more Taiwan adventures!!

Some things here are so memorable. I know when I get back to the States, I'll miss them. I look at this little list and I just smile cause I'm so thankful for all of it, even the things that were strange or different.

*In Hsingshu,the girls all shared several big bathrooms. Every morning it was, "hiii... how did you sleep?" and wondering what was for breakfast, while drying hair, putting on make up, juggling coffee and planning that day's lesson. chaos. soaking floors. flip flops. nice HOT showers. lots of laughing. I'm gonna miss that...

*In Kaohsiung, there was the beautiful hotel we stayed in with the crazy awesome breakfast buffet every morning, espresso and latte included. Such a treat and blessing!!  The city was lovely and trendy and busy. I loved it. While I was there, I got to work with the youth which I will share in detail in my next post. But I was blown away by how God changed my heart in a matter of 12 hours.... He is so good and faithful. Our full CI day there was long but so so good. Kids in my lap...helping color and cut out and learn new names of God and lots of laughing. The kids were so full of life and ready to give love. 

*Taipei has been soooo crazy!!!! But so fun. I was an "extra special special" person, meaning that I was on a CI team, but actually did more with name tag check, question answering, food orders, youth meeting, testimony sharing, praying, boba tea runs, furniture moving, and anything else that needed to happen. I wish I'd gotten to spend more time with the kids, but being an extra was great. So stretching and exciting!! Now we're all packed up and ready to go to Hualien tomorrow. Get ready.

Okay. Onto other things that I will miss...

*Crazy food which I'm all too willing to try out, especially if I have adventurous friends with me! To date I've had ostrich, seaweed rice wraps, a whole (little) squid, stinky tofu, fried (tiny) whole crabs, a whole shrimp (with eyes and brain!), fermented spicy tofu, taro cake, boiled fish and veggies for breakfast, did I mention tofu?.... all delectable.

*I've learned to be slightly skeptical of a certain Asian on our team who tried to tell me that its tradition to talk to your shrimp (if it has eyes and all other body parts) before eating it, to ask forgiveness for consuming it. If it refuses to forgive you, you eat it anyway. Just to spite it. I'm not sure how I feel about talking to my food. ;)

*I've learned that its super awesome to click with people you never thought you'd get to know... there's a strange beauty in that. I'm smiling now as I consider these new connections and I can't wait to make more!! Jesus is the glue that binds us, the foundation that we stand on, and our prize at the end of this journey.

*I'm thankful for random Starbucks trips that make my day soo much better. And my smile soo much brighter!! Bubble tea trips are a must as well. I'm becoming addicted to milk tea and boba...it might be a problem.

*I'm exponentially grateful for friends who make me lean on Jesus and make me want to know Him better. My conversations with these precious people make me want to run to Him, to cling to Him. Its in their smile, their laughter, the radiant light in their eyes. They love Him, they are in His will, and they rest in the simple fact that loving Him and being loved by Him is the greatest thing. I run this race for Him and Him alone.

So grateful for all of you who are praying for me and our team. You have no idea how often I feel and am blessed and lifted up by those prayers!!

Love you all.

-jaybee