Breath of Fresh air...

Two weeks went by way too fast. I was once again alone in my dorm, looking at pictures of amazing memories.

Lydia has been a dear friend to me since 2008. She has been one of my best friends and we have had amazing adventures together since then. But I never in my mind thought that one day we were going to spend 2 amazing weeks in Kinmen, Taiwan together.

But it surely did happen and let me tell you these two weeks have been a Breath of fresh air...


I have not laughed as much as I have these two weeks. I mean, my sides hurt as I watch all the epic videos we made!

We had fun. But that was not all we did these few days together. I got to be apart of her ministry. I got to see just how greatly God is using her to reach people. I got to understand her a lot more. I got to learn from her & I was greatly encouraged by her passion.

Passion. That's exactly the word. Passion to help the lost. Passion to encourage the weak. Passion to bring happiness where there is sadness. That's Lydia. A godly woman with a passion for Christ and a sparkle of life & joy enough to make anyone forget about their problems and just want to be around her. She radiates God's love.

Lydia is a singing evangelist. I  met her at a conference in Michigan, called "Journey to the Heart". We have been inseparable since then. We have so much in common: Spanish, love for all things vintage, and traveling. As the years have gone by our friendship has gone from just friends to best friends.  I have really learnt alot from her. She has always been there and even though she knows of all my failures, she still loves me.

Lydia has been to 10 countries, in which she was given the opportunity to share the gospel and establish friendships and ministry. India, Dominican Republic, and Mexico, are among those countries.

She came to Taiwan with a ministry mindset and ready to start doing something in Kinmen. Everyone she met loved her. She radiated life to them. All my students were excited to meet the American "giant"! {179cm} .

One of the highlights of her trip here was the Small Kinmen concert. Small Kinmen is even smaller than Kinmen. But there are alot of people who don't have the opportunity to hear the Gospel or be apart of concerts & events held in big Kinmen. So we went to them. I honestly didn't expect many people but when the event started, there were more then 200 adults, & children there. Praise the Lord!

To wrap this blog entry up, I treasure these past two weeks. I will never forget them. I am extremely grateful to God for placing Lydia in my life. I don't have many friends but the ones that I do have, are the best of the best. May she always be a joy to others. May she always be a source of peace and a vessel to expand God's kingdom. May she always speak words of wisdom and truth and encouragement. May she always be a breath of fresh air...

*Sigh. These pictures put a smile on my face.

(Taken by: Bethany Hall)

A message for Victorville Church kids...

A Desperate Prayer of Salvation for Kinmen...

May is here. I still can't believe just how fast time goes by! It's been a foggy & rainy April, but May has brought amazing sunsets so far. 

May has also brought with it a traditional event of the Kinmenese people.

There has been fireworks going off in many of Kinmen streets. You can hear drums being beaten & cymbals clashing against each other. There is a stronger smell of incense in the air lately. People marching in strange costumes, have become a common sight this past month. 

Strange giants with black faces and tongues sticking out have been marching throughout the alleys in Kinmen. Accompanied by white faced giants with no necks and swords sticking out of their faces. Marching behind these giants, an empty carriage, said to be carrying demons that control the people carrying it. 

Children with painted faces. Boys in girls' makeup. Girls in carriages with colorful umbrellas. Dancing children in costumes. 

All gathered together to celebrate the birthday of the gods. 

Yep, Ladies & Gentlemen, its that time of year again. When, as English teachers, our hearts sink in desperation for the salvation of our little friends. When our hearts pray a desperate prayer of salvation for Kinmen. When we too, march in the streets, in silence, in prayer, to rebuke Satan.

For it is not an easy thing to see those friends & students we so dearly love, bow down to empty gods. Gods that have eyes but cannot see them. Gods that have ears but that cannot hear their prayers. Gods that have feet but they do not walk with them. Gods that have a mouth but that don't speak to them. 

False gods. Webs of lies.   

"Those who lavish gold from the purse, and weigh out silver in the scales, hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; then they fall down and worship! They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it, they set it in its place, and it stands there; it cannot move from its place. If one cries to it, it does not answer or save him from his trouble. “Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’" Is.46:6-10

{⁶ 那從囊中抓金子，用天平平銀子的人，雇銀匠製造神像，他們又俯伏，又叩拜。⁷ 他們將神像抬起，扛在肩上，安置在定處，它就站立，不離本位。人呼求它，它不能答應，也不能救人脫離患難. ⁸ 「你們當想念這事，自己做大丈夫！悖逆的人哪，要心裡思想！ ⁹ 你們要追念上古的事，因為我是神，並無別神。我是神，再沒有能比我的。 ¹⁰ 我從起初指明末後的事，從古時言明未成的事，說：『我的籌算必立定，凡我所喜悅的，我必成就。』} 

以賽亞書 46

Today we had a prayer walk. We would stopped in some temples and in silence, prayed against Satan. We thanked God for being real; for having eyes & seeing us, for having ears & listening to our prayers, for having a mouth & speaking to us. For being REAL. We thanked Him for delivering our souls & for allowing us to no longer be blind. 

After a good walk, we met up in church & sang some hymns. {Ahhh, so good to sing praises to God who does delight in them!} We were so caught up in praise, that we had gathered a group of people around us, watching the "foreigners" sing to God. 

In that way we were able to be light amongst darkness. We were able to worship the true God of the universe. Not with sad faces or fear {like they do with their gods} but with a joyful heart! 

At the end, I know that Kinmen will one day know God. It may be an impossibility to me{a doubter} but not to the God of the universe; Creator of all living creature. Nothing is impossible to Him. 

That's why God is so awesome & worthy to be praised!