Ghost Month

I took this brief description of Ghost month (August) in Taiwan from www.lyberty.com:

According to Chinese folklore, there is an increase in the incidence of accidents and deaths during the seventh month of the lunar calendar, an occurrence attributed to underworld spirits visiting the earth during this time. During Ghost Month, people prepare big feasts to indulge the many roaming ghosts.

Eastern societies, unlike many western societies, traditionally try to appease the dead, rather than trying to banish them, by inviting them temporarily into the world of the living. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Taiwan during Ghost Month. On the first day of the seventh lunar month, 'Open Day' in hell is held, the gates to the underworld are opened and the spirits are allowed to cross over into the living world.

Not only do the Taiwanese accept these hauntings with admirable equanimity, they actually give their ethereal guests the full VIP 5-star treatment. At the Chung Yuan Festival (about halfway through the month), huge banquet tables are set out in temple courtyards and mountains of fish, vegetables, meat and other delicacies are offered as sacrifice; hanging lanterns are erected to guide the ghosts to the table; non-stop operas entertain during dinner and fake money is burnt so that guests have a bit of pocket-money to spend when they return to hell.

This hospitality is not entirely altruistic - it's insurance against paranormal acts of retribution.

Other do's and dont's to be observed during ghost month include the following:
DO:- make offerings, especially the burning of "ghost money" (An estimated 220,000 tons of ghost money is burned every year around Taiwan)
DON'T: 
- weddings, special plans, business deals and outings should be put on hold till the end of the month;
- no whistling, whistling is not a good idea, whistling will lead the ghost straight to your home;
- talking ill of the dead (even if it's true) will just bring tears and heartache;
- special care should be taken when walking along riverbanks where a water ghost can easily steal a living spirit; and
- adding to the numbers by burying the dead is, unfortunately, not a good idea.

On the 30th day of the month, the gates of hell are closed again and the ghosts return to the other side.

This is also a link to a 10 minute video made by OMF about Ghost Month:

http://vimeo.com/14770840

Flowers, food and drink offerings to ghosts

Metal container used to burn money for ancestor worship and to appease ghosts

Even though these beliefs may seem strange at first, it is an open door to talk to the Taiwanese about supernatural things.  We don't have to convince them that the spiritual world is a reality, we just have to clarify which spirits are good and which are bad.  The Bible clearly talks about the spiritual battle raging around us.  Ephesians 6:12-13 "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm."  In 2 Kings 16:17  we see the reality of the spiritual world when Elisha prays for his servants eyes to be opened to the spiritual realm and his servant is no longer afraid of the physical battle before him because he has seen that there is an army of angels prepared to battle on their behalf.  When we pray we go directly to the front lines of spiritual battle.  So, if you're prayer life is lacking you're on the sidelines of the spiritual battle.  Satan will do anything to keep us from praying, because he knows there is power in it.  Sometimes we will talk about things for hours and try to reason things out, but never actually stop to pray.  Please join us in praying for the eyes and ears of the Taiwanese to be opened to the Holy Spirit and for freedom to experience the love that Christ has graciously given us.  2 Timothy 1:7 "for  God gave us a Spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."

BABA Day

The Chinese word for "8" is /ba/.  The word for "daddy" is /baba/.  So on August the 8th the Taiwanese celebrate Baba day!  Father's day this year in June was one week after we moved here to Taiwan.  It completely took my jet lagged brain by surprise as I realized what day of the week it was! I quickly had the kids make daddy cards while he was in the shower!  Rich is so sweet and he was so thankful.  It was far from the big deal we would of made had we been in the states!  I don't know how you are but we like to celebrate even the smallest events in big ways!  So normally I would be a little jealous that Rich would get TWO Father's day in one year but this gave me chance to make up for the missed opportunity to show him how much we love and appreciate him!  So the kids got to work yesterday on their gifts for daddy.  Homemade boxes made from paper and tape filled with a paper airplane, "I love you" notes and a Hershey kiss, a dinosaur book and a sign!

The kids think breakfast in bed is the best thing that you could ever do for a person.  When we began discussing how to make Daddy's day special this was the first thing that naturally came to mind.  As I asked what else we could do to make his day special Hudson said (in his still slightly babyish voice that I adore), "Demember when you guys took the bucket and rags and put our feet in it-in Hawaii?" I reminded him that we were washing his feet like Jesus did for the disciples. "Yes, yes!  Let's do that!"  We all agreed that this was a great idea!  They would get to serve Daddy like he has done every day for us!

 So the next morning we woke Daddy with coffee and breakfast and then led him to the dining room where he was given a special seat!  The kids got on their knees and began to wash their Daddy's feet.  Katie began to say a prayer of thanksgiving and praise for God giving them such a great Daddy.  All 3 kids kneeled by Rich washing his feet as she prayed.

His heart was full to say the least!  There were lots of hugs and kisses and then we were on with our day!  Rich is a humble, gentle, loving Father.  Katie, Hudson and Charlee know that they are loved by their Daddy by his words and actions.  God has given him patience and a steadfast love for his family.  We are blessed to have him leading our family!

As I write this I am reminded of the sinful woman at the feet of Jesus and Mary listening to Jesus teach at His feet.  I can't help thinking of the humility and trust that it takes to kneel down and do anything at someone's feet!  Both of these women sitting at their Maker's feet fully aware that it is a place of honor to be there.  And how Jesus responded--"Your faith has saved you; go in peace." and "Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."  It is at the Father's feet that we see faith, find peace, comfort, goodness and His steadfast love!  This has been a vital truth for me to cling to as we have just moved overseas and are waiting on the Lord for direction regarding ministry.  Looking at the picture of the kids washing Rich's feet, I am reminded- that is where God wants me- humbled and trusting Him- serving Him by being with Him- blessing and praising His Name, completely sure that His Name will be exalted in all the Nations.  Baba sounds so close to Abba- when we have a relationship that is so deep and so personal with God that we can call him "daddy". Baba Day has been a sweet reminder to sit with my Abba in the seat of honor at His feet. 

To Taiwan and More

Time has seemed to zoom by since we left the great state of Texas and moved here to Taiwan!  These past 2 months have held a lot of highs and lows for our family!   In all of it God has been faithful to show His grace and mercy!  We are truly blessed to be here in Taiwan!  Here is a picture journey of our time since we left!

Our last day in Texas

Hanging with students at the Rock

Our New Apartment

Lots of fresh fruit around every corner

Our 4th of July Celebration

View down by the river near our home

Rich walking down the busy streets of Danshui with kids in tow

Another River view

Dragon Boat parade- this is a very long line of idols

Game night at the Rock-  (this guy killed me at rock, paper,scissors)

Our day at the beach( God blessed us with an AMAZING sunset)

We have been so thankful for the opportunities that God has given us to share the Gospel with those around us!  We spend a lot of our days learning the language in class and also by doing individual study (or just by stepping out of our front door).  With the broken language that we do have, the Lord allowed us to pray over our buddist neighbor who is in a wheelchair and struggles with some sort of kidney problem.  She has a port in her chest for medication to be administered.  Every night her husband wheels her out to the courtyard of our apartment complex.  After having a very broken conversation one night we asked if we could pray for her in Jesus Name.  She agreed and we prayed a very simple prayer for Jesus to heal her.  She was grateful and agreed that Jesus was good.  The next night she excitedly stopped us as we were walking through the courtyard to tell us that she had slept through the night.  This is something that had not happened for her in a very long time!  She was very excited and kept thanking us for praying.  We kept telling her it was Jesus that did it!  Since then her daughter has also stopped to thank us for praying for her mother.  This family does not know Jesus but they now know that there is power in His Name.  They also do not know English.  I loved seeing the Lord work through our biggest weakness to bring Him the greatest glory!  When we are weak HE is strong!  We are even more encouraged to learn the language here well so that we can connect more and more with this culture and share the Good News!  

Humidity and Humility (written June2012)

We have been in Taiwan for about 3 weeks now. I have never in my life sweated as much as I have in the first few weeks here. That is saying a lot considering I grew up south of Houston and am a sweater by nature.  My friends with thicker Taiwanese accents will always blame the heat on the "humidity" but  it often sounds like they are saying "humility".  These two words have been closely linked for me as I have been meeting so many people for the first time with sweat pouring down my face and back!  There seems to be a theme with our transition here- Humility.

Entering a country without knowing very much of the language or much about the culture can leave you vulnerable.  You feel like a child, talk like a child and can sometimes be treated like a child because of your ignorance.  Humility.

Matthew 18:3-4 "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

We don't know where we live. We carry around a piece of paper with our address on it in Chinese.  Whenever we order furniture or have to get a taxi we hand them the paper and smile. Humility.

Genesis 12:1 "And the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you."

Hauling three children around busy streets, crowded furniture stores and on different types of mass transit just opens the door wide for...... Humility.

Psalm 127:3 "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward."

Being in humbling situations usually yields frustration.  I wish that I could say that it produced something different- grace, patience, kindness, joy, etc.  It has not.  It has produced frustration on most occasions coupled with anger- my arch nemesis.  It has been way too easy to walk in my flesh and it disappoints every time.  I was sharing with a friend recently and she asked me the "root" of that frustration and anger and in an instant I knew it was "control"!  I have lost what little control I thought I had by entering a land that I do not yet know much about!  I have more often than not began my day with my own agenda instead of being open-handed before the Lord.  So we are back to HUMILITY!

Phil. 2:3 "Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves."

Prov. 11:2 "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom."

The Lord has been continually gracious during this process.  In all of these areas of my life He has shown me the gifts that humility brings- fellowship in His Kingdom, His direction, bearing good fruit, wisdom and fear of the Lord.  Humility in Proverbs 22:4 (NIV) is the fear of the LORD!

Humility for me is discovering how small I am and how little I actually have control of in my life.  It brings me to my knees before an all-knowing, loving, merciful and patient Father.  I have come to realize that it is in this place that I am filled- on my knees, my own will defeated, struggling to breath and He is there. Ps 40:2 "He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure."

So here I am in Taiwan.  A place that makes me feel like a child, unaware of my surroundings, culturally unaware and completely vulnerable.  It seems as if this could be a pretty devastating place to be BUT GOD calls me to look to HIM, trust HIM, follow HIM.  It is at this point of releasing "control" that I find why He has called me to humble myself before Him- He wipes the sweat from my face, stands me on my feet and leads me in the right way.  It is here that He has replaced my despair of losing control with the joy of being completely dependent on Him.  He has opened my eyes to the beauty of living in a different country and having to cling to Him!  He is faithful to give the fruits of His Sweet Holy Spirit- love, joy and peace!