following an unknown path

my students

Around 100 of my students will graduate in the spring (above is only one of the three Applied English graduating classes).  I have been at the school for their entire college career--like them, this is my fourth year at this school.

Watching them grow from teens in to men and women is fun.  I love teaching this age.  There is so much growth and development as these young people search for meaning and purpose in their lives.

Please join me in praying I have more opportunities to share Jesus with them before they leave my "every day life."  Please pray for God's grace to so interrupt their lives that they discover what really is meangingful and true . . . for it is only by his Grace they will.

how i am spending my weekend

Right now . . . I seem to have a neverending parade of things to grade marching past me.  Grading is one of the very few things I do not enjoy about teaching. 

*sigh*  This too shall pass. . .

at the end of class

I teach one evening class--Listening Practice for two hours on Monday nights.

At the end of class tonight, I was calling roll.  Last-last week I gave a quiz and used the quiz to take roll.  Last week, I returned the quiz and used it, plus my powers of observation, to take roll.

So, tonight I called roll for the first time in two weeks . . .   

Me: "Ken, here.  LiLi, here.  Ben, here. Jerry?"

Students (in Chinese): "He dropped."

Me as I cross out his name: "Buh-Bye Jerry.  Peggy, here.  Anna, here.  Karen?"

Students (in Chinese): "She is taking the semester off."

Me as I cross out her name: "Buh-bye, Karen. Mick, not here.  DaDa, here. Barbie?"

Students (in Chinese): "She died."

Me: "She is dead?!?"

My students then pantomimed a car accident and showed me the nonverbal Taiwanese hand gesture for death.

Me (as my heart sank deep into my stomach): "Really?!?  No one told me."

Students:  "Yes; two weeks ago."

It felt weird finishing the roll call.  It seemed so trivial compared to the news that one of my students has passed away.  Three weeks ago she sat right over there in that seat--happy, healthy, and turning in homework.  Now, gone.  I will never see her again.

I knew her ten hours at most, but still her death has impacted me.

I actually read on a fellow Christian co-workers blog about the death of a student and about her and her husband visiting a student. But, since I don't know my student's Chinese names, I didn't realize that this student she was talking about was also my student.  I am thankful that Teresa and Mark were able to visit Barbie (小君) and pray for her before she passed away.

BUT, this does not change the fact that not once in the five weeks that she came to my classes did I tell her about Jesus.  We just had classes as normal. 

We never know who will and who will not have a tomorrow. 

O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!   Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah  Surely a man goes about as a shadow!  (Psalm 39)

[God] knows us inside and out, keeps in mind that we're made of mud. Men and women don't live very long; like wildflowers they spring up and blossom, but a storm snuffs them out just as quickly, leaving nothing to show they were here. (Psalm 103).

Tears trace paths down my cheeks. 

Did she know about Jesus?  Had she ever heard his name before?  Did she know that there was a God who loved her?  A God who is gracious, kind and just?   A Holy Creator God who is the Most High God?  Have I messed up royally?  Why am I here?  If I could die on my way home, I want to be doing what matters most.  I want to be home with my family with the people I love most--No, that's not right.  That's not what truly matters most.  I want to be here proclaiming Jesus to people who don't know about You.   

But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed?  And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?  And how are they to hear without someone preaching? (Romans 10:14)

Oh Father, make me bold.  Open doors for Your message, so that I may proclaim the mystery of Christ clearly, as I should.  Help me to be wise in the way I act toward others; help me to make the most of every opportunity.  May my conversation be always full of grace and effective; help me know how to answer everyone.  Lord, help me to always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks me to give the reason for the hope that I have.  Oh Father, my humble plea is this: please make me bold.

Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel . . . Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. (Ephesians 6: 19, 20)

teacher's day

Today is Teacher's Day in Taiwan.  And, like so many holidays in so many cultures, Teacher's Day in Taiwan is a mix of both the religious and secular.

To many Taiwanese, Teacher's Day is a day to show respect to their teachers and to thank them for all their hard work (I like that). 

Nonetheless, as Wikipedia correctly points out, "This date was chosen to commemorate the birth of Confucius, believed to be the model master educator in ancient China."  At the crack of dawn in Confucian temples all over the island cermonies take place in honor of Confucius.  These 祭孔大典 (or "Grand Ceremonies Dedicated to Confucius") start with the beating of drums. "54 musicians dress in robes with blue belts, 36 (or 64) dancers dress in yellow with green belts. They are led and followed by cermonial officers. Three animals--the cow, the goat, and the pig--are sacrificed. The hair plucked from these sacrificed animals are called the Hairs of Wisdom."

So, now you know some students simply give their teachers cards which say "Happy Teacher's Day," but others go to temples and make sacrifices to a dead man.

(Pictures above come from this and this photoset on flickr.)

first day of school

Today is my first day of school for the new school year.  And, we are actually a week earlier than most other colleges in Taiwan.  However, I hear we get a longer winter vacation than most--so, I can't complain! :)

The building to the above is where my new office is located.  My office is on the 9th floor of this beautiful building.  I am so excited.  I will share more pics later of the inside and of the view from my office window.

Mondays are going to be my longest days.  On Mondays, I teach Public Speaking (juniors), Business English Converstaion (freshmen), and Listening Comprehension (juniors in the night school program).

Taiwan is a little different than America in the way they structure classes.  Here all students of one major take basically the same classes as everyone else with that major at the same time.  The students don't get to design their own course plan or select which teachers and times they would like to attend.  Moreover, most classes only meet once a week for two hours (instead of the M,W,F one hour or T,Th one and a half hour set up).  Some classes (like my Business English Converstaion courses) meets for three hours a week.  (I have two Biz Engl courses.  One meets one hour on Monday afternoon and two hours on Thursday morning; the other one meets for three hours in a row on Tuesday morning.)  See, a little different than in America right?

Both systems have advantages and disadvantages.  But I won't go into that day. :)  Instead, I am off to grab some dan bing and get to my new office to get ready for the new semester!! 

Have a great Monday!

work and rest

Work.  No matter who we are or what we "do," we all work in some shape, form, or fashion.

I go back "to work" this week--after enjoying two months on "no work."  By God's grace, I have always tried to apply this verse to my jobs: "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ" (Colosians 3:23-24). 

It is not easy to work heartily when I get no credit or, worse yet, someone else gets the credit for my hard work.  It is not easy to work heartily when I am frustrated with my boss, my colleagues, or my students.  It is not easy to work heartily when I am burned out or sick.  But, still I must focus on the fact that I am to work as for the Lord and not for men. 

However, thankfully, most days it is very easy to work heartily because, as I have said before, I love my job.  To be paid to do what I love is a blessing!  How great is our God!

I am starting to think that part of "work as for the Lord," also means honoring his priorities and teachings, rather than just an excuse which allows me to be caught up in prefectionism and self-rightousness.

Which means, I also have been thinking about how and when to say enough is enough.  What is the balance between being the best teacher I can be and working as unto the Lord on one hand and knowing when to stop, to rest, and to enjoy and participate in the other things of life and living on the other hand?

I don't know the answer.  But, I do know that I want to wrestle with it more.  In the next few days I am going to prayerfully set some goals and objectives for the coming year (for teachers--"the new year" is in the fall).  I already know that one of these objectives will be to learn more about rest and practice observing it. 

I read recently (but can't remember where) that the day before observing rest is a day of preparation for the day of rest.  This day of prep led to anticipation for the day of rest to come.  The Bible is a story of anticipation--waiting for the Savior to come and waiting for him to come again.  Partly, I want to observe a day of rest because God thought it was a good thing to do after working and because I want to practice anticipation.  I want to be reminded on a weekly basis that I am (supposed to be) waiting eagerly for the Savior to come again.

I guess one of the beautiful things about work is that we get to anticipate and enjoy rest. :)

This post was submitted to the Carnival of Beauty sponsored by Sallie at A Gracious Home.  This week the theme is The Beauty of Work and is hosted by Mary at Relevant Blog.

how to make old man's tea

One of my writing students, Juliet, wrote about "old man's tea" for her process essay this last year.  I thought in continuing the theme of tea in Taiwan I would share with you her essay.  Keep in mind she English is her foreign language and this was an assignment for her class.  Otherwise: enjoy learning how to make old man's tea from a Taiwanese young person!

"Old man’s tea" is an old Chinese convention. It is a nice kind of rest and recreation for leisure. Many people in Taiwan like “old man’s” tea and my boyfriend likes, too. He is older that me, so he is an old man, so he enjoys “old man’s” tea. My boyfriend thinks drinking the tea can help our body’s metabolism, and make our spirits become well. Would you like your health to get better? Would you like to learn how to make “old man’s” tea? Making “old man’s” tea is not difficult when you follow these three steps.

The first step to making “old man’s” tea is to get the things you need. You should choose a kind of tea you like because the tea has many different types and tastes. If you like mild flavors you should choose green tea, black tea, or wu long tea for a sweet and sharp taste. If you want to drink a fragrant, sweet tea, try one of the flower teas. They are not dry and coarse. After you choose your tea, then you need to prepare other stuff. You need to have a fire stove for boiling water, some drinking water a tea pot, tongs, tall narrow “smell cups” and a cloth. You need to have them all ready.

After you have completely prepared every thing, with nothing missing, you can start to make tea. First, put tea leaves in the tea pot. Next, boil the water and pour the water in the tea pot. It should soak for about three minutes. Take the first brew and wash the tea cups with it. This makes them hot. Also, pour the first brew into the “tall smell cups” to smell the tea. But, the first brew had is messy, so the first brew is not usually drank. Then put the hot water in the pot again. Remember, do not soak for too long of a time because, the tea will have an astringent taste.

Finally, the last step of making “old man’s” tea is to drink and enjoy the tea. First, give every one a smell cup and a tea cup. Then pour the second brew of tea into the smell cup. Then pour the tea from the smell cup into the tea cup. You can smell the smell cup’s scent. After wards, you can drink the tea. The tea will be hot, so you should be careful not to burn your mouth. When the second brew is gone, you can use the same tea leaves again to brew more tea. But, after soaking about five or six times, the tea leaves will have not taste. There fore you should change to new leaves and repeat the 2 and 3 steps.    

No matter what, these three steps are very important: Prepare for, make and enjoy “old men’s” tea. Each one can not be forget on. Making “old man’s” tea is not difficult when you follow these steps. So you can try to learn to make “old man’s” tea and you will feel it is interesting. And, at the some time you will be experiencing a special part of Taiwanese culture.

at work

"做你所愛，愛你所做，那你這輩子都不必再工作。"

"Do what you love and love what you do, and you will never work a day in your life."

To pay my bills and allow me to live in Taiwan, I teach English majors at a college in Taiwan.  I love it!  :)  My favorite are my writing and public speaking classes.  I also enjoy my teaching method course.

Above is a picture of me with my English writing student Amy (photo by my brother, Sam). 

even more about amanda

I live in KaoHsiung County in southern Taiwan. This is my fifth year to live in Taiwan, and I enjoy Taiwan very much. I live in Taiwan because God brought me here to show the Taiwanese people His Love for them.

I am in Taiwan as a tentmaker--I support my missionary work by teaching college courses. I teach public speaking, biz English conversation, and English composition (the essay) regularly.  I have also taught Songs for EFL Teaching, Movie English, Internet English, listening, and pronunciation.

I graduated with my master's degree in Foreign Language Education (2003) from the University of Texas at Austin. I received my bachelor's in communication theory from Dallas Baptist University (2000).

My mom, dad, and kid brother, Sam, live near Austin, Texas.  Both my parents are teachers, and my dad is also a bi-vocational pastor.  My sister, Sarah, and my brother-in-law, Chad, both work for the Arlington Police department.  Everyone in my family enjoys laughing--and laughing loud--something I didn't realize on my own (an "outsider" pointed it out to me).

I am single, which is something I would love to be changed. :) 

And, last but definitely not least, I am a daughter of the King. I am saved by grace--something I of course do not deserve!  I desire for all that I am and all that I do to bring glory to God.  I desire to know him and make him known--this desire is the foundation of all that I am.

Thanks for stopping by following an unknown path!  I hope you find something that "tickles your fancy!"