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! 

Day Without Walls

Who doesn't love field trips?

Especially when it's just two days before spring break.

As a kid, I don't remember going on field trips. Too bad. I am sure they create lasting memories, not to mention a different aspect of learning.

In science, we have been covering a unit I like to call Plant Adventures. To culminate this learning, we boarded a bus and traveled out of the city and up into the foothills surrounding Taichung. In America, we would call it down on the farm. Here in Taiwan, it's the opposite- up on the farm! 

This was my fifth time to take a class to this farm and once again, I was extremely pleased. 

Such a beautiful location! Not exactly the image of a typical American farm, is it? Even after five visits, I experience parts of the farm I have never seen. Each year has brought new discoveries.

Besides being in a beautiful location, my students were so engaged.

There are so many different and wonderful plants growing in Taiwan. 

These two were so captivated by the beautiful flowers. It took them twice as long as everyone else to just walk from the bus to the entrance of the farm! They were discussing each plants need for sunlight according to where it was growing. They definitely were paying attention in class! Perhaps, future botanists in the making!

My students were also checking out the seeds of each plant, and how God created the seeds to move away from the parent plant. As a teacher, it was exciting to see them take the "book learning" out of the classroom and out into the real world.

Besides plants, this farm abounds with chickens, geese, and turtles. A batch of eggs were about to hatch.

The little chick inside could be heard chirping and pecking away at its confining shell.

This pet goose followed our guide everywhere, always demanding to be the center of attention. My class willingly obliged. Of course, you had to be careful, one student got nipped on the ear, while another on the nose!

Unfortunately, our guide only spoke mandarin, so I only understood a fraction of his explanations. I will say, that several of my students showed empathy by translating the main points for me and their non-mandarin speaking classmates!

Several just hatched chicks underwent the terror of being held with inexperienced hands. I hope they recover!

Who doesn't love a monkey- especially when it is safely behind a fence!

 Beautiful location.

Plenty of educational applicable experiences.

Perfect weather.

Smiling, well behaved students.

Helpful parents.

All this equals one happy teacher!

Week Without Walls

Easter is almost upon us!

While that means many things, for many people,  for the juniors of Morrison it means it's time to put their faith into action.

A week from today, Jake will be joining a group of classmates, seniors, and adult chaperones on a mission trip  to the Philippines. 

Jn a recent support letter Jake shared...

What an amazing opportunity to get out of their comfort zones to serve, to love, to reach out, to be the hands of Christ.

For many students and alumni, a deeper walk with God was sparked during this time of service.

Would you please join me in prayer, not just for Jake and his team, but also for the people of Borcay?

Prayer makes all the difference!

If you would like to receive updates from the team during their trip, please contact Jake at dingusj@mca.org.tw to be placed on the email list 

Sun, Soccer, and Saturday

Saturday is such a satisfying day. 

But, if you add sun to a Saturday, it becomes extra satisfying.

Yesterday was such a day.

We have come out of the short Taiwan winter cold snap and right into the comfortable early summer weather. 

To make the day even more appealing, the campus was flooded with the youthful voices of a hundred or so sixth graders as they converged on our campus for the end of the season soccer tournament. The eighth grade teams traveled north to Taipei, while the seventh graders went south.

Last weekend, it was high school basketball, this weekend middle school soccer. An added bonus to these many events are the chance for the high school classes to earn funds for future use. That basically means concessions!

The freshmen class serves breadsticks with marinara sauce and tortillas with cheese. Sophomores refresh teams, coaches, and fans with  snow cones. Juniors, who are desperately in needs of funds for the upcoming Junior Senior Banquet, are given the task of grilling hamburgers and hot dogs. As a reward for making it to the end, the seniors sell pop and water, which involves very little prep or clean up.

Jake is a junior, so yesterday Carl and I had the privilege of helping. I love the smell of grilling, so no complaining here.

Carl supervised the young men trying their hands out at the grill. I, on the other hand, spent the morning visiting and chatting. 

One of the best parts of these tournaments is catching up with friends who have moved away from Taichung. Abby, a former student, now attends our southern campus. Her family lived in Taichung while they attended language school.

All in all, this Saturday allowed us to get to know some of Jake's classmates better, chat with friendly faces, encourage young athletes, and eat some delicious food.

By evening, I was tired and smelled slightly smoky, but very content. It had been a satisfying day!