Yay for Chinese New Year!

Everyone had the week off this past week in celebration of Chinese New Year.  So...that meant it was time to PLAY!!!  :P

Monday: Yi Shan's classmate picked us up and took us to a place called "Jiu Fen."  It's an old district in the mountains somewhere on the outskirts of Taipei with lots of cute shops and eateries. 

Tuesday: KTV! 

On Wednesday, we took off from Taipei to go on a short trip around Taiwan.  Yi Shan, Kevin, Matt, Sanny & I packed into Yi Shan's dad's car and drove from north to south and back up again.

Day 1: Wednesday - Tai Nan

First stop, Salt Mountain.  Supposedly the entire mountain is made out of salt.  'Twas fun climbing up to the top and sliding back down.  It's like an amusement park there with rides, games and all (as you can see Sanny & Yi Shan riding the train around the mountain).  :P  Lots of families with young kids there.  Really felt like a family trip.

Tentmaking in Taiwan!  puhahaha

Actually, the first night, there wasn't enough room at the inn for our two brothers, so they had to set up camp outside.  I actually didn't help pitch the tent at all. :P

Day 2: Thursday - Alishan

If you look carefully at the third picture, you will see that there is a fire burning right at the edge of the water!  Crazy phenomenon, huh?  Yi Shan thinks there's oil or something in the water.  keke

Some garden... & pictures of us being silly in the garden.

...beautiful taiwan...

An old railway station

This place was famous for their lunchboxes.  I must say, it was pretty yummy. :)

Day 3: Friday - Alishan & Tai Zhong

waiting to go watch the sunrise at the crack of dawn (i think it's about 4am here).  we had to take a train to get up to the viewing spot.  getting on the train was quite scary--we kind of felt like refugees!

there were hundreds of people there to watch this mundane, yet splendiforous event.

the heavens declare the glory of the Lord!

...another garden...

Left: This tree is called the Three Generation Tree, and I don't know if you can see it, but there are three generations of trees growing out of one origin.  Right: Gina the bear :P

Last stop... 

Some university in Tai Zhong (I forgot the name).  We went from freezing cold weather at Alishan to burning hot weather in Tai Zhong.  We walked around the campus and saw one of the most famous church buildings in Taiwan.  It's triangular in shape!  Pretty interesting.

All in all, I had a great time fellowshipping with my brothers and sisters and I'm very thankful to have had the opportunity to see so much of Taiwan in such a short amount of time!  Thanks to Yi Shan for planning and driving!

          some random pictures from the past few months... (sorry, i didn't take too many!)

cutie elijah

new year's in taipei...  looks like taipei 101 is going to blow up!  sparklers on the roof...yeah!! 

Yi Shan, Kevin, and Clara modeling our retreat shirt (preparing their poses...)

Winter Retreat 2007

daddy & mommy to be!

ke-la-la!  wo hen xiang ni!!  kuai dian hui lai!

hmm...i'll go look for more pictures to post...kekeke

check back again later

A photo update

Above: Our last lunch with Amy before she went back to America.  Miss you, Amers!  Email me and let me know how you're doing when you get a chance!

Below: One friend went back to America, but two returned!  (left: Greg; right: Celine)  Celine had been back for a while, but these pictures were taken the night Greg returned.  So glad to have you back!!

My side of the room.  (My camera couldn't fit the whole thing.)  This is where I meet with the Lord each morning.  No more IS Coffee for me... for now.  I have found my niche here... 

My workplace: Happy Marian Children's World!  And just a couple doors down from my buxiban is this wedding photography place.  I walk past it to and from work each day.  I take it as a sign for my future wedding planning business...(totally kidding)

The youngest of my three classes!  Their names are Kiwi, Ann, David, Ted, and Max.  They are so stinkin funny...especially the guy in the front left corner.  His name is Max, but every time I see him, he has a different name.  So far he's called himself Bubuchacha, 7-11, Yo, and 9.  I always wonder what he'll come up with next...

My lesson plan books & school T-shirt.  Tell me the truth...is the little girl on our logo not the scariest looking little girl you've ever seen in your life!?

Clara, our friend Christine, and I had dinner together one night.  Looks like we're just sittin in someone's living room, right?  Wrong!  We were seated at a couch in a restaurant called Bongos.  Cute atmostphere...

...and pretty decent food!  We ordered a chimichanga, a quesadilla, and a chicken wrap.  Mmm... :)

Bible Study

Doesn't Matt look like he's saying lots of important stuff, and Sanny like she's listening intently?  Well, they're just posing. :P

Here are some candid shots (except Lisa looked up in the third one).  People asking questions, searching Scriptures...it's good stuff, man.  Can I just tell you...it's so encouraging to see how these saints hunger for the Word...

!!!!!!!!MY FAMILY CAME TO VISIT!!!!!!!

my dashing dad, my marvelous mom, and my sweet sister

left: me and my loverly parents at warner village; right: me and my mama at night market (dad behind the camera)

me and my singster...my one and only <3

a beauty and a baller...  watch out now! :P

my beautiful family enjoying some bing!

Thank you so much for making the trip out here!  It meant so much to me!  Miss and love you...

Last but not least...

GIRA

what a blessing it has been getting to know miss clara chiu!  so thankful to be serving/learning/growing with you this year, clara bara!

Please continue to keep us in your prayers. 

Thanks everybody!