So I have officially experienced my first Christmas away from home, pretty cool! Taiwan somewhat celebrates Christmas. They do some decorations and maybe some cards or gifts, possibly a tree, but nothing like America. A lot of that has to do with the culture, and Christmas (even though many do not celebrate it this way) is a Christian holiday. Most regular schools do not get off for Christmas, typically it is just another work day for most Taiwanese, unless you are American or go to an American or Christian school. And of course the Churches have Christmas programs and celebrations!
Sunday, the 23rd, there was a group of kids from an orphange that came to the church that I have been attending. The kids had prepared some Christmas songs to sing for us, and after it the service was over, the church suprised the kids with presents!! They quite enjoyed it!
Christmas Eve morning I got to see the fam on the webcam and open a few things, then spent the afternoon relaxing in Starbucks! Amanda and I had a nice Christmas dinner with at the Lyles and opened up some gifts. We went with the Lyle's to their church's Christmas Eve service. It was up on Yan Mi Shang Mountain and was held inside as stone church. It was a candle light service with a lot of scripture reading and Christmas songs!
On Christmas morning a group of 8 or so teachers (including Amanda and I) left at 8am for a visit to Hualien. We are staying in Toroko gorge, surrounded by huge mountains, a river, hikes to beautiful waterfalls, etc. It has been amazing! Today, a few of us took a day trip up to Hohuan Mt. It is over 3000 meters high (around 9000 ft.). It was amazing!! We even got to see a monkey on the way back! Being up here has shown me so much more of God's beauty and splendor. He continues to show me how amazing, how huge, how wonderful, how beautiful He is. Surrounded by these amazing mountains and rocks has helped me to really grasp what it means for God to be our rock, our stronghold, our place of safety and security. Our refuge. It has been a wonderful opportunity, and amazing to think that the Creator of all this, all this splendor and majesty, could come to earth, could live amidst all the dirt, filth, and hate of the world, and take that, our sin, upon Himself to save us, so that we live forever with Him. What an amazing God we serve!!!
(view from a trail we walked)
(waterfalls)
(on the way up to Hohuan Mt., almost there!)
(on the top of Hohuan Mt. , beautiful mtns and the white is clouds!)
1 comment:
Thanks for the Christmas account of life there in Taiwan. The hike into Toroko Gorge reminded me of my mother's story of having been there thirty-some years ago -- Annie Joh said that it was breath-taking. I guess it would have been even more so if she had tried to climb the mountain like you did!
Happy New Year, and most especially, Happy New Life! Give my best to the Lyle family.
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