Sugar and Spice...

If the saying is true, then my class is all sugar, spice, and everything nice this year! Yes, all five of them are girls!

We have spent the last two weeks getting off to a wonderful start! These young ladies have been wonderful and I am looking forward to a really fantastic year!

Please pray for us as we build community in our classroom, work hard, explore and learn about the world God created, and grow in our relationships with Jesus. Our school theme this year is "Unity Throughout". Pray for us as we discover what unity is in new ways this year, and as we seek to glorify God with one heart and one mouth as it says in our theme verse in Romans 15:5-6.

I am so thankful for the once in a lifetime opportunity this year to love and work with these young ladies. God has uniquely and purposefully gifted each of them in special ways. It is my joy to help them continue to establish their identity as children of God! Girls face such unique challenges and pressures in today's world. It is my prayer that this year we will build a solid spiritual, emotional, and academic foundation from which these ladies will grow and develop into beautiful women of God ready to serve Him where ever He calls them!

We have serious goals this year, but we are having a really fun time reaching them! We often have to stop ourselves from going "off on a rabbit trail" with "girl talk"!! It is a good thing there are no boys, they wouldn't get a word in edgewise with all these girls around!

Learning to Swim!

Meet Duncan... my parent's Paws with a Cause puppy! Duncan is in training to be a service dog someday, but for the time being, he lives with my parents getting totally spoiled and loved on! My six weeks at home this summer were all the more delightful with this furry bundle of joy underfoot every minute! Even though he's growing (by the minute) he's still such a puppy!

While up north with the family, Duncan took his first swim. It all happened quite by accident. Molly and Brad and I had walked the two dogs, Duncan and Max, down to the boat launch. We were all on the dock when Duncan just took a step right off the end and into the water. Having never been near the lake before, he seemed to think that he could just walk off the dock, and onto the water as if it were dry land! The look on his face was priceless as he plunged in, then started paddling furiously! It took a few tries, but once Duncan realized that the water would hold him up if he paddled, he was hooked, happily splashing about and having the time of his life!

As I get ready to board the plane back to Taiwan tomorrow, I feel a bit like Duncan. I too am standing on the edge of the dock, about to plunge into the unknown! It can be a daunting task to step off of familiar ground and into a year full of new experiences and challenges! No wonder Duncan had such a surprised and confused look on his face when he stepped off the dock! But, just like Duncan came to realize that the water could hold him up, and that things in the water were exciting and even fun... I also know that God surrounds me and holds me up as I step off as well!

Learning to swim was a great adventure for Duncan! I know this second year of living and working in Taiwan will also be a great adventure for me! I appreciate your prayers as I dive in to all that God has waiting for me on the other side of the world!

Blueberry Lemon Cheesecake

Have you ever had one of those perfect days, those days when everything is just the way you wish it was, and you are exactly where you want to be? Perfect days don't come along often, especially when living in a foreign country where the unexpected always happens and "the plan" never really goes as planned. Living in Taiwan, there is usually some sense of "wishing I was somewhere else". Not that I'm not happy here, I am, but most of my friends and family are in other places in the world, and most days at least part of me would like to be with them.

But back to the perfect day... yesterday was one of those days for me! It was a sunny and hot day, not the dreary sticky rain we've been having. It was my first official day of summer vacation! I slept till about 10:00 AM, lounged around till meeting a friend for a leisurely lunch at my favorite restaurant in Chiayi, then made my way around town by scooter stopping to do various errands and shopping. I was struck on my day out that I was on my own, getting around Taiwan independantly! What a sense of accomplishment! My final stop led me past a Starbucks Coffee (yes, we have them here in Taiwan, a little piece of America on Taiwanese soil). I stopped in for a mango passion fruit frappuchino and a slice of blueberry lemon cheesecake. As I sat there savoring my snack, I couldn't help but feel that I was just exactly where I wanted to be!

As I sat their thinking some more, the realization dawned on me that my perfect day in Taiwan this week was only a tiny taste of what heaven will be like! For all of eternity it will be one perfect day after another, being exactly where I want to be, doing exactly what I want to be doing! What an awesome eternity to look forward to!

Friends

Two weeks after arriving back in Taiwan from Northern Ireland, I'm still fighting off the jet lag! But it was well worth some tiredness to spend time with my friends there! What a wonderful week and a half of catching up, laughing, reminiscing, making new memories, and just enjoying the company of some of my favorite people in the world (literally)! On the flight back to Taiwan, after all the goodbyes had been said and I was settled into my "comfy" chair, I began reflecting on how blessed I have been by the friends God has put in my life.

No matter where I go, it seems God has people waiting for me there to bless me, love me, encourage me, laugh and cry with me. I have dear friends in America from many different phases of life: high school, college, Camp Geneva, work.... The same has held true when I've made "home" different parts of the world. My Irish friends are one of the best blessings I recieved from my time in Nigeria! The same has been true here in Taiwan, people who were once strangers are now good friends.

I am so thankful that God chooses to use us to pour his own love into one another. Of course, God loves us directly and ministers to us personally through the Holy Spirit. But he also invites us to be his hands, feet, voice, and touch to one another. There have been many times where I've felt the love of Jesus through the encouragement and support of a good friend!

So, here's to my friends all around the world... I am thanking God so much for you today! You are a blessing and joy to me!

Introducing... my kids

As a teacher here in Taiwan, I spend the majority of my week with my students! I'd like to introduce you to them!

Saffron: Saffron is an enthusiastic and energetic 5th grader. She has a real zest for life and having fun! Saffron is a talented musician with a beautiful singing voice! She loves God and really has a heart for the lost. Saffron's parents are missionaries to the working class here in Chiayi. Pray that Saffron will be able to chanel her energy and passion toward positive things, that she will develop perseverance in working toward her goals, and that she will discover how she can use her talents and gifts to serve God and others.

Elizabeth: Elizabeth is a sweet and kindhearted 4th grader. She is very artistic and loves to draw. Elizabeth is know by her classmates as a peacemaker and a servant. She loves the Lord and loves the people around her! Elizabeth's parents are missionaries in the Chiayi area training and discipling church leaders. Pray that Elizabeth will continue to grow in her servant's spirit and love for people, that she will discover just how God wants to use her in the future, and that she will develop confidence as she learns and grows.

Wesley: Wesley is a true southern gentleman! He is one of the most polite young men I've ever met! Wesley is a sensitive young boy. He is kind and considerate and always concerned about others. Wesley loves to scuba dive, he has been working on getting certified here in Taiwan. Wesley's father is here for his job as an engineer. Pray that Wesley will continue to grow in his knowledge of the Lord. He has been learning a lot about God's word during his time here at Chiayi school. Pray for Wesley and his family as they plan to return to America in March. Pray for a smooth transition and that he will readjust to life there after his experience in Taiwan.

William: William is a very intellegent sixth grader. He is very academically gifted and an avid reader. William has read things that many adults would have trouble getting through. William loves history and playing the cello. William is very well traveled having visited Italy, Egypt, and many Asian countries. William comes from a Taiwanese family, his father is a dentist and his mother works in the office there as well. Pray that William will discover how he can use his many gifts for God's glory and in God's service, pray that William will recognize the advantages he has grown up with and be thakful for them, pray that William will learn humility and grace as he grows.

Rachel: Rachel just joined our class in January. Her parents are missionaries working with the working class in Chiayi. She is a quite and sweet 6th grade girl. Rachel is very shy and self conscious at this stage in life. Pray that I can get to know her in the next few months, pray that Rachel will develop confidence and that her identity will be firmly rooted in her relationship with Jesus, pray that Rachel will discover the unique gifts that God has given her and be able to develop those.

Monica: Monica is a bubbly and joyful 5th grader. Monica comes from a Taiwanese family. Her parents are both university professors and are not Christians. Monica accepted Christ last year. She is very burdened for the salvation of her parents. Monica is a gifted student, she plays piano and violin and loves to draw as well. Pray that Monica will continue to grow in her knowledge and love of Jesus, pray that she will remain faithful to her commitment to Christ in spite of her parent's disapproval, pray that Monica will experience freedom from guilt that she still has to go to the temple with her family, that she will know the full measure of God's grace and mercy in her life as she tries to be faithful to Jesus in spite of difficult circumstances. Pray that Monica will not be confused by the conflicting teachings she hears at home and at the temple, but that the Holy Spirit will guide her mind and that as her teacher, I can help her discern the truth.

Please pray for all of my students. They are precious in God's sight and have such potential to serve and glorify him with their lives. They are at such a critical and tender time in their lives right now... in a few short years they will face the pressures of adolescence. Pray that they would be rooted and established in God and in his word now so that they will have a firm foundation in the future! Your faithful prayers for these kids will have an eternal impact on their lives and futures, which will have a ripple effect in the world as they grow up and make a difference for Jesus Christ!

First Christmas...

It is my first Christmas in Taiwan. I find myself really missing home during this season! I miss the snow, my family, the beautiful lights and decorations, the music, the "feeling" of Christmas at home!

There have been lots of "firsts" in the past few months... my first scooter ride, my first taste of Chinese noodles, my first day of school with my new students, my first time driving through the roundabout in the center of town by myself, my first time ordering food alone (in a foreign language), killing my first cockroach! All of these firsts are exciting, a bit scary, exhausting and yet exhilirating!

I'm finding myself feeling more comfortable and more at ease all the time here. But all of my recents "firsts" remind me of Jesus' first Christmas here on earth. I can only imagine how strange everything looked, sounded, smelled. I know what it is like to leave home and enter a foreign land! It is overwhelming to say the least. When I think that the Creator of the whole earth left his perfect home in heaven to enter a "foreign land", I'm overwhelmed with gratitude to Him! As much as I miss home during Christmas time, Jesus must have missed heaven so much more! And yet he came and endured culture shock of the most extreem kind so that we could have a relationship with him!

I am thankful for my first Christmas in Taiwan because each time I feel a little homesick I am reminded of how much Jesus sacrificed on his first Christmas on earth! I hope you all enjoy this season! Enjoy the snow, the lights, your family and friends, the great food, the music... but most of all enjoy Jesus! Merry Christmas!

A Day in the Life...

What's a day in the life of a Morrison teacher in Chiayi, Taiwan like?

The alarm rings at 6:00 AM and I scan the floor and walls for any crawling critters that have been out and about in my bedroom at night. When I'm sure the coast is clear, I get up and begin getting ready for the day... each trip into another room of the house in the morning begins with a quick scan for gecko's, cockroaches, spiders, or whatever other visitors have emerged in the night time! On a good day, I find myself alone in my house (or at least I don't SEE any of my visitors).

By 7:00 AM I am downstairs and starting my scooter. Christina and I are now caravaning to school, me on my scooter and she on hers. I'm still not quite brave enough to go all by myself. The morning time is very busy becuase we live near a school. The traffic is wall to wall with scooters, cars, bicycles, pedestrians. There are official crossing guards at each intersection to try and keep things moving in an orderly fashion. The air is filled with the sounds of students chattering, engines roaring, crossing guard whistles blowing, and horns honking.

At 7:15 we arrive at school and get ready for the day. The students begin arriving at 8:00, we begin class at 8:15. We have a PE teacher that comes for one hour each day, first thing in the morning to do PE class with our kids, so I have a prep. period from 8:30-9:30. I don't know how I'd be able to be ready for each day without that time! It is a challenge to juggle three grade levels, and the preparation and planning are VERY time consuming! We do reading, writing workshop, and science in the morning. At 11:45 we all begin moving lunch tables into the hallway. Christina and I eat lunch with the kids at tables in the hallway. After lunch we have a short recess/inside work time which is also supervised by Christina and I. Our afternoon time is filled with Bible, Chinese, and math. We throw in art and music when it fits in with other subject areas. The days go by really quickly because I'm busy every minute with the three different grade levels! By 3:15 we are ready to dismiss.

Christina and I generally stay at school till 5:00 PM planning, correcting papers, taking care of school business, having meetings via camera phone with other campuses, etc. At 5:00 we head home through the busy afternoon traffic. The ride home usually includes a stop at the market or grocery store to get some things to make dinner.

I do a lot of my own cooking. Most Taiwanese people eat out for most meals. It is very inexpensive to eat local food. It is very convenient for most, but not so easy for me, becuase I can't read menus or ask what things are. It can be a bit scary to point to a random menu item and just wait to see what you get. It would be fine at home where I'm used to most of the food... but if you do that here, you are likely to end up eating pigs ears, chicken heads, and pork blood tofu with a side of octopus balls (all very popular foods here). It is more expensive, and less adventerous to cook my own food... but for now, it is the best option!

The evenings are usually spend catching up on e-mails, cleaning the kitchen (which I'm fanatical about becuase I don't want a cockroach infestation), and watching an episode of CSI. There is one TV station here that plays various CSI episodes nearly 24 hours a day! Wednesday nights I meet with my Bible study group (lead by Christina) for a few hours. Thursday's I usually meet with my OMF (my mission) prayer partner. Weekends are spent grocery shopping, and spending time with some of the friends I've met here, and sometimes traveling to other places in Taiwan. It is hard to see those people during the week becuase most of them teach at "bushiban" or "cram schools" where the children go after regular school for several hours each night to learn English. They work till 9:00 PM, when I'm just about ready to wind down for the night, so we generally catch up on the weekends. My church is small (4-10 people on any given Sunday). There aren't many English speaking ex-pats in Chiayi!

So, there you have it... a day in the life of a Morrison teacher in Chiayi, Taiwan.