Pagodas

No words necessary.

Just enjoy!

Cijin Island

Spring break...

Just the two of us...

Wedding anniversary right around the corner...

So exploring we went.

Last spring break, while Jacob was at the beach with a friend's family, we went Xiao Liuqiu. We thought about going back again, but we wanted to keep it simple. The snorkeling among the reefs is great and swimming with gigantic turtles isn't an everyday event, but we wanted to be back when Jake returned from the Philippines. That only left two days. Xiao Liuqiu while just a bit farther to the south requires a ferry ride. We didn't want to spend the two days traveling.

After a little research, Carl found us accommodations on another island just off the coast of Kaohsiung. A tunnel connects Cijin Island with the mainland making it very convenient. 

Carl had been on the island for one of Jake's seventh grade cultural trips. He remembered it having a good size beach, a light house, and an old fort to explore. I was hooked the moment he said beach. I was in need of some sand therapy.

Unlike many of our favorite places in Taiwan, the drive was relatively short, just two and a half hours. 

Cijin is a barrier island just off the coast. Its width averages 1 kilometer, while its length is about 15 kilometers.  It forms one side of the Kaohsiung harbor. Most of its residents work in the shipping yards.  This is where the container containing our worldly goods docked in Taiwan six years ago.

Since it was off season, the normally pricey room was affordable and surprisingly, very western.

While not having the white sands of Kenting, the beach was spacious and not crowded.

After years of neglect, the tandem was restored and ready to explore. A bike path ran most of the length of the ocean side of the island. We tried to find a road or path up the other side, but found that side mostly inaccessible due to the shipping yards.

Between exploring on the bike, hiking, and sunbathing we had plenty to do!

It was an enjoyable two days! Short, but relaxing!

Farewell Cijin Island. Until we meet again!

Boracay

He is home!

Thank you to everyone who prayed for Jacob and his team as they served in the Philippines.

It was just a short eight years ago, that Jacob had his first missions experience in Ecuador.

He didn't know whether to be excited or scared.

Flying no longer makes him quite as nervous. And Mom and Dad are no longer needed as  chaperones.

For nine days, these Morrison students had a life changing opportunity to bless members of the Ati tribe on the Philippine island of Boracay. 

Boracay is a tourist destination boasting beautiful beaches, but behind the idyllic vacation spot is desolation, poverty, and malnutrition. Considered the lowest cast, they are looked down upon by other people groups.

In the past, Morrison students have helped these forgotten people group by building school rooms. Construction once again was part of their ministry.

They dug a trench to replace a wall damaged during a recent flash flood..

This included bending and shaping rebar,  as well as making and pouring cement.

At times, the old cement needed to be removed.

While this part of the team did construction, another group, with the assistance of several doctors and nurses, conducted health clinics.

The team also was able to spend time with the children of the Ati tribe.

Using skits, songs, and testimonies they were able to share the love of Jesus.

Later in the week, they took the same skits out to the touristy areas. Using the music and action to catch people's interests, they then were able to share the gospel using salvation bracelets and offering to pray with tourists.

I am sure this took most, if not all of the teens out of their comfort zones, but what a way to increase one's own faith! Jake said he shared the entire salvation message with a man. At the end, the man looked at him and said, "No, English." It was good practice for Jake even if the man didn't understand him!

So, once again, thank you to those of you who were praying. 

I am so glad that Jake had this experience. I think many lives were changed, both of the Ati people and those from Taiwan!

Using 

Lunch Without Walls

If the high school can have a week without walls, then why can't the elementary have a lunch without walls?

This was the burning question in the elementary teachers' minds as we gazed across the plaza at the deserted high school campus.

For once, our on going battle of keeping our younger students quiet while traveling near and through the high school classrooms was nonexistent. 

Why not take advantage of it?

 

So, we did!

Much to the delight of the students, they were permitted to leave the cafeteria with their lunches and sit on the plaza. With no one to disturb, they talked and laughed unabashedly.

The sun shined down.

The loudspeakers played upbeat praise music.

Students smiled.

The teachers relaxed.

Spring break was just an afternoon away.

The perfect lunch!