too much munchies!!!

 Highlight trip of the week: Zuoying! We heard there's always a big cultural celebration for the Moon Festival Day at the Kong Temple so we decided to check it out. Bingguo and I met up at 6am at school, Xiao Han at 6:20AM and got there at 7AM. By the time we found the temple at 8AM, we realized there was NOTHING going on... then we got lost getting BACK to school around 8:30AM and class starts at 9AM. We called our teacher and she laughed at us haha. It was an adventurous morning indeed!

A trip to Zuoying with Bingguo and Xiao Han! Zuoying train station

At one of the big temples

I can also summarize this past week in 7 words:

I need to go on a diet.

Korean dinner with the church buddies

Lamb bibimbap

Korean BBQ Taiwan style haha

Beef bibimbap!

Yellowtail spicy soup

Ice cream store behind our school: BigTom. More expensive than Coldstone...

Night out with these two! Found a cute restaurant that had salad and shaved ice

Sesame dressing salad

Red Bean milk shaved ice

Korean dinner with Bingguo! Side dishes that was... not unlimited.

Spicy spicy beef dish

Soon doo boo!

Their... bibimbap...

Moon Festival dinner with grandma! Curry fish meatballs

Fried pork with rice

Ice cream day with Xiao Han

Xinyi and I before she heads for Tainan

dreams.

HAPPY 2 MONTHS TAIWAN!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

(kinda weird that the next picture is a couple after that first... sentence... anyways...)

Andrew and Xinyi (: Met them this month through church and I can't be ever more grateful for them to be such older siblings and "parents" to me LOL

Theresa my small group leader! (And yes... I looked extremely tired today...)

Best. Waffle. Place. EVER.

My order: green tea and red beans waffle

Theresa's : waffle burger

Xinyi's : I forgot what it's called....

Church (:

So there's this question that's been stuck on my mind this whole week:

What's my dream?

For small group last Sunday, we discussed this question and honestly, I don't remember how it even began but I just couldn't stop thinking about it after that day. I realized after stepping out of the church that I couldn't get myself to think of even one thing I can be passionate about. Anything that I would want to work hard towards. I know at the age of 20, it seems I have a lot of time, but being me, it doesn't feel that way. Time flies. I never liked the idea of "too late".

Today I brought up this question again and I have to say, my small group gave me a lot of encouragements. Especially the part about the difference between destiny and vision. I think this whole big picture has reminded me again of the bible verse in Psalm about waiting upon the Lord.

"Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD."
Psalm 27:14

I lack the MOST in patience. Anyone who knows me well, patience is something that brings out the ugliest side of me. Yet I feel like just this trip to Taiwan is what God's challenging me with: patience. And it's a kill so far, to be honest. It just feels like every single day, he places someone next to me that drives me insane in order to show me what patience really is. Bah.

One sister brought up a really good point today though: that when we're in difficult situations that challenges us to trust in Him, we don't deny the fact that He exists; we start to doubt where His heart is at and if He's really listening to us at all.

Patience and trust.

Breathe Teyen...



ON THE GOOD NEWS... I've gotten A's on all my exams so far!! YAY FOR STUDYING!!

I need sleep. Someone told me I'm a pinch away from panda eyes today (ahem ANDREW AND XINYI).

Good night.

thinking, thinking, and more thinking...

Some things I've been reflecting upon this week:

Excerpts from "The Life You've Always Wanted" by John Ortberg: 

 
"If we are to follow Jesus, we must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from our lives - because, by definition, we can't move faster than the one we are following. (p. 83)
... Love always takes time, and time is one thing hurried people don't have... hurried people cannot love. (p.82) ... The truth is, as much as we complain about it, we are drawn to hurry. It makes us feel important... It keeps us from feeling our loneliness. (p.86)

...Solitude is the one place where we can gain freedom from the forces of society that will otherwise relentlessly mold us. (p.84) ...Each of us would be, in the words of the old hymn, "just as I am". ... just me and my sinfulness, my desire or lack of desire for God. (p.86)
Francis de Sales used the image of a clock to express his need for extended solitude.
'...In like manner, every morning and evening a man who really takes care of his heart must rewind it for God's service... Moreover, he must often reflect on his condition in order to reform and improve it.' (p.88)

Brother Lawrence: 'For many years I was bothered by the thought that I was a failure at prayer. Then one day I realized I would always be a failure at prayer; and I've gotten along much better ever since.' (p.90)

Prayer changes things. (p.94)

Jesus... his consistent response was to pray. (p.96)"

HAPPY!

Things I'm grateful for:

1) God has provided me plenty of students to teach, thus I have no problems here financially!

2) School is going great so far. Got an A on my first exam! Whoo hoo!

3) I'm serving on the worship team at church and through that, I've made more new friends (:

4) I'm getting along a tad bit better with my grandma. There are still sometimes ups and downs but I'm learning some more everyday on how to get along with her and to deal with the downs when it comes up with her emotions.

5) I have a bike! A REALLY nice old man (ahjussi, 叔叔) lend it to me for this year and now traveling has been made easier!

6)  I've finally lost some weight!!

7) I've found myself a Korean tutor and now one of my goals in life is going to be accomplished: I'm finally gonna learn Koreannnn!

I got some feedback from a couple of friends about my blog and here are some keywords (ahem, you know who you guys are): emo, insightful, long, and "I haven't looked at it yet..." 

Sigh.

Had a little adventure with my bike one day. One of the locations: Kaohsiung Cultural Center

Every time I ride my bike, just always had the fear that one day, a bug will fly into my mouth. The polluted air always made my mouth feel disgusting too so bought this mask thing! I am now officially a Taiwanese girl.

Korean food! ... was a disappointment.

This week has been pretty normal. Got to catch up with some old friends, went to class, had another exam, finally went to get some Korean food but it gave me the stomach flu instead (..........), and made some more new friends.

I guess one of the things that I got to kind of process this week with a friend was, what it means to be truly grateful. I always have high expectations, either before I go somewhere, or meet up with someone, or for myself. When those expectations never come true or a person fails my expectation, I become selfish, stubborn, and in the end not grateful for anything. I kind of don't want to go into details in fear of who reads this, but I do want to make an apology. I want to say sorry to everyone who tried to make anything or any day special for me that I've ruined. You guys have done so much for me and yet because it wasn't what I wanted, my anger blinded me and you guys' way of showing love.


It's the same thing with Him, isn't it?

Yes, it is.

The ultimate gift He has given to us, His Son, and we take it ever so lightly. With knowing the love He has poured out for us, we live everyday as if it's just a small gift, wrapped humbly, and in the end we toss it to the side when we sin, deliberately or not. Yes we are not perfect and we strive to be like Christ but we do fail. And when we fail, that's when we see His grace the brightest.

We are called to be His warriors, His love, His arms and His feet. When will we take this mission importantly that we won't fear mockery or death but fear Him instead?

Abba, consume me. 
Be my strength not 
give me strength. 
Be my everything. 

Missions

Finally went to eat some hot pot!

Grandma (:

ALL YOU CAN EATTTTTT

Went to a CostCo with some church friends and bought a roasted chicken. We KILLED that thing... like savages...

Two of the girls that was accusing each other of who was the savage HAHA

Is it a coincidence that since I've moved to Taiwan, all I've been hearing is "missions"? 

This question popped in my head today while I heard probably the 5th sermon on Missions at church. First church I attended weeks ago with my friend Jerry, had a missions team over from the US. First pastor family I've became friends with told me they see me as a missionary, thus would support and be there for me with anything. Second church event I attended the following week was a missions themed day; third church service, a missionary as a speaker. Following Sunday after, another missionary speaker, then today, another one.

Missions has been on my mind since high school. I dare not to think much of it but how can I not? Within a short month, the topic of missions has been everywhere. I know I've surrendered my life to God since junior high, but the future has always been unsure since I've made the decision to spend one year here especially with where my college career will be heading to.

Why is it so hard to trust in You right now? 

Ironically, as I was processing and writing this post, I was showing a Taiwan friend the song, "Give Me Faith" by Elevation Worship ( Give Me Faith ) and it got to the chorus:

Give me faith to trust what you say  
That you're good and your love is great  
I'm broken inside, I give you my life

I then thought of one of my favorite verse: "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
Psalm 73:26

Trust. Faith.


Today was also my first Sunday to be on the worship team at Wu Chuan Church. I'll have to admit... I think I'll learn a lot about humbleness and humility on this team. How the whole worship team functions, worships, is so... different. I remember the first night of practice, I kinda looked down on them and thought wow, so disorganized. I miss AAIV's worship team and how we functioned. Right then, God opened my eyes and I realized it doesn't matter how things work; their hearts were in the right place, their eyes fixated on the right One. 

I still cannot emphasize enough: God brought me out of my comfort zone (Chicago, AAIV, UIC) and I really needed it. 

Only He understands us for we are His.
 

Glory.

Jeremy Lin.

Tonight was Jeremy Lin's testimony night in Taipei, Taiwan and our church (along with 700 more throughout Taiwan) watched it live through the internet.

I wish I took a picture of how packed the church was tonight but it was dark because I got there late... didn't want to flash anyone in the face haha. So here's the event's poster! 

While watching the whole event, his testimony, and how he glorified God to the end made me ask myself: what am I truly living for? God, am I glorifying you with everything you have given me? 

Do I even love You?

When Jeremy mentioned about God's fingerprints all over his life, our lives, it reminded me of a photo blog post I posted last summer (when I actually kept up with it Fingerprints post). 

"God definitely left many of his fingerprints in my life whenever I look back or read my journals, but to be honest, this past school year was probably my toughest. I had to learn so much at once that I felt like God was breaking me hard, probably almost to my limit. I had to learn how to forgive, what is forgiveness; how my precious my heart was and how precious I am; what my identity is and what community really means; what it means to be free in Him and what it means to surrender. One experience and lesson after another; I've probably never cried this much in one year until this year haha.

But I was reminded so many times that he doesn't go past your limit. He doesn't punish, nor does he forget you.＂


How my own words pierced my heart! Such forgetful creatures we are of His love.

Recently I started on a book called"Life You've Always Wanted" and in one chapter, the author titled it "The Dee Dah Day" when writing about Joy in our identity as His children and in Himself.

"If we don't rejoice today, we will not rejoice at all. If we wait until conditions are perfect, we will still be waiting when we die. If we are going to rejoice, it must be in this day. This is the day that the Lord has made. This is the Dee Dah Day." (John Ortberg).

Just reflecting on tonight, my photo post, and Ortberg's word, I think I have finally realized how much I have missed out on this Joy. Forgotten. What it means to be free and knowing that my whole world is in His hands and I shouldn't worry anymore. He has led me this. Far. He promised.

jeremiah 29:11

He never promised us a perfect, wonderful, blissful life but an eternity with Him. And nothing is more perfect, wonderful, and beautiful than Him. I may die one day for Him, even tomorrow, but I would give anything in this world to just have Him. Why? You would ask. Because He loves me.
And that alone is enough. 

Stepping out of my comforts, yet into His arms. 

所有榮耀歸給神!

Bits of pieces.

Today's post will be in pieces of this week's highlight. Sorry! Mind's kind of in pieces right now haha.

...

Funny stuff said by the church kids:
"So are you American??"
"... you're so pretty..." (while looking at me while I was washing my hands in the bathroom) 


 ...


Multi-faces.

How great is our God.

Last Saturday night, I went to a mission conference night at Wu Cun Church (Practically a Taiwan version of Willow Creek) and we sang that song, How great is our God. In 5 different languages.

The different mission teams connected to this church

As I looked around while those words echoed throughout the sanctuary, I finally saw how beautiful people are. I once heard a pastor say that the most beautiful creation of God's is people. All the people that you've walked by, lived with, talked with, laughed with, cried with. Tears came to my eyes as the Spirit filled me in an amazing way that I still cannot describe. This. is what Heaven must be like. 
Joy. 
God created ethnicity, race, identity but what's amazing that under His precious cross and blood, we become one.
Family. 
What other God in this world can create such a beautiful sight but Him?


...

Reunion. 

In the year of 2009, my very first trip to Taiwan, I made a friend. Then for past three years, we kept in touch through handwritten letters and sometimes MSN, some emails here and there but it was always a letter a month. We finally met up this Saturday and it was so interesting to see the actual person behind all those words.

Phillip! (:

Throughout these three years, when I couldn't sleep at night, I would write to him sometimes. When I missed Taiwan, I wrote to him. When I had guy problems (har har har... yes) I sometimes wrote to him too. I knew probably 90% of my letters he couldn't understand since they were in English, but just knowing you had a friend who was willing to keep up with this pen-pal system for three years felt... indescribable.
Friendships are just another way of God taking care of you.

...


SCHOOL!!!!

Ｉ started school on Monday!! And I have to say, I love it.

One of my classmates

New friend (:

There are only four of us but I'd rather have a small class than a big one. More opportunity to know each other, right? (: