The Calm (?) After the Storm

Dear Friends and Family,

I guess the one nice thing about a typhoon is that it confines a person to her home and allows her time to write.  Well, the typhoon has passed, and I know the school year has begun because I have an obvious lack of time.  To add to the craziness of my busy school schedule, Sara and I did the unthinkable and bought a puppy two nights ago.  Of course, this was unthinkable only to me because Sara has been dreaming of this day since she was born.  However, I think she imagined that the puppy would live at her house, and so did I!  Since Sara is not allowed to have pets in her apartment complex, I am housing our little puppy and wondering if life will ever be the same again. 

False Alarm

Dear Friends and Family,

It was a false alarm this morning.  Though I got one nice hot shower in my own house, the water is not back on.  It was simply that the fire trucks came and filled our apartment water tank this morning.  The pipes are dry again now.  Please continue to bring this before the Father.  School starts tomorrow.  I’ll be showering there before the students arrive.  Ask that Dad will bless our first day and that the water situation will be resolved soon.  Thank you all!

Christel

A Strangely Melodious Sound

Friends and Family,

I never thought the sound of a toilet filling up with water could sound so beautifully melodious!  Literally minutes after I sent the last email update, I heard the toilet filling up and things happening in the pipes.  I took a normal-length hot shower, and it was glorious!  Seems that the water is back on (at least for now).  PTL for His provision.  He is so good!

Joyfully,
Christel

More News

Friends,

Taiwan’s disaster situation has finally made it to the headline story on CNN’s webpage.  Here’s the link:  http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/weather/08/13/taiwan.typhoon/index.html.  Petition the Father for these people and communities.

Continue to Lift Up Taiwan

Friends and Family,

I don’t know what the news is broadcasting in America, but I just wanted to send you a couple of links to news articles about the devastation from the Typhoon in Taiwan.  It is worse than any of us could have imaged.  I am thanking Abba that we are all okay here, especially since Kaohsiung County (where we live) is the place where the most significant flooding and loss of life has happened.  Please continue to lift up all those affected in Taiwan, China, and the Philippines.  Thank you for your faithfulness in petitioning the Father.

Blessings,
Christel

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/taiwan/6003259/Typhoon-Morakot-sparks-exodus-up-to-1000-missing-in-Taiwan-landslide.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/taiwan/6008039/Typhoon-Morakot-600-feared-dead-in-Taiwan-village.html
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=8299189

I Wish I Had Time for More…

Dear Friends and Family,

So much has happened during my first two weeks in Taiwan, and I desperately want to share all of my experiences in detail because I wish all of you could be here experiencing everything with me.  I can’t wait to tell you about driving a moldy car with no power steering fluid that broke down in the middle of the road during my first driving experience in Taiwan, or about the small earthquake we experienced on my second night here, or about the barbecued bird we found in my water heater that had a little something to do with my lack of hot water for the first four days living in my apartment, or about all of the details of weathering the worst typhoon to hit Taiwan in fifty years.