Our first Homemade video!

My wonderful husband surprised me with a camcorder for our anniversary this year! So, we are trying to put it to good use. We are hoping that we can make our home more real to you that are so far away and in a way bring you to Taipei! Enjoy!



Sorry, the quality is AWEFUL. But I have been trying all KINDS of ways to get this video on here for a few weeks now. It looks great on our computer. But now that it is uploaded its really dark and the colors are way off. Anways, hope you enjoy what you can make out of it! Hopefully I can figure out a better way next time!

It's Ghost Month...

This is copied from a friends blog (hope you don't mind Dawn):

Here is a brief description of this festival and the superstitions and strongholds of fear involved...

For the entire seventh moon, ghosts dominate the island of Taiwan. The Mid-Summer Ghost Festival begins on the 1st day of the seventh lunar month and is marked by opening the tower gate of the "Old Venerable" Temple. On the 12th day, lamps on the Main Altar are lighted, the spectacular multi-colored illumination descends every comer of Keelung. On the 13th day, procession of dipper lanterns is held and greeted by attendants. On the 14th day, a parade is held for releasing the water lanterns.

This entire month is a period when its is believed that the spirits of the dead walk the earth. According to Taoist beliefs, this festival of deliverance originated on the birthday of the Chinese Guardian of Hell who governs all matters in the underworld and decreed an amnesty out of mercy so all lost souls could be released back to the mortal world from hell on the 1st day of July To enjoy incense, candles and food offered to the spirits for a period of one month so they might be converted to "The Way."

The Buddhists designate the mid-summer sacrifices as the Ghost Festival Legend has it that Moginlin, a disciple of Buddha Sakyamuni, entered the path of hungry spirits in Hell to rescue his deceased mother from suffering there. On the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, five fruits and a hundred delicacies were offered in ten directions to all the ghosts in space to relieve his mother's suffering in hell. Both of these interpretations en-compass the Chinese spirits of forbearance, charity and filial piety.

During this month many special celebrations are held, with sacrifices and offerings laid out to feed and appease the wandering lost souls. The gates of tombs and graveyards are left open to allow the dead access to the world, and lanterns are floated in the sea to guide back the souls of those lost beneath the waves.

On the 15th day, water lanterns are officially released and sacrificial rites for delivering the ghosts are performed both in public and private. A ceremonial dance is also performed to welcome deity Chung Kwei to awe the ghosts and keep them in order.

All over Taiwan, Ghost month is regarded with a great deal of superstition, and it is believed to be unlucky to travel, marry or hold a funeral during this time, before the ghosts once again depart the earth, and return to the fires of hell.

Please join us in praying for this country that is so lost. Please pray that God will use us to impact the innocent lives we get to teach each day and the lives of their families and others in Taiwan as well!

Here is a link of a video done by the same friend. I think it will help you to get a better picture of the people Taiwan and the need for prayer:
http://prayercast.com/taiwan

I love where God has led us...

Cam and I think so highly of Morrison and watching this video made me just smile to see how God is working in Taiwan and in the hearts of Cam and I. God's plan is good.
(I am also in the video at two different times for brief moments) :)

Lessons for the hearts of second graders

I sent out this email to the staff at my school on Friday, and I thought I would share it with you:

This week Second Grade's memory verse was Proverbs 3:5-6.
I know I was having a really bad morning and the feelings of grouchiness were taking over quickly. That is until I read these....
I wanted to share a few excerpts from my the student's devotional journals: What does this verse mean to you?
(Written as they wrote them)

"I will trust God with my heart. I REALLY want to trust God."

"Give all faith to I Am. Don't go in your own ways, because El is bigger and more wise than us. Were like seeds and our Redeemer is like the sun. When you have a problem, do the right lean. It is not your own lean. Your own lean is like a pillow that falls but our Jujud's (translation: Judge's) lean is like a block that don't fall. Go on your Sacrificeter side it is the right path. It's like a block that don't fall. So it can reach to the sun. Amen"

"If we really want to know God, he will make our paths straight to heaven"

"Trust the Lord with all your love and don't lean on what you think will keep you up. In all your actions love your Lord your God and will will show you the right path for you."

"It means that you can trust God because God is our Father and fathers don't want to trick us. Trust God when you have trouble. God will lead us on the right path. Every path is the decisions you make. God will help you make the right choices if you trust him."

"This verse means trust in the Lord with your heart and maybe it wont be what you thought but he will have a plan for you. And in all your ways be kind to him and he will forgive you and go to heaven and not go to the wrong way"

"Trust in the one and only God. Dont think that you know what to do if you do that then Satan in hell will make some more trouble for you. "

"Means to me that we shouldn't go and forget that God can do it all and you should acknowledge him."

I hope you had the time to read through these and are now encouraged. This is what my calling is all about here.... and sometimes I forget that! Thanks for letting me share!

Elisa

I never leave your hands...

As I daily hear news of broken marriages, devastating earthquakes, orphans with no one to love, cancer affecting both young and old, car crashes stealing life, and the list goes on.... it is hard not to ask why? It is So hard to understand....
And yet, I do trust the rock that I stand upon. I know that I will never leave his hands...and one day He will set all things straight. Until then, until then.

This song was posted by a friend on her blog (thanks Erica) and it is a new favorite at the moment. Be encouraged....