Thursday, May 29, 2008

Leaving the Island!!

I'm leaving Taiwan for good in 36 hours.

Praise God!!

Thursday, May 22, 2008

I'm Going Home...

Plans have changed. I quit my job. My last day will be May 30th. I've had enough. The doctor I saw on Tuesday almost killed me by telling me I can mix medicines. He gave me another sedative which made the concussion symptoms worse.

I went to a different hospital last night, had a CT scan, and found that I have quite a bit of swelling in my brain still. I also have a small fracture in my skull where my helmet hit my head when I hit the ground. It's nothing to worry about. There's no bleeding and it doesn't look like air is getting into my brain. Thank you, Jesus!

So, enough is enough. I will be home on June 1st.

Praise be to Jesus Christ.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Do You Wanna Revolution?

Revolution Poem


Great stuff!!

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Another Accident. Oh I Need to Get Out NOW!

I was returning home from my morning school and was stopped at a red light when another motorcycle slammed into the back of me. I went sliding into the intersection, flew back off my motorcycle, hitting my head on the ground and the motorcycle landed on my right leg.

My motorcycle...and that blue thing is a bus that was going through the intersection.


The young boy's motorcycle front.

I am so thankful and grateful to God for sparing my life. I could have been smashed by an on-coming vehicle. I went to the doctors and I have slight head trauma, but I'm okay...he thinks. I had a full coverage helmet on. I have a bunch of cuts and bruises on my legs, and I have a lot of pain in my right hip.

I would like you to keep the young boy who hit me in prayer. Unfortunately, I didn't understand his name, but he is 20 years old and he was returning home from a driving test for his license!!

What a way to celebrate getting your license...hit a foreigner! But seriously, he was quite apologetic, primarily because he was scared when I said I need to call the police.

I told him I forgave him and I wasn't angry at him, but want him to learn from this experience. I then, through translation by my co-worker, gave him the Gospel. He seemed to have a lot of questions, but as with all Taiwanese youth, it's too much for them to think about...eternal life is too deep for them. But I could see the pot beginning to be stirred...

I pray that God will send someone to harvest the seed that was planted today in that young man.


And by the way....please don't stop praying for me.

Friday, May 16, 2008

It's the END!!!

Elevate Nicole Day!!

woohoo. Thanks, Robb.

Monday, May 12, 2008

Another Bought of Accidents!!!

Jesus help me.

One year ago, I was in a motorcycle accident.

Today I was hit by a car...and then a motorcycle later!!

I'm fine. I'm durable. But still...

GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!

46 days to go...

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Thank you, Chad!

Your phone call was the highlight of my weekend! You're a gem!

(Look! You made the blog you so often read)! :)

Happy Mother's Day to a Mother...

who doesn't want me to call her because she's at a baseball game! :P

Thanks for putting up with me, even when I don't deserve it.

(I'll call you in the morning...)

Summer Plans Panning Out

June 29th @ 3:30pm -- Arrival in New York

July 1-15 -- Spend time with mom/Charleston, South Carolina

July 17-20 -- Tulsa, Oklahoma

July 23 - August 4 -- West Lafayette, IN; Louisville, KY; Detroit, MI; Rochester, NY

August 15, 2008 - June 2009 -- Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

This Weekend

I've had a rough weekend. Things that surpass my understanding. Things that hurt me greatly. Saturday was a miserable day for me. But only our Lord can take our brokeness and bitterness and turn them into something beautiful and sweet. God is greater than all of it. And I rest in that.

Irene, Tina, Lee and I went for our favorite food...Greek! Afterwards, we went to see Iron Man. I like comic-turn-movies and it wasn't too bad. We saw some amateur dancing that usually goes on out in front of the shopping center at night. It was unusually cold Saturday night. The belly dancing girls didn't last long!

I'm trying to find out the rules for using that corner. It would be a great place to open air preach. I just need a translator!

I started using Eddie Funkhouser make up (from my business) and I really like it!!! I never thought green would look decent on me! (Normally, it looks terrible. If you're interested in this line. Contact me.




Thursday, May 08, 2008

I Am So Proud Today

Finally, my hard work has all paid off. The class that has given me the most trouble is finally starting to succeed. I've battled with other staff members who believe that these students can't succeed. Well, the students have proven the staff wrong! For the second month in a row, they all 18 of them passed my test (and mine are the hardest at the school). Not only did they all pass, but around 12 of them got 100!!

I wish you could see their reactions. They are proud of themselves, too! They feel really good about themselves right now. And I'm so happy for that! (They know how staff feel about them).

Thank you, Jesus!!

Monday, May 05, 2008

Back in School...Y'all

Having just graduated from the School of Biblical Evangelism and really wanting to have another degree under my belt, I finally found the perfect school for me and my situation and finances.

I will be working on a Masters of Religious Studies starting as soon as my enrollment goes through...hopefully in the next few days.

I like I just like having alphabet soup after my name...not that it really means anything in the end. :)

Friday, May 02, 2008

Field Trip: Nursery






All I was thinking was "get me out of here!!" I'm allergic to pollen. :)

Shocking Youth Message Stuns Hearers

It's long, but so worth it.

Yakult!

This has to be my favorite drink ever! I can drink gallons of this stuff; however, it is not healthy for you, despite the company's claims.

Oh, well. :)

Brownie Points!

20 Brownie points will go to the one that can correctly identify what this says...

And, no Mr. R, you can not answer because it's from you! :)

χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη ἀπὸ Θεοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν καὶ Κυρίου ᾿Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ

I Almost Fell Out of My Chair!

in laughter!!!

I was talking about the Olympics with my 5th graders tonight and I asked the question what is the difference between "sport" and "game?"

Maxwell's Answer:

"I know! I know what the difference is!! The words are different!!"

Ha ha ha...

Thursday, May 01, 2008

My Broken Heart

I walked into my 3rd grade reading class last night and found the following on the board (it was left on the board from his previous class):

"Nowadays, Christians hate Buddhists. They want to stay away from them. This just proves that Christians want to kill Buddhists."


As a Christian, my heart sunk to think that my student believes this. I asked him if he though I hated and wanted to kill him. He said, "no." I told him, "I'm a Christian." His reply, "Oh." I told him that Christians shouldn't hate Buddhists and in fact, Jesus tells us to love Buddhists (all people) because Jesus died for all people. His reply, "Oh."

I continued to tell him, in fact, it's the Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims that are killing Christians nowadays.

His reply, "Oh."

I don't know where and why he would this these things. I know that it's not from me. In fact, I "encourage" the children's beliefs in class. I have a rule that my students are not allowed to say "Oh my G-o-d." I ask them why they don't say "Oh my buddha" or "Oh my goddess." They said they don't know.

I've told them that I don't like when they use the name of the God I believe in so loosely and in anger. And He doesn't like it either. In my class, it's unacceptable. I told them I didn't care if they used "Oh my buddha or goddess, etc."

But man, where would he come up with that thought?

All the more reason to get out there and share your faith with ALL people!

Masters of Arts in Diplomacy

I really want to get another Masters Degree or PhD, but I'm not in the US. I've been researching some programs and I think I found one I like. Norwich University in Vermont has an online program for global affairs. (Yes, I know. Political Science...and no I'm not a traitor)! They offer concentrstions in international conflict and terrorism, which are areas I've been interested in lately.

My mom and I are either going to Mexico or Vermont in July. (Yes, I actually said Vermont before I knew about the school...Perhaps, I'll get a chance to check it out).

But in the end, it all depends on financial resources. :)