The promises of God never fail....

 

As Rachel and I walked to church tonight, we were stopped in our tracks by a double rainbow across the stree from the church. This picture will never do justice to the beauty of the rainbow. But it reminded me today that God's promises will never fail. The rainbow was a sign to Noah that God would never again flood the whole earth. God will never break His promises. Whether they be that His word will not return void, or that He wishes that none will perish, or that when we call upon the elders to pray for the sick they will be healed....God will never break His promises. He had promised to never leave us or forsake us. That is true today and forever both here in Taiwan and in the United States and everywhere in the world! What an awesome God we serve!

Ghosts and WWJD?

Do you believe in Ghosts??? I'm not really sure that I don't. Well, maybe I don't believe in ghosts, but I believe in a powerful enemy that has the ability to manifest himself however he wishes. And this is increased when people open their hearts to him and invite him to take a seat at their tables.

This month is the "ghost festival" where the Taiwanese believe that the spirits, ghosts, and the spirits of their ancestors are free to roam the earth. Appeasing the spirits and ghosts during this month is highly important. Today is the 15 of the month (according to the Chinese calendar) which is a very important day. From what I understand, this is the day set aside to worship your ancestors and appease the spirits. As I walked the streets of Ximen today, I watched as many people prayed, burned incense and offered up food and other things on makeshift alters. The smell was overwhelming. On every side people were burning the incense. But more than that, the feeling of sadness for these people that are wasting their time, money and worship with something that will never benefit them. I ached for their souls that will themselves burn in an eternal hell unless they turn from their idols to the True and Living God.

As I walked the streets of Ximen today these words came to me and I wrote them down as I traveled to work on the MRT.

"What if Jesus had come to the Far East instead of the Middle East? What if Jesus had spoken Mandarin instead of Hebrew? What if Jesus had walked the streets of Ximen instead of the streets of Judea? What would He have done differently if He were here now instead of 2000 years ago?

I bet He would have still healed the sick, given sight to the blind and made the lame walk. Maybe He would have even raised the dead. Would He have fed the multitudes hanging out at Movie Park or walked across the mucky river and purified it's waters? But what I want to know is "What I am supposed to do?"

Would He have given money to the "poor Filipino man?" who begs at our street corner? Would he sit and eat with James who has no legs and begs at the MRT every day? What would He do when walking past the temples and alters? How would He respond to Ghost Month and all of it's celebrations? Would He yell and overturn their tables and tell them of the One True Living God? Would He ache for their lostness and pray for their salvation? What Would Jesus Do?

How would He interact with his pagan co-workers? How would He feel about their charms that they wear to keep them safe? Would he still say, "Let the little children come to me, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven," if they have already taken part in so many of the festivals and sacrifices to pagan gods?

What would Jesus do in Taipei? What would Jesus preach in Ximen? How would Jesus act in Taiwan? What What Jesus Do?

Would He give them "a light"?
Would he go hang out with friends at a night club?
Would He drink a beer?
Would He allow His co-workers to swear and talk about porn in His presence?
Would He cringe at the incense?
Would He tear down the icons and charms?
Would He cry at their pain and laugh when they laugh?
Would He take the MRT and sit where they sat?
Would the food make Him gag?
Would He choke at the smell of Stinky Tofu?
Would the filth make Him sad?
Would He dance with the youth?
Would He sit with the old?
Would He make friends with the outcasts?
Would He shout from the corners of the street..."I LOVE YOU! I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE!!!!"

WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?????

For I am the hands of a King. I have the feet of the Savior. His Spirit indwells within me. Jesus may have come to Bethlehem 2000 years ago. But I, His servant, His hands and feet, have come to Ximen now. WWDJ is no longer just a bracelet to wear, it is a calling to live a life that is worthy of wearing His Name as my sending agency.

What would Jesus do? Its a calling!

EnVision Promotion!

This coming January, the Alliance is hosting what they are calling the Alliance version of Urbana here in Taipei, Taiwan. All expenses except for flights are covered for only $475. I would love to see any of you come out here this coming January!

For those of you that can not come out this coming January, I ask that you continue to pray that God will use this conference to reach out to the people here in Taipei as well as to call young people to missions, and maybe even to Taiwan. Check out their website at:

http://www.alliance-youth.com/envision/

On another note, please be praying that God will be using a "One Thing" Conference that is going on this week! Hopefully I will be able to attend some of the evening sessions and worship services! Pray for an awakening of the heart here in Taiwan. The darkness is great, but God's light shines brightly in the darkest places. Pray that the Taiwanese hearts will be softened to the Word of God.

Where is the joy in their eyes?

I really like riding the MRT (subway system here in Taipei). A lot of the other team members would think I'm crazy for saying this because it is all underground. Part of the reason I like to ride it over the bus is because it is easy, has signs in English and is reliable! But the main reason I like to ride on the MRT is because I can see people better. Most of the time, you have to stand, which provides a better view of people.

And of their eyes.

I like to look into their eyes. I like to imagine that I can hear what they are thinking or feeling at the moment. I've always enjoyed looking into people's eyes, but never so much as today. Maybe enjoy is too strong of a word. I'm not sure I "enjoyed" it today. Because what I saw today was a lack of joy. Not a lack of happiness. There is plenty of that to go around here! But a lack of joy. There is something missing in the eyes of those around me. I've made some friends here who are Christians. One Christian friend in particular stands out to me. Her name is Sweety. She is 30 years old, but I'm pretty sure we will be good friends by the end of this year! Her eyes don't reflect a lack of joy, but rather of immense joy and peace. Even when she is going through a hard time, that same look is in her eyes. And I would imagine, that even when she is crying and hurting, deep inside of her eyes you can still find peace and joy.


This is a picture of Sweety and my team mate Sharon. Can you see the joy in her eyes?

When I looked into the eyes of those on the train with me today, I didn't see any joy in any of their eyes. I actually saw sadness, a sense of meaningless, a sense of having to go to work in order to make ends meet, not a sense of purpose. I saw this same look in young and old alike. There was one person who had some joy in her eyes, but she was only about 4.

What do I do with all of these millions of people that come across my radar? My prayer is two-fold. One, that the love of God will pour out of my own eyes. That they will see something, even in just my eyes, that will make them crave what I have. We saw last night in our Bible study, that we are supposed to live in such a way that our lives are causing the gospel to be attractive to others. And two, that as I continue to ride the MRT every day, that I will have the eyes of Jesus. Not just so that people will see Jesus in me, but also that I will see people the way that Jesus sees them. That I will have a deep sense of love for these people, and that I will go out of my way to show them the love of the Savior. I love Brandon Heath's new song "Give Me Your Eyes"

Looked down from a broken sky
Traced out by the city lights
My world from a mile high
Best seat in the house tonight
Touched down on the cold black top
Hold on for the sudden stop
Breath in the familiar shock
Of confusion and chaos
All those people going somewhere,
Why have I never cared?

Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
Ones that are far beyond my reach.
Give me your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see

Step out on a busy street
See a girl and our eyes meet
Does her best to smile at me
To hide what's underneath
There's a man just to her right
Black suit and a bright red tie
Too ashamed to tell his wife
He's out of work
He's buying time
All those people going somewhere
Why have I never cared?

Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
Ones that are far beyond my reach.
Give me your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see

I've Been there a million times
A couple of million eyes
Just moving past me by
I swear I never thought that I was wrong
Well I want a second glance
So give me a second chance
To see the way you see the people all along

Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
Ones that are far beyond my reach.
Give me your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see

Picasa Web Albums!!!!

Hey Gang,
I hope you enjoyed watching my testimony on how I got to Taiwan! Here are some links to some Picasa web albums. I will try to keep this updated on any new albums that me and my team members put up! Enjoy!!!

http://picasaweb.google.com/ximen.taiwan/ChengKaiShek?authkey=Gv1sRgCI_Oov3TxIWIxgE#

http://picasaweb.google.com/ximen.taiwan/FirstWeekInTaiwan?authkey=Gv1sRgCMvM9dDL5OmntwE#

http://picasaweb.google.com/ximen.taiwan/FirstWeekInTaipei?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ2M__C44oahjgE#"

http://picasaweb.google.com/ximen.taiwan/LAAndJourneyToTaiwan?authkey=Gv1sRgCKW7p5GT_PWJwwE#

My Testimony on how I got to Taiwan! :)

Taiwan sights and adventures!

My first few days in LA for training and in Taipei!

We got to drive down Rodeo Blvd. and see Holly Wood from a distance! So cool!

I felt like I was in a movie!

Heading to The Groove to hang out in LA for the evening. My team leader Jamie O'dell on the left, and Melissa Olson from the national office who came out for our training.



Kenji came from Taiwan to see America and hang out with us during our training.


Our fearless team leader Chris O'dell.


My teammate Rachel and I pointing to Taiwan on the wing of our "guardian angel" :)


Our first sightings of Japan. It was too dark to take a picture of our first sighting of Taiwan.


The Red Theater. This is the location that the En-Vision conference will be held in January. We are praying for over 300 Taiwanese students to attend! A time of worship and teaching.


A few images from the city of Taipei!





Chris showing us where they envision a church being in the future.


One of the temples in the area. We were able to go into one, but didn't take pictures inside. The darkness here is very real.


More pictures will follow! I just thought that you would like to be able to see some of the sights that I've seen over the last few days. Keep those prayers coming!

FINISHED!!!

"Watch—and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told."

Have you noticed a theme with this trip yet? Even though my theme verse for this trip is talking about looking at the nations to see what God is going to do, it can still apply to watching to see what God will do in our lives. I pray that it will be just as amazing to watch and see what God will do throughout this entire year in Taiwan as what it has been as I have been preparing to go. Today I had a yard sale at my church to raise funds. The people at my church were so helpful in getting everything ready and cleaning up afterward as well as by donating so many things. The sanctuary was overflowing!!! We made over $1000 today! The largest amount ever at a yard sale at our church. Between this and another gift, this put me over my goal. The thermometer should be spurting out of the top!!! God has abundantly provided my every need. Now I ask that you continue to pray for me as I finish up the last three weeks before I head to California for a few days of training!

And He keeps on blessing me!

Thank you friends, for helping me along the way! I have finally reached my goal of $3500. This will cover all of my expenses for the first three months that I am there. This includes my langauge study, training in California, and living expenses before I begin working in the schools and receive my first check! Thank you for your support! Keep praying that God will bring in the rest of the money that I need to cover my air fair. I have my tickets. I will be leaving Chattanooga on July 17th and flying to Sacramento to see my best friend. From there I will fly our to LA on July 20th to meet up with my team and have two days of training. We all fly out to Taiwan on July 22.



PRAYER REQUESTS:
--> I have a yard sale this weekend to help raise funds for my trip. Pray that this will bring in a good amount of money. Thanks to all of my church family for all of the donations that they have provided!!!

-->Pray that God will be preparing my heart as I leave in just a little over 3 weeks.

--> Pray for me as I begin saying good-byes. This is never an easy time for me.

-->Pray for my teammates Rachel and Victoria, as well as the team leaders Chris and Jamie as they are all preparing for this coming adventure as well. Pray that Rachel and Victoria will also have the funds that they need.

-->Pray that the five of us will really be able to bond well as a team and that we will form strong friendships in our group and with the Taiwanese.

Praise God!

I wanted to post a quick update on my funds. My church had a graduation party for me before I left for a week working at Poplar Point Camp. Between that party and very large gifts from two people that I have never even met, I am now nearing the $3000 mark! I prayed that God would bring in at least the $3500 that I need for my expenses up front and I would be able to cover the airfare. Now I'm nearly there! Please join me in thanking our Heavenly Father in supplying all of my needs! I am trusting Him to bring in the rest.



I am also so thankful for the time that I was able to spend at Poplar Point Camp. This is the camp that I grew up going to every summer since I was 8. In 2001 God really spoke to me at church camp and asked me to surrender to whatever His will for my life might be. And a few years later at that camp, I was able to see God do some amazing things through the staff and campers that strengthened my faith tremendously. I will never be the same since going to PPC. I wanted to help make that a possibility once again for a new generation of kids. So I went and cooked and washed a lot of dishes and served the kids so that they might have the opportunity to meet with Jesus in a special way. It was also just amazing to be back and catching with old friends!

July 20th!

For all of you who have been wondering what the exact date of my departure will be, I just received an email stating that we will arrive in California on July 20th for some training, and leave for Taiwan on July 22nd. You can be praying that everything will come together smoothly for me and my team before then!

Here is a chart depicting what funds have come in already and where I need to be by July 20th. $5000 is the amount that I need up front ($3500) plus an estimate on what I need for a plane ticket to Taiwan. Please consider helping me reach my goal. You can send tax deductible checks to

The C&MA/Global Ventures
PO Box 35000
Colorado Springs CO 80935

Please make your check out to the Christian and Missionary Alliance with my name in the memo line. Or, you can send a personal check to me and I will personally mail it in.

209 Roberts Mill Rd.
Hixson, TN 37343

Taiwan for sure!

It has been a long time since I've posted on my blog. I'm sure that by now you have all heard that I have been officially accepted to go to Taiwan this coming July. Now the preparation must begin! Since I have been so focused on getting through finals and graduation and a wedding, I have not really thought that much about Taiwan until now. Now, however, I am beginning the process of preparing, both physically, spiritually, and emotionally for this upcoming adventure! I am trying to find odd jobs to help earn the money that I'll need for the next year as well as beginning to look into learning the language. I am borrowing "Learning Mandarin" from the local library. I have barely looked at it yet since I've been out of town for the past two weeks. But now I'm going to have to start diving into language learning! One thing that is going to keep me motivated is that my whole purpose in babysitting or whatever odd job I find, as well as all of the other preparation is so that I might be able to have the chance to be a witness for Jesus. I found such an amazing verse in Habakkuk:

"Look at the nations and watch- and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.” (Habakkuk 1:5)

I can't wait to see what God is going to be doing through me and my teammates in Taiwan this next year! I pray that I will be amazed!

I am in need of $5000 at least before I leave. God has already provided me with a portion of that through the money that I received through graduation and gifts from friends and family for my trip, but if you do feel led to help provide my way to be a light in a very dark country, please make your tax deductible checks out to The Christian and Missionary Alliance, with my name on the check, and mail to:
The C&MA/Global Ventures
PO Box 35000
Colorado Springs CO 80935

I also covet your prayers during this time. I have so much that needs to be done before I leave, and so much growing that needs to take place in my life. God is going to have to do an amazing work in order to provide the finances that I need, but since He owns the cattle on a thousand hills, I'm pretty convinced that He will provide the way if this is really His plan for my life! Pray that I will trust Him and grow closer to Him every day in preparation of leaving everything that I know behind.

One thing that God has taught me lately:
I just came from a friend's wedding. I left, after saying many, many goodbyes and told God that I was ready to get married and have a "forever friend." I am ready to have someone who will go with me forever, and I won't have to leave him when I go on missions trips or wherever. And God very clearly said to me "I AM that forever friend! Allow me to take that place in your life." I have a long way to go in my friendship with God, but I am convinced that He is the one that will never leave me or forsake me.

"When the storms are raging all around me. You are the peace that calms my troubled seas. And when the cares of this world darken my day, You are the light that shines and shows me the way. Oh the beauty of your Majesty! On the cross you showed Your love for me!"

I woke up this morning to the sounds of rain dripping outside of my window. The sky was dreary and dark. I've thought a lot lately about how this could be what my outlook on life looks like. My plans seem to be continually changing for me, and I really don't have any control over it. Who knows what the next steps in my life are going to look like. I recently found out that the team going to Taiwan will not leave the States until the end of July. I also found out that this means that I may have to miss Julie's wedding. By the time that I found out about the time change in the trip, it was too late for me to get the job that I had originally lined up for the summer. And to add to all of that, there is still the chance that I won't even be accepted to the program at all. For awhile it was easy for me to give into the "what if's" and question whether or not God really knows what He is doing here. Missing Julie's wedding is like missing my sister's wedding. I mean even my Dad is performing the ceremony!

However...No matter what I am feeling right now, I can look back and see that every time the future looked bleak or scary, God always pulled through on His end. There has never been a wasted hard time that I have gone through. I can trust that God will remain faithful to His promise to complete the good work that He began in me. It may be crazy to say this, and I'm really not asking God to put me through any more trying times, but I am thankful for the hard things that God has guided me through, so that I can walk through the next tough spot and say "yes, I know He has been faithful, and I trust Him to be faithful again."

With graduation in less than two weeks and a whole lot of changes and uncertainties in front of me, and I am super glad that I have a God that loves me enough to die on the cross for me. If He loves me that much, I'm pretty sure that He loves me enough to take care of all of the little details of my life.

Don't jump!

“Look at the nations and watch-and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.”

Habakkuk 1:5

Sometimes it is so hard to stay focused on the here and now when all I can do is think about Taiwan. I catch myself several times a day wondering "Will they have this kind of shampoo in Taiwan?" "I wonder when I'll be leaving?" "How well will I get along with my new roommates?" "Is there chocolate and ice cream in Taiwan?" "Do they have Walmart in Taiwan?" "What am I thinking????"...You get the point. It is hard to imagine what life in Taiwan will be like on an everyday basis. I have to keep reminding myself that I'm not going to a third-world country like Guinea. That is the mental image I have when I think about going overseas.

I've also caught myself starting to stress and get worried a couple of times these past few weeks. Thankfully, I am too busy to give it a whole lot of thought. (I never thought that so much homework would be a blessing from God). :) But when I start to realize that I'm worried, I've started to remember all of the good things that God has already done in my life. After almost 22 years, He's never given me reason to doubt Him or His love for me.

The other day I was sharing with a friend. She said that she felt like she was about to jump off of a 100 foot cliff. I told her to remember that when you go rappelling, you never just jump off of the cliff, but rather you walk over the edge and take one step at a time. So I do feel like there is a cliff that I'm about to go over, but I've got to remember that God only gives us one day, one step at a time for a reason. Often 24 hours is more than I can handle at a time! He promises to always be with me and to always give me the strength that I need to face every situation. So when I start thinking about all that the next 365 days will hold for me, I stop and remember that I just have to think about where to place my foot for the next step.

"Wherever you are, be all there.

Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God."

~Jim Elliot

Not Alone

Two Months from tomorrow, life will radically change for me. No longer will I be in a close community of either family or friends. No longer will I be known as a student at Toccoa Falls college, but rather as an alum. In two months I will be walking across the stage in Grace Chapel at TFC, barefoot (a tradition of cross-cultural studies majors at TFC), and receive the diploma that signifies that I am onto the next step in becoming a missionary. Then just a few weeks later I will be flying to Taiwan in order to teach English and get a little missionary and cross-cultural experience for one year. So although my life will no longer resemble anything like the comfortable little bubble that I have lived in for the past 21 years of my life, I know that no matter where I go, I'm not alone....

You're Not Alone
Meredith Andrews
I search for love, when the night came,
And it closed in, I was alone,
But you found me, where I was hiding,
And now I'll never ever be the same,
It was the sweetest voice,
That called my name saying

You're not alone, For I am here,
Let me wipe away your every fear,
My love I've never left your side,
I have seen you through the darkest night,
And I'm the one who's loved you all your life,
All of your life


You cry your self to sleep, cause the hurt is real,
And the pain cuts deep, all hope seems lost,
With heartache your closest friend,
And everyone else long gone,
You've had to face the music on your own,
But there is a sweeter song that calls you home saying

You're not alone, For I am here,
Let me wipe away your every tear,
My love I've never left your side,
I have seen you through the darkest night,
And I'm the one who's loved you all your life,
All your life

Faithful and true, Forever,
Oh my love will carry you

You're not alone, For I, I am here,
Let me wipe away your every fear
Oh yeah, My love I've never left your side,
I have seen you through the darkest night,
Your darkest night,
And I'm the one who's loved you all your life,
All of your life