Thank you!

The girls here put on a "surprise" party for me on the 18th. Though I don't think I have ever really been surprised. :-) It was fun.

I spent the day of my birthday (the 20th) getting up at about 5:40am and taking a taxi to a bus stop, and then a bus to the airport. Me and 2 other teachers waited about 5 hours to take a stand by flight to a small island called Kinmen an hour long flight away. It is an island of Taiwan that is right along the shores of China. You can see China from the place I stayed (at some other IBLP teachers dorms). The Kinmen teachers got me a little cake, and a candle in the shape of a 2, and out side under the stars looking at the lights along the shore of China I blew out my birthday candle.

Thank you Lord for another year.

Tainan

Teresa and I went to Tainan for a quick whirl wind media trip. We left at about 6:20 no, wait... 6:30am (due to Teresa's morning eating rituals), and took a taxi to the HSR (High Speed Rail). We got into Tainan with Jean, a King Car rep. and went to the Broadcasting Station where we were given a tour and then asked if we would like to "hear our voices" which meant that we would get to use the REAL equipment to make a fun broadcast... no, it was not live. So we did.

Later we were taken to a school near by where we were escorted to a class room of about 40 6th graders. To
teach a class so that the media could come in and video and take pictures of us to promote their camps. We walked into a class room full of students and they all started whispering. then they just looked at us like we should know what to do. Teresa and I looked at each other and said I guess they want us to start teaching. It was a fun 40 minuets with the students. The media got their video and pictures and left.

I talked to a reporter as we were leaving and she asked me why I was teaching when there was other things that I could be doing instead. They always seem curious about that. I told her that I wanted to help/serve the Taiwanese people... and that really I thought that God wanted me here. She looked very shocked when I said that. We did not say much more as everyone was on their way out, but something sure made an impression.

Thanks for all your prayers.
Please click on the link below to listen to our broadcast!

http://usgirl21.googlepages.com/KCTainan.mp3
Everything said is not necessarily the opinion of the speakers, and every perceived mistake was planed to make you feel better about yourself. Don't try this at home without consulting your neighborhood broadcasting expert.

There a mold, here a mold, everywhere a mold mold

This was a tough EV for a lot of the teachers. Sometimes you get a team of students that don't respect you at all. And don't even seem interested in anything you have to say. It is those times that you have to just love the kids and do your job of teaching as best as you can. The Lord knows what we need, and what kids to send our way.

I'll be taking some things over to Kinmen for Teresa on Friday. So I pulled out the old suit case I got from my great grandmother for a graduation gift, only to find out that it had a nice thin layer of mold all over the out side. I just finished wiping it off and spraying it with Lysol and then using my hair dryer to dry it off. I know many of us have thrown things away due to the mold that gets on your things so easily here. You gotta love it!

Lynn is awake now! They have taken her slowly off the medication that has been keeping her under. She can have visitors soon.

13 days, and then everyone starts to leave Taiwan. I can hardly imagine our team dispersing.
Some of us are coming back for the next school year. Some of us are not. And then some of us hope to come back again one day. Only God could have picked the team that we have, and I am ever so grateful for each person here.

Me and my roommate Sarah. At the Dragon Boat festival in Taipei.

Quick Update on Lynn

Just heard today that she is off the breathing machines. She can now breath on her own! She has been under since the heart transplant, for 11 days. The doctors are keeping her asleep so that she may recover faster. She does not yet know that she has a new heart.

Wednesday the 28th

My sister Hannah just called me in hysterics! I could hardly understand her she was so excited. "Lynn has a new heart! Lynn has a new heart!"

I was shocked, I did not know what to say. "Really? When? How?"

Lynn was on a list. Being a heart donor is not so common here in Taiwan. It did not look good, but Lynn's husband Jack knew some of the doctors there. Guan xi is a big thing here, relationships, and knowing the right people, it helps you get things that others cannot as easily.

Ma Ying-jeou, Taiwan's new president, just got into office in the last week or so. He elected a Senator that Jack knows. This new Senator (that was elected only because Ma Ying-jeou was elected) made a point that one of the first things he did in office was to help Lynn find a heart. Perfect timing. God's timing.

Mark 4:40 "Why are you afraid? Do you still have no Faith?"

Ps. 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."

Wednesday

Me, Mom, Hannah, our Pastor and the church missionary went to the Hospital today. The Hospital is called Tai Da Hospital (Too Big Hospital), it is the biggest hospital in Taiwan.

Mom went in first. And then came out and said that Hannah should go with her. Everyone was having a hard time emotionally. God gave mom and Hannah the grace to actually go in and talk a little without losing it. Then it was my turn. I was having a hard time not crying, and if anyone knows me I am not the one to cry in public at all, it takes a lot to make me cry. I usually laugh at all the wrong times instead of crying. It is very embarrassing. Any way, today I was crying. Lynn's Mom, Dad, two sisters and Jack (Lynn's husband), and Jacks brother were there. Jacks brother was helping everyone in the robes and handing out masks for those going to see Lynn. I got the robe on, put on the mask and sanitized my hands with the sanitizer at the door. I went in the double doors and looked in the first room on my left, "no, this is not it, is it?" I was looking back for direction on where to go, and yes, this was indeed the room. I knew that she would look somewhat different, but I had no idea it would be this different. With all the tubes in her moth and nose and the swelling, she did NOT look like Lynn. But it was her. It was all I could do to talk... "this is Naomi, wu i ni Lynn, Ye sue i ni" (I love you Lynn, Jesus loves you). "How are you?" Ha, like she could even answer. I did not know what to say, but there was no response. Her head was slightly turned in my direction I could see her that her eyes were open just a little. Her eyeballs did not even move. It was like she was dead, and just barely alive. All I could do was rub her hand. I could not say more for fear I would brake down and sob. Mom and Hannah were not far behind. We told her we loved her and that we were praying for her. After we left Mom went back with the pastor and missionary (who's Chinese name escapes me, sorry). Lynn had meet the pastor one time when she went to our bible study. The Pastor asked Lynn if she remembered him. And then, praise the Lord, she made a very obvious and slow nod of the head yes. They shared the gospel, simple and clear.

This is an answer to prayer that we even had the chance to do this. She is still in very bad condition, we don't know how long she has. She still needs a heart transplant. The heart disease could go to her other organs and then they would not even give her a heart transplant. She can't talk and she can hardly move. If she is not heavily sedated then she is in great pain. Please keep her in prayer.... it works!

Tuesday

God is so good! I never even expected Him to answer my prayers in this way!!! This morning Mom told us all at the meeting that Lynn woke up. She is not gone! Praise the Lord! I am using way too many exclamation points, but I feel like an exclamation point right now! I was crying because she was gone, and now it is because she lives, I am so happy!

We prayed that Lynn would get a second chance and He has answered that prayer. Me, Mom Hannah, our Pastor and church missionary will be going to the Hospital tomorrow to share the gospel with Lynn.

One of Mom's unsaved friends who is a good customer of Lynn's and knows her well, emailed mom and said "Our prayers are answered!" She said after all this she is considering becoming a Christian.

To God be the glory great things He has done. So loved He the world that He gave us His Son. Who yielded His life an atonement for sin, and opened the life gate that all may go in. Praise the Lord. Let the earth hear His voice. Praise the Lord. Let the people rejoice.

以上帝的光榮，偉大的東西，他的所作所為。愛他的世界，他給了我們，他的兒子。誰取得了他的生命是一個贖罪單仲偕，打開了生活的門，所有可能英寸讚美上帝。讓地球聽到他的聲音。讚美上帝。讓人民高興。

Monday

I told Charity last night... I think we both cried ourselves to sleep. It could already be that she is gone. I think Mom is going to tell Hannah the news after she calls and confirms that she is indeed gone.

Where is coffee

Can someone in a coma be saved? I mean, be really saved, put their trust in Jesus as their savior. Did she really think about the things that I said about God? Did she see Christ and wonder who He was when she came to the Christmas party? Did the one time at the English Bible study make her really think about where she would go if she died?

Lynn was the one to really want to get to know me at first. I came into her coffee shop, it is right across from our house, it is called "Where is Coffee", no question mark just "Where is Coffee". I always wondered if it was supposed to mean "where coffee is", like "you can find coffee here!" Or "Where is Coffee?" like a question that is so obvious because it IS a coffee shop. Any way, I remember walking in, there was no one around, I started looking at the coffee contraptions and things she was selling, not sure yet if I was going to buy any coffee. Sorta pretended that I was thinking about buying a coffee grinder by asking questions about the ones she had and what one she would recommend. She knew a little English, said something about wishing she had studied English harder in school. She made a cup of coffee for me to try right then and there, I did not even ask for any. It was on the house! I told her I would not mind helping her with her English. And I told her I could not be paid, I said we would just be friends. She said, I'll give you free coffee! she was always smiling and had a twinkle in her eye. She was so excited! And and kept saying "I am so lucky!"

I did not visit her as much as I wish I did, but that is life I guess. She knew my little sisters too. She would watch them play in the park right across from her coffee shop. The girls would come in sometimes. And she took Hannah and I to the pet store so that Hannah could pick out some fish for her fish tank in the coffee shop. She was intrigued by Hannah's energy for life, pretty soon Hannah was doing the chalk art for her sign out front. Hannah also talked to her about Jesus at times. I would constantly try and pay for my coffee, getting away with paying for half once and then another time hiding the money under her laptop. She would "fish sit" for Hannah, and even transferred Hannah's fish into a nicer and bigger bowl so that she had a nice surprise when she got her fish back. The last time Hannah drew on the chalk board, Mom helped with the words, Hannah did the drawing and Lydia sat on Lynn's lap. Lynn helped her color in some of Hannah's work.

Lynn is one of those we pray for on a constant basis. People that we get to know here, people that God just puts right in front of us. To love and be a light to, and share the reason for the hope we have, and to share the purpose to their life.

Why am I crying? I pray that she will make it, even though it is impossible. I know everything is possible with Christ. But as Hannah has been praying "your will be done, in Jesus name. Amen".
God knows the bigger picture. This world is not all there is. God has a plan, and even though we have made a mess of things, God is working everything together for good.

Dad and Mom went into the shop this evening. Her husband Jack took Mom's hands and said. "she is not OK... She will not be OK"
Mom said "I know".
We knew that before the only option was a heart transplant. She had collapsed at the Hospital. She'd already been to the Clinic before, and they said "take this pain reliever, and you'll be fine. It's just a headache." She would have already been gone if she had collapsed at home.
Jack, came back to Mom and Dad, and took Mom's hands again and said "tomorrow she will...." and then made the sign with his finger that means death/dying. All we can figure is she is so bad off, that after about 15 days in a coma, they are going to "pull the plug".

It is now 39 min into tomorrow. Please pray for Lynn and her husband and family. She did not have any children, just a few Chihuahuas and fish. :-) Please also pray for those we are in contact with all the time. That we will say what God wants us to say. Of course there are regrets and what ifs. But Christ is the author and finisher of my faith, and He is that to all the rest of His children, and I can rest in that.