Long Journey, Big Blessings

To make a long story short, last week I missed my international flight from LAX to Taipei. There is quite a bit to this story. It has a little something to do with Chicago and ridiculous delays, but I'm not going to go into all of that now. If you would like details, you may ask. However, this story also has something to do with me in tears in the middle of the night at the LAX international terminal with no place to stay and with only a "maybe" of getting on a 5:30 PM flight to Taipei the next day... but that's when God sent quick help. :)

A wonderful lady who let me stay with her when I became suddenly stranded in LAX at 1:00am.


A great new friend who switched seats on the plane to keep me company on the long flight over the ocean a day later than originally planned.


Praise God for new friends and for the kindness He has grown in so many hearts! Thank you to all of you who kept the traveling in your prayers. I was surprisingly calm and cheerful (albeit slightly tired and teary at a couple points) through the whole travel ordeal. And though there were a few other "change of plans" or "bumps in the road" in others' travel, the foreign teachers are all now safely back in Taiwan and excited to begin this next school year! PRAISE GOD!

The Taiwan Zone

Hi, all.

Things have been go, go, go, and internet has been down, down, down, leaving not much time/opportunity to blog. However, I do have a few pictures to share. I'm afraid reflections and more words will have to wait (yes, I know, a sigh of disappointment from some.... relief from others ;) ) But this past weekend, I was blessed with the invitation to join the CMS staff on their annual trip. This year it was to Taipei and surrounding areas. For those who have never experienced a bus trip with somewhere around 200+ people in Taiwan, you have not experienced what we here have now dubbed "The Taiwan Zone." (*cue "The Twilight Zone" theme tune*) Hopefully the following pictures will give you a glimpse.

The bus we spent a lot of time on this weekend... Here I am with two of the new teachers, Emilie and Jenny.


This was one of the many stops we made to and from various locations this weekend. It was a neat little market street up the side of a mountain. There was also, of course, the handy 7-11.

This was an interesting place where a man had made many, many masks of faces he has supposedly met in his dreams. Most of them seemed to be evil spirits. If you think of it, maybe you could keep this mask shop in your prayers, that God may break through the darkness there and shine light and hope in the life of this talented man and his mask workshop.

A picture of the the market street farther in.


The sunrise this morning at the nothern Taiwan beach where our hotel was.


Exploring downtown Taipei, around Taipei 101, currently the world's tallest building. (If you're going to pick a meeting spot, I mean, why not the tallest building in the world!) There are fun statues around here and fountains that dance to music. (We danced too.) Here we girls are winning a game of chess.

What the world needs now...

May God, who has proven Himself the greatest LOVE through Jesus Christ, His Son, our Lord, be with you this day. More to come soon I hope.

A Little Rejuvenation...

God is good. When times are hard, when times are easy. When times are rainy and teary, when times are sunny and cheery...... God is good. But how come it's so much easier to remember that in the "sunny" times? I suppose that's why God gives us FAITH.

This summer, I was blessed to have the opportunity to see many family and friends in the States. I got to road trip with friends and family. I got to attend two very good friends' wedding. I got to celebrate my grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary. I got to go to a county fair AND a state fair. I got to eat Mexican food (D'Leon's!). I got to drive a car. I got to drive my grandpa's diesel truck. I got to share pictures and experiences from Taiwan and Indonesia. I got to go to church services in ENGLISH! I got to help a friend move into her and husband's first house. I got to see Pedro from Napoleon Dynamite. I got to play tennis and croquet and Bocce ball.... and I got to have my teeth cleaned at the dentist. It was a packed few weeks, and I can't say THANK YOU to God enough. I could not have dreamed them any better. Here are a few pics of a very small sampling of the many wonderful experiences and encouraging friends from the last few weeks:

Blue skies!



Bowling!



I fed a llama!



Good friends, good times.



Duck race!



Great family time and great food!



Praise God for each blessing, large and small! I want to say ESPECIALLY praise God for the salvation and joy and peace He gives through Jesus Christ His Son, our Lord! I'm so glad that God has me taken care of... so I can be free to enjoy the blessings... and free to serve others in His love... At least that's my prayer, to love as He has first loved me.

So I am back in Taiwan now, and will probably once again begin blogging more regularly. :)