Why Church?

On people and church. 

For this post, I'm totally blaming Matthew...fellow teacher here in Taiwan. A question he posted on Facebook caught my eye, and started the gears turning in my brain again. 

So here goes:

Question: Why go to church in Taiwan? (and my added questions) Why go to church at all? What is the reason you go to church?

I wondered that very thing when I was considering coming to Tawian, and this is my conclusion:

Church.

Is it about you? About what you get from it each time, and how you feel? 

Well...I don't think so. 

Yes, going to church can be a way for you to grow, and a way to be spiritually fed each week, but that's the easy way. 

Many young people today, (me included) tend to think that they can go to church, be spiritually recharged, hang out with a few friends, and go home. That way, there is no need to read the Bible, or study on your own, because you were emotionally recharged that Sunday, and you're doing 'fine'.

But is that what God say's about our spiritual lives? 

1 Thessalonians 5:17 states: 'Pray without ceasing...' In other words, don't stop focusing your life on God. 

In that case, it isn't the Church that is supposed to be your 'spiritual food', but your every day walk with Him. 

Essentially, I believe that the point in going to church, whether in America, Taiwan, China...etc, is that we are there to bless others. 

To reach out in any way we can to help other humans, so that Jesus may shine through us. And believe me, we don't need to speak the same language to connect. 

There is always a way if you look for it. 

Church is about others. About Jesus, about what He would do. About how we can be God's vessel  so that He can touch other's lives through us. 

That is what the Church means to me, and why I go. For others, not myself.

So today I leave you with this challange: 

Why do you go to church? Do you go anticipating being a channel for God's love? To reach out to those who are hurting, broken, and in pain? Or do you go for yourself?

Shalom, 

Yeshua be with you this week!

~Marissa 

Second week in Taiwan

Wow, sorry everyone, it's been crazy over here. 

So, finally! I'm going to post about what I've done so far...and maybe post a few pictures too.

Maybe. ;P 

Alright, here goes: 

After orientation, which was good, exausting, and a blast at the same time, we rode the HSR (High Speed Rail) to Chiayi City, and met my office workers for the first time. (there is a picture of everyone on Facebook if you want to see us all.) Because this weekend was the Mid-Autumn/Harvest Festival or as the locals call it, the Moon Festival, we had an extra day off. 

"The Mid-Autumn Festival is an official harvest festival celebrated by Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Taiwanese and Japanese peoples.^[1][2] The festival is held on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese calendar and Vietnamese calendar, during afull moon, which is in September or early October in the Gregorian calendar, within 15 days of the autumnal equinox.^[1] The holiday is also celebrated in Korea [Chuseok] and Japan [Tsukimi].

Mainland China listed the festival as an "intangible cultural heritage" in 2006 and a public holiday in 2008.^[1] It is also a public holiday in Taiwan. Among the Vietnamese, it is considered the second-most important holiday tradition."

[taken from Wikipedia.com]

(Which would have been a lot of fun to really see, but I got sick and ended up stuck in the house for the weekend.)

Anyway, while I didn't get to see the locals celebrate the Moon Festival, I did hear the fireworks being shot from all the local temples in the area. (There are a lot of them.) It is...loud, and obnoxious, and pretty impossible to hear anything of it but the American Fourth of July. (wow, did I just say 'American'?!? I think I am pretty American, but Taiwan has been rubbing off on me. ;P)

This week is our office week, so all I have to do is sit in the office, type this up, and relax. I am really enjoying this week, let me tell you!

I believe though, that you have all had more than enough of me rambling all over the page about all this stuff, and want to see some pictures. 

Alright, alright, here you go!

:D

Those are both taken from my hotel room in Taipei Taiwan, at about 7am in the morning. 

Dr. Chen's health class, and my notes + scribbles. I was getting sorta sleepy, and started drawing so i could pay attention. I love Dr. Chen's health class, because he knows so much about health, and what is good for you and what is bad for you, but the unfortunate thing about that day, was that it was close to the end of the week, and I was having a hard time sitting still. Too much sitting took a major tole on my temper that week. Ugh. 

One of the Taipei night markets. They are even more amazing than I thought they would be. And the prices! Most clothing here is under $20 US, and that's even considered expensive here! (that's about 300 NT) Anyway, it was a blast, and I could never say how much fun it was to shop and only spend 100 NT in one day! (That's just over $3 US) 

My first experience with a traditional Chinese dinner. It was really amazing, and hilarious, because ont of the teachers from a previous year who had come back, ate the duck's brain. Sooo funny! 

Last look at Taipei till October! The country may be smoking hot, and miserable for a Westerner to live in, but the mornings are so worth all the nastyness. It is SUCH a beautiful country!!

Still the same day as the previous picture, this was my last day at the HTC building for the orientation. (was i EVER so glad!!) It is just me and Gabriel sporting our Indian/Taiwanese style bloomer...pant...skirt thingies. 

We arrived in Chiayi!! It felt so good to be home, this picture is thanks to Samuel Chen, one of the teachers at our school. (he's also the one who can fix all my computer issues when i inevitably break something! Yay!!)

My first experience with Anime. :D

My first attempt at cooking. Incidentally, I was still sick when I made this, so I put so much garlic into the recipe that I believe I smoked my ears out. (they have REALLY strong garlic here. burnt the roof of my mouth with the garlic, not the heat, the first time I ate the stuff.) It was really good though. 

 

My Birthday lunch yesterday!! It was a blast, I didn't have to pay...lol, almost the best part but not quite...it was also Fae's, (the girl in the red dress in the picture with the two ladies cutting the meat.) Fenny's and Samuel's birthday this month so we all went out and had amazing food. (oh, and I ate a bunch of leggy shrimp that everyone was surprised that I liked. :D What can I say, I'm full of surprises.) 

Oh, and we went shopping at the night market in Chiayi last night, and let me tell you...I found literally no clothes with Chinese on it, just some very funny English. The first dress, I have no idea what it says, and the shirt that Fae is holding cracks me up totally. 'I love you in your outside' which I believe meant that the cat would ruther the fish be out of the bowl. It is just too funny!!

Anyway, that's all I have for now, no more pictures to show, or things to talk about, so until next time!

Shalom

Yeshua be with you this week!

~Marissa H. 

First Sunday in Taipei Taiwan. Sermon notes.

Psalms 28:7

Luke 16:19-31

Rich man and Lazarus.

One was rich, the other poor. 

If you have honor on earth, that doesn't mean you will have honor in heaven. 

Should we live a simple life? Definitely. The bible isn't saying we should abstain from all fleshly pleasures, but rather, to moderate those pleasures. What we consider important may not be what God considers important. What does God emphasize? 

Lazarus was brought up to heaven by angels. To Abraham's bosom.

It's all a link, a relationship between God, Abraham, and Lazarus. 

Faith in God, in His promises. Lazarus didn't accomplish anything himself. All he had was his faith. Therefore, while he had a bad life on earth, he was comforted by Abraham because of his faith. 

The only ones who can be in your bosom are those you love unconditionally. Therefore, Lazarus was given that love in death, because he did not receive it in life. 

If you are poor in earthly goods, look to God, and you will become rich in faith. 

Lazarus was received in glory and honor because of his faith. His faith may have faltered, and he may have fallen, but ultimately, we know he died in victory. One day you will finally see that you didn't believe in vain. You didn't have faith I vain. You didn't suffer in vain. 

Love.

It's not in the beggar who stretches out his hand, it's in the giver that places the gift into his hand. 

We are like Lazarus in the sense that we have no other way to go to heaven other than faith in Jesus Christ. 

When we experience difficult times, you can find hope and faith if you look to Him for help. God wants to help anyone who reaches out to Him. 

When you see a beggar at the door of your house, never turn him away. Reach out, touch his life, follow in Jesus' steps, and give of what you have.

We don't have faith by doing good works. How would Lazarus have gotten to heaven? He was incapable of doing good works. Salvation is the gift of God given to us, for us to receive. It is our choice, but without choosing, we forfeit our ticket to eternal life. 

A tall order? 

You bet! But has God ever asked anything easy of us? 

I think not.

It's the way of faith. 

While faith is something that does not require works, it is not something that can be gained without great effort on the part of the receiver. 

Do you really love God? Do you also love others? The more you look at the glory of God, the less you see of the glory of this world. 

You needn't be rich to act as if you were. It is a matter of pride and stubbornness. When you become distant from God, it needn't be a drastic sudden fall, it can just be a greed in your heart that tears your heart from the heart of God. 

Learn to live for Christ, in both the here and now, and what is to come. 

Make this a way of life. So much a habit you needn't think too hard about what your mind dwells upon. 

Death is not a period. It's a comma. It's a new beginning. But what you chose in life will affect your eternal life forever. 

I leave you with this: will you live for Christ, and gain eternal life with Him? Or will you live for yourself and gain eternal life in the death of the depths of hell? 

It is your choice. 

Is your eternity worth it? 

Is your life worth it? 

You may live a hundred years, accomplish great things in this world, and never see heaven, because you chose to live your life your way. 

Or, you may live no longer than tomorrow, and choose at the last moment of your physical existence to serve God, and have eternal life in Him.

Again, your choice. 

A decision you must make. 

It's up to you.

Shalom, 

Yeshua be with you this week. 

Marissa H.

TESOL/VOICE Missions 2014

Well, this is a glimpse of my life in the past twoish weeks. 

Enjoy!

The entire two and a half weeks I was able to spend with the exchange students has changed my life forever. Eventually I'll scream out a post with a few more details on different events that I was part of, but for tonight, I'll just let you have this bit. 

With a two hour difference between WA and OK, jetlag is getting the better of me. 

So I leave you with this:

"...peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus..." 

(1 Peter 5:14b)

Shalom!

-Marissa H.

TESOL/VOICE 2014

Journey notes: TESOL VOICE 2014

Left Seattle at 7:55am PAC

Saw a Jewish Rabbi with (I'm assuming) his sons in the airport. Had no trouble with security despite not having a passport with me...(haha, love sending my passport through the mail. So foolish!) Bought a white chocolate latte, didn't particularly love it. Currently, southern Washington is overcast with low lying cloud cover. Flying United Air. Got three hours of sleep last night, but feeling alright, probably because of the coffee. Am pretty sure I forgot something important--like my brain perhaps--but I suppose I'll just have to do without it. There are a number of Asians on this plane, shouldn't be surprised, it's Washington after all. 

Am excited to meet my team for the TESOL trip to Taiwan, not sure if I'll meet everyone I'll be living with in OK, but hopefully I'll meet some of my team at least! :) I haven't finished all of my homework for the class tomorrow--bad me--but plan on doing that at some point today. I'm really excited to put all the English Composition and Grammar classes I've taken these past two years to work, seeing as it seems God really did have a reason for me to take those classes! I sure hope everything pays off--it wouldn't have been worth it if I can't use it. Lol. 

Actually, since I'm on the topic of God, let me tell you all how I got to this point in life!

Last year, (about this time of the month too) I went to an ATI (Advanced Training Institute) conference in Sacramento. Unknown to me at that time, it would be the last time I would hear Mr. Gothard speak, which is very sad for me, seeing as I grew up with him as my spiritual hero. (Please don't ask why he's no longer head of ATI, it's a sad and complicated story. I don't agree with most of the reasons why he was removed.) 

Anyway, to a more pleasant subject. 

So just before I went to the conference, my Mum sent me a video about serving as a TESOL teacher in Taiwan. But I had my heart set on going to Romania, and told God in no uncertain terms, that I could care less what He wanted me to do, I was going to Romania. (Course when you tell God something like that, He inevitably sends you in another direction. Lol) 

I continued to resist His guidance until I got to Sacramento. There my resolve broke down when I faced God Himself, and He began to soften my heart. During a prayer meeting on the last day, I vowed to follow God, even if it meant going to a country that has massive spiders. (Lol, HATE spiders.) 

On the way home the next morning, I told my family I wanted to go to Taiwan--and I'm pretty sure they all thought I had lost my mind. Surprised doesn't really explain their reaction. But they all said that if it was God's will, I could go. So I prayed...and prayed...and prayed...and then waited. 

As always with God, patience was in order, and while it took a long while to learn how to wait properly, eventually, I believe I got the hang of things. (Maybe.) After waiting an interminable amount of time, (about six months) my parents gave the ok. Then began the long process of applying to VOICE Missions, the Taiwanese Embassy, and getting a Visa. 

As each application was approved, I got more and more excited, looking forward to when I would get the final ok. Once that came, I rejoiced--possibly more than I should have--that God really wanted me in Taiwan, it wasn't the figment of my imagination after all! 

Now? As you've seen before, I'm on my way to Oklahoma City for training, spiritual encouragement, and a lot of fun! 

Aaaand... In under two months now, I'll be walking the streets of a Taiwanese city,   boom ooooom mono I trying to learn the language, and being a light to those who walk in the darkness. 

I'm going to leave you all with this verse: 

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Matthew 28:19

Shalom, Yeshua be with you this week!

-Marissa 

Packing

 

 

 

You. Have. No. Idea.

 

I LOVE to travel.

 

I. HATE. PACKING.

 

Don’t get me wrong, there’s something exciting about packing for a trip, but the decisions! Every last thing I take must be evaluated on how much I will use it. If I’ll only use it once or twice, then forget it. I’ll find something better. Or I’ll just do without. I’m normally a light packer—until it comes to books, then it’s a lost cause—but sometimes, I believe I try too hard.

 

I’m leaving in two weeks for training with VOICE missions (for the year I am going to spend in Taiwan. More on that later.), and I’m attempting the feat of taking only a carryon size suitcase, my violin, and a backpack. We’ll see if I make it. (haha) I managed a week-long trip last year with that suitcase, but this time it’s for two-and-a-half weeks…and I love fashion. A LOT.

 

Soooo! Guess who’s learning to live with the smallest amount of baggage? And the smallest amount of fashion while trying to look good too. (I suppose God might be trying to tell me something here, right? haha…) Maybe…I’m putting too much faith in my clothes, caring too much about how I look…but back to packing.

 

You think packing is easy? (Ha!) Try stuffing enough clothes for a city that averages 100 degrees in a tiny suitcase, and then tell me it’s easy. Oh, and don’t forget, it has to be skirts and high heels. (No. Fun. At. All.) And don’t forget the heavy sweaters and tights for ice skating. I’ve never had to pack so many different seasons in one miniscule suitcase before. (see, it keeps getting smaller. :P)

 

But don’t mistake all this complaining for me not looking forward to this trip. (I’m so excited!!!)

 

Alright, I ranted. I’ll talk about the good in all this now. :D

 

1.       I’m learning that fancy clothes aren’t important to make a good impression.

There is so much I would rather do--be fancy, look nice, put on that lovely mask that makes everyone think you have an amazing life—but honestly? What is the good of putting on that ridiculous mask? No one want’s to see it anyway. And they’re all disappointed to find out about it when you slip and fall. (Just get rid of it. Believe me, you’ll feel better.)

 

2.       I’m getting ready to go to Taiwan for a year, this is good for me!

Stuff, is not necessary for me to live my life. It does not define my life, and I can’t let it. What’s the point of keeping a lot of stuff, dragging it around with you, and clinging so hard to it you let it make you fall? There is no point. Get rid of it! This is honestly the hardest thing for most of us. Stuff is so important to us!

 

3.       I’m packing up my ‘stuff’ and putting it away.

(Truthfully? Right now I want to just get rid of all of it. That’s way easier. haha) I am learning that 90% of everything I have I don’t use more than seven times a year. I think I don’t need it if I only keep it for those few times that I want it. That’s foolish. I mean, honestly?? Just. Get. Rid. Of. It! 

 

 

So to wrap this all up, I think what I’m trying to say to you all is:  that regardless of what room you have in your suitcase, whether you can take everything, or just what is just necessary…it all matters who you chose to reflect to the world. God, yourself, the world…etc.

 

Think about this: Your mind is a suitcase. What you put in, eventually you will retrieve and display to the whole world. Every last person you pass, meet, and interact with, will take away an impression of who you believe in, what your values are, and why you are determined to live—or not live for that matter.

 

Just remember, whatever you believe in will be displayed for all to see one day. Why wait? Why not today?

 

Peace be with all of you!

 

-Marissa

God's Love for Me.

Over the past few years, I've been struggling with lies that I'm not good enough, I'm not worth anything and nobody loves me. 
The past week, I was at CYIA Training School. And it provided a time to spend alone with God, and to meet some great Christian friends. Over the past year, instead of focusing on my relationship with God and looking to Him to fill my void, I went to my guy friends. And instead of focusing on the fact that I knew God loved me, I put on more and more makeup. And basically changed who I was in order to get approval from others. 

I know others have gone through something similar, and I just want to share some verses about how much God LOVES you! 

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God. who loved me and gave himself for me.

This verse shows that Christ died for me! And for you!! Jesus gave his life for you and for me. One of my favorite verse says.. 

Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

How exciting is it that God exults over you with loud singing!

However, I know from personal experience, that hearing that God loves you is different than feeling you are loved. First of all, spend time in God's word and really seek him. And then talk to someone about it. I know, after I told one of my dear friends what was going on I felt immediately better!! 

You are loved! And you are worth something. 
After this week I have made several purposes: 
1. To daily read the bible. 
2. To spend time daily in prayer 
3. To focus on Christ first, in all things. 
4. To live for his purposes. 

AnnaKatherine :)