New place

Now, I'm in my new place a bit more than a week, slowly settling down, taking stuff out of the boxes and figuring out where to put them, attending church activities, meeting new people, walking around trying to get familiar with the place and seeing who's around. The other day I was reading Ezekiel 3. God said to Ezekiel, " Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them. For you are not sent to a people of foreign speech and a hard language, but to the house of Israel -- not to many peoples of foreign speech and a hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, if I sent you to such, they would listen to you. But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to me. Because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart. Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. Like emery harder than flint have I made your forehead. Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house." As I was reading, it seemed like God was saying to me that He sent me to this place where people are hard hearted. They will not listen and are with stubborn heart. Yet, God is with me and He will give me strength and the words I need to say.

Friends

God is gracious and He gives me friends to show that He cares. Tomorrow, I'll be moving and a friend offered to come and help. Since the moving company is coming at nine in the morning. She's here now to stay over night and helping me to do some last minute packing. Even though she's not going to Cidu with me, I have another missionary friend offered to help me when I arrived, in addition to the couple missionary in Cidu. She lives around two hours train ride from Cidu and is willing to come and help. I thank God for all these caring friends.

clean up

Just came back from Taipei today. Was up in Cidu on Saturday and two friends helped cleaning my new apartment. It did not take so long for us to clean the apartment, including the cabinets, windows, bath rooms, and floor. We had a nice chat afterward and then headed to Taipei. I went to Sunday service with a missionary couple to a church where the missionary preached today. We took the MRT, then transferred on a bus. It took us more than an hour to arrive church. It seems it is in some place out in the mountain. There were 20 to 30 people attended. I see God's love is in every place, even in this remote place, yet, there still so many work to do. I looked around the neighborhood, there were several buildings around, meaning many people living around and that is the only church shining in this neighborhood. God has not given in on this people!

心靈的迴響

All of a sudden, this old song (when I first became a Christian) pop up in my mind.

心靈的迴響

天空裡散聚雲片片
無奈月明星不閃
莫流淚悲歡合離是難免
祈求上主恩每一刻能抹淚面

世途裡恩怨恨愛定會現
心靈中多少困倦與掛牽
向前去不怕浪裡多風險
熱誠共創真美善

副歌)
願主愛常記念
求恩主引導每一天
願真愛傳世上
永生福共享百萬年

只剩一個星期

今天跟朋友講起才發現原來這學期只剩一個星期.這麼快兩年就過去.要完成我在台中的學業離開這個已熟識的地方與人. 要好好的跟他們說再見. 就像今天已跟好幾個不同的朋友講再見. 本來每天都見到的人不再那麼常見到. 很想見到的人也沒有可能常常見到. 要重新調整生活. 唔, 不是調整, 是過新生活. 在七堵那裡應該很快又會結識到新的朋友. 唉呀, 如果以後要離開七堵, 豈不是又要經歷離別之苦?! 不過, 人生不都是常常有聚有散?! 這樣才能在當中學習成長. 經一事長一智嘛 (這成語是這樣用的嗎?) 話又說回來, 搬去七堵也不是真的很遠. 算算看, 半小時的火車 加上兩小時的公車. 其實睡一覺就到了. 不用太傷感. 攪不好, 可能以後會常常回來台中呢. 明天自有明天的憂慮. 今天的事今天擔就好了. 況且, 愛我們的上帝自有衪的安排. 衪一定很高興我與這裡的朋友能有這麼好的關係, 會繼續賜福我們的友誼.

Word Pictures

Recently, read a book that talk about “word pictures”. Actually, it is something we all are pretty familiar with. Some of us might call it “extended metaphors” or “figurative language”instead, and somewhat similar to story telling that I recently heard from a conference. People have been trying to communicate all their lives but never seem to work. The thing is we all communicate differently and interpret differently with all the factors that influenced us… gender, culture, upbringing, our ways of expressions, use of words, verbal and non-verbal expression, and value. Sometimes we think we have communicated to the other person what we wanted or was thinking, but the other person had no idea at all unless it is expressed in her expression language. Consequently, misunderstanding and conflict arise.
Actually, we have been using this “word pictures” in our daily lives, yet we do not realize how powerful it is and have not been intentionally or effectively using it. The author explained how this tool can penetrate the heart. When someone who thinks more base on facts rather than feelings would understand another’s emotions when it is expressed in “word pictures”. In other words, when it’s mere facts, often times, it has little effect. When a word pictures is used, we reach the other person’s heart, not just his head. We must enter the other person’s world of emotions.
These are the seven steps that the author shared:
1. Establish a clear purpose
2. Carefully study the other person’s interests
3. Draw from four inexhaustible wells
4. Rehearse your story
5. Pick a convenient time without distractions
6. Try and try again
7. Milk your word picture for all it’s worth!
Examples:
1. I love my family. When life makes me feel like I’m trying to bail out a sinking ocean liner with a paper cup, they lovingly pitch in and help. That doesn’t decrease the amount of water pouring into the ship, but it sure helps get it out faster! I don’t know how I ever lived without them!
2. I feel like I’m a book in my father’s office library. We are always admired but almost never read. Occasionally we’re used as paper weights or to prop open a door. But day after day, I mainly sit on the shelf, my pages yellowing and cracked, my binding coming undone. I need my father to do more than just admire me at a distance. I need him to take me off the shelf and to see what’s inside me. He’s never taken the time to turn the pages and really get to know me. And that hurts so much.

星期日

星期日朋友再一次答應與我一起去參加禮拜. 這好像已是第四次了!其實我不太清楚她答應與我一起參加禮拜的真正原因是為了可以聽更多的英文, 還是因為不好意思拒絕我.以前曾跟她講過關於耶穌的事,但可能因為她以前從沒有真正聽過而還不想相信. 這次, 她開始問一些關於教會的事,也願意跟我討論一些曾跟她講過關於耶穌的事. 崇拜完我們就一起去食晚飯. 然後就邀請她到我家一起烤巧克力餅. 然而, 再過兩個星期我就要搬離台中到七堵, 而她也快要開學. 星期日就不可以再次到教會做崇拜. 要等到明年五月畢業後才可以再去教會. 現已送她一本聖經. 請繼續為她祈禱. 讓她雖沒有去教會卻繼續看聖經.我也會繼續與她聯絡.求上帝照衪的旨意及時間帶領她能早日相信耶穌.

Teachers' appreciation sharing

In June, we students in language school decided to have an appreciation tea time for the teachers and I was appointed to give a short sharing because I'll be completing my two years learning. Here's what I said in Mandarin and Taiwanese:
在過去差不多兩年的時間，有很多的時候，我在想：
如果可以，我願意可以不費吹灰之力就說很流利的國語和台語
如果可以，我希望不需要慢慢地從發音開始學．
學國語的時候，好像怎樣也弄不清哪一個是an哪一個是ang．哪一個是要捲舌，哪一個是不需要捲舌．
學台語的時候就koh khah khùn-lân. Tú khai sí oh ê sî, chin chià* sī bū-sà-sà, in-uī Tâi-gí ū peh sia*, m-nā án-ni, chit peh-sia* ē piàn sia*. Sím-mih sî-chūn beh kái, sím-mih sî-chūn m-bián kái, siông-siông sī loān-chhau-chhau. M-kú lāu-su lóng chin jím-nāi teh kā goán kà. Toè hoat-im, sin-jī, goá siōng bô ài ê chò kù, koh chit pái, toè lí thak, kàu kóng kò-sū, chit tiám-á, chit tiám-á kā goán kà.
Goán iā siông-siông kóng m-tioh, phì-jū kóng, chiong thoân-tō piàn thô-tāu, chiong kńg-tang piàn kán-tan, chiong toā-koa* piàn tāu-koa*. Hó kai-chài lāu-su lóng bô teh kà-sī goán ê sî kā goán kā-sí á-sī hō goán khì-sí.
Kin-ná-jit, goá tī chia tāi-piáu kok-uī hak-seng kóng chit-kù…
TLI 的老師及同事們, 辛苦你們了!!. 為了謝謝你們的辛勞，我們預備了不同的點心，請大家一起來享受．

Sense of Separation

The sense of separation just began to dawn on me recently. Thought that I had developed friends and several close ones here in Taichung and now I'll be leaving and won't be seeing them as often. It's not that I do not want to move, I actually do look forward in meeting new friends and starting ministry up in North. It's mixed feelings, excited and sad. However, behind every separation, there's a hope of reunion. This is why we treasure our friends, 珍惜眼前人. I started learning this before I came to Taiwan and still learning (so much that I don't know). When I was back in the States, ever since it became obvious that I'll be a missionary, I realized I started learning to make time for people, especially for those who are close to me, and taking a lot of pictures trying to capture the happy moments we have together. Being a missionary, there's always separation and reunion, separation and reunion. Thought that separation will become easier after a few times, but no, it's different people each time and each person is so unique. Each has their own special place in my heart. It can never be easy. I thank God for giving me all these friends who has been so caring and patient with me. God's been gracious. I'm sure God provides me good friends where ever I go as He always had because He's my ultimate friend and provider.

說故事

從小就很實在的我, 一直到長大後, 甚至到現在仍然發覺自己是那麼的現實. 現實不一定代表小氣, 而是依照實際所看到的情況來看現在. 但有時卻變成 “事不關己, 己不留心”. 然而, 這幾天在TMF中所講的 “說故事”, 就是用故事的形式將聖經講出來. 我發現自己原來也是一位故事者. 故事者不是很會講故事, 而是因為當與文字相比時, 我會更受故事影響, 更容易記起來. 也因故事給我很實際的情形 或examples. 讓我這個很實在的人能看到其實是發生了什麼. 或者, 就是因為這樣, 神才讓我來到台灣, 向這裡的故事人述說衪的故事.
另一方面, “說故事” 的危機就是沒有很實際的向人指出故事中的意思與應用. 他們說, 要相信聖靈會在聽者心中工作, 我們只需忠心講這故事…但…究竟我們的責任是在什麼? 是只講故事? 還是將他們帶到神面前? 現時, 我還是不太理解“說聖經故事”當中的意義. 仍有待去查考. 願神給我智慧如何去運用這“說故事”的方法.

久違了

原來三個月的時間這麼快就過去了! 這三個月發生了很多事. 除了每天照常的上學, 也有繼續認識新朋友. 四月在教會第一次用台語講道, 超緊張. 但已過去. 第二次用台語分享是在五月一次的佈道會. 也很緊張. 不過看見自己的台語有代進步. 五月中抽了幾天時間與朋友到南部探訪兩位的宣教士. 看見他們的努力, 他們的忠心鼓勵我更努力向前. 在台灣真的不容易. 每個人好像有一層厚厚的黑暗蓋住. 他們卻看不到自己的情況. 甚麼時候才能串破這黑暗讓他們能見到光明? 甚麼時候他們才能從這黑暗中被釋放? 求神釋放他們. 求神興起更多衪的子民. 求神給我智慧.
四月領袖團隊討論將派我去那裡服事卻未有結論, 終於六月再一次的討論就決定去北部. 現在要預備九月頭的搬家.

愛是不保留

One thing that has substained me in sharing the Gospel with people away from my home is God's unconditional Love...this song has said it so clear what God's love is. He loves each and every person in this world even though they don't seem good to us. He died for them also.

【愛是不保留】詩集：盧永亨作品集

常聽說世界愛沒長久，哪裡會有愛無盡頭？
塵俗的愛只在乎曾擁有，一刻燦爛便要走！
而我卻確信愛是恆久，碰到了你已無別求：
無從解釋、不可說明的愛，千秋過後仍長存不朽！
誰人受痛苦被懸掛在木頭？至高的愛盡見於刺穿的手；
看！血在流反映愛沒保留，持續不死的愛到萬世不休！
惟求奉上生命全歸主所有，要將一切盡獻於我主的手；
我已決定今生再沒所求，惟望得主稱讚已足夠！

Unreserved Love
I've always been told love won't endure.
Nowhere can one find love long and true.
The world just thinks love comes and passes through.
"Don't make promise" is the rule...
But I still believe love can last long.
Your unfailing love has made me strong.
You are the one I can depend upon.
Come what may, you'll love me all along!
Who died on the cross and took away my curse?
Great is your love, I don't think I should deserve.
Your bleeding hands proved your love unreserved.
You're my only joy and treasure on the earth...
Giving everything to you is all I pray.
Use my life to serve you truly every day.
I'll hold your hands and give you all my praise.
Let the whole world know your love and grace!

STM from Korea

The week after Chinese New Year, a STM came and was helping the church in Cidu. I went on Tue. night and came back Thur. night. Though the time was short, but I enjoyed spending time with them and working with them. Each morning we had to leave home at 5:30am, arrived church at 6. Then, for an hour, we had morning prayer and worship. Next, we went to a near by breakfast place for breakfast. By the time we are done with breakfast, the vendors in traditional market are already ready selling their stuff. We passed out tracts and flyers inviting people to church for the Thur. night's evangelistic meeting. For people who said they cannot go, the stm just share with them the Gospel. Some accepted Christ, some had to think about it, and some were not interested in listening. Most of the STM team members do not know Chinese. They only learned a little bit of Chinese, but they have materials in Chinese with Romanized pronounciation. So, they just read it from their book. It was encouraging seeing how enthusiatic they are. They won't let go any opportunities, just grab on any person who are interested and talk to them about Christ. There were also time that we all went to night market for street evangelism.

Praise God that on the night when church has an evangelistic meeting, many people came. It was a full house. However, I had to leave before it ended.

Chinese New Year

School had a four days vacation during Chinese New Year and I took the opportunity to go to Taipei to visit a couple missionary who are from Canada with Cantonese background. It was good having to spend Chinese New Year with them. On the day I arrived, we went to visit some places where people make pottery, outside of Taipei City. Night time, we went to the Chinese New Year's night market. It was packed.

We went to a Taiwanese pastor's house for dinner on New Year Eve, then the next night, the pastor's wife made some delicious dishes at home. Another day we went to BigTam and Sin BeiTou where I haven't been to before.

Then, on the day before I left went on a tour to Nantou. The traffic on the way back to Taipei was horrible. When it usually takes 3 hours to travel back to Taipei, it took us 6 hours until we arrive Taipei City. It was because a lot of people traveling back up North on the last day of Chinese New Year vacation.

A sign of becoming more like a Taiwanese?

When I first came to Taiwan, something that most Taiwanese would say to me when they found out I'm from the States; it is "so, now you come back". My response would be: "No, I'm not from Taiwan, never been to Taiwan before, this is my first time". However, recently, I found myself saying: "So, after I came back..." Weird, why did I say? Was it because I'm tired of explaining where I'm from? Was it because there's a desire that I wanted become like one of them? or was it because I'm beginning to see myself as a Taiwanese?

Chapel Time at Language school

Language school used to have chapel time once every week but was stopped a few years ago. A recently arrived missionary learned about it and suggested having it again. So, a few of us missionaries with several Christian teachers are talking and planning what we can do. Since there are quite a few teachers and students who are not Christians. We decided it to be more evangelical than just for Christians. We'll have students and teachers sharing testimonies, messages, music, and light snack. Pray God will work on these people as we have this chapel time started. We'll have a kick off on the 20th of this month with a short message about counting God's blessing in the past year and welcoming the New Year.

若是有你在我的生命中

自從學了這首台語歌之後, 就愛上了它. 那溫柔的旋律, 加上感人的歌詞. 讓我每次思想歌詞的時候都再次提醒自己天父上帝那浩瀚的無條件的大愛. 但我這有限的頭腦卻只能明白當中的一小點. 上帝的同在竟然讓我們不再驚惶, 不孤單, 無論遇到什麼的情況, 甚至當這世界沒有了, 衪都不離開我們. 衪那無私的愛讓我詫異. "甘願為我受盡拖磨 將我當作你心肝." 怎麼會如此?

可是很多時候我們回報衪的是懷疑與不信. 求神赦免孩子的不信, 赦免孩子的愚蠢 -- 不能明白袮的愛. 真的 "恩情這大 怎樣感謝" 願"一生與主連相倚".

http://vlog.xuite.net/vlog/guest/basic.php?media_id=ZDlZdGo0LTIzNTQ1OC5mbHY=

若是有你在我的生命中

詞曲:葛兆昕 (台福宣教中心)

若是有你佇我的生命，我就永遠不驚惶
風雨那呢大 曠野這呢闊 有你同在無搖泏

若是有你佇我的生命 我就永遠不孤單
有你相作伴 與你逗陣行 充滿溫暖不畏寒

海水會乾 石頭會爛 主的愛疼無變換
甘願為我 受盡拖磨 將我當作你心肝

海水會乾 石頭會爛 主的愛疼無變換
恩情這大 怎樣感謝 一生與主連相倚

跨年

2008年的最後一天, 台中轉更冷. 雖然如此, 仍然有很多男男女女參加不同地方的跨年. 而我, 卻打算留在家. 不願到冰冷的外面食風. 原打算在家過一個安靜的夜晚, 但神卻安排了一位住在離我家五分鐘路程的朋友在十一點時打電話給我. 因她剛煲了一煱的三文魚黃瓜湯. 問我要不要飲. 有湯飲, 當然奉陪. 既然去到她家, 就留在那裡與她一起跨年. 藉此時段, 神又再讓我跟她有更深入的傾談. 經過上次得知她在教會內受傷之後就很少回教會. 這次她與我分享到神對她的恩典. 最近神在她身邊不段出現一些基督徒鼓勵她再回到衪身邊. 藉這些神對她說衪沒有放棄她. 感謝神! 她現願意嘗試到她家附近的一間教會. 求神讓她能認識更多的弟兄姊妹, 與她一同成長. 最後, 我們兩以祈禱來開始2009年這新的一年. 求神祝福每一位衪所愛的人, 也祝福台灣, 讓更多人歸向衪.

一月一號, 還未起來電話就響了. 其實之前另一位朋友已邀我去她家吃中飯. 只是自己貪睡, 不想起來. 於是就起來吃了早餐, 因還早呢. 然後做一些家務, 上網, 就起行去朋友家. 到她家時, 她家人也在. 他們也很高興我與他們一起吃中飯. 感覺就好似是他們家的一份子一樣. 之後跟朋友一起到她教會幫她做PowerPoint. 不知不覺到黃昏. 是時候回家. 如果等太陽下山後才回家, 天氣就變很冷. 回家後將還沒有完成的部分完成後電郵給她就大功告成.