timy in Thailand? oh yeah...

SO this last week [feb 20th-27th] I spent in Thailand [there is a difference between Taiwan and Thailand] hahah =p. I was staying at the YWAM base there with my friend Brandon Fox, an american missionary living in Thailand. He taught in our DTS about evangalism. The week before I left for Thailand it was raining all the time here in Danshui, and it was so hot in Thailand. It was great, I spent most of my time with Brandon helping him [if you want to call it that] with the guys at his house. They are all Thai boys who go to college, and have just recently [well a couple years for some] come to know the Lord. Thai people are so friendly and love getting a smile from white people, they also love to talk. I met some great people this week.

On Tuesday they had a worship service and I was asked to share some stuff from the Word before the worship started. For those of you who know me well, you know i love the bible and love to teach from it, so of course I said yes! The rest of the week I spent time with Brandon and the guys living at his house. It was a fun week. Just a good time to relax a little and to help serve those around me. I would post more but their so many stories to tell! ask me about it!

chinese new year!

Here in Taiwan we didnt celebrate valentines on the 14th but rather Chinese New Year. What we where celebrating? im not sure all i know is that Taiwnese kids love it because they get lots of money haha. I was invited to my friend Elmos house to celebrate. After a long day of working [moving a giant TV down 6 flights of steps at 7 in the morning, painting and scrapping] i met up with Elmo, got some food than went to pack for my weekend trip. After a boat ride across the river, we met up with Elmos mom. The whole family went out for HotPot, which taiwanese people love. and ive never heard of until i got here. But yeah we than went and rented movies and bought junk food [my mindset to pig out "its chinese new years im gunna let myself go!"] Saturday was the celebrating day! we had a great meal, I had some squid! thats awesome isnt it?! and money was passed out in red envelopes, probably because they are envelopes.. that are red! Its so cool to get to experience a culture experience like this first hand.

the tower of babel

During my free time here in taiwan ive been trying to pick up on the language, Chinesse, of course the frustrations of it all makes me look back to the tower of Babel when God decieded to give us many different languages. God did this so we wouldnt try to build our towers to heaven, untimently to humble us and its worked. i mean for any of us who try to learn a 2nd language its incredibly humbling, you screw up so many times, you yell "bathroom" at a wedding in stead of what was intended [okay maybe this was just me...], and say things you dont mean to say and get laughed at. One of my DTS classmates [soon to SBS classmates] speaks Spanish, Chinesse and some what english. When he screws up english of course i laugh and make a joke but im quickly reminded by a person or Holy Spirit that im making fun of him for not being able to speak his THIRD language correctly. And id like to say to everyone back in America who thinks "this is america we speak english" i want to say, try going to another country where they dont speak a language you know and see what its like if they use that. youd be so lost, get nothing done, and you feel so alone. i am greatful for people who try to learn other languages, such as english, i am greatful for those who are humble enough to try to speak to someone knowing they might make a fool of themself. quick story. i went to subway with two taiwanese friends of mine and i ordered my meal all in chinesse [minus: ham] so out of confidence i went to mcdonals that night [why dont i eat anything but western?] and tried to order by myself in chinesse.. it went well until i was asked if i wanted it for here or to go. so confused i pointed at the door, than reliezed he might of been asking if i wanted it small or large so i just lowered my head and repeated the last thing he said which sounded like "ta ma" which was the end of a question but i probably said "his/her horse." God is always humbling the proud! humble yourself, learn another language =p

first week back...

so ive been back in Danshui, taiwan for almost a week now. its been amazing, ive missed it here so much. it is truly like a 2nd home for me. ive been able to meet up and "play" with some of my friends [i say play because in chinese they dont have a word for hang out they just say "lets play"] of course ive been trying to spend time with God. Ive realived that i dont understand God but i have faith that He knows what Hes doing and I dont. but yeah ive got about 13 books left until im down the bible for the 2nd time. pretty pumped about that. back at the DTS house i am the only boy left living there all the others have gone to family or home, causing me to be alittle homesick. esp, since ive been listening to all local hardcore bands and would give anything to stomp the floor with my boys but im much happier out here surving God. Neat story i was praying one night and i felt like God told me to go to The Rock [which is our local coffee bar which we use for ministry and build friendships] and so i went and there when i got in was my friend Walker. He and i started hanging out about 2 weeks before outreach and than over 2 months we didnt get to see each other or talk. it was great to see him. God makes all our paths straight!