Thanksgiving 2016

This was our fifth Thanksgiving away from our extended families

Our third without Nick.

Our second without Ben.

And our first without Abbi.

Our very first Thanksgiving in Taiwan was extremely nontraditional. While we did have a Thanksgiving meal with our mission family, it was the day before Thanksgiving. My oven was too small to cook a turkey, let alone all the fixens that go with the traditional Thanksgiving feast.

We were also  carless that year, so our options were limited. But, fortunately, Carl and I had stumbled onto a little family owned dumpling shop that was only a few kilometers from our home. So our meal consisted of pork dumplings and noodles! If my memory serves me correctly, it was delicious and satisfying!

Four years later, only three of us remain on island for this day of Thanksgiving.

But, this year I added two more feasts to my celebration.

My first Thanksgiving meal was Monday at school. Every year, the cafeteria will prepare a Thanksgiving meal for the students. For most of my students, this is the only exposure they will have to a traditional American Thanksgiving meal. My students come from every continent, except South America, and Antarctica, of course. Very few have actually lived in America!

As you can see, they were very excited about turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie! The food was delicious, except by the time I got to sit down and enjoy its yumminess, it was cold. But not to worry, because for supper that evening....

I ate another Thanksgiving meal.

Carl serves as a dorm parent substitute. So once a week, he spends his afternoon and evening in the dorm supervising and building relationships. Monday, our family was invited to join the dorm in a traditional Thanksgiving meal. This time I was able to eat my fill while it was still hot and tasty!

 Wednesday evening, we boarded a train and traveled four hours to the east coast to join the OMS family is our traditional Thanksgiving meal. While Jacob is a well seasoned Taiwan train traveller, this was Carl's first opportunity to travel this way. Typically, getting to Hualien requires either a 6 hour trip north, and then across the island where the mountains are not quite such an obstacle, or a seven hour trip up, up, and up, followed by down, down, down. While the views on this route are undeniably amazing, it can be hazardous at times, as well as uncomfortable to those who are sensitive to altitude changes or prone to car sickness. Since our break was only four days, we decided a four hour trip with none of us driving to be the best option. 

My contributions to the meal were the traditional sweet potato casserole and nontraditional ramen noodle cabbage salad. I did all the prep work in Taichung, so four hours before we ate, I put the prepared sweet potatoes and the topping in a borrowed crockpot. I had never thought of doing this before, but it worked wonderfully. About three hours in, I removed the lid so the pecan topping wouldn't be soggy. With only four ovens available to cook for over forty people, this really helped! 

Four nations represented here- Canadian, South African, Taiwanese, and American!

Which plate was mine and which was Carl's?

Our time in Hualien has been relaxing and enjoyable. Besides eating way too much food, we have enjoyed times of worship, fellowship, and hiking.

No more than one at a time?

Its a miracle nothing was broken- human and nonhuman!

Taiwan is full of these!

Carl's too tall for my selfies!

The growing metropolis of Hualien!

Tomorrow, we board a train back to Taichung and the busyness of normal life. This little get away  has rejuvenated and energized us for the upcoming Christmas season.

The only thing that could have made this a better Thanksgiving would have been the presence of three more Dingus children!

Even so, I am thankful!

Sunday Afternoon

We have been experiencing an abundance of beautiful weather!

Sunshine, temperatures in the low 30s (80s for my American friends),  and warm breezes- perfect weather for a picnic!

So, that's what we did today after church.

Our friends, Michael and Anna, attend church at a local university not too far from Morrison Academy. They called and asked us to join them for lunch.

The university was quite active with students and families enjoying the tranquil tree studded campus.

Located in the concrete jungle of Taichung, I was pleasantly surprised by the abundance of nature and country atmosphere. It did not feel like a school. Several buildings, including faculty housing, was of a more western architecture.

After choosing our meal from a cafeteria style buffet, we walked to a picnic area equipped with stone tables and plenty of green "grass". I put grass in quotes, because most Americans with yards work hard and spend plenty of money to not have a yard like this. But here in Taiwan, this is good! Very natural, not pretentiously manicured.

It was a time to reunite with old friends and some new ones as well.

This little guy's Chinese name means the sword of the Lord.

The older children took advantage of the space to run and play; quite a treat since most homes lack a yard or driveway in which to play.

Please pray for the gentleman in the back row on the left. His English name is Emmanuel. He is a professor of philosophy and ethics. Like America, Taiwan is also wrestling with issues dealing with the breakdown of marriage and man's desire to corrupt God's plan. Thursday this past week, the legislature delayed passing a bill changing the definition of marriage, after twenty thousand some people rallied outside the building against such a change. Wednesday evening, Emmanuel will be interviewed on national tv concerning this issue. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to go before him, preparing hearts and for God's truth, as well as peace and love to shine out through him. 

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. And God blessed them." Genesis 1:27

What Was I Thinking?

Once in a while, I ask myself what was I thinking.

Friday evening, I was doing it a lot!

Every November, the junior class puts on a spectacular carnival for the school and community. With each class, a different theme is created. Many of the attractions stay the same year from year despite the changing theme. One of these is the dunking booth.

Typically, administrators along with high school teachers are asked to volunteer their time and sacrifice their comfort. These juniors thought outside the box and asked an elementary teacher.

And for some unexplained reason, I agreed. I don't know what I was thinking.

So after a day of trying to keep second graders from bouncing off the walls with excitement (I mean how many second graders have a zip line built outside their classroom window?), I quickly changed into something a little less professional.

When I agreed to do this, the weather was still very August like. Unfortunately, a cold front with rain had moved in during the previous days. Luckily, the sun decided to come out just as I was climbing into that dreaded seat. Maybe this would turn out ok after all.

My first obstacle was how to even get into position. Obviously, this dunking booth was made with taller people in mind! Never to be limited by my shortness, I somehow got up. Again and again!

 I was hoping for warm water. I also hoped for customers with really bad aim.

No such luck for me!

Somehow, even when the balls were not making a connection with the target, I was finding myself falling into that cold water. 

But watching some current, a few future, and a lot of past students try to dunk me was quite fun. But as the sun dipped lower into the horizon, its warmth slowly disappeared. Quickly, coldness rushed in to take it's place. Soon, I was shivering!

I did not recognize this little girl, but she was adorable!

I still don't know why I agreed to subject myself to such torture; a momentary lapse of judgement, perhaps. I have a year to practice that two letter word- no!

But, then again, why not?

In His Wll

Sunday afternoons have become my time to blog.

So,  here I sit at my laptop and for the first time in over four years, I am blank. In the past, thoughts came throughout the week concerning possible topics of which to write. 

This week, I had none.

So, here I sit. 

Thinking.

And waiting.

Hoping.

(Insert dramatic pause)

I bet you thought I would launch in to an exciting retelling or revelation. Nope! 

Maybe I am stuck today, because my life is not that much different from the average Ohio mom who also happens to teach at the local school; I wake up, go to work, come home, eat , and back to bed.

Well, there may be a few differences.

Most mornings will find me at the school aquatic center, preparing to jump in and swim laps. I can be pretty sure there are few,  if any,  outdoor pools still open in Ohio in November. If there were, you wouldn't catch me any where near it in a swimming suit.

With our previous pool, there were no heating options, so once the nights dipped below seventy degrees, so did the water. I think the latest I ever swam laps in it was early November. I decided to stop when after six laps, my teeth were still chattering.

The new pool sits above a room. This pocket of air helps keep the water warm through short periods of coolness. I swam Saturday morning and the water was about 77 degrees. It only took three laps for the goosebumps to disappear. 

Another improvement  was the installation of solar heaters on top of the adjoining gym. When first opened last spring, these provided the necessary heated water to keep the pool water comfortable. Not too long after, the comfortable stage was surpassed by the tepid, and eventual bath water stage. I never thought it possible to sweat while swimming laps, but then again I usually don't swim laps in my bath tub. Subsequently, the heaters were disengaged.

Hopefully, someone will throw the switch back the other way, soon.

So, besides that, my life is typical for an Ohioan teacher. 

Except, maybe my commute to work is slightly different. 

Probably shorter.

And requires no mode of transportation, except for my two feet.

If I leave my sixth floor apartment at 7am, I can literally be at my desk by 7:05, depending on the availability of the elevator. Living on the school campus does have its advantages. 

 Some days, I run into past, present, or future students while walking to work, not to mention fellow teachers and several administrators. Twice in my previous employment in Ohio, I experienced commuting issues at its worst- the dreaded accident. I never fear rear ending, or being sideswiped on my current commute. If I'm running late, there's no worry of being stopped and ticketed!

But, once my school day begins, my day is just like that of my Ohio counterparts. Well, except, maybe that for most of my students, English is a second language. Not to mention, with the exception of South America and Antarctica, every continent  can be claimed as a birthplace for one of my twenty-four students. So many cultures, all together in one place. 

When I chose the multi-cultural strand of elementary education at Ohio State, I didn't have a clue what God had in the plans for me. But God did.

I guess I can say, with bold confidence, that I am exactly where God wants me. So whether my life is similar or different to yours, is not what's important. Finding and following the will of God, no matter where that leads you , is that elusive ingredient to joy.

Don't get me wrong; I have good days and bad days. There are days where I am tired and not feeling successful, either as a teacher or a missionary. Days where I desperately miss Nick, Ben, and Abbi. Days where I miss cleaning, cooking, and laundering being at the top of my to do list. But, when it all boils down, I am at the center of God's will.

And there is where I will stay, no matter where He leads this average Ohio mom. 

Jeremiah 29:11