Holly Jolly Christmas!

I had my first holiday overseas! I spent the day eating wonderful American food with great conversation! We had turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing, sweet potatoes (that I may or may not have burned slightly), ham, green bean casserole, homemade rolls, DR. PEPPER (thanks, Jeff!), a tollhouse pie, and peanut butter cookies! I am sure there was more than that! I had so much fun playing with all the kids! They made me think of my special little girls back in America!

The Gasses, The Rileys, Paul, me, Sarah, Matt

(Not pictured - Jeff and Cameron)

Sarah and I

After lunch, Sarah and I hung out at the apartment watching Christmas movies and cleaning for a slumber party with friends! Christmas night, we went and saw Avatar in 3D. Here in Taiwan, when you buy your movie tickets you pick your seat as well. We were only an hour early for the movie, so we got TERRIBLE seats!!! We were on the front, right side of the theater! Avatar is a 3 hour movie, so just imagine what a terribe crick we all had in our necks. Paul, Sarah's bandmate, even moved and sat on the steps in the aisle!

When we got back to the apartment, Amy and Gayo were there prepared for a "lady party!" We had decided to exchange gifts. I really like Amy and Gayo! They are extremely lively and super funny. But, that night, I had my first breakdown. I lost it! It was 11 PM, I was tired, I had a crick in my neck from the movie, I wanted to talk to my family but one of my sisters wasn't there yet. These were all factors of my mini-explosion. I think what shoved me over the edge was communication. We tried to watch a movie, but because it was Taiwanese, it wouldn't work on my computer and I think Amy and Gayo were a little frustrated. They started only speaking in Mandarin. I couldn't understand, and all I really wanted was to talk to my family on Christmas day! So, I just started sobbing. Ridiculous, I know! But it truly couldn't be helped. They were very sweet to me, but didn't really understand why I was upset. They don't really have a comparison of this holiday. Chinese New Year's is all about the party, and maybe not the family time. Well, I excused myself and ran to Skype my family. My mom cried with me. My sister cried with me. It was exactly what I needed! They know me so well and were able to calm me down! I love my family! I even got to see Reesie take a few steps! It was perfect! I am so thankful for Skype! After I calmed down and watched my neices open some presents, I went back to my "lady party!" We had lots of fun! Amy gave me a super cute pink wallet and Gayo gave me a cell phone cover (so maybe I won't forget it all the time)! I gave them each little wooden plaque that said a verse from Psalms.

Christmas Party on the 11th Floor

Saturday, December 26th

Total guests was around 85 (ahh!)

Shine, Jenny, and I

Amy and I

Lola, me, and Example

Matt, Sarah, Me, Cameron, Jeff, and Paul

The Longrun Players have finished their term and are heading back to the USA!

I am going to miss you guys!!!

To DeeDee's favorite 2 year old!!!

Today is someone very special's birthday! Since I couldn't be with her today,

I thought I would send a special message just to her!

Shihlin Night Market

On Sunday night, we went to the Shihlin (pronounced Shur lin) Night Market. It is the most famous of all the night markets in Taiwan. It is CRAZY busy!

You can buy so many things there, from shoes and clothes to suitcases, wigs and sleeping bags.

I bought my first pair of shoes, a pair of tall black boots. Love them!

Girls

Guys

My new friends, Amy, Gayo, and Katherine got me to try some of the

traditional Taiwanese and Chinese foods.

If anyone knows me well at all, you know that I am an extremely picky eater.

Be impressed!

Stinky Tofu - Yep! It smells like Porta-potty water and tastes pretty much the same except spongy. Eh!

Oyster Omelet - I wish that you could have been there to experience this with me. It was the most terrible thing I have ever put in my mouth. I was trying to hard not to throw it back up, that I started crying. I was able to force my straw into my mouth and the omelet just kind of slid down my throat. Needless to say, I will NEVER EVER eat another oyster omelet!

Octopus Soup - Pretty tasty, if you can get over feeling like you are gnawing on a tongue. I quite enjoyed my seafood soup!

Taipei Diaries: Vol. I

">

My First Few Days Here

I have officially made it to Taipei, Taiwan! I have had a blast so far and have so many awesome stories. Below are just a few to start.

I left for the Lubbock airport at 4:30AM on December 2nd. At the airport, Mom and I were lugging my 3 gigantic suitcases up to the ticket counter. A very sweet lady pulled 2 gigantic pieces of luggage up behind us in line. My mom, the talker, asked this lady where she was headed. She said, “Taipei, Taiwan.” Can you believe it??? Well, we compared our routes and we were flying all 3 flights together! She asked me why I was headed there. I told her and she got so excited! She said that she had become a follower earlier this year and looking for a “body” to fellowship with in Taipei. Amazing!!! What are the odds? Ridiculous, I am sure! I know that He planned that chance meeting so that I (and my mother) would be able to feel comfort in knowing that I wouldn’t be making this journey alone! So, at every airport we would meet up in the terminal and head to the next flight or grab something to eat! She is a very sweet lady! She gave me all of her information. I hope that we will be able to meet up in the next few weeks, before she heads back to Tech for school. We arrived at our destination at 8:30PM, December 3rd!

Joyce - My New Friend

Next story…

My supervisor’s wife took me to get passport size photos at a local shop near my office. We walked in and the owner went crazy over me. He started speaking Mandarin to me, which I of course do not understand at all. I just kept nodding, which I am not sure was the appropriate thing to do after I found out what he was talking about! Bev, my supervisor’s wife, is fluent and kept speaking for me. Apparently, the owner of the shop thought I was very beautiful and he had a son, 25,very shy and very single. He thought that we would be perfect for each other. He generously offered to let me move in with his family while we prepare for the wedding. I sat there nodding the entire time! Dumb!!!! I did feel sorry for his son who was sitting behind us the entire time. I’m sure he was mortified!

Sites

I have eaten official Taiwanese food. I had dumplings, corn soup, soy milk, and a drink called Black Pearl Milk Tea. I liked the food, but not so much the drinks. The “black pearls” are tapioca and have the texture of a soggy, slimy marshmallow.

Black Pearl Milk Tea (Can you see the pearls??)

My new roommate, Sarah, has taken me all over the city! Sarah took me to eat at this awesome pizza place just around the corner from our apartment. So good! We also went to a place called, Monster Ice, and I got a banana smoothie, YUM! After that, we headed back to the apartment for a little rest before trekking out again. This time we added 2 of Sarah’s teammates, Matt and Cameron. We went to the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial. The colors are so vivid and there are people everywhere! We took tons of pictures of us jumping!

Gate to the Memorial and National Theater

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial

Me, Cameron, Matt, and Sarah

After that we split from the boys, and headed to Longshan Temple. There was some kind of festival going on. We walked in by the station where you purchase incense and food or clothing to burn for your ancestors. The belief is that if you need it in this life, you will need it in your next life. There were tables set up everywhere with lots of food piled high. Also, everyone had books that they were chanting from. It was a beautiful chant, but it made me so sad. I just felt the lostness and hopelessness that these people were feeling. We walked around and saw the many god figurines that were being worshipped. It was a heavy feeling. We then headed to a night market right by the temple.

Snake Alley - Fruit Market

It was called Snake Alley, because apparently, they used to drink lots of snake blood before animal rights had a fit. It was a little sketch in that neighborhood! We then met up with the rest of Sarah’s team in a Starbucks in this young, hip area of town. I had a Toffee Nut Latte à YUM! So good! Everyone should get one. We ate dinner from street vendors. I got a corndog type thing. It was good, kind of sweet. The boys got a kind of like egg omelet thing. It was not bad either. Sarah got fried corn that was no good. She then got something that looked like fried donut holes, which turned out to be some kind of bird eggs, we think! Terrible! She had no luck! She should have stuck to the corndog! Haha! We also got fruit from a street vendor. It was some kind of mix between a cantelope and something else. I have also tried a pear/apple. It tastes like an apple but has the texture of a pear. Yummy!

Good, no GREAT news!!!!

I have a wonderful update for all my friends and family that have been going through this entire visa process with me.

This morning, I got a phone call saying that I was granted a visa! I am so excited and a little in shock that it is really official! No more running around. After so many months of trying and working and worrying and crying, I have finally received that one little stamp that will allow me to continue on in this journey that He has sent me.

Thank you for always praying for me and sending me encouraging messages! I truly appreciate all your love. I know that I could not have handled the last few months without the phone calls, messages, and visits!

Just now, I had this conversation with my neice, Reagan.
D: Are you excited about my big news?
R: Not really!
D: Why?
R: Um. (made a sad face and looked away)
D: I am going to miss you, Reagan!
R: (She jumped into my arms) I am going to really miss you, DeeDee! When are you coming back from Taiwan? Is it really soon?

I am so incredibly blessed with so many special people in my life that I am going to miss terribly!

My Help Comes From the Lord

Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills,
From where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade on yor right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.

I read this passage this morning and it just reminded me how lucky I am. I may not have my visa yet, but I have a Father who keeps my going out and coming in! He is the keeper. He is sending me to East Asia and I will be going there in His timing. The waiting is not fun, and I have to remind myself quite frequently, but He is control and I would have it no other way.

Maybe I am not ready to go yet? Maybe there is something I need to be here for? Maybe I still need to learn something? Maybe I am supposed to be here for someone else? All I know is that I will go when He wants me to go.

Visa - Oh, Where is my Visa?

Here is an update on my departure.

I am supposed to be leaving on Monday, October 19th, for East Asia. Since before I left for orientation, I have been working on getting my visa. The process for this specific country can be quite difficult. I have to send in many official, notorized, original documents (birth certificate, police record, college transcript, medical health form, etc.). Once I send in these documents, I have to send in $15 for EACH document to be authenticated. Once I have everything authenticated, they send back the originals to me. Once I have the originals back, I fill out and send in the application form, another larger check, my passport, and all the original, authenticated documents, and copies. Once they have everything, it should be easy sailing.

That was definitely not the case for me. I sent in all documents, except the medical form, to be authenticated before I left for orientation. I had the medical health form filled out by my doctor there at orientation. I then sent it to Houston - where I had sent all other documents. They called me a week or so later to inform me that since it was notorized in VA, I would have to send it to the Washington DC office. They sent it back to me. I sent it straight to DC. I got it back literally 2 days before the end of orientation. The visa office called me as I am waiting for the bus to pick me up for the airport to take me back to Texas. They tell me that I need to send everything to Houston, with my application. They also told me to check with Houston to see if they had received everything. I called Houston. She asked me what type of visa I was getting and I responded with an "M" visa. She immediately asked me if I was a priest or a nun, and which naturally, I am not. She then yelled at me for over 2 mins. saying that an "M" got paid by their god and not by people, and that I would never be able to get this type of visa. She then promptly hung up on me. I cried. I emailed my supervisor and told him word for word the conversation I had. He said that I should not talk to them anymore unless he specifically told me to. I was definitely alright with that. The next morning, I got all the documents together and made a trip to Lubbock so that I could mail off my application to Houston. I get home around lunch and have another email from my supervisor - "Do not send your application to Houston. We will try to send it to DC." At this point, I felt like I was running into one brick wall after another. What could I do? It was sent.

I heard from the Houston office a few days later. They had received my application. I didn't answer or call back because my supervisor told me not to talk to them. I emailed my supe. again and he said that I needed to talk to them. I called them back, where she (the same lady who went on a tyrant earlier and hung up on me) told me that it would be nearly impossible to get that type of visa. She was kind this time, nearly no yelling. She said that her boss was out of the office and wouldn't be back until Monday. I was leaving on Friday, before said Monday, to go to San Diego with my parents.

Then, it was time for me to go on the fabulous cruise with my parents. I didn't think about my visa the entire time. It was wonderful. Maybe a little stupid, but utterly fabulous!

Reality hit on Friday as we are waiting to get off the boat and head to the airport. I got an email from my supe. saying that the visa people could not get a hold of me and that they did not have all the documents they needed and that everything needed to be done that day. I called the visa people and talked to the same lady (not quite as nice this time). She said that I needed to send in a check because she mailed all my stuff to East Asia and she needed my medical health form. She said that she had a copy that was notorized in VA, but not authenticated. I kindly explained that the authentication stamp was on the backside of the sheets. She yelled that no they weren't and that I needed to send them ASAP. I was in the airport in CA, and I couldn't confirm 100% that I did send it. She told me that she would contact me with any updates, but that it wasn't really necessary to send the document because I was probably going to get denied. Once I got home that night (around 11:30PM), I checked everywhere for those papers. I did not have them. I am still positive that I sent them to her.

I waited to hear back from her on Monday and Tuesday. I called her yesterday and left a message. She called me back to say that she hadn't received my check or that medical form. I kindly asked her to look at the backside of the sheets again. And again she yelled that she did not have the originals or the authenticated ones. We hung up. I was frustrated and left completely confused and helpless. She called back in literally 2 mins, and I am thinking, "great! she found the authentication stamp!" Wrong! Oh, how wrong I was. She had received a fax from East Asia saying that I had 2 years experience being an "m" and that I needed to send her documentation of this experience. She asked me why I had not sent it to her already. At this point, I am thinking, "Did my supe. tell them that I had this experience? Am I supposed to say, yes, I have this experience? Do I tell them that I have no clue what she is talking about?" I decided to be honest and say that I didn't really know what she was talking about. She, of course, yelled. I asked if I could contact my supe. and ask what this was talking about. She said, "NO! I need you to send me the document showing this NOW! I have to send something to East Asia right NOW!" I told her that I didn't know what she was talking about at all and couldn't send her that info. She was not happy.

I obviously emailed my supe. who told me that he thinks they were confused and talking about a different person/family.

This morning, I woke up to my phone ringing. It was the visa people in DC. She yelled at me saying that I have not sent her any documents and that she has tried to contact me several times. I explained to her that she told me (I even gave the date that I talked to her office) to send everythign to Houston. She denied that she said that, and that someone in her office must have told me that wrong thing. She then said I needed to send everything to her ASAP. I told her everything was in Houston. She was pretty angry and said that she was going to call Houston and have them send everything to her. She then hung up on me.

So - this is where I stand. I am supposed to leave on Monday. Seeing as how it is Thursday and still no visa granted, I doubt that I will be able to leave on Monday. I am asking for all my PR warriors to lift this situation up. I am trying to stay strong with a positive attitude, but I am definitely not used to being yelled out and hung up on. I am feeling utterly helpless!

Tales of Wanderlust

(I stole this title from one of my favorite people - Kalie!)

So, this weekend I made my first trek to Washington, DC. I loved it so much!

I really wish that we would have been able to spend a little more time in the city,

but we sure made good use of our time.

Ali and I jumping for Obama!

My good friend Ali invited me to come along with her friend from home, Darrel and his wife, Amy. We roamed all over the city looking for a restaurant and a crappy souvenir shop. (Notice the big house in the background!)

Washington Monument and Big Danielle

Honest Abe

Our feet in the WWII memorial - a refresher from a day full of siteseeing!

Ice cream break!

Little Capitol and Big Danielle

Having fun on the drive home... a tribute to Michael Jackson!

Battered Brothers and Sisters

So, this week has been a tough one. We have been digging into some pretty serious issues here. It made me sick to see how naive I have been and to hear how my fellow brothers and sisters around the world don't have it nearly as easy as me. It made me sad that I have never genuinely been broken for those tortured for their beliefs. I had always heard stories, but until this week, I had never been able to put faces to those stories. I had always thought that these types of things didn't happen in MY modern world. People aren't that barbaric, I thought. How naive I am to think that the Evil One isn't at work in so many nations around the world! My Dad showed me last night how small I have been limiting my world. He showed me that I am to be a part of His world, not mine. He also showed me so many places throughout the fifth book of the New Book where the first followers were stoned and thrown out and still they rejoiced. I can fully confess that I have never been attacked for my beliefs and can sadly assume that I would not be rejoicing if I had. I have also been reading a book called "Princess," by Jean Sasson. It is a biography about a woman raised in Saudi Arabia and the persecution she faced being a woman, even though she is royalty. It is very heart wrenching, not an easy read by any means, but completely eye opening to the realities of our world. We, as Americans, don't have a clue about what is going on outside our bubble, I am afraid. Well, I can't generalize for the entire country, but in my world, I had/still have no idea the devastation that my fellow brothers and sisters are confronted with every day, every hour, every minute, because they love Our Dad.

Please lift up those brothers and sisters who are daily attacked by family members, local leaders, national leaders, religious leaders, etc. Please ask for strength to face adversity and to cling to Him. Ask that He would provide a heart song for them that would encourage and nourish them.


Thank you, partners! I could not be here without the knowledge that I have so many people back home lifting me up. It is such a refresher to have that comfort of sweet words being brought to Our Dad!

Typhoon Morakot

A typhoon hit my people group this weekend. It was the worst typhoon to hit in 50 years. There has been so much devastation, destruction, and death.

-Over 100 people are unaccounted for that were caught in a mudslide.
-The death toll is at 62, at this moment.
-Over 100 roads and 20 bridges have massive amounts of damage.
-Over $225 million (US money) in damage to crops - especially banana trees.
-Several fish, poultry, and pig farms completely wiped out. This could lead to famine.
-Around 60,000 without power and water. This should lead to disease.

My heart is broken for these people, even though I haven't technically met them yet. I have been lifting them up for several months now and have fallen in love with them. I have met some new friends who have just gotten back from this place and are still very connected to the people. They know faces and names. They know roads and bridges and buildings. They know this land.

Please join me in lifting up the victims and their families. Ask that they will be healed by the Ultimate Healer. Ask that the resources needed will continue to flood in from other nations. Ask that the damage done to the roads, bridges, houses, etc. would be able to be fixed. Ask that this will not lead to famine in the villages and disease to the nation. Ask that through this disaster that their hearts will be changed and yearning for the only Hope.

Me? A Soldier?

FOREWARNING – I know absolutely nothing about the military or its’ terms, so forgive me for any mistakes I will surely make!

My best friend from high school recently found out that her boyfriend of three years, an officer in the army, is being sent back overseas right into the heart of the fighting. When she told me, I just cried for them both and asked Him to give them both strength and safety in this time of uncertainty. I could not imagine going into hand-to-hand combat, actually seeing your enemy and the hatred that has fueled the need to try to take your life. Yesterday, someone commented on me and my new friends being soldiers. Wow! Me? Are you sure? For the rest of the day, I just chewed on that nugget of wisdom. I was suddenly overwhelmed with so much clarity in the magnitude of this world and the supernatural battle it faces everyday!

“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.” (Eph. 6:12)

I am a soldier. I am more than a soldier, I am His warrior. He is sending me into the front lines for hand-to-hand combat in the MOST important battle. He has chosen me to join His infantry. I feel so honored and inadequate and nervous, yet brave. As you can tell, my feelings are a little conflicted. Thankfully, He is control and knows what He is doing by sending me. Please lift me up and my new friends as we continue to prepare for His great battle and our involvement.

The "See You Laters" Have Begun

Well, I have been on a worldwind of trips trying to get in all my "see you laters" before I head out. I visited several of my friends in the Dallas area. I had so much fun with everyone. I was able to spend lots of quality time with some very special people in my life.

(ABOVE - My going away dinnner party at BJ's! Kat Parsons, Jessie Goodwin, Erin Klein, Caty Skinner, Lindsay Brimer - soon to be Paris, Lindsay Badgeley, Ashley Hayes, Rachel Chapman, me, Brandi Burgan, and April Benavides)

April and I trying on awesome hats!

April, Candace, Lylah, and I found this cool wall. It was full of good advice.

Ashley and I. We have such a unique friendship. We will always be friends.

Caty and I after a fun filled day at Six Flags! It was a lot of fun, until she got motion sick.

Uncle Andy, Emily, and I. Sweet family! I love them so much.

I wish that I had a picture with Gayle and Colby, too.

Danielle's headed to East Asia!

Hey bloggers!

I am so excited to be jumping on the blogger bandwagon!

Let me begin with my testimony of the last year. In August of 2008, I quit my successful job at Howard Payne University as an Admission Counselor. I knew it was my time to go and I was trusting God that he would provide a job for me in Houston with my sister, Holly, and her family. Thankfully, I am blessed with a fantastic family, and Holly, Clee, and Payton let me move in with them while I was trying to get settled in Houston. I applied to many jobs and went to several interviews, and second interviews, and even a third interview. All brought the same result, NO JOB! It was really frustrating and kind of eye-opening. In the past, if I wanted something and I interviewed for it, I got it. I cannot really remember a time that someone actually didn't want me for the job. It was definitely hard for me to get a rejection time after time. Finally, in January, I got a phone call from a battered women's shelter for a job in legal advocacy. At the interview, I was hired on the spot. I should have been thrilled, but I was terrified. This job should have been ideal. My psychology major and criminal justice minor would work perfectly in this field. As my boss was giving me an orientation of the job, I started suffering from this incredible heavy feeling. I quickly excused myself and began throwing up in the bathroom. This happened several times in the course of a few hours. I cried out for help and clarity, and all I heard was "Leave!" I couldn't leave! I had been searching for a job for over 4 months! Logically, I couldn't leave. I went back and finished my paperwork. As I went to turn everything in, the words, "I can't" came spilling from my mouth. At that moment, I wish I could have reversed time and took those 2 words back. I told them that I was so sorry for wasting their time and that I couldn't explain why, but I just wasn't right for this job. I ran to my car and started the hour and a half commute home. I frantically called my mom (working), Holly (in a bible study), and Layla (in a bible study, too). I had no one else to call. So, I basically screamed out and fought with the Lord about what I was doing and why. I heard silence. I was so confused! When I got home, I locked myself in my room and fought some more with Him. The next day after I was so emotionally drained and more lost than ever, Holly asked me if I had thought more about going overseas to do missions. Everytime I had felt the pull before, I quickly headed the other direction yelling all the reasons why I should never ever do that. This time, when Holly mentioned it, I decided to stop running the opposite way. So I started the process. It wasn't always easy and it definitely wasn't always fun. The one thing that was always constant was the Lord's hand moving so purposefully and so masterfully that I couldn't for once question that I was not on the right path. In May, I had an interview up in Virginia. It was the hardest week emotionally. I had 3 days to basically research locations while going to sessions and interviews most of the day. It was so stressful to find the job that fit me and overwhelming looking at all the different regions. Thankfully, He put wise people in my path and didn't leave me to figure all that out on my own. I am headed to East Asia to do amazing things!

I leave for orientation in exactly 3 weeks from today. I will be headed to East Asia sometime in October.

So, that is my story - check back for updates!