On our way...to Tainan!!!

I woke with a start. What time was it? I rolled over and looked at my phone (alarm). The battery had died during the night. I looked around for a clock. It was 8:05am; I had planned to get up by 7:00am. This would give me plenty of time to get a coffee and my favorite breakfast before we left for church. My plans were crushed! Instead, I jumped in the shower and proceeded to get ready for church.

After church, we returned to the hotel to gather our luggage and wait for the hired bus to arrive. The bus driver was late so in no time a soccer ball and football appeared and the fun began in the Cul-de-sac in front of the hotel. After we were sufficiently hot and sweaty the bus arrived and we had to load all the luggage on the bus. After this momentous task was accomplished we were on our way.

On the bus ride I got the opportunity to be a flight assistant of sorts… rather a bus assistant. I ran up and down the aisle fetching people their sugar, tea and food. It was fun! I am considering pursuing a new career as a flight attendant. =D

After we arrived, dropped off our luggage at the hotel, we visited a nearby night market. This night market is known for their famously good food. They had some very amazing foods at this night market. One food that I tried was an oyster omelet. It was very delicious! I also tried a food called the coffin bread; it is basically corn, peas, carrots, green beans, and pork with white sauce inside a piece of toast. It was quite yummy as well.

After settling into the hotel room and retiring for the night, I was filled with anticipation for this upcoming seminar in Tainan! It will be good to see what God will do.

Jerry Simpson

One Down, Three to Go!

Ni hao ma? Well, i can't believe that we are already on our second week; time seems to be flying! I really like it here, but I recently found out that the people here don't speak English!

I've made a lot of friends here and I think that it will be really hard when we leave, although I really miss my friends back at home!

The shower head in my room is like super low and it points strait down which is totally lame, because both me and my room-mate are like 6"1'.

The food is kinda weird but most of it is really good. I'm not afraid to try new things, unless it blinks or crawls off my plate. In that case, I'll just let it go.

Well, that is really all I have to say, oh except that the moon here is totally awesome! It's like...uh, big and round!

Johnny Keller

Saying Goodbye to CI

As I sat in large group today amongst the hyperactive little boys in my group, it hit me like a (due to lack of a better word) train. This Taipei CI of 2010, would truly be my last. Sitting here now, I sip on unhealthy instant noodles, but before my eyes, the handful of precious memories and experiences begin to play like an old black and white movie. =)

Serving at CI has been quite the exceptional experience. Each seminar I meet new people; children and adults alike, I learn new things; about God and in actual training alike. But when it all boils down, I felt that the biggest lesson I've learned through all these CIs is that the privilege of serving God is a rare, fruitful, and exceptional experience. In the past, serving has often times felt more burdensome than enjoyable, but the CI has continuously proved me wrong in that serving God is a blessing that not many have the chance to do.

Today I looked at Oliver, Hannah and Irene, and wondered why was it that amongst the 50+ classmates in my grade God gave us 4 the chance to serve Him? I'm sure God has His plans in all this but I'm just so thankful that I've been chosen by God, to do His work and to tell children about the Good News.

As the Taipei seminar ends in 2 days, so will my days as a CI-interpreter. If I've made this blog post overly nostalgic or depressing, I apologize. =P but while it does sadden me to think that I may never serve at CI again, I also thank God for ever giving me the very opportunity to work for Him. Why He chose me, an ordinary boy living in Taiwan, to serve Him, I have yet to fully find out, but I must say that serving God has been one of the most joyful and enjoyable experiences of my life.

Daniel Cheng

Taipei 101

Today was a really great day!

I am finally over jet lag and am now able to enjoy my time here without having this sick feeling in my stomach. Looking over the events of today, it's pretty amazing to see all the activities you can pack into one day.

It all started with a great devotion on the fourth chapter of John, than it was off to the Taipei 101. After having a scrumptious bowl of rice in the food court of the Taipei 101, I headed to Starbucks to get my heart’s desire - a mocha java chip. Mmmmm!! After doing so, I headed off to the top of one of the worlds tallest skyscrapers in the fastest elevator. Pretty cool!

It was really incredible looking onto Taipei at that height; seeing so much of the vast mountains that surround the city, made me fill really small. It got me contemplating on the fact that this same God, who created all this was interested in me, in every thing I did and was taking care of me. To think that the very same person who holds the world together holds me in that same hand. Why would I need to worry or to fear of the small insignificant obstacles in my life?

So after leaving, we went to our long anticipated Chinese lesson. Then it was time to start preparing for the fun filled, action packed CI night. We finished all of the craft prep work and my lesson planning a little early, so it gave us time to pray for the Lord’s help throughout the evening. The children started to arrive and the night was underway. The lessons were on responsibility and bringing every thought captive. We were expecting there to be some distraction going on but the Lord was faithful and they were calm as David held their attention with a captivating story. In large group, there was a hilarious skit that was designed to teach the children about the importance of truthfulness. The night came to an end as parents started to arrive. We finished cleaning up and walked outside to the sweet smell of a rain shower.

I'm looking forward to another awesome day tomorrow only after a goodnight sleep. :-)

Grace Miller

My Extraordinary Day in Taiwan

It's nice not to have jet lag.

The second day of CI has passed. Where has it brought us? What has it taught us? My day started exceptionally well, meeting my dear brother and sister-in-law Karen for STARBUCKS! I knew then that the rest of the day was going to be amazing. And it was.

We all went out with our accountability groups for devotions and lunch, mine found a place in the sun to sit, and then a lovely pizza place to eat at. I can't tell you how amazing it was to eat an ENTIRE pizza MYSELF! I know everyone was more then happy to be eating real, American tasting foods. Well, I was anyway. Never enough bacon, potato pizza baby!

Teacher training started off with an tre fabu Chinese class led by my most very favorite Chinese teacher, Grace Tseng! I've known her since the first year I came, and her teaching style never ceases to amazing and challenge me.and lunch, mine found a place in the sun to sit, and then a lovely pizza place to eat at. I can't tell you how amazing it was to eat an ENTIRE pizza MYSELF! I know everyone was more then happy to be eating real, American tasting foods. Well, I was anyway. Never enough bacon, potato pizza baby!

Dinner's highlight was watching Jonny eat WET seaweed.

Tonight's lessons centered around Self-Control and Authority. My favorite part was telling the kids that one way to control their eating was to eat more FRUIT! Because it's so HEALTHY! :-D I was lucky enough to get to be Maggie (MuoJi) in the skit, the parachute skit where you get to climb around on a ladder and pretend to fall and die! Oh, also break eggs.

The second story of the night was about Pharaoh. Jerry was Pharaoh and we got to watch him spew red water out of his mouth and get totally grossed out. And we learned that we need to obey God...the first time He tells us. It was cool to see my kids get the message, and for them to see the importance of obedience of God and authorities.

As the kids left tonight, their foamie frogs around their necks, my heart swelled with happiness and thankfulness that I get to be here with them. I get to be here in this place, with these people, where God is working.

Please continue to pray for the CI here. We have more then half the seminar left and need much prayer for strength and creativity for the rest of the week. Thanks and that's all from...

Naomi Kallberg

A Journey Starts with Faith

It just started!

We began our day with studying the book of John, chapter 2. It's about the first miracle Jesus did in Cana, how He waited until the night time and prepared the great wine on the wedding. Just like our lives, we wait for the time to come and prepare our selves until the coming of CI, holy and wholly committed in serving these children around us in Taiwan.

Tonight we taught the principle of design, the wonderful and amazing principle that we are made in His will and are able to get together even we are from different cultures and places; but we know that we are serving the same God, who created us, calling us to know Him more each day.

That needs a step of faith, too. Like father Abraham, leaving the familiar places and choose to follow God even when he didn't know where to go. We also need to learn to follow God even we sometimes do not know the design God has put in our lives, and we still can take a step of faith but we know He already has a plan for each one of us.

Just like the words on the craft: design reveals His goodness.

This year we are going to learn the blessings of God, how He gave His rich blessings through His principles. And I know we are learning, and it is going to be a wonderful and amazing journey.

Angel Liao

First day in Taiwan

Well the first day of the trip and for most of the American teachers it’s their first day in Taiwan. I am really excited to be back in Taiwan and ready to see the Lord do a great work.

Today thankfully we did not do any teaching just sight seeing and eating amazing Chinese food. We also got to go to a museum and see lots of China's very old stuff which looked really old. After having an amazing time and an extremely exciting time at the museum, we went on to more spiritual things.

One thing that we do on the trip, and is always at the beginning of it, is that we go on a prayer walk. And this prayer walk for me has always been different and has always set a mindset for me. It’s one of my favorite parts of the trip because God always shows me so much on that short prayer walk around the city. And this year was different from the other prayer walks for me because God did not tell me too much, He just simply wanted me to be still and know that He is God that He wanted me to love Him and to have a deeper relationship with Him.

And this was different for me because I thought I was going to be praying for Taiwan not for me, and I believe that God was showing me that I cannot love the world or Taiwan or anyone, I have to learn to love God first. I have to learn to love God with all my heart and soul and mind, then to love Taiwan and love the world will come naturally. It’s all about having a relationship with God, and then sharing it with the world.

Keep us in your prayers.

David Lukachick

They're here!!!

The teachers all got here today!!! The day we've been anticipating for, and yet, do not quite feel ready for. Anyway, they're all safe and sound. The seminar will start SOON. There just seems to be so much to be done. Maybe we'll never be prepared, but I know our God is always ready to move His hand and work in us. =)

This is my first time to be involved in the Taiwan CIs. I usually just do the CI in Hong Kong, and I'm so grateful that I was given this wonderful opportunity to see more of the CI and to serve the Lord in this way.

Personally, I'm actually getting pretty nervous about the whole thing. But one thing I'm sure
about is that whenever we feel weak, there we find strength in Him. I know God recently wants me to learn about having faith in Him and to trust in Him even when things don't seem right. So I'm excited to see what God is going to do here!

Please do keep us in your prayers, and especially pray for our health and for His wisdom to teach the children. We really need our Lord's love to help us share our life with the kids. We all can't wait to share with you what the Lord is doing here in Taiwan and Hong Kong. =D So follow our trip here on the blog. ;-)

Ada Leung

Getting ready!!!

We're in our last stage of preparation for the coming CI. We really appreciate your prayers for all our teachers, as well as the children and parents who are coming to the seminars. Here's a glimpse into what we're up to. =)










Making CI craft samples.











Making our cool orange name tags.

Our teachers are arriving tomorrow night. Please pray for their safety and health.

Ada Leung

CI 2010 is Near!

On Jan 19, 2010, all of the CI staff members gathered here in Taipei to try to get ready for the one-month long CI trip.

Everyone has a lot of work to tackle before the American teachers get here on Sunday. We're all very excited but sort of nervous, for this CI is going to be a little different than before.

Prayer request:
1. Pray for the health of all the staff members here.
2. The numbers of kids registered in Taichung and Tainan are relatively low. We sincerely hope that more kids can come to the CIs and learn more about the Truth.
3. Praise God that 15 American teachers are willing to spend their precious time coming to Taiwan/Hong Kong to serve Him.

We appreciate your prayers. Each day, we will have a teacher or interpreter post their journal on this blog. We will try our best to keep you updated.

In Him,

Simon Yeh