TOEFL Class Started!

I am daily grateful when God wakes me up at or around 3am. It's truly amazing!

I had time with Jesus and messaged a few people and went off for my usual 10K. I am enjoying the time to think and pray!

I was home and took a quick shower, messaged some more people and took my nap. I was up and I still had time, so I worked on my talk before waking Isaiah up.

He left and 10 minutes later, I left. 

It was an easy ride to school and I found the classroom and unloaded everything. Then I parked my scooter and walked back.

The students are so wonderful! Their English is not great, but we had a great time! I baked banana bread with these green cookie pieces that I put in there since I wanted it to look special. And I also brought coffee packets and tea bags. I told them our schedule: we go from 9 to 10:30 and take a break at 10:30. Then at 10:50,  we continue until 12noon. I went over time... And I need to be better about that. Because they only have one hour for lunch, they start back at 1:10 and it's three hours of reading and writing and it's so tough to stay awake. I don't know how they are going to do it!

I came home and started baking and prepping for tomorrow! I made a chocolate chips banana cake. Tomorrow I think I'll try an apple sauce banana bread... Oh... I forgot to mention that I invited them to our Sunday Young Adults Fellowship and I was so shocked that one by one they responded and said YES! I think by the end of today, all 11 of them will come! Please remember to pray for them. Last year, the students were really touched by God. I pray that this group will have a similar experience! 

I was so glad that I didn't have anything tonight. 

I worked on my talk and the PPT for Sunday and went to bed early!

Daily Lovely Insight:

This morning as the warm up activity, I had the students talk about FIVE FAVORITES... and I mentioned Heidelberg! In the midst of a very busy morning, it was nice to think about this wonderful enchanting town!

Seek Him First!

Monday Sabbath!

I was up at 3am and I just keep rejoicing that God is waking me up!

I did go out for my 10K jog and I love spending that time in prayer and sermon prep as I go over things in my head.

I was back and ready for a shower.

I set today as my Sabbath because I will be teaching all week... for these next two weeks. The Intensive TOEFL class at Soochow University. I have 10 students from Japan and one assistant. It is a lot of work!

So... this morning, I had a nice breakfast. I got Isaiah up and he left. I then settled to read. At 12noon, I headed out to run a few errands, including dropping off 7 mugs at the church and a large bag of donation to this guy at the traditional market. He takes things, no questions asked, and sells them for money! I think that's the way he makes a living! I also dropped off books for donation at the library and came home.

I made a delicious lunch and decided to read some more. I also reorganized my entire talk for this Sunday. Very interesting! Please pray for my sermon prep!

At 5pm, I baked for tomorrow's class! Banana bread! It made the house smell so good!

Isaiah came home at 7pm. We had lots for him to eat for his dinner. I had a salad!

And yes, I have continued in my dialogue with our pastor. Keep praying... Alan and I want to preserve love and unity while ensuring Biblical truth and practices!

Daily Lovely Insight:

Seek Him First!

Early Sunday

Yes, I was up early and decided to go for a walk up the hill behind our house after my time with Jesus... 

It was very nice!

I was home and messaged people via LINE... I'm having a serious dialogue about certain issues with our current pastor at House of Praise. We agree to disagree, but perhaps it's time to move on for Alan and I. 

I had a conversation with Alan about my thoughts and feelings after lunch as I didn't turn the WiFi on until 12:30 when he called!

This morning I was reading and getting my last lesson on the book of Revelation done. That's the group of ladies I had dinner with last night! Starting in September, both of my non-House of Praise Bible study groups will be going through the book Heaven by Randy Alcorn. That will be quite nice. Of course, I still have my Tuesday morning group and my Soochow English Bible study. I also took a nice nap! That's what I try to do: get up at 3am and go for a nap at around 6:30 for an hour or so!

At around 2pm, Isaiah and I got ready to head off to church and it was blistering hot outside. Before leaving, I realized that I forgot to hit publish for my blog yesterday! Glad I looked...

I shared at our service and we had many newcomers. It was great! And many who have been away for the summer came back! 

The Language of Jesus: Serve One Another!

Isaiah took Fenny home and I came back!

I had prayer time with a sister at 9pm. I was so ready for bed... The week has started!

Daily Lovely Insight:

Seek Him First!

A Different Kind of Saturday

I was up early and again went out for my 10K... finishing the week with 60K! This morning was not as bad... 

I took a shower and rested and gathered things to drop off at church and I wanted to see if the Victornox carry on can be repaired.

I had a meeting with our pastor at 8am and we had a two hour discussion. He is looking at next year and wanted me on the Sunday Service team with a title as minister. And we got talking about partaking of the Lord's Supper! We have different views. I think it's for believers, which to me means for those who have made a decision to confess with their mouth and believes in their heart that Jesus is Lord. He thinks Christ through grace invites all who are interested to come to the table and partake of the Lord's Supper. I will be taking the time to pray and seek the Lord.

I went to the luggage fixer guy and he nor his friend can do the tears on the carry on Victornox. I then went to the library and donated books before coming home and sewing the luggage myself! It turned out pretty nice!

Isaiah went to tennis but people were already leaving and so he went for a workout. He joined a gym that only cost when you go. It's like 1NT$ per minute! He did give the tennis racket to Bruce! Yeah!

We sat and talked some and then he took a quick nap and a shower and was off to meet up with James. I think James wants to talk to him about leading the Young Adults "Service". That's another area in which we don't see eye to eye, pastor James and I. I think you grow a ministry before you hire someone. He is not thinking of hiring Isaiah but to invite someone new to be on the ministry team. I will find out from Isaiah what was talked about. He went to meet up with Fenny.

I took a nice long nap after Isaiah took off and then worked on my talk for tomorrow! I then headed out as one of my Bible study groups was meeting up for dinner! I was so full from lunch that I brought a container to take home the leftovers! It was an early dinner so I was able to get home by 8:30. I got on YouTube and learned a few phrases in Nepali. My brain is not as sharp as before or else it's a very difficult language!

Overall... it was a very different kind of Saturday!

Daily Lovely Insight:

Seek Him First!

Prep Friday!

I was up, but not at 2am... I got up at 3am! And that will be my usual time until Alan comes back.

I ran my 10K and came home for my shower. It always feels so good to take a shower as I'm completely drenched in sweat.

At around 6:30, I usually go back for a nap... until I get Isaiah up and he takes off. I then enjoy my breakfast!

It was hot outside, but at around 9:30, I headed out to get veggies and fruit and just see what's at the traditional market! I ended up spending about 500NT$! Not bad for all that I got...

I was home and had two apples (which I had just purchased) and various kinds of tofu (yes, I bought these  also at the traditional market!)

And I went and took another nap! YEAH!

I finally turned on the WiFi and received an email from a student who is here from the States. I've been trying to contact him. He finally responded to my email. He was on his way to the National Palace Museum and we decided to meet up at the Mall after he finishes! We sat and chatted at the Food Court in B1! I brought him a Bible and a study guide and a Four Spiritual Laws Booklet! He left tonight to head back to his home in China.

I came back and worked on TOEFL and Sermon prep! I changed a few things for my sermon and prepped for all of next week's TOEFL class. It's a lot of work!

Isaiah had dinner out, celebrating one of the coworker' birthday!

Daily Lovely Insight:

Seek Him First!

Having A PR Day!

Getting up super early is becoming the norm... I am hoping to keep this going... 

I ran my 10k after time with Jesus and took a quick shower. I did touch up the back of my hair and Isaiah said that it looks better. With this shorter hair style, it's fast and easy to wash my hair!

I finished up the new study! I had only two more days to write! I messaged Alan who was watching the Padres game. Yes, Padres won!

Isaiah got up and left for work. I had my breakfast: half a sandwich with a lot of pickles. I'm so glad I brought that bottle of bread and butter chips back. It's 2kilos! I wanted to bring a bottle of the dill whole pickle from Smart & Final but that's like 5 kilos! I know Alan won't have the room to bring one back... darn it! I don't think there will be any of the bread and butter chips left by the time he gets home! I'm totally serious!

I sat on the sofa and read... and then at 11am, I turned on the WiFi and I had two things I wanted to do:

1. Buy the ticket to Nepal.

2. But two more pairs of running shoes.

And yes, both are done!

I was looking, and looking, and looking for the cheapest flight and I finally went straight to Thai Lion Air. I got extra luggage and round trip for Nov. 4 to Nov. 11: 700US$! YEAH!

Then I looked for running shoes: Brooks Caldera 6, Women's size 8.5! Unfortunately, I could not find any excellent deals: 100US$/pair! I hit PURCHASE!

I had booked a massage for 3pm. And off I went, stopping at church to drop things off and going to a convenience store to pay a bill!

I came home and ate a salad with cheese, avocado and raisins. So delicious!

Tonight, I had my Revelations Bible study on line!

Daily Lovely Insight:

Seek Him First!

Getting Things Done!

It was nice to get up early and I went out for my run before the sunrise... There is supposedly a typhoon coming through, so there was a drizzle but the temperature was still quite warm.

I was drenched by the time I came home.

After a quick shower, I went down to the recycling to check and found that they had stacked three bags of trash in the recycling area. I also saw a fan that I could easily fix and use. 

I started working on my talk notes as well as prepping for my TOEFL class.

Isaiah got up and went to work.

I ate a nice breakfast!

Alan is in San Diego and they went out for dinner at Jimmy's!

I finally turn on the WiFi at 11am.

After lunch, I took a nap... YIPPY!

I worked on the new study that my women's Bible study will be doing. Angela and I are putting it together. I worked on reading the book, Heaven and I'm ahead now. I worked on 8/24 talk notes on the Language of Jesus: Forgive One Another! And while I was working on these things, I sent the iRobot to vacuum the house! I will send the iRobot to mop later tonight.

I don't have counseling this evening as the couple has a zoom meeting for church stuff. YEAH!

Isaiah had basketball... so I had the house all to myself. What a delight!

And yes, I went to bed early... 

Daily Lovely Insight:

Seek Him First!