Week 13

Dear Praying Friends,

What an amazing week! God opened up a few witnessing doors, and I got privileged to meet some very cool kids. But enough with the promos. Let’s just get to the point.

Last Sunday, after church, we packed up to head for Taijhong. The trip took a couple of hours, but at last, we arrived after dark. The principal’s assistant met us, drove us past the school, and then took us on to our rooms. This school took such good care of us! We stayed in the guest teacher facilities on a college campus, but it felt like a very nice hotel. Just a step in our room, and I took a deep breath.

Ah!

Time to relax. I so needed that break. Thank You Lord!

Teacher Jo: Responsibility with the Red Hen

The three day camp felt a lot like teaching Character First when I was an intern in Oklahoma City. We went into the classroom and used object lessons, stories, songs, and activities to teach character. CEI made sure we always had a translator in the room, so we were able to do some more in-depth teaching. When we are at the CEI campus, we have to teach from a book. Here though, there was no book, so we reinforced the character that the Chinese teachers taught, with simple English words and phrases.

For example, one of the concepts that the children learn is “positive thinking.” This is kind of like, “attitude is everything, so think happy thoughts.” In Chinese class, they learn how to identify and deal with their emotions. So, we taught the English for emotions, and asked the kids what they can do to change “negative” emotions. (They are allowed to answer in Chinese.) And they learn to say “Positive Think-ing” in English.

Listening Carefully

Teaching in the school is a little different tone than at CEI campus. The children were still “in school” and so they behaved very well. We had to make sure to watch the time for the class periods, as we couldn’t teach over time.  There were other classes in process too, so we had to be considerate. All in all though, I enjoyed the time immensely.

Tuesday evening, the rest of the teachers went into town for dinner, but I had food in my room and wanted to go to sleep. The principal offered to drive me back (instead of taking a bus) if I hung out and took pictures for a few minutes more. Of course I said yes! Their school campus is beautifully landscaped, so I had hoped to have time to take pictures. As he drove me to the college, he asked if HTC was a religious foundation. I said that they are not, but I am a Christian. Though it was only one sentence, I felt encouraged. All we did was teach at a school all day, and they notice that we are different.

Wednesday, I wore a cross necklace. In the states, if you wear a cross necklace, many times people assume you are Catholic. However, here, a cross is a symbol of a Christian. One of the children noticed the necklace and asked “ShanDi?” (the name for the One True God).  “Yes,” I answered. “I follow ShanDi.”  The child looked impressed and walked off. They usually know who God is, but think that He is only for the Westerner. Pray that the seeds planted will grow.

On the train with (some) of the CEI team

Riding the train home, I was very surprised to have an older man offer me his seat. Though the Taiwanese are very accommodating, in travel it is every man for himself. When I thanked him,  e explained himself. As he started to speak, I told him I know very little Chinese. He nodded, slowed down his sentances, and used simpler terms, waiting for me to understand. He explained that he was a Christian. -He followed ShanDi. I smiled. I understood.  Showing Him the cross on my necklace, I said, “Wo ye.” (Me too.)  I follow ShanDi too. He continued to speak, sharing his testimony and speaking truth and life to me, even though I couldn’t understand it all. Then, before leaving the train, he reminded me, “Yesu ai ni.”  To which I replied, “Yesu ai ni ye.” (Jesus loves you too.) Thanks for the encouragement once again Lord.

It was a great three days!

Then yesterday, we had emergency fire training in Chiayi. It reminded me of the homeschool field trips we took in grade school. I’ll take a work day like that anytime! I even got to handle the water hose and “hose down” the grounds outside the school, because I was assigned to that group in a fire. Yes!!! So fun. Their safety measures are a little different, and take some getting used to.  I opted out of rappelling off the second floor with no helmet and only an upper body harness. It just didn’t make sense to me to do that unless I actually needed to.  

Last night, while Susanna took her voice lesson, I hung out with Katrina. We had a grand time discussing music, teaching, photography, and work. I found it easy to talk to her, as we have very similar preferences and hobbies. There is one area we don’t agree, and that is religion. As we finished talking, she told me that she appreciated my respect for her religion, for all the other Christians she has met have fed her a guilt trip or told her she was a failure without Christ. Wow. She didn’t seem open, so I didn’t want to turn her off. Pray that she will meet other Christians who treat her with love, and that God will turn her heart toward Himself.

Taijhong Camp 2011

This has been a great week. Today marks the beginning of Chinese New Year winter break, and I’m looking forward to that!  Time with the teachers, then vacation in Hong Kong, pictures of Taroko gorge, and many fun activities planned. I will try to keep you all updated as much as I can; otherwise, I’m out on recess for 3 weeks!!!

A Fellow Servant of Christ,
Barbara Sutton