life lately...

Happy September! We can hardly believe that summer has come to an end, and we're going on our third month here in Taipei. Our time has been flying by... here is an update of what's been happening.

A couple of weeks ago, after a crazy few days of running to several post offices and having my wonderful coworkers write notes pleading for help, we received our first package! Little did we know that the random pink slip (in Chinese, of course) in our mailbox indicated a package waiting for us at our local post office... or I would most definitely not have chucked it with the rest of our junk mail! Needless to say, Jana's package was found and delivered to my school, to the great delight of my concerned coworkers and curious students. Jana thoughtfully included chocolate and caramel, books, and photos (seriously, it had my name written all over it).

Thanks Jana!

with a few of my students

A couple of weekends ago, in an adventuresome spirit, we decided to try and find a beach mentioned in our trusty Lonely Planet Guide to Taiwan. Kayt and Kalan joined us, and with little difficulty, we found our way to Baishawan Beach and discovered that we loved it! I must say, it is still quite fantastic to this Midwestern girl that I can access a real beach in only an hour or so... I could get used to this.

(this is for you, Mom...xoxo)

Baishawan Beach 白沙灣

This past weekend, we were blessed to attend a retreat organized by some of our foreigner and Taiwanese friends. The retreat highlighted Taiwanese culture, and provided both great information and fellowship. We were encouraged to hear the testimonies of Taiwanese friends, and were edified to spend quality time with believers in a beautiful setting.

with friends


traditional Taiwanese hot pot for dinner

our group

In other news, September also marks the start of the school year (big shock, I know)... which means that both Ben and I are now teaching "regular" hours: afternoon to early evening. We are excited to finally settle into a normal schedule and are finding our days more meaningful and productive.



We continue to be overwhelmed by your love and support, and are thankful for your prayers. Love to you all...