she told me. Very neat experience!
Also, I'm realizing how BLESSED I am that God has made my transition to Taiwan so smooth. I really love the team here, and even living in a "community house" that feels like a college dorm has really helped me in easing my way out of college life and community that I loved so dearly. Tonight we celebrated a team member's birthday by going out to eat then back to their house for cake and ice cream. On Thursday nights we have prayer time, sometimes outside, but on rainy days at the "Practice Hotel" where the girls live. After prayer time tonight some of us girls just talked and laughed and it felt so refreshing to be able to have that same type of community here that I had in college. God is good! I think he knew I needed it, at least for this stage in the transition.
Less than two weeks until I come home!
Bible verse for the day:
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Ephesians 2:19-22
In Christ,
Anna
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This week I had the pleasure of meeting Yule and Yiwan, a middle-aged couple from church that I've heard so much about from the other team members. Yule is retired from the Taiwanese air force and Yiwan is a music teacher in a public girl's high school (most high schools in Taiwan are segregated). Today I got to visit her classes. For the music appreciate part of the class, she uses worship songs and the girls sing very enthusiastically. Yiwan invited me to introduce myself and explain the songs "Give Thanks" and "Lord I Lift your Name on High". I've never seen a happier class. It was definitely a joy to see Yiwan's ministry that has been going on in a public high school for decades. One of my fellow teachers at Concordia School went to that girl's high school, and she had Yiwan as a teacher. "My first experience with Christianity was learning praise songs in Teacher Yiwan's class", she told me. Very neat experience!
Also, I'm realizing how BLESSED I am that God has made my transition to Taiwan so smooth. I really love the team here, and even living in a "community house" that feels like a college dorm has really helped me in easing my way out of college life and community that I loved so dearly. Tonight we celebrated a team member's birthday by going out to eat then back to their house for cake and ice cream. On Thursday nights we have prayer time, sometimes outside, but on rainy days at the "Practice Hotel" where the girls live. After prayer time tonight some of us girls just talked and laughed and it felt so refreshing to be able to have that same type of community here that I had in college. God is good! I think he knew I needed it, at least for this stage in the transition.
Less than two weeks until I come home!
Bible verse for the day:
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Ephesians 2:19-22
In Christ,
Anna
<><
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Ohhh it hits and it hits hard. Culture shock. Homesickness. Lethargy. I've become very used to life here, and I've realize that I am very ready to come home. I don't know if this phase will pass, but I know God is good and will give me what I need to make it until the summer, and then to be steadfast next year.
I was talking with my friend Noel, who is a runner and also a cancer survivor. She compares being here to running a marathon. It's a slower pace than what we're used to. But it goes on and on and you need to keep going, even when you're tired. Just keep going.
That's all for now. Thank you for your prayers for my brother Jon, who just had his gall bladder removed and is still in the hospital. I wish I could be there to support the family, but my support must be in prayers to God. He certainly hears every one of them.
22 "Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23
In Christ,
Anna
I was talking with my friend Noel, who is a runner and also a cancer survivor. She compares being here to running a marathon. It's a slower pace than what we're used to. But it goes on and on and you need to keep going, even when you're tired. Just keep going.
That's all for now. Thank you for your prayers for my brother Jon, who just had his gall bladder removed and is still in the hospital. I wish I could be there to support the family, but my support must be in prayers to God. He certainly hears every one of them.
22 "Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23
In Christ,
Anna
Monday, June 4, 2012
Last Friday
We've been praying for my friend, Janice. Last week she surprised us with news of her retirement. It was a bittersweet decision, as it would be for anyone. On Friday, all Janice wanted to talk about were her reasons and thoughts concerning the next stage in her life. She said to me, "Anna, now would be a good time to give me verses that make me feel better about things." I opened my Bible to read her some things, but she took it from my hand to read it for herself. We talked about the verses for a while, and afterwards she said that she was feeling much better. When I told others about our conversation, they said that itself was a miracle. As long as they've known her, Janice has always boasted in ancestor worship as the reason for her family's wealth and success. But we've been praying for her and it seems like God is opening doors in her heart.
After school on Friday, I went to help some 7th grade girls with a project. We were busy at work when all of a sudden my 7th grade friend (who I know well and spends a lot of time with us at church) jumped and gasped, saying she saw a ghost. We resumed working for a while until she screamed, saying she saw it again. The girls were half laughing half frightened and stayed kind of panicked until I asked if they wanted to pray. We prayed, and I told them if they ever see a ghost, just tell him to go away. But the most important part is to tell that ghost that Jesus says go away, because that's where the power is. Jesus is more powerful than any ghost or spirit. I know two of the girls that were there are Christians, but the other two I had just met. Whether my friend saw an evil spirit or just something in her imagination I don't know, but it gave me an opportunity to witness to the power of the name of Jesus. I do know that "ghosts", or evil spirits, are a common problem in Taiwan, and many people see claim to see them.
That's all for now. I hope you all enjoyed the video in the previous post. I am beginning the wind down for the school year. My Spanish classes are all preparing final presentations, so my work is fairly light from here on out. I don't mind having a month more of school than I'm used to, but I'm counting down the days to come home!
In Christ,
Anna
<><
After school on Friday, I went to help some 7th grade girls with a project. We were busy at work when all of a sudden my 7th grade friend (who I know well and spends a lot of time with us at church) jumped and gasped, saying she saw a ghost. We resumed working for a while until she screamed, saying she saw it again. The girls were half laughing half frightened and stayed kind of panicked until I asked if they wanted to pray. We prayed, and I told them if they ever see a ghost, just tell him to go away. But the most important part is to tell that ghost that Jesus says go away, because that's where the power is. Jesus is more powerful than any ghost or spirit. I know two of the girls that were there are Christians, but the other two I had just met. Whether my friend saw an evil spirit or just something in her imagination I don't know, but it gave me an opportunity to witness to the power of the name of Jesus. I do know that "ghosts", or evil spirits, are a common problem in Taiwan, and many people see claim to see them.
That's all for now. I hope you all enjoyed the video in the previous post. I am beginning the wind down for the school year. My Spanish classes are all preparing final presentations, so my work is fairly light from here on out. I don't mind having a month more of school than I'm used to, but I'm counting down the days to come home!
In Christ,
Anna
<><
Friday, June 1, 2012
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