Okay, so I finally got tired of the longer hair that felt like it had been hacked with a rusty old knife and washed in sand . . . It's getting warm here, and I decided that I feel better with shorter hair that doesn't stick to my neck in the humidity . . .However, it was quite a dilemma (to cut or not to cut--that is the question!), as I'm sure many of you have experienced . . . So, I give you pics from my first (successful) Taiwan haircut! I feel like a new woman . . . or maybe just the old "me!"

"Taiwan's Next Top Model" OR What a Difference a Haircut Makes (wink!)

Sleepless in Taipei . . .

It's after 10pm, and I should be in bed . . . seriously! I mean, it is a school night, and I'm always in bed by 10pm . . . but, I can't settle down because my brain is swirling . . . I've been "thinking" for the past two days, which is really never a great thing. My thoughts rarely turn to worry, but on occasion--look out! Worry rears its ugly head and gets my heart a fluttering. So what am I worried about? Well . . . let's see:
1. Money/Finances (severely lacking in quantity and skills)
2. The FUTURE (33 is looming . . . Is my life making a difference? What's God's Plan for me?!)
3. Single (forever?!)
I guess these are the biggies . . .

Now, I KNOW I shouldn't worry. I've read the promises in my Bible about God taking care of all my needs--I've heard the sermons--I've witnessed His provision. So, WHY do I worry?! ARGHHHH!!!

Once a week during morning devotions, our school secretary, David, reads a chapter to us from C.S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters. I've begun this book several times, but I have never ventured very deep into it. Aside from the Narnia series (which I absolutely adore!), I've never really "gotten into" his writing. However, hearing the book outloud has helped me to grapple with a few ideas. Words of advice that seem to have the best results with the "patient" are those in which the little demon, Wormwood, is able to distract the "patient" with things of the world . . . yep, you've got it, those things in my little list up above. . . .hmmmmmm, kind of interesting how the devious Angel of Light can weasel his way past my defenses. He knows just how to get to me . . . to make me feel insecure and unworthy.

Well, enough is enough!
My God is Mighty to Save. He is the Everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace. The Alpha and Omega. The I Am. My God is All Sufficent. He is the Lord of Lords and Kind of Kings. My God is the Ancient of Days. My God Reigns! He is my Father and my Cornerstone. He is the Rock of Ages--Almighty God! He is Faithful and True. He is my Provider. My God is Merciful and Just. He is the Faithful Creator. Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty!

Sweet dreams . . . He has me (and you) in the palm of His hand . . .

Famous Quotations I Agree With . . .

"I do not eat things that swim in the sea OR
things that are friends with things that swim in the sea."
Pam Gordon

"I will not eat oysters. I want my food dead.
Not sick. Not wounded. Dead."
Woody Allen


You see, I've really had to put my foot down and take a firm stand on this issue. I live in Taiwan, an island known for culinary delights of the seafood variety. I just can't do it! I've tried bites of squid, but it's rubbery--ick! Who pays for rubbery food?! Sushi--that's another story:)

Taipei has several "Sushi Express" restaurants. The restaurants are pretty cool. You sit at tables or at a "bar" that is surrounded by a conveyor belt carrying little plates with various bits of food. It's quite colorful! A couple of weeks ago, several teachers headed out for some sushi. I wasn't too excited about the food choice, but I really liked the company . . . so, I went. While plates were being stacked high as my dinner companions devoured eel, salmon, and other raw fish on balls of rice and seaweed, I helped myself to cold broccoli, mango pudding, and a teeny rice ball with cashews (I didn't eat the tofu wrap). It was fun trying to figure out what I wanted to eat! Steve, Katie the Kindgergarten teacher's husband, wasn't a sushi fan either, so we had fun poking fun at the raw meat carnivores. After my huge meal, I opted for a Big Mac on the way home . . . Was the meat real? I have no idea. Was it cooked? You bet!


So, cheers to those who would rather eat at the Olive Garden than Red Lobster! If we one day find ourselves lost in the ocean, I have a feeling the fish will be more sympathetic to our kind than to the "Seafood Scavengers!"

Theatre . . . Wherefore art thou?

Okay . . . so I miss the craziness. I miss spending hours at school and walking out before I get locked inside. I miss giggling over pie with Greg and Joy as we re-live auditions. I miss the agony of selecting a cast. I miss sneaking down to the office to put the cast list up on the board. I miss the midnight runs to Walmart. I miss being covered with paint and feathers. I miss having my house covered in fabric scraps and glue guns. I miss piles of random stuff piled in my classroom. I miss scrounging through treasures at Goodwill and Savers. I miss wading through piles of props and costumes. I miss playing silly games like "Bus" and "Jello Walk." I miss yelling, "Project!" I miss the panic of tech week. I miss figuring out who gets a walkie-talkie. I miss techies running around like crazy and throwing rubber chickens on stage. I miss the jitters that come with opening night. I miss watching 80 middle schoolers lay on the floor and breathe. I miss strike and the piles of pizza, pop, and memories. Yeah, I miss it . . . I miss the kids! I miss seeing fear and uncertainty become confidence and brilliance. I miss the nonsense biographies and goofy poses. I miss the eager faces and the thankful hugs. I miss 'em . . .

It's theatre time at Minnehaha Academy South Campus--a two play year. Ah, I'd give anything to be there . . . Break a leg, you guys!
I miss you . . .

Thailand Trip: Bibles for China

One of my last posts of 2007 introduced you all to a ministry in Thailand that puts Bibles into the hands of mainland Chinese in a legitimate way. With the support of many through prayer and financial gifts, I had the honor of heading to Pattaya with a team from my church. In preparation, we all memorized Ephesians 6:10-20:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

As I was preparing to leave, I tried to do a bit of reading about Thailand, specifically the city of Pattaya. The more I read, the ickier I began to feel about what we would be seeing. Putting on the full armor of God isn't just symbolic . . . it became very real. Thailand, long-known for being the "Sex Capital of the World," seemed to hail the city of Pattaya as the steamiest and sleaziest in the country. However, some websites I visited said that the city was trying to clean up in order to be more "family friendly."

Since we arrived at the sparklingly new Bangkok airport around 10:30pm, it was a little difficult to get a feel for the country--but it was HOT and HUMID! (Taipei had slipped into winter mode, so we had been used to bone-chilling humidity and constant rain.) It was a 2 hour van ride down the coast to Pattaya. We arrived at the New Seaview Hotel . . . the lobby was very nice . . . and the rooms, nothing too fancy. The bathroom was a bit to be desired, but hey, we were roughing it on our mission trip!

The next day we divided up the "duties" for the week. Our team was to serve as translators (yep, that's me--translator!) for the teams coming from the US. I was a bit worried about that part . . . but Amanda and I had practiced some phrases before coming, and I always kept my flashcards close at hand. I smiled a LOT, and I was able to speak with a bit more confidence than the US team members. Since the teams were from Southern Baptist churches, they had lovely accents! In Chinese, the way to say "hello" is "ni hao" [knee-how], but in "southern" Chinese, the way to say "hello" is "ni howdy!"

The first few nights, we helped pass out Bibles at this place called the Paladium. It was basically a restaurant that served Chinese-style food. Tour buses would pull up and drop off people for dinner, and then they would get back on the bus and go back to the hotel.

One morning, I was in the lobby by 6am, and I passed out Bibles to people in the hotel who were heading to breakfast in the dining room. This particular morning was fairly successful; however, others weren't the best.

Every evening but one, we headed out the Bali Hai Pier. This is where the majority of our 4000+ Bibles were distributed during the week. However, in order to get to the pier, one must walk down Pattaya's "Walking Street." It's icky in the daytime, and at night . . . words can hardly describe what you see. Prostitution is a huge business (men and women push cards into your hands advertising their "business" as you walk through the crowd). "Lady Boy" shows are everywhere, and drug sales are rampant . . . Interestingly and very sadly, the street is full of tourists and families . . . that, I cannot understand. One T-shirt slogan seemed to say it all, "Good guys go to Heaven. Bad guys go to Pattaya." I was sobered by the fact that sin is sin in God's eyes. What I was seeing made me sad . . . angry . . . disgusted. God sees it that way too, but He also sees my sin . . . an unforgiving heart . . . selfishness . . . etc. and He feels these same things. Sure, the consequences can be different, but sin is still sin--it's rebellion against God's perfect plan for His people. I had never really "prayer walked" before, but Walking Street was the perfect place to start.

At the end of the infamous street, you find yourself at Bali Hai Pier and some very beautiful hotels (such a contrast from the yick you see 100 yds down the street). At the end of the very long pier, there are ferries that take tourists out to floating seafood restaurants serving up food, alcohol, and a transvestite show. The tour groups would come in waves. We would talk to people as they went to dinner, and we would distribute Bibles as they came back to shore. The waves of people were crazy! There were so many people, and the distribution was frantic at times--that part was really fun! In between waves (about 45 minutes), we would get organized, grab something to eat, or chat with the mission teams. During one of these breaks, I was talked into eating a fried grasshopper. Unfortunately, I have no picture; however, I can tell you that it was like a potato chip . . . with legs! Another break time was spent watching a Chinese New Year Dragon Dance. It was soooooo cool to see this bit of culture.

I learned much about prayer during this trip. While one team distributed Bibles on the Pier, another group would be praying . . . generally and specifically. After one wave, one of the guys on a mission team came running over to me. He asked me if I remembered a certain couple that had taken a Bible from me. He continued by saying that he had been praying for them specifically as soon as they had come into view. All down the pier, they politely refused to take a Bible. I was at the very end of the Pier (at least 10 people back), and they had taken the Bible I had offered. It was amazing! God wouldn't let them get away without His Word in their hands.

We had a bit of time for what Amanda termed "GFR Time" or "guilt-free relaxation time." Since we were the "translators," they didn't want us to package Bibles in the warehouse. Each day, were able to spend a few hours site-seeing, beach-lounging, or Bible-studying. This was a much needed refreshing time for our souls! The 10 days were pretty intense . . .

I do have to share about 2 little pleasures. Thailand has Dairy Queen! Yippee:) I think we stopped for a Blizzard at least 4 times throughout the week. Thailand also has cheap legitimate massages. I treated myself to a couple of 60 minute foot/leg massages. They set me back about $8US each.

So, there's the gist of my Thailand Mission Trip. Please pray that the little red Bibles circulating through mainland China would impact the world for Christ!

Thanks so much for your prayers and support!

Hugs and Kisses . . .

So . . . I'm a little rusty at the blog-thing! Sorry, everyone! I'm alive and well . . . just a little sad that I've let so many weeks and months go by without a word. I want to begin with this passage of scripture:

To bring you up to date, Tychicus[Shanny] will give you a full report about what I am doing and how I am getting along. He [She] is a beloved brother [sister] and faithful helper in the Lord's work. I have sent her to you for this very purpose--to let you know how we are [I am] doing and to encourage you. Ephesians 6:21-22 NLT

I guess all missionaries need a little help to keep people informed. Thanks, Shanny!

Let's see . . . what to talk about . . . Well, so much has happened in the past, but I think I'll give you an update on TODAY, and we'll work backward as time permits during the next few days. I've missed you all, and I'm getting a bit teary as I write this (which is quite a big deal, really!). I feel like I've shut you out of my life a bit, and I'm not exactly sure why. In any case, I'm back . . . and I have so much to tell you!

MORRISON ACADEMY--BETHANY CAMPUS
As of Monday, we will only have 10 weeks left in our school year. I am amazed, but not entirely surprised, at how quickly the time has gone by. Each year, teaching becomes just a bit more familiar--but it is NEVER the same experience! I have loved my 23 students. My 15 boys have taught me to laugh--a lot--and to always be sure I have a whistle handy:) I think that God is perhaps preparing me to have a house-full of boys someday. It's either that or He's teaching me to love beetles, spiders, and grimy hands and faces. My 8 girls are delightful! They are such sweeties, and they show such courage in a roomful of silly boys:) They are teaching me how to be kind and fair to others--even if the others make all sorts of bodily noises on a regular basis . . . ahh! Life in 3rd grade is a JOY!

Things will be changing next year. I was asked to step out of the classroom and into a more supportive faculty role. I will be wearing a stack of hats: site curriculum coordinator, learning specialist, K-5 team leader, and in-house substitute teacher. After many years of graduate school and training, I'm very excited for an opportunity to stretch my wings and fly into a new area of education (how's that for a word picture!). I'm still a little fuzzy on all my duties/responsibilities for next year, but I'm really liking the direction things are going. This summer will be spent meeting up with some very intelligent former colleagues for a little "brain picking" session, as well as some major reading and studying. Yes! Now I'll have an excuse for laying on the hammock for hours on a glorious MN summer day . . . .

Speaking of summer . . . .

SUMMER PLANS
I'll be home in MN on June 9th. After visiting Taco Bell, Panera, Walmart, and Target, my plan is to see some friends/family down in the Twin Cities area. I also plan to check out the new and improved South Campus of Minnehaha Academy, and visit Evergreen. I'll probably head Up North to Pine River on June 20th (or sometime during that week). My plans are to do some fishing, chatting, painting, garage sale selling, reading, writing, shopping, and lounging . . . sounds pretty good right now! A camping trip or two would fit the bill nicely, and maybe a road trip will be a possibility . . . I can already tell that the summer will be too short! I will head back to Taiwan on August 9th.

TAIWAN LIFE
I couldn't end this blog entry without a little tidbit of my life in Taiwan. I've had the privilege of having many special visitors this year. I am so thankful! Some of the teachers working at Morrison have never had anyone visit while they have been living in Taiwan (for some it has been 3 years!). I thought I give a little tribute to the brave souls who have had the courage to fly in a small tube hurtling through space five miles above the earth for over 8,000 miles and over 22 hours. For this precious gift of bravery, I am thankful! (I have also appreciated the special treats from home:)




My first visitor was my BFF (aka Shanny). She arrived on December 27th. My second and third visitors were my parents (a day late due to a snow storm, of course) on December 29th. We had an absolutely wonderful time experiencing Taiwan together. My parents were very adventurous, and my mom tried all sorts of exotic foods! Shannon didn't especially like the "fish eyes," but she did seem to enjoy the No Bake cookies:)

My fourth visitor was Mike Fix, a former small group comrade and friend from Evergreen. I was the first stop on his whirlwind Asia tour! I didn't ever hear if he made it back to Hawaii, but I'm assuming he's probably just fine...after all, anyone who braves Taroko Gorge on a scooter in the rain with NO language help can probably find his way home. (Hey, Mike! You left your new shoes on my balcony. Do you want me to bring them to MN?)

My fifth and sixth visitors were my sisters, Monica and Melissa. They arrived at the end of March for a Taiwan adventure. Aside from the usual Taipei stuff, we went on a short trip by high speed rail to Kenting. We had a nice time, and the weather was great while they were here.


SHOUT-OUTS!
Shannon S.W.--a faithful blog watcher! This blog entry is dedicated to YOU!
Pamela G.--ever-faithful and ever-patient! Thanks for the good "talking tos" regarding getting this thing updated.
Joy W.--I'm still here! Thanks for your prayers!
Mary Jo S.--I've been horrible at communicating, but thanks for seeking me out!
Diane T.--I can't even begin to tell you how much I appreciated your letter and gift:)
Shanny O.--I hope this is all you dreamed it would be . . .


Talk to you again, soon!
Love,
Marcy