Long Time NO See

Hey Everyone,

As of right now I have four weeks left before finishing my last course with Grand Canyon University. I will go back to the States on 8-26 then I will leave for Arizona on 8-29th to start my 16 week student teaching commitment. During that time, I will probably take a few tests (little worried about that) as well as being evaluated in the classroom. If everything works out I should be back in Ohio with my Master's degree and teachers license before Christmas! Less than five months away! As you can imagine I am very excited as well as a little nervous!
Though recently school, teaching, tutoring, and running have been going fairly well I find myself a little apprehensive about the future. Living in AZ by myself is going to be interesting and as of right now I have no definite job lined up for me after I (Lord willing) finish my studies. However, just recently I began to realize the benefits of not knowing too far into the future. It causes me to focus more on the now as well as trusting God instead of friends, funds, smarts, and abilities for the future (Jer. 29:11). Just thinking back over this past year, God has literally met every need (financially, acedemically, physically, and spiritually) that I had. How in the world could I doubt Him now?
Anyway, I'm doing great and, as you can tell, I am learning lots of things. I need to stop now and start cleaning up the big mess I left in the dorm before the new Kinmen comes back. Better start now, if I want it done by then :) Whoever knew that cooking could be such a messy process!    

Two of the best highlights of this past year are when Lucas comes back to Kinmen and when I get to meet up with old students. Here is a graduation picture with former students, a brother, and no beard! I went three or so weeks without one. Now I have a goatee. However, I'll probably go back to the beard in order to save money on shaving cream and razors as well as establishing my seniority as a student teacher. Sigh...life of a college student.....

Today is my birthday and I ate too many Jelly Beans (Thanks any Mom!)

It was indeed a special day. In the afternoon I was able to go to two of my old schools in small kinmen. To be honest I didn't think that they would be thrilled to see me but some of them were!! One fifth grade class sang  happy birthday and gave me a branch with flowers on it as a present. Coming back to big kinmen, my brother called and I had a good talk with him. Then at eight the girls gave me a little surprise birthday party. Anyway, it was a great day and I look for many more for them as I venture through my 28th year of life.

God will never leave me nor forsake me! Heb. 13:5!

Update-

Well, I guess this is my first xanga update as a non-King Car teacher in Kinmen 金門. Though some things remain pretty much the same (living quarters and purpose-1 Chr. 28:10), they are several things very different in my daily "life in Kinmen" rutine. Taking up most of my time is studying Chinese (and some Taiwanese), Master degree classes (online with GCU- Grand Canyon University), Cram School (like a school after school), and tutoring. Instead of boring the three or so people that still read my xanga by talking about what I do here as usual, I am going to just give you my basic weekly schedule, so that you will have an idea concerning what I do now.

Sunday-couldn't get it off :(-- Cram School (9:00-10:00), Church (10:00-1:00), Cram School (4:30-6:00)

Monday- Studying Online- big day-, Chinese, Tutoring (7:00-8:00)

Tuesday- Studying Online, Chinese, Tutoring (4:00-5:15), Cram School (5:30-6:30), Tutoring (8:00-9:30) 

Wednesday- Studying Online, Chinese, Cram School (1:30-7:00 with a 4:30-5:30 break), Teaching English to High School teachers and Staff- including the Principal! (7:30-9:00)

Thursday- Studying Online, Chinese, Tutoring (10:00-11:00), Cram school meeting (11:00-12:00) Cram School (1:30-3:00), Tutoring (5:00-6:00), Tutoring- someone else- (6:00-7:00)

Friday- Studying Online- big day-, Chinese, Tutoring (4:00-5:30), Tutoring (7:00-8:30).

Saturday- Studying Online, Cram School (9:00-12:00), Cram School (2:00-6:00), informal meeting with a friend who wants to practice his English (6:30-8:30)

Since I am now spending more time studying Online, and now teach 28 hours a week I don't have as much free time as before. However, I still try to meet up with (Anthony on Monday, Vic on Friday), and other friends as much as possible. Though everything hasn't been smooth or perfect, I am amazed at how well things are going for the most part. I am so grateful to God that He allows difficlut obstacles to come into my life in order to bring good out of it (Rom 8:28). For example I was pretty disappointed at the beginning of the school year because I had to teach more cram school classes then planned and that I couldn't continue teaching in the public schools since I was a cram school teacher. However, I am now grateful for the extra cram school classes as well as not being able to teach in the public schools now. If I did get my same schools back then I wouldn't have been able to tutor all the different people that I teach now. Not only is it a blessing financially but I am really enjoying tutoring! I hope that I can continue to do so in the future.   

That's about it! Please keep me in your prayers.

What's happening- so far...

My Future Plans

A couple of weeks ago I had to make a decisions concerning whether I would stay with King Car for another year or not. It was an agonizing decision for me, because I love working with King Car and IBLP. God has used IBLP in many ways through strengthening me in my spiritual walk as well as my families. Without King Car I would have not had the opportunity to go to a place that I never knew existed until I practically landed on it. However, I felt that God wanted me to do something different next semester. Eventially after much prayer and seeking wise counsel from my Dad and good friends, I decided to say no concerning staying with King Car for another year.

What am I going to do next year? Don't know. In about a month I should get my bachelors degree in Christian Ministry, so I will probably start on a Masters in Education regardless where I end up next year. Also I got a job offer to be a cram school teacher in Kinmen which would give me lots of time to study as well as make new friends and money! To be totally honest I would love to stay in Kinmen. However, I have decided to follow Jesus because He is the Good and Faithful Shepherd who will lead me (Psalm 23). 

So far the only thing I know is that God has called me to Asia. I guess that is enough for right now.