Happy English Village

We have been in Taiwan for a little over 3 weeks now.
There was much preparation the first 2 weeks…planning lessons and buying props to set up the class rooms. Not all of the teachers were here yet, some teaching at camps the others still in the US.

Shong and I at the Press Conf in Taipei.

Shong was a big help to us as we prepared and worked out some of the initial “bugs”, she is a girl that you can count on to get things done. Wes kept us all in the know, as much as possible, and gave tips on teaching, and explaining the “guidelines” for our team. My Dad “preached” the first Sunday we were here. He has brought good counsel for us and for Wes as the leader. Mr. Sun, the president of the King Kar company that is sponsoring us with the government, has been so kind to us, even thanking God for us and our hard work. He is quite the visionary, and it is a blessing to try and help carry out the vision that he has for the Happy English Village.

All teachers are here and accounted for now. It was especially nice to have us all together when the Media day came. It was crazy with all the media running and stepping all over themselves just to get a good shot or to be the first to a class room. We learned a new meaning of being flexible, as TV reporters would come in and ask that we re-do some of our lesson over and over again so that they could get a good camera angle on it. The children loved it! They were so excited to think that they would be on TV, or in the newspaper. Even the Mayor stopped by some of our classrooms, and at that time the teaching with the children was stopped completely as we stepped aside and all attention was on him, giving him the respect he deserves. He encouraged the children of Taiwan to take the opportunity of coming to this Happy English Village in Taoyuan.

We have about 120 students come in on Monday through Tuesday and another 120 on Thursday-Friday. So far we teach 5 classes a day, for 40 min each. So at the end of the two day English Village immersion, the kids have visited 10 classes. We have… the Library, Bank, Store, Hotel, Clinic, Drama, Science, Cooking, Dance, and Airport. We will be adding other classes later.I have been almost exclusively teaching in the Bank. And so it is my “baby” at the moment. We have a very real looking bank room. Teller windows, computers at the desks, money counter, a customer number machine (as the kids wait in line we call their customer number), a big flat screened TV with the Exchange rates updated in real life time, and to top it all off, we have a real ATM machine! Though, we only withdraw EV (English Village) dollars with it, not real money. Each child experiences the bank in a vary real way. They take a number, deposit money at the teller window, and withdraw money from the ATM.

I have already been able to share about why I am here with my family. I hope as we serve the Taiwanese people by teaching English to the children, that the love of Jesus will show forth from our lives, and that we can tell them that Jesus loves them, and that Jesus wants to know them! Please pray that we will continue to have the energy and the joy of Christ evident in us as we teach the same lessons to probably every 5th grader in Taiwan this year. :-)

Road trip...again

We had an interesting trip yesterday. We got up at 3:30am and left around 4:30am.Partly because we wanted to see Grammy more, and to make it to Front Royal in timefor a dinner with a bunch of relatives that we don't get to see very often.

After about 10 hours of driving time, while I was driving, I stepped on the gas and it seemed like nothing was happening, the car was still running, but I was justslowing down. So I pulled over to the side of the road, and the car died...nothing...I tried starting it again, and still nothing. So here we are, 2 hours away from our destination, and the van just dies. It was acting like we ran out of gas, and we had just filled up. We got a visit from a police, and then some guy stopped to make sure we had a phone to call someone. Dad checked as many things as he could with what we had in the car and then we got in touch with Grammy and asked her about coming and picking us up...that would mean we would be out there for 2 hours waiting. The car insurance paid for a tow, but only one person could ride in the tow truck. But here is the nice part about it....God was really looking out for us... When saying the name of the town we just passed, Grammy said "Roy, I think your cousins live out there! Let me call and see if they can pick you up." On that day they were only behind us about an exit or 2 shopping. And when Grammy called they were about 2 minuets away from us! They pulled up behind us, took Mom, Hannah, Lydia and I to their house while Dad stayed and waited for the tow truck. Then Dad called and our only car mechanic relative gave directions to the towing service to take our van to the mechanic place he works at, and he put in a new alternator in record time that they happened to have on hand...and we were ready to go off again!

While Dad was with the van, we were at their house... the girls were having a wonderful time with the 4 cats, 3 dogs, and 4 horses. Hannah helped muck out the stalls, and Lydia ran around out side with the cats and dogs. God really provided.

Reunion

We just got back from MN yesterday. Rachel and Stephen hosted us as well as Ben and Joe, Jess, and their kids. We had a wonderful family reunion! God really blessed the time we spent together. Part of the reason we were getting together was because of the Taiwan trip coming up for Dad, Mom, Hannah, Lydia and I. We won't get to see them for about a year.

Today I mudded the basement bathroom, and ran some errands with Lydia. It is so nice to have a 4 year old running around the house. She helps me to "stop and smell the roses", or at least stop and watch her ride the plastic horse at Meijers. We leave tomorrow for Front Royal, VA. Dark and early. Here is a link to some of the pictures from our MN Family reunion.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=3886&l=32ce7&id=504907608

Discovery

We took my cousins to the Children's Discovery Museum yesterday here in Normal. It was a really cool place! If I was their age, I would be running all over the place and would never want to leave. Three floors of creative fun! We went in the morning, and then after lunch and nap time, I took 3 of my cousins with Hannah back, until it closed at 5. Amelia, after getting ready for bed one night, had this slightly mischievous look on her face and whispered to me "I have a REALLY good idea!" I asked her "what is that?" She said "tomorrow, when I brush my teeth, and put the tooth paste on my toothbrush, I am going to brush my lips!" I thought that this was funny, and I asked her "well,why are you going to do that?" And she said "I never thought of it before!"

Laura, Luke and Hannah making things with Perlor Beads

Here a cousin there a cousin...

My Uncle Michael and Aunt Christie are in Guatemala on a missions trip for about 8 days. So we are watching their kids as they serve. Having 6 of my cousins in our house has been quite different. But good! Now we know more of what it is like to have 8 kids in the house. Though I guess technicly it is 9, including me. But there is something about being 25 that puts you in a different category than "kid", even though I am still living at home. This morning we are all doing chores, cleaning bathrooms, washing windows, and doing odds and ends that have to get done before our family leaves for Taiwan in August.

Amelia with our huge flowers! And she really wanted a picture with them.

Isaac mowing our lawn, he has been such a great help!

My Refuge and Strength

Dad gave the call to worship today, Ps 18:2-3a in Chinese and English. Pastor Duane Otto preached today at Christ Church. Here are some of the notes I took today on the sermon. A lot is my interpretation of what he said."My Refuge and Strength" Ps. 3 When hard times come, it reminds us of who's we are, because it is in those times that we seek refuge in the "lap" of our Lord.God is a shield about me, He watches over me, and anything that happens to me is from His hand, even the bad. We tend to put up our own "safety net", and not put our full confidence in Him. Romans 8:28A good indication of the trust you have in God is, do you worry ? Do you fear? vs. 5-6Peace comes from God. Remember who you are in Christ. John 14:27; Eph. 2:14 Sunday School - Strategize and "plan" less - Pray moreEven Jesus (fully God, and fully man) prayed. He even asked that "this cup pass", displaying a reliance on the Father. Pray alone or with others. Remember we are not a "lone wolf". We are part of the body of Christ and need to help "bear each others burdens".Pray the Psalms, there are Psalms that apply to different situations. Example: David repenting of Adultery Ps. 51

Fortune Cookie

Have you ever gone to a Chinese Restaurant and picked up a fortune cookie? I have thought it strange that they have them in the Chinese restaurants here in the States, but not in China. The whole time I lived there I did not see one. I guess it is an American tradition really. Anyway... I find it interesting to read what they say, and I wonder who gets the job to come up with these "sayings". Sometimes they are scary (trust me), funny, and thought provoking. I don't believe in "fortunes" but I do believe in God. And wonder sometimes what God does with fortune cookies. He uses us and our weaknesses, he uses the wrong things that we do... does he use fortune cookies?

So, what do you think of this one, My Uncle got this after we all ate at the Hot Wok.

"Women are mothers at heart, men are bachelors at heart."

Do you think this is somewhat accurate?
I know this is a far fetched really weird post, but I was trying to find something to post, and this came to mind.

Weeds!

The weed guy came over to our house and saw me outside. He asked, "What are you going to do about your weeds?" I told him maybe he should ask my parents....so I go to get them. "Mom and Dad, there is this guy outside asking what we are going to do about our weeds, and he wants to talk to one of you. Dad: "we want to keep them." Mom: "he said that about my three dandelions?! I'll go talk to him." The result....Hannah gets paid to dig up the three dandelions (OK, OK, it was 57).

Taiwan?

It looks more and more like I will be going to Taiwan with my family. We don't know for sure yet. But what we do know is that the Lord wants us to be willing and ready to go.
The plan is for us to be in Taiwan for the school year to teach at an "English Village" that will be set up for around 20 teachers. My parents would be part of the leadership of the team. We will be teaching many different parts of our western culture in our village...not sure what those are yet, but it should be interesting. Young Taiwanese students will come through and visit these different classes. At least this is my understanding so far.
The Company that would be sponsoring us and the other teachers know that we are a Christian organization, and seem willing to let us use the class rooms that they provide for other christian meetings. This will be a good opportunity for us to get to know and share the love of God with the Taiwanese people that we are around.

It will be neat to go to Taiwan again...English Camp Teachers - February 03 at Sun Moon Lake

What?

Praise the Lord, we are homeless no more! I never thought that I would be considered normal, I have always been out-side of Normal. But now that we have a house in Normal, I guess that means I'm normal? But if most people are living out-side of Normal, like I was, and there are only a few people in Normal, does that mean that those in Normal are normal? Or do we just think that we are normal? Do normal people move to Normal because they think that is where they belong? Or do un-normal people move there because they want people to think they are normal, and hope that when you live in Normal that you will become normal, or at least that people will think you are normal?

Home is where the family is

After 6 months of living out of suit cases, at various family and friends houses, my family is still wondering what God has for us on a more long term basis. Do we go out on missions for awhile? Do we settle down, buy a house with a white picket fence, and get a nice job here in the states? Please pray for us.
I took a train and saw my family this weekend. Some really good news! My little sister prayed to receive Christ as her savior! Some other news, Ben is off to MT, he will be taking a Gray Hound bus to see J&J. Not sure how long he will be gone. I guess only God knows what he has for him in this timeThe snow around here has been amazing! So deep, and powdery, for the longest time. It is only now starting to be really good snowball snow. This Hawaii girl is not so sure what to think of the below zero weather we have had recently, but I think I am getting used to it.

Joel Morris

I just found out today, that a little 3 year old boy that I have been hearing about, and praying for, Joel Morris, died yesterday afternoon. It is real sad, and I can hardly imagine what that would be like for someone. I just keep on thinking of my little 3 year old sister. And relating that way brings tears to my eyes. But God is giving them the grace to go through this. As I read what the father wrote about his son, and how they are trusting God in this situation, it gives me even more faith, that God is faithful, and He will never let us go through something that we can't handle, and that God prepares us for these things.
I went sledding the other day. And boy what fun that was! I can't even remember the last time I did. Since I had jeans on under my skirt, I was the one that sat in the back or balanced standing up on the back of a sleigh of 4 girls. I still feel the bruises from tumbling off a few times.
My Dad is coming! He will be taking a train from MN to Chicago. He won't be with me for long though. He will be catching a ride up to the fathers conf. in Indianapolis the next day. Dad just retired from the military after his career of 24 years. And so since he is out, he now has the freedom, he's been growing a beard! and his hair is longer on top than I have ever seen it.

Bloomington is NOT Normal

I just came back from visiting my brother Ben and my Uncle Todd in Bloomington-Normal. It was a last minuet decision to go really. Instead of leaving on Friday night like normal, I left Dark and Early Saturday morning at 6am. I sat in the Starbucks across the street to wait for the 6:55 Metra to Chicago. It was a nice time to have a cup of coffee and read my Bible.
Ben picked me up in Uncle Todd's PT cruiser "Ruby". And we had lunch and then went shopping for a bit. Afterwards we Saw the movie "The pursuit of Happyness" with Will Smith and his son, acting as his son, in this film. It was neat to see them acting together. The movie is based on a real story, about a low class income family getting to the top. And all the impossible things that the father had to do to get there. I liked the fact that he had to work real hard, and he seemed to have a good work ethic. One thing I did not like about it was the fact that the mother quit on him, and just gave up on her husband, she was not supportive at all, and even though they made it seem like an okay thing that she left her son with the father and went off, the reason was pitiful. The other thing I did not like about it was the message that real happiness and success is from how much money you make. Now it did not say that blatantly, but that was the message that came across to me.
On Sunday after church Ben and I went out to Starbucks and had a nice time talking. We like to do that, While I get my *cough*-ee, (Ben's interpretation) Ben gets his hot chocolate. Starbucks is a nice place to talk, I wonder what they put in there drinks, because I am not always that talkative. Maybe it is just coffee in general, because even though I really like Starbucks, Caribou Coffee is my favorite coffee shop.

Star

I miss my family, and especially my little sisters and my nieces and nephews. Kids do the cutest things, and they are not afraid to speak their mind no matter how illogical it is. You can learn a lot about the "fear of man" from them, as well as how we can have a child like faith. They are so trusting. And that is how we need to be with God.
And talking about logic... I love Spock! Spock is my favorite Star Trek character. And yes, I like Star Trek better than Star Wars. But you just can't get enough of Yoda! Hmmm.... it must be the ears....

HQ Again???

Yes, the Lord has brought me back to IBLP Headquarters once again. But this time it is supposedly short term. They needed the help, so what can I say? I'm a mercy? But seriously, I really do like it here. I just don't know if this is where the Lord wants me for very long.
It is nice to unpack for once... Traveling for the last 4 months have given even more of an opportunity to be flexible, if being a Military brat did not already give my over and above the opportunity to learn this.