Ghost Month

Last week Thursday, an announcement came over the loudspeaker in our apartment building.

Since my Chinese skills are still minimal, I asked the guard downstairs to repeat it more slowly. Here's what I understood:

"On Sunday, August 14, there will be a community altar set up on the first floor outside the apartment building doors. Everyone is welcome to use the table and fire to make their sacrifices to the gods, spirits, and ancestors."

Sure enough, on Sunday we found a large table laden with fruits, instant noodle packets, and rice crackers smoking with incense sticks outside our building. Our neighbors went down to throw paper money in the fire pot.

Ghost month has arrived. (For more details, you can look at a previous post here ).

Thank you for your prayers.

Another Cultural Blunder

A story from a couple weeks ago:

I wanted to surprise Maya, the little girl I tutor each week, with a small surprise for her birthday. On my way to our class, I stopped at 7-11 to purchase an envelope to put some candy and small toys in. I bypassed all the normal red envelopes, thinking that those were mainly for Chinese New Year or for gifts of money. When I spotted this white envelope with flowers on it, I thought it would be perfect.

Without a second thought, I put Maya's gift inside and excitedly presented it to her after our tutoring session. She tore open the envelope with a squeal of delight.


However, Maya's mother stood with a hand over her open mouth, eyes wide with shock. Then she started to chuckle nervously.

Confused, I asked, "Is everything okay?"

She went on to explain that the color white signifies death. They are given to families of the deceased at funerals. At any other time, they are very unlucky. "Please, take the gift out of the white envelope!"

I hurriedly took back the white envelope and put the gift inside a red envelope that my friend happened to have on hand. (Red is considered lucky).

This incident reminded me...I still have a lot to learn about Taiwanese culture!

Summer Vacation?

The past month has been busier than usual. My teaching hours doubled at the new school, we helped our dear friends Caty and Dillon settle in Taipei, I started my first counseling class with CCEF (The Christian Counseling Educational Foundation), and we've been adjusting to part-time parenthood with a baby who seems to double in size each week.

Whew. Needless to say, the blog was put on the back burner for a while.

However, things seem to be starting to slow down to a normal pace once again, and I am thankful.

More to come. :)

My New Job

I recently started a new teaching job at Bambini Learning Center.

The past two weeks I taught "astronauts in training." We flew to different planets, did space research, and made our own claymation movies...all while learning English. Enjoy!

Baby in the House!

Each week I volunteer at an orphanage for at-risk HIV babies. During the weekends, the babies go home with foster families. The full-time nurses desperately need a break.

However, several of the babies do not have foster families.

After a lot of prayer, Kalan and I decided to become weekend foster parents. Two weekends ago, we welcomed baby Micah into our home.



He is three months old and an absolute joy! So far he’s accompanied us to the National Palace Museum and up to the top of Taipei 101--though he sleeps through most of our adventures. :)


Having a baby on the weekends is a drastic change for us. We have a lot to learn. However, we have an abundance of love and resources that we want to share with someone in need…and we are thankful that God has brought Micah into our lives for a season.


***For his protection, we cannot post photos of Micah online. If you would like to see him, let me know and I can send you a few pictures via email.***

New Apartment: A Photo Tour

The past two weeks have been a whirlwind of changes. This is the first of a series of blog posts on the new things in our life.

The grand tour:

My favorite part of our new home is the 12th-floor vantage point. I love gazing at the mountains over a cup of coffee in the morning!


The bottom floor: living room/kitchen combo.


Instead of a stove we use an induction hot plate (I was initially skeptical, but it has been great!)


The view from the couch: clothing storage


The bathroom: once again, we are blessed with the convenient ability to do the laundry and shower at the same time (haha)




The stairs: there is a great cubby space under the stairs that houses some books and our oven


The loft: computer cubby, sleeping, and clothing storage




We are so thankful for this new place to call home. It’s funny—if you had asked me a year ago if I could set up a home in a 250 square-foot space for three people without a gas stove, I would have said, “No way!”

But now, I consider this apartment the ideal home. I really enjoy the coziness of our “small” space. It feels just right for us.

Some of you are wondering why I mentioned “three people.” No, I’m not pregnant. However, last weekend we did welcome a new baby into our home. We became foster parents. More on that to come! ☺

The Best is Yet to Come...

I don't now if it is the 'best', but more is to come.

A is going on right now. Moving, changing jobs, friends coming to stay, no internet....

We will write again soon!