Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart

Well, I had my first major holiday without family this week. It was good, even without a few days off. Michael told me that he gets sentimental when eating food and I laughed it off as a crazy notion, but once I had my first taste of turkey and my pumpkin pie I realized what he meant. We had a big thanksgiving feast at the Practice Hotel. About 100 Taiwanese came and celebrated with us. I was amazed to see how many came to give thanks and join in on the food eating. I even had apple pie, which I was very thankful for even if it wasn't like Grandma's. Eating that pie, that's what made me miss home the most. Not being able to hear Grandma complain that no one eats her apple pie and threaten not to make it next year, when in fact it's the pie I look forward to the most. I was even able to watch football to round out my thanksgiving week. Technology is amazing. Being able to watch the Packers play football made it feel more like the holidays even if it isn't cold and snowy outside. So as I end this blog, I realize that I have much to be thankful for: good friends, good food, and a roof over my head.

I Think I'm Turning Taiwanese. I Really Think So

I have a funny story about something that happened to me after Wednesday Night Bible study. We had finished and we were having our delicious snack of oranges and I was talking with some of the students when a little girl and her mom showed up to talk with Monica. The girl was amazed that there where Americans there and said 3 Americans in Chinese. All the Americans then noticed that the little girl did not know how to count since there were actually 4 of us. So we said 4 in Chinese. The girl looked confused and counted again, but she didn't point to me when she was counting. That's when someone told me to take off the hat I was wearing. I did. When the girl saw that I did not have black hair like a normal Taiwanese person, she recognized me as American.

And the Lord lifts up my soul

This weekend almost the whole group of missionaries went down to Tiachung for our fall retreat. It was a great weekend of praising God. We had wonderful weather; you just couldn't ask for better weather. I loved all the songs we sang. Even if I don't have the best voice singing just lifts up my spirit. Being able to sing in English with English filling up the room was amazing to hear. We also stayed in the same hotel as the USA baseball team that was in Tiachung for the World Series of baseball. This time was also a great time to get to know some of the other missionaries that I don't see on a regular basis on a more personal level. While I may see them for bible studies, I don't always have time to get to know them personally. This weekend I was able to just let it drop and renew my spirit.