First of all, as I write this I am not sure that anyone keeps up with our blog. I never get comments on it and I don't often get email responses. I may keep writing...because I think it is a good documetation and reflection for us BUT I hope that it is also keeping people updated at home. I know one of our biggest fears lately is loosing connections with people from back home (no communication, no idea what is happening there, and no one knows what is happening with us).
There have been a few faithful friends who have really tried hard...and of course family members (so thank you to those who are trying despite the distance and time difference)!
This week ended up going a lot more smoothly than we thought it may. It was still a busy one....but it went rather smoothly!
I was able to get all the one on one assessments finished and the moms tea went quite well. It was a very social time for all the moms and the kids just ran around. Not quite what I had imagined but the moms all enjoyed it! This week is now donuts with dad......so I may change my agenda and hopefully it will run a little more smoothly!
On Wednesday, after our 9th Chinese lesson (I still dont feel like we know much.....it is so hard and when you cant just study it full time....its hard to catch on) anyway...after our lesson we went out to eat again with the young married couple that we met from our church. Their names are Kelley and Erich.....We really enjoy spending time with them. We went to this Cheesy Baked Potato place that Cam and I just love. Then they took some time to walk us around to some restaurants that they really like (they made sure to highlight the ones who had picture menus or English)!
I also led my ladies Bible study on Wednesday night and it went really well. We are going through the Patriarchs study by Beth Moore. It is REALLY good....I would highly reccommend it!
Thursday, I also lead the 8th grade girls bible study for the first time. I had about 9 girls show up. Middle school is so different...so please just pray that God will help me know how to best reach these girls. They told me that they wanted to just study different topics that were prevelant in their lives right now. I think this will be good for them, BUT it does make it really hard for me. This means that I need to create my own lessons......(which I am already really struggling with and it is just week 2). I would appreciate all the prayers I can get !!!
This weekend Cam and I had to spend time getting things ready for this next week and for report cards. They are due on Monday....
On Friday night, we did go over to hang out at Sandra and Rays house. It was so fun because we got to make home made dumplings! I will have to post pictures of the wrapping process soon.....We also played Settlers which is one of Cam's favorite games. It is not my favorite game BUT it was fun to play games with people.
On Saturday got treated to a really nice dinner by a couple who has a student attending Bethany! They took around 15 of us to a really fancy Japanese Restaurant. The food was pretty good. At first the dad who took us was teasing us because we said we did not like seafood or raw food.....we were more the meat and potato midwestern type :) However, Cam and I were quite adventurous.....we both at three pieces of sashimi (not sure if that is spelled right....but raw fish!!!) Check out the pictures on picasa web if you dont believe me!
On Sunday, Cam and I went for a long bike ride down by the river ....it was a nice afternoon out. I think I will start having to do it more often after school for a little exercise!
OH a few fun tidbits.....on Friday night as we came home in the rain...we saw a huge REALLY fluffy dog being walked by his ownder. The dog was wearing a full raincoat. It had a hood, went down his legs, and buttoned up and everyting! Boy do I wish I had my camera.....
Then, on Sunday during our bike ride by the river......I saw a really fat weiner dog riding in his owners bike basket (but he barely fit). He was like in there all side ways....I was laughing so hard but it is also a little sad.
I guess I need to carry around my camera around all the time and start just taking dog shots!
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Its getting busy...
So, it sure is getting busy around here. You think I would remember how crazy the end of the grading periods are....but this one sure did creep up on me. I feel like it is all I can do to stay a float...(and I think Cameron is feeling the same way).
This past week we just scrambled to get back into routine after vacation. It is reading month at our school, so we have been busy decorating our classrooms and doors and planning lots of special reading activities that go along with our Old West theme. (hopefully I will get pictures posted soon)
In Kindergarten we are finishing up our color unit and beginning a unit on families. The color unit was really fun...and I have a lot of really neat lessons planned for the Family Ties unit. However, this is the last week in the grading period....SO, I have a TON of one on one testing to get done and many checklist to be completed. Then its the fun part of trying to do report cards (when I never really take grades on anything) :) I still have a really hard time trying to give a percentage for coloring with control...Just not sure how to grade some things. As nice as it is to not really have to grade....its almost just easier to collect papers and grade them as it is to collect them, check or start them, and then at the end have to scramble to figure out what marks to give out!
Then its parent teacher conference time....which I am really dreading for some reason!
So, you can pray for Cam and I throughout the next two weeks as we just have LOTS going on at school.
We also had A LOT going on after school this past week. We had Chinese lessons, bible studies, soccer practices, and some dinners with friends.
On Monday, we had our date night. We chose to just grab some food on the way home and to sit and watch a movie! It was wonderful! It was SO nice to sit and cuddle up together watching a movie and eating POPCORN! Thanks Jackie :)
God answered some prayers this week as we met new friends! We met another young married couple, Kelley and Erich, for coffee on Wednesday. It was so nice to meet people that work outside of our school, love Jesus, love each other, and are in the same stage of life that we are in. I think we can look forward to some good times with them. Pray that God provides us with times to connect with them more and really deepen our friendship with them!
My ladies Bible study is going wonderfully...the Lord is really revealing himself through his word...and the time I get to spend with these ladies is really encouraging. Pray for me as I prepare to lead next weeks Bible study with these ladies.
Thursdays are supposed to be my days to lead an 8th grade girls bible study. This week was supposed to be the first week. No one showed up! There was a volleyball game (scheduled at the last minute) and a lot of them play. It was hard though because I had really prayed for our time and planned for it....and I didnt know that NO ONE was going to come. Pray that the girls really committ to our time together and that this next week we have a good turn out!
On Friday, Cam and I both had to prepare for subs and leave school around 10:30 in the morning to head to MAK (the bottom of the island) for a sports tournament. Cam's team was playing and I was going along to chaperone the girsl volleyball team (who had a guy coach and needed a female on the trip). Like I said, we loaded the BUS with 25 teenagers for a 5 hours bus ride on Friday mid morning. Lets just say it was a really LONG ride :) Each team played 4 games between Friday night and Saturday. We all spent the night at the school. I at least got to take all the girls to a friends aptartment who lives on campus....(which meant I got to sleep in a bed). Cam stayed in the library with his team. After the games on Friday night we headed into town and went to Fridays with all of them. It was a LOUD and crazy night, but the coaches and adults on the trip had good convo and GREAT food! Saturday was extremely hot and humid. Cam's team had to play three games on Saturday! Lots of sunburns and lots of sweat! It was better than Fridays game that they played in a rain storm and three inches of water though :) Cam's team ended up getting second place at the tourney and the girls got third. It was quite the bonding with the older kids trip as we were hoping it may be....but it was something different I guess :) We came back extremely tired....with not much weekend left!
Today (Sunday) we tried to rest up and get work done. It was hard to do too much though because I have felt pretty awful all day. I seem to have a stomach bug....so pray that it doesnt stick around for long!
This past week we just scrambled to get back into routine after vacation. It is reading month at our school, so we have been busy decorating our classrooms and doors and planning lots of special reading activities that go along with our Old West theme. (hopefully I will get pictures posted soon)
In Kindergarten we are finishing up our color unit and beginning a unit on families. The color unit was really fun...and I have a lot of really neat lessons planned for the Family Ties unit. However, this is the last week in the grading period....SO, I have a TON of one on one testing to get done and many checklist to be completed. Then its the fun part of trying to do report cards (when I never really take grades on anything) :) I still have a really hard time trying to give a percentage for coloring with control...Just not sure how to grade some things. As nice as it is to not really have to grade....its almost just easier to collect papers and grade them as it is to collect them, check or start them, and then at the end have to scramble to figure out what marks to give out!
Then its parent teacher conference time....which I am really dreading for some reason!
So, you can pray for Cam and I throughout the next two weeks as we just have LOTS going on at school.
We also had A LOT going on after school this past week. We had Chinese lessons, bible studies, soccer practices, and some dinners with friends.
On Monday, we had our date night. We chose to just grab some food on the way home and to sit and watch a movie! It was wonderful! It was SO nice to sit and cuddle up together watching a movie and eating POPCORN! Thanks Jackie :)
God answered some prayers this week as we met new friends! We met another young married couple, Kelley and Erich, for coffee on Wednesday. It was so nice to meet people that work outside of our school, love Jesus, love each other, and are in the same stage of life that we are in. I think we can look forward to some good times with them. Pray that God provides us with times to connect with them more and really deepen our friendship with them!
My ladies Bible study is going wonderfully...the Lord is really revealing himself through his word...and the time I get to spend with these ladies is really encouraging. Pray for me as I prepare to lead next weeks Bible study with these ladies.
Thursdays are supposed to be my days to lead an 8th grade girls bible study. This week was supposed to be the first week. No one showed up! There was a volleyball game (scheduled at the last minute) and a lot of them play. It was hard though because I had really prayed for our time and planned for it....and I didnt know that NO ONE was going to come. Pray that the girls really committ to our time together and that this next week we have a good turn out!
On Friday, Cam and I both had to prepare for subs and leave school around 10:30 in the morning to head to MAK (the bottom of the island) for a sports tournament. Cam's team was playing and I was going along to chaperone the girsl volleyball team (who had a guy coach and needed a female on the trip). Like I said, we loaded the BUS with 25 teenagers for a 5 hours bus ride on Friday mid morning. Lets just say it was a really LONG ride :) Each team played 4 games between Friday night and Saturday. We all spent the night at the school. I at least got to take all the girls to a friends aptartment who lives on campus....(which meant I got to sleep in a bed). Cam stayed in the library with his team. After the games on Friday night we headed into town and went to Fridays with all of them. It was a LOUD and crazy night, but the coaches and adults on the trip had good convo and GREAT food! Saturday was extremely hot and humid. Cam's team had to play three games on Saturday! Lots of sunburns and lots of sweat! It was better than Fridays game that they played in a rain storm and three inches of water though :) Cam's team ended up getting second place at the tourney and the girls got third. It was quite the bonding with the older kids trip as we were hoping it may be....but it was something different I guess :) We came back extremely tired....with not much weekend left!
Today (Sunday) we tried to rest up and get work done. It was hard to do too much though because I have felt pretty awful all day. I seem to have a stomach bug....so pray that it doesnt stick around for long!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
THANK YOU MOMS!!!!
So, today we went into the school for a brief second.....just to make sure we are ready to get back in the swing of it tomorrow after break.
Well, as we walked in we noticed right away...we had 2 packages on my desk!!! YEAH FOR PACKAGES! It feels SOO good to get care packages! Both mom's sent care packages to us on the same day....I guess they knew we were needing a pick me up.
I was very careful not to look on the outside of the package because they have to write what is inside. I was so good and waited until we got them all the way home....BUT by them I was so ready to rip into them. IT WAS SO WONDERFUL (popcorn , brownies, muffin mix, magazines, etc.) It is amazing how much getting mail can really brighten your spirit. My mom even included a VERY nice note....boy, its great to know you are loved and supported and thought of !!!
Thanks MOMS and (Doug, Tatum, and Tyler)! We love you all and you definitely made our day today! We can't wait to dig into all our goodies!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Prayer Request
We know that people are constantly thinking of us and remembering us in their prayer. We are so thankful for family and friends who support us as we seek to serve the Lord here in Taiwan. Just a few specific areas in which we would love to be lifted up in prayer:
1. I, Elisa, will begin leading the 8th grade girls bible study this week. Pray for open hearts, fast forming relationships, discipleship, and that the girls and I will be open to what God has for our time together this year.
2. Cam and I will be traveling this next weekend to MAK (the Morrison campus at the bottom of the island) to chaperone a sports trip. The boys soccer team (which Cam has been helping to coach) and the 9th grade girls volleyball team will be playing in a tournament. So, I am going as the only girl chaperone since the v-ball coach is a boy. We will get to do a 5 hour bus ride there and a 5 hour ride back the next day.....It will be a LONG trip! But pray that God allows it to be a time where we can really get to know some of the older students at Bethany.
3. Our search for a church......this has been quite hard
4. Friendships....We have made friends but we both are still in need of some really CLOSE friends that we can really connect with. Especially Cam....there aren't many guys here his age that he feels very close with! Pray that God will help us to build relationships and put people in our lives here to fellowship with!
5. School this week....its going to be rough getting back into the swing of things! Especially since the end of the first 9 weeks is quickly approaching and that means report cards and parent teacher conferences :(
1. I, Elisa, will begin leading the 8th grade girls bible study this week. Pray for open hearts, fast forming relationships, discipleship, and that the girls and I will be open to what God has for our time together this year.
2. Cam and I will be traveling this next weekend to MAK (the Morrison campus at the bottom of the island) to chaperone a sports trip. The boys soccer team (which Cam has been helping to coach) and the 9th grade girls volleyball team will be playing in a tournament. So, I am going as the only girl chaperone since the v-ball coach is a boy. We will get to do a 5 hour bus ride there and a 5 hour ride back the next day.....It will be a LONG trip! But pray that God allows it to be a time where we can really get to know some of the older students at Bethany.
3. Our search for a church......this has been quite hard
4. Friendships....We have made friends but we both are still in need of some really CLOSE friends that we can really connect with. Especially Cam....there aren't many guys here his age that he feels very close with! Pray that God will help us to build relationships and put people in our lives here to fellowship with!
5. School this week....its going to be rough getting back into the swing of things! Especially since the end of the first 9 weeks is quickly approaching and that means report cards and parent teacher conferences :(
Yeah for VACATION!!!
So, October 10th is Taiwan's national holiday (like independence day in a sense) .....This means for us that Morrison gets the entire week off!! We got last Friday off of school for PD days down at the middle campus. Cam and I had to leave on Thursday (right after school) to head down to Taichung to have a follow up meeting for PFO (which was our training that we went to this summer). It was wonderful to see everyone that we met this summer (seeing that we are all split up between campuses) and it was also nice because we got to take the high speed rail down to Taichung. Instead of taking the 2 hour bus ride at 5 am the next morning (like everyone else) the school paid for us to go down on Thursday in a VERY nice high speed train. Cam said the fastest he saw it go was 293 km/hr. We were in Taichung within 40 minutes!
Our professional development lasted until Saturday evening. We stayed in dorms while we were there. It was good to get to collaborate with others who teach our grade level (since we dont get to do that often). It was also nice to just fellowship with all the amazing people that work for Morrison. And, Cameron was really happy we went because we came back with an extra TV that our friends had (they gave it to us for free). Our TV had just broken and Cam was SOOOO sad because we just got slingbox all hooked up! So, to come back with a TV ..that just made his day!
We headed back on the bus (with everyone else this time) Saturday night. We got stuck in traffic so I think it was like a 3 to 3 1/2 hour trip this time! YUCK....especially because I was not feeling well at all. When we got back to Taipei, we then caught a taxi with our two suitcases, backpacks, school bags, and new TV. I am sure we were quite a sight!
It just didnt feel like vacation at all yet....but it started settling in when we started packing for our beach vacation.
On Monday morning, we flew out to Penghu Isalnd (a long 40 min flight ). Penghu is between the west coast of Taiwan and China. It is a little fishing island. The hotel we stayed at was amazing and they really took care of us.
We rented scooters as soon as we got there and immediately hit the road. Cam and I decided just to share.....which ended up being nice. I enjoyed driving (but only occasionally) so it worked out great. There is A LOT LESS traffic there so it was also a nice place to practice driving. We kept our scooters all 4 days we were there.
The first two days we mainly spent scootering around and relaxing in our hotel rooms. A typhoon was close by so we were getting some side effects. We still got to be out most of the day....but we were definitely wind blown!
Then on Wed. and THurs. it was absolutely gorgeous! We spent almost all our time those two days at two beautiful beaches......
We said goodbye to our relaxing time in Penghu on Thursday evening and flew back home.
Friday and today (sat.) were spent hanging out at home and relaxing some more. We have read alot, watched tv (Cam is watching live sports center right now....he is SOOOOO HAPPY), and have taken a few walks. It has been great. We also headed down to the handicraft and flower market today which was lots of fun.
Vacation is good for the soul!
Our professional development lasted until Saturday evening. We stayed in dorms while we were there. It was good to get to collaborate with others who teach our grade level (since we dont get to do that often). It was also nice to just fellowship with all the amazing people that work for Morrison. And, Cameron was really happy we went because we came back with an extra TV that our friends had (they gave it to us for free). Our TV had just broken and Cam was SOOOO sad because we just got slingbox all hooked up! So, to come back with a TV ..that just made his day!
We headed back on the bus (with everyone else this time) Saturday night. We got stuck in traffic so I think it was like a 3 to 3 1/2 hour trip this time! YUCK....especially because I was not feeling well at all. When we got back to Taipei, we then caught a taxi with our two suitcases, backpacks, school bags, and new TV. I am sure we were quite a sight!
It just didnt feel like vacation at all yet....but it started settling in when we started packing for our beach vacation.
On Monday morning, we flew out to Penghu Isalnd (a long 40 min flight ). Penghu is between the west coast of Taiwan and China. It is a little fishing island. The hotel we stayed at was amazing and they really took care of us.
We rented scooters as soon as we got there and immediately hit the road. Cam and I decided just to share.....which ended up being nice. I enjoyed driving (but only occasionally) so it worked out great. There is A LOT LESS traffic there so it was also a nice place to practice driving. We kept our scooters all 4 days we were there.
The first two days we mainly spent scootering around and relaxing in our hotel rooms. A typhoon was close by so we were getting some side effects. We still got to be out most of the day....but we were definitely wind blown!
Then on Wed. and THurs. it was absolutely gorgeous! We spent almost all our time those two days at two beautiful beaches......
We said goodbye to our relaxing time in Penghu on Thursday evening and flew back home.
Friday and today (sat.) were spent hanging out at home and relaxing some more. We have read alot, watched tv (Cam is watching live sports center right now....he is SOOOOO HAPPY), and have taken a few walks. It has been great. We also headed down to the handicraft and flower market today which was lots of fun.
Vacation is good for the soul!
Taxi's
So....its been while since we last blogged and that makes it hard because I can't even remember what it is we have done between now and then.
I know that the weekend of September 26-28th we were hit with another typhoon. The typhoon started coming through on Saturday. We were super excited because it looked like we were going to get the brunt of it on Sunday/Monday....which would mean a typhoon day. However, I was keen on banking on not having school on Monday because the last typhoon left us just in time for the school week. SO, I told Cam that I needed to go in to school on Sunday so that I felt prepared for Monday if we ended up having school. It was POURING as we made our way out onto the empty streets. Instead of waiting our normal 5 or so minutes for the bus....we had to wait about 40 minutes! We could have just walked in that amount of time! We were second guessing ourselves if we should have even gone out in the first place....
However, when we got to school we saw our principal and some others there having meetings. We got our work done...but the typhoon just got worse and worse while we were there....so it was pretty much decided before we left to head home that we would not have to be heading back the next day!
Marcy, our neighbor, was also there for a meeting and so we talked her into riding the taxi home with us to help with communication. We headed out into the pelting wind and rain at this point (couldnt even try to use an umbrella...) to catch our taxi. It took quite awhile which already had us laughing in frustration. Then, we finally ended up getting a guy to stop for us.
We got in and took off....this is where it got weird.....
He stopped shortly after getting going and started yelling. He pulled over to the side of the road. Our friend Marcy repeated our address again but he kept yelling and gesturing angrily. We finally figured out that he was yelling at her to roll down the window and he was yelling at the guy on the road side who was selling beetle nut. So, he was buying what is like tobacco while we were paying to be in his taxi. Marcy kept pointing at the meter showing him it was still running and that it was not ok. He just kept yelling. He got his beetle nut and then started yelling even more angrily. I thought at first that maybe the guy didn't give him his change. But, we soon figured out he was yelling at Marcy. He wanted her to roll up the window but it was stuck. So here we are with a very angry taxi driver and a window down while a typhoon is going on. He proceeds back out on the road while still screaming at her (she showed him it wouldnt work) and he was going VERY slow. So we were going to get stuck at the next light and it was going to cost even more. Marcy ended up telling the guy to stop. She had enough of him. However, he wouldn't. So she just opened up the door and proceeded to get out (which thankfully did make him stop) Then she told us to get out. Cam was like "do we need to pay him" and she was like no way this is awful! So now he is REALLY angry because we got out and are not giving him the fare.....Marcy is yelling at him in Chinese telling him that it was NO GOOD and we are back out in the absolute pouring rain. We try to cross the street to the other corner so we can get another taxi and the guy heads right for us (still yelling at us) trying to hit us basically. Marcy took a good wack at his taxi with her umbrella just so he knew how she felt :)
We then got to the other corner and caught a new taxi....this one made it home just wonderfully!
All in all, we made it home (sopping wet) and with a funny story to tell. Oh, and Cam and I were so thankful that we convinced Marcy to come with us, because it would have really been a mess if we were all alone in that taxi!
I know that the weekend of September 26-28th we were hit with another typhoon. The typhoon started coming through on Saturday. We were super excited because it looked like we were going to get the brunt of it on Sunday/Monday....which would mean a typhoon day. However, I was keen on banking on not having school on Monday because the last typhoon left us just in time for the school week. SO, I told Cam that I needed to go in to school on Sunday so that I felt prepared for Monday if we ended up having school. It was POURING as we made our way out onto the empty streets. Instead of waiting our normal 5 or so minutes for the bus....we had to wait about 40 minutes! We could have just walked in that amount of time! We were second guessing ourselves if we should have even gone out in the first place....
However, when we got to school we saw our principal and some others there having meetings. We got our work done...but the typhoon just got worse and worse while we were there....so it was pretty much decided before we left to head home that we would not have to be heading back the next day!
Marcy, our neighbor, was also there for a meeting and so we talked her into riding the taxi home with us to help with communication. We headed out into the pelting wind and rain at this point (couldnt even try to use an umbrella...) to catch our taxi. It took quite awhile which already had us laughing in frustration. Then, we finally ended up getting a guy to stop for us.
We got in and took off....this is where it got weird.....
He stopped shortly after getting going and started yelling. He pulled over to the side of the road. Our friend Marcy repeated our address again but he kept yelling and gesturing angrily. We finally figured out that he was yelling at her to roll down the window and he was yelling at the guy on the road side who was selling beetle nut. So, he was buying what is like tobacco while we were paying to be in his taxi. Marcy kept pointing at the meter showing him it was still running and that it was not ok. He just kept yelling. He got his beetle nut and then started yelling even more angrily. I thought at first that maybe the guy didn't give him his change. But, we soon figured out he was yelling at Marcy. He wanted her to roll up the window but it was stuck. So here we are with a very angry taxi driver and a window down while a typhoon is going on. He proceeds back out on the road while still screaming at her (she showed him it wouldnt work) and he was going VERY slow. So we were going to get stuck at the next light and it was going to cost even more. Marcy ended up telling the guy to stop. She had enough of him. However, he wouldn't. So she just opened up the door and proceeded to get out (which thankfully did make him stop) Then she told us to get out. Cam was like "do we need to pay him" and she was like no way this is awful! So now he is REALLY angry because we got out and are not giving him the fare.....Marcy is yelling at him in Chinese telling him that it was NO GOOD and we are back out in the absolute pouring rain. We try to cross the street to the other corner so we can get another taxi and the guy heads right for us (still yelling at us) trying to hit us basically. Marcy took a good wack at his taxi with her umbrella just so he knew how she felt :)
We then got to the other corner and caught a new taxi....this one made it home just wonderfully!
All in all, we made it home (sopping wet) and with a funny story to tell. Oh, and Cam and I were so thankful that we convinced Marcy to come with us, because it would have really been a mess if we were all alone in that taxi!
New Pictures
We put up quite a bit of new pictures this time around! Check them out: http://picasaweb.google.com/camandelisa/
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