This is where I'll be practicing all my Chinese Skills!
(... or lack thereof) :P
http://walkingbyfaith09.blogspot.com/
ENJOY!! :) :)
Monday, October 19, 2009
Saturday, August 8, 2009
"If my heart was a house, you'd be home..."
wow.
Did I ever tell you how good my God is?? ...cuz, in all honesty, I don't know what I'd do w/out Him <3 id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">lol. never seem to escape that one, eh? but it was super good. like, for the bike-trips, *I* got to be the one who carried the 1st-aid kit (probably cuz I was the only one who knew how to use it ;)! but seriously, so many kids got hurt (by falling off, running into others, etc) that we were using that kit 24-7! it was pretty amazing... oh! and I also got to see my first "Eclipse" - which, although it wasn't the full-effect, it was SUPER COOL and the kids were really excited! It was neat to see something that I will probably never get the opportunity to see again :) Ok, so that was a really, REALLY brief overview of week 3. Week 4 was totally, absolutely, positively, and most assuredly FANTABULISTIC!! we worked with the aboriginal kids from the school again (the kids from week 2). This time we had more of a lesson-plan (which I always love!). I worked with the 2-4 graders for the first 3 days - taught them the whole alphabet! The little kids, although their energy level is super high, are really adorable! They've never had a foreigner over to their school before, so they cling on to ever word that I said. The older kids were just as cool. they loved showing me their music and showing me some "Asian dances"... SO COOL! lol. they were so cute, trying to act all gangsta and such <3 id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">haha.... and some of their questions... wow ;)
Did I ever tell you how good my God is?? ...cuz, in all honesty, I don't know what I'd do w/out Him <3 id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">lol. never seem to escape that one, eh? but it was super good. like, for the bike-trips, *I* got to be the one who carried the 1st-aid kit (probably cuz I was the only one who knew how to use it ;)! but seriously, so many kids got hurt (by falling off, running into others, etc) that we were using that kit 24-7! it was pretty amazing... oh! and I also got to see my first "Eclipse" - which, although it wasn't the full-effect, it was SUPER COOL and the kids were really excited! It was neat to see something that I will probably never get the opportunity to see again :) Ok, so that was a really, REALLY brief overview of week 3. Week 4 was totally, absolutely, positively, and most assuredly FANTABULISTIC!! we worked with the aboriginal kids from the school again (the kids from week 2). This time we had more of a lesson-plan (which I always love!). I worked with the 2-4 graders for the first 3 days - taught them the whole alphabet! The little kids, although their energy level is super high, are really adorable! They've never had a foreigner over to their school before, so they cling on to ever word that I said. The older kids were just as cool. they loved showing me their music and showing me some "Asian dances"... SO COOL! lol. they were so cute, trying to act all gangsta and such <3 id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">haha.... and some of their questions... wow ;)
yup. so that was the week with the kids... but there are more stories to come... <3
Friday, July 17, 2009
She lifts her eyes to the North...
wow. how much can a person write w/ a computer that is 1/2 totally broken??
lol. well, lets just say that GOD is AMAZING!!
and I'm learning a lot... as I always seem to on these "trips" ;)
Ok, so the first week of "camp" was super intense - it seemed like every time something went right, something (or someone) would go totally **caplush**
We brought 20 kids out to the country (from Taipei to Hualian) and kept them going (and going, and going...) all week long with TONS of various experiences. I didn't do too much (as far as being the "MAIN-TEACHER"), but it was still super nice just being able to help out and have fun w/ the kids! If you are interested in seeing some pics (and seeing what we did), you'll have to check out my picasa (link is on the right of your screen)! ;)
Anywho, that was week one.
Week 2 was more chillaxed. The "ABC's" (Alex/Benji/Camille) taught (as well as stayed-at) an aboriginal school, where we taught/hung out w/ the kids every afternoon. the kids at that school were (are) super precious and it's super cool going on walks and passing some of their houses and having them wave and call out after us :) Oh, and our house was super sweet... I totally shared my room w/ 5 gecko's - ha! quite the experience, let me tell you! ;)
Week 3 is the same as the 1st week, but w/ a new group of kids. and I've got a lot more "teaching" time... which is what I'm supposed to be doing right now....
<3
lol. well, lets just say that GOD is AMAZING!!
and I'm learning a lot... as I always seem to on these "trips" ;)
Ok, so the first week of "camp" was super intense - it seemed like every time something went right, something (or someone) would go totally **caplush**
We brought 20 kids out to the country (from Taipei to Hualian) and kept them going (and going, and going...) all week long with TONS of various experiences. I didn't do too much (as far as being the "MAIN-TEACHER"), but it was still super nice just being able to help out and have fun w/ the kids! If you are interested in seeing some pics (and seeing what we did), you'll have to check out my picasa (link is on the right of your screen)! ;)
Anywho, that was week one.
Week 2 was more chillaxed. The "ABC's" (Alex/Benji/Camille) taught (as well as stayed-at) an aboriginal school, where we taught/hung out w/ the kids every afternoon. the kids at that school were (are) super precious and it's super cool going on walks and passing some of their houses and having them wave and call out after us :) Oh, and our house was super sweet... I totally shared my room w/ 5 gecko's - ha! quite the experience, let me tell you! ;)
Week 3 is the same as the 1st week, but w/ a new group of kids. and I've got a lot more "teaching" time... which is what I'm supposed to be doing right now....
<3
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
up to this point....
This past week...
more will be posted later.... but I've been having a lot of computer problems (including no e,d,c, or 3 key - try using an onscreen keyboard) :-P
Love y'all <3
Friday, July 3, 2009
Breaking...
"God can heal a broken heart, but He has to have all the pieces..."
-Author Unknown
-Author Unknown
It's almost been 48hrs since I stepped back into Taiwan. And a lot has happened in those 48hrs.
I've met new friends.
walked to many old, yet familiar places.
refreshed my Chinese vocab and picked up on some new words.
lesson planned.
strolled some new streets.
enjoyed some "peace and quiet" at 4am.
listened to cat fights.
returned (over and over again) to 7-11.
...and realized that some healing takes more TLC than just a quick-fix.
Yes. I have fallen back in love with EVERYTHING about Taiwan.
from the smells (which ones appalled me) and cockroaches, to the children and food!
Nonetheless, I have come to realize that our God doesn't take our requests lightly.
I remember leaving Taiwan and regretting some of the times that I had obliviously "wasted".
I remember asking God to give me a second chance; to do something drastic so that I would almost be "forced" to get completely out of my comfort-zone and be totally willing to be absorbed in my surroundings.
He did it.
I'm with a bunch of Taiwanese people whom I've never met before. They are completely AMAZING people and super sweet, but they are, nonetheless, "strangers" to me.
I'm on my own.
yet, I'm far from relying on myself.
In these last 48hrs, God has showed me how much I used to depend on other people. Even when I was over here last time, I had a few "close" friends whom I would tell EVERYTHING to... now even they have been stripped away from me. God is showing me more and more every minute how I am supposed to be totally and completely relying ON HIM(!!) and omw. that is a whole lot easier said then done. :-\
This brought me to realize that, as much as I was telling everyone from home that I would be "totally and absolutely fine" I really was just trying to hide the fact that I knew I was going to miss everyone like crazy (argh! I have started to HATE having to admit that...)! I got over here, and all I could do was wonder why God would bring me to a place I love soo much... on the other side of the world from the OTHER place that I loved sooo much!?!?!
It is said that "home is where the heart is"
... well, if that's the case, my heart is totally torn in two!
... well, if that's the case, my heart is totally torn in two!
I have a deep and completely passionate love for the people of Taiwan (adults and children alike), but at the same time, my love for my family and friends at home is just as deep...
So why?
Why does God bring us to a point where we feel like our heart is about to break?
...it is only so that He can show us that He is the ONLY one who can fully put us back together!
Although I am still super excited for these next few weeks(!!), I have felt a complete draining of myself and anything that *I* would've planned for this Summer to hold. God's bringing me to a point of total surrender and brokenness before him.
God is never done perfecting me... and I have a feeling that it's going to take a LONG time.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
And it's been just over a year...
Wow. So I'm going back.
I'm leaving on Tuesday (June 30th) and getting back on Sunday, Aug. 2nd :) I was really hoping that it would be a longer stay, but so many things have happened lately that I'm just really excited (and thankful) to even be going!
On another note, it's been one year (and 2 days) since I got back from Taiwan.
Lots of memories... LOTS!
I remember saying goodbye to precious children. The last day of teaching at my school was extremely hard!
There were tears.
Letters.
Trying to communicate "I'll miss you" and "Goodbye" in multiple languages.
I remember taking random trips to "my kids" house. Eating things that I didn't even realize COULD be eaten ;)
I remember taking walks at crazy hrs of the night in order to go to 7-11 to get a "snack"
I remember looking at the children and seeing so much love in their eyes. so much desire to find out that there was something more out there...
These are the children whom I'm going back to. These are the children who stole my heart about 2 years ago <3
Now, much as I am going back, I'm not exactly doing the exact same thing. I am not totally sure on the details yet, but I do know that I will be working with children around the middle-school age. They will come for about a week and we'll be teaching them a bunch of various "English-related" topics.
As stated in my previous post, my "website" is:
http://www.twrea.org/Activity_HL.asp
I'm leaving on Tuesday (June 30th) and getting back on Sunday, Aug. 2nd :) I was really hoping that it would be a longer stay, but so many things have happened lately that I'm just really excited (and thankful) to even be going!
On another note, it's been one year (and 2 days) since I got back from Taiwan.
Lots of memories... LOTS!
I remember saying goodbye to precious children. The last day of teaching at my school was extremely hard!
There were tears.
Letters.
Trying to communicate "I'll miss you" and "Goodbye" in multiple languages.
I remember taking random trips to "my kids" house. Eating things that I didn't even realize COULD be eaten ;)
I remember taking walks at crazy hrs of the night in order to go to 7-11 to get a "snack"
I remember looking at the children and seeing so much love in their eyes. so much desire to find out that there was something more out there...
These are the children whom I'm going back to. These are the children who stole my heart about 2 years ago <3
Now, much as I am going back, I'm not exactly doing the exact same thing. I am not totally sure on the details yet, but I do know that I will be working with children around the middle-school age. They will come for about a week and we'll be teaching them a bunch of various "English-related" topics.
As stated in my previous post, my "website" is:
http://www.twrea.org/Activity_HL.asp
| Promote a healthier lifestyle and come experience Hualien's beatiful rural surroundings. Gaze into starry night skies and trek through lush forests. Learn about the organic agricultural process and how it relates to you. |
I'm super stoked! This is totally a new program, so I'm going to play "lab rat" for a month, but I know how awesome Taiwan is. I know that I absolutely ADORE those kids. and I know that I can't wait until I get my feet back on Taiwanese soil. :)
Please pray that I would be given many opportunities to be a witness, that God would give me the words he wants me to say, that I would make the most out of every opporunity, and that I would make many memories/friendships <3
Love y'all! <3 <3
Monday, May 4, 2009
I'M GOING BACK!!
Ok, I know that it's been about a year since I updated this thing... sorry. my bad :P
Anywho, I have some awesome news:
I'M GOING BACK TO TAIWAN!!
yes indeed! and I'm super stoked cuz I'm leaving in a month! (lol. this sounds like a familiar story...)
It was all quite random and spontaneous, but Wes Dudley emailed me the other day, telling me that they were looking into doing something new this Summer and were in need of teachers. Wes, knowing that I still wanted to come back, thought of me and mentioned it and... yeah. Through a series of quick-paced events I am going home! :)
Although I don't have all the details of what I'll be doing, here's a little glimpse of what I know:
http://www.twrea.org/about.asp
Yup. Check it out. let me know what you think.
As always, I covet your prayers for me. It was really hard leaving last time, and I do already have plans for this Fall. However, I thought I had plans for this Summer and look what God did with those! ha! Yup, this could turn out to be quite an awesome experience!
Love y'all lots!! <3
Anywho, I have some awesome news:
I'M GOING BACK TO TAIWAN!!
yes indeed! and I'm super stoked cuz I'm leaving in a month! (lol. this sounds like a familiar story...)
It was all quite random and spontaneous, but Wes Dudley emailed me the other day, telling me that they were looking into doing something new this Summer and were in need of teachers. Wes, knowing that I still wanted to come back, thought of me and mentioned it and... yeah. Through a series of quick-paced events I am going home! :)
Although I don't have all the details of what I'll be doing, here's a little glimpse of what I know:
http://www.twrea.org/about.asp
Yup. Check it out. let me know what you think.
As always, I covet your prayers for me. It was really hard leaving last time, and I do already have plans for this Fall. However, I thought I had plans for this Summer and look what God did with those! ha! Yup, this could turn out to be quite an awesome experience!
Love y'all lots!! <3
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