Love That Place

That place?

7-11, of course!

So try as hard as I can, I can't remember a single 7-11 in Ohio.

But even if there was, I doubt it wouldn't be as amazing as the ones here in Taiwan.

I mean, where else can you buy a snack, or even an entire meal, pay your electric bill, parking ticket, add more time to your phone, AND buy bus and train tickets?

But, let's take it one step farther, because that's just what I did.

How about 7-11 for a field trip?

Yep, I did that.

On our way to the closest 7-11. It took us less than five minutes.

We have been identifying, counting, adding, and subtracting money. And since we use American standards,  we have been doing the above using American coins and bills. But since we all live in Taiwan, we also review Taiwan currency. So naturally, the best way to practice our skills was to go out and use them for real!

Students brought 100NT (about $2.50 in US) to school in coins. They were to choose a snack (or snacks) to purchase and then complete the transaction. Some were thrifty shoppers, spending less than 20 NT. Others used their full amount and made several purchases.

Students then sat out in the spring sunshine, enjoying the fruits of their labor!

I personally can't think of a better way to enjoy a math lesson!

Junior Senior Banquet 2015

"The pleasure of watching our children grow up is mixed with a bitter cup of knowing our watercolor ponies will one day ride away."

If you happen to be a Wayne Watson fan, you may recognize the above line from the lyrics of his 80's hit.

For some reason, my husband has had this song running through his head all day. I can't listen to it. It makes me too sad to stop and think about my current reality.... my children are growing up.

One of my watercolor ponies has already galloped off to college.

Another is about to break free of the family corral.

My heart,  proud of the young men they have become, but also so heavy as they embark on adulthood.

Never has this pleasurable bitter cup more evident than now.....

The Return of Abbi

My world traveling daughter has returned.

Well, ok. That was a slight exaggeration. Maybe I should say my Asia traveling daughter has returned. The point being, she is safe and sound.

I want to say a heart felt thank you to all our family, friends, acquaintances, and perhaps strangers for remembering her and the rest of the Malaybalay mission team in their prayers. 

While Abbi was not in possession of a image capturing device (ie- camera, ipod, cell phone), I have managed to locate a few pictures of her recent experiences.

When asked about her favorite part of the trip, Abbi's response came quickly.

The children.

From the above pictures, it is rather apparent one little girl bonded well. Abbi shared the kids are   hungry for attention and affection. Naturally, when the team showed up willing and able to spend time and love, the children just soaked it up.

I am so grateful for the experiences and life lessons Abbi, and her brothers are experiencing as missionary kids. I know many people questioned our sanity when Carl and I said yes to moving to Taiwan. I never doubted God had a plan, not just for our future, but also for each of our precious offspring. 

Sometimes all we need to do is say yes.

And let God do the rest.

Scooter Ride

 Wish you were here.

Then you could enjoy all the sights, sounds, and smells of our scooter ride.

While I can't share the sounds and smells, I can give you a glimpse of what our eyes enjoyed!

Breathtaking views- ocean, city, and country all in one picture.

Vibrant hues formulated by the imagination of the Creator.

Country roads just waiting to be explored.

Can you guess what crop is growing in this field?

If you thought pineapple, you are correct!

Green expansive rice fields rippling in the wind. In the background, the HSR (high speed rail) track rises above it all. 

Rice farmer checking his fields.

Unexpected sight.... 

Need to wash your hands? 

And, of course, no scooter trip is complete until food is consumed in an unexplored eatery!

Next time, come join us. 

You never know what beauty and/or unexpected experience may come your way! 

New Life

Jesus Christ has risen!

Where or who would I be if Jesus had not suffered and died, triumphantly overcoming death three days later?

Growing up, my favorite and most meaningful aspect of Sunday Easter was sunrise service. My congregation was a small country church. Behind the building, an overgrown hill housed a radio tower. No one went up there.

Except Easter Sunday. 

When just enough light allowed, the congregation would quickly ascend. Long pants, to protect from thorns and scraggly bushes, were a must. Boots were a necessity if the previous days had been rainy. Many Easters, a winter coat, gloves, and a warm comfy hat, greatly enhanced the conditions.

There was no elaborate service.

Simple hymns sung acapella.

Scriptures read with out the enhancement of a sound system.

As we stood there, often shivering in the cold Ohio wind, the sun would slowly slip over the horizon, bringing the hope of a new day, just as Jesus brings us hope of new life in and through him.

Despite indoor Easter sunrise services, I continue to find early Easter mornings, the best time to worship and spiritually renew.

This Easter has not been typical.

The first moments of this Easter Sunday found me alone.

Waiting.

Carl and Ben arrived home from the track meet in Okinawa around 1 am.

The rest of my children were gone.

Nick, of course, was most likely working as the Easter sunrise found its way to Oklahoma.

Abbi's Easter sunrise was viewed from above the clouds. When she landed in Taipei with the track team, she boarded a new plane bound for the Philippines.

Which brings me to my youngest, who graciously shared his Easter morning view with me...

Obviously Jacob is not in Taichung.

Interestingly, today is also a holiday for my Taiwanese neighbors.

Today is Qingming Jie- Tomb Sweeping Festival.

As the name applies, family burial sites are cared for by the living members of the family.  Bugs, twigs, and left over leaves are swept away. Weeds are pulled. While this sounds somewhat similar to the American Memorial Day, it is not.

Full of traditions and spiritual implications, the day is a day of bai bai (worship of the ancestors) and the offering of sacrifices to those who have entered the after life. Food is left near the grave sites to nourish the ancestors. Paper money is burned so they can be happy in the after life. The main goal- keep your ancestors happy so they don't come make you unhappy!

As Carl and I left church, this was the scene across the plaza from the entrance.The air was thick with smoke from four or five small fires, fueled by the fears of the living.

How ironic, I realized, that Easter and Tomb Sweeping Festival would occupy the same square on  the calendar.

While they are spending the day sweeping tombs,  tombs filled with decay, fear, and hopelessness, I also am celebrating a tomb, an empty tomb! Praise God! Because Jesus' tomb is empty,  new life, hope, peace, and joy are mine.

If only they knew.

If only they would believe.

"The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."