extraordinary love.

"...and let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us,

and establish the work of our hands for us;

yes, establish the work of our hands."

Psalms 90:17

I wrote this verse out a couple of days ago and posted it on my mirror in my bathroom. It's my cry...my heart...my prayer. I've realized in a whole new way over the past several days how fruitless even my best efforts can be if Jesus Christ isn't the One I rely on.

I heard a quote once that said "relying on God has to begin all over again everyday, as if nothing yet had been done."

Father God must be my sole motivation and my complete confidence in order for me to truly be all that I can be here.

And so often for me, it only takes me getting on my knees and humbling myself before the Creature of the universe and asking for more of HIM. And yet there are times when this simple act of humility can be so hard. While I might tell my Father I need Him, am I able to say with the Psalmist that "there is nothing on earth I desire besides You"? When I allow my pride to blind me from seeing my undeniable need for my Jesus, everything else gets foggy in the process.

This morning I read in my devotional that the minute you become conscious of the difference you are making, that difference begins to diminish. Because yours eyes are no longer looking only to Jesus, but now they are conscious of you.

Oh how I long for eyes only for my Saviour. For a heart of humility that awakes every morning being completely confident in who my God is, and in nothing else.

"....yes, establish the work of our hands."

---

Life here in Taiwan continues to challenge and call me on in so many ways. I'm falling in love with these people more everyday. I'm only discovering Hualien to be more and more beautiful! I walked outside of my room last night to take a look at the stars before I went to sleep, and I was overwhelmed with the beauty of the sky. God, in His love, sent me to a place where I have mountains which speak of His incredible majesty and power. He sent me to a place where I also have the beach so close to me, which to me speaks of the beauty and intimacy of God and the wonderful way He cleanses our hearts. Hualien City is also one of the only places in Taiwan that you can see stars because most of Taiwan is too polluted to be able to see the stars at night. And the stars are one of my favorite things about the sky because each one shines so differently and Jesus knows each by name. Just as He knows my name, my deepest desires and everything else that makes me special. And He has destined me to shine with the uniqueness He's placed in me...just like those stars.

I continue to be blessed and overwhelmed by God calling me here to Hualien. God could have chosen so many other places in Taiwan for me to call home for this year....and yet He chose the most beautiful part of Taiwan. Just for me. :) Oh how He loves us.

---

Camp ended today (friday afternoon) and saying goodbye to the kids was hard! That's definitely one of the hardest things about being here so far. Opening up your heart and loving on these precious kid---and then sending them home not really sure if you'll ever see them again...

Three kids especially stuck out to me this past week from the camp. I came to love them and they will always be in my heart. One of them was a little boy and he reminded me soooo much of my little brother, Malachi. He was spunky and smart and had a smile that could brighten up your day in a second. Another one of them was a little girl who's English name is Jean. Her English was the best in the class and she was hungry to learn. She told me how much she wants to come to America and her eyes lit up when I told her whenever she gets older, she can come see me. I gave her my email so I'm hoping we can be in touch! She's a precious girl and I even got to talk about Jesus a couple times with her. She knew who He was but only because she had heard from someone else about Him. As I watched her walk out when she got picked up today, I prayed that God's love would meet her everyday in some special way throughout the rest of her life. The third one was a boy who's English name was Bryan. Even though by looking at him you would assume something different, he was definitely one of the brightest in my class this week. He had this desire to learn like I've never really seen in a kid before. It inspired and challenged me. He was a blast to teach. Oh I'm going to miss those kids...

This school I work at is different from most in the way that we have brand new kids every week. It's an intense week long English Institution. The kids will come on Monday morning and leave Friday afternoon, live in the dorm and have class during the day. I know God has awesome things in store for this school. God even showed me some specific stuff the other night as my roommate and I prayer walked the campus. We can't even begin to comprehend right now what He will do this next year and I'm so blessed to be a part of it! 

Loving and then having to let them go at the end of each week hasn't gotten any easier and I can only see it getting harder as God continues to show me how to love more everyday. I read a quote the other day and put it on my wall in my desk, so everyday I could be reminded of this.

The quote said, "We must grow in love and in order to do this, we must go on loving and loving and giving and giving until it hurts-the way Jesus did. Do ordinary things with extraordinary love."

I must love with everything in me and trust that God will put back together the pieces of my heart that break when I see them go. And whenever I think about the tremendous opportunity I have being here to be able to reach soooo many precious kids throughout this year, I get excited. How could I not show them every bit of love I have to give, even if it hurts? I have to love...I will always choose to love these people. Because that's what Jesus did. He loved even when He experienced more hurt then I will ever know. How can I decide anything different?

So here's to loving...passionately and dangerously. Because that's why I'm here.

life.

Hualien, Taiwan. this beautiful place I call my new home.

one of the precious teachers i work with.

learning chinese menus. :)

the other American teacher I live with, Alana, and another one of the teachers I work with.

it's called clam hunting. you catch them, cook them and eat them. :) 

a young taiwanese beauty.

new friends.

the beach. 10 minutes from my dorm.

one of my favorite things about Hualien. this wonderful little bridge. :)

the east coast beach. absolutely beautiful!

these first steps.

Ni Hao, friends. :)

So here I am. Home in Hualien City, Taiwan. I LOVE this beautiful city. The beach is less then two miles from the school where I live and I can see mountains as soon as I walk out my door. So I think I might just stick around here for a year or so..... :)

I traveled here by train on Monday after spending Sunday in Taipei with a friend. This week has been full of new faces, no air conditioning, rain, strange foods and many first week memories. Emphasis on strange foods. :) Yesterday a couple of the teachers from the school I work at took me out to lunch at this little Japanese restaurant. They were so sweet and paid for my lunch. I ordered something that sounded semi normal, not wanting to completely freak my body out the first week here. Well my "semi normal" choice ended up being anything but normal. I must admit, I've never prayed so much during a meal ever before! "oh God, please keep this food down in my stomach" was all I could seem to think as I ate (or forced down) each bite. I got away with only eating some of my plate and blamed it on the big breakfast I had. :) Now for the good food news. There is more of that then the bad as I love a lot of the food here. :) My new favorite thing is bean sprouts! Aside from the cabbage (which is an all time favorite), bean sprouts are next in line. So that's my food update for the day.....because I know you where all dying to know. :)

This week, along with planning for camps the next two weeks, I've been able to get to know the others teachers here at my school. Six wonderful Taiwanese teachers...passionate about what they do and with hearts as big as Taiwan. Their English is poor, which tends to make communication difficult. That can be a little frustrating coming into a new environment and unsure of all the expectations. But God gives more grace. It only motivates me more to learn Chinese. :) There are three of the teachers specifically that Alana (the American teacher I live with) and I affectionately call our "mother hens". They are in their late twenties and see it as their duty to make sure we're taken care of 24/7. :) They are sweet to us and for that I'm grateful. I'm enjoying getting to know these teachers and building relationships with them. I know God has so much in store in those relationships and I'm excited to see all that He will do!

This first week here as presented a trail that I didn't anticipate. On the 5th, a dear friend of mine went to be with Jesus. I had known Lauren for many years and she walked with me through many different things the last five years or so. I considered her one of my closest girlfriends....I loved her and I miss her already. Knowing that I won't be able to see her beautiful smile upon my return to America gives me more pain then I can express. But God is so faithful and continues to hold me in His gentle hand. Being here so far away during this pain has been rough.....oh what I wouldn't do for a hug from my Daddy. But I continue to put all my trust in my Father whose timing and plan is so perfect. "Be still and know that I am God..". That's what my Father continues to speak over my heart. So I rest. I listen. I grieve. I trust. and I rejoice that Lauren is where she's always dreamed of being. She's dancing at the feet of her Creator, in complete bliss and wholeness. How can I not smile? She definitely is. I'll see her soon...

I know so many of you are praying for me and I appreciate the prayers so very much! I cannot tell you how much of a difference they make. So thank you, thank you, thank you. :) I need to get back to work. The work day is almost over and then it's off to the beach tonight. :)  A couple of you have asked for my address here in Taiwan...so here it is!

Priscilla Chapman

No. 2, Fuhou Road

Hualien County 970

Taiwan (R.O.C.)

Many blessings on you, my friends.

of asian soil and jet lag.

I made it. I'm on this beautiful island called Taiwan. And I couldn't be happier! 

My flight was so smooth and even went relatively fast. 18 hour flights aren't exactly known for going fast so for that I was very grateful. :) God is so good! His favor really does surround us "..as like a shield" like the Psalms says. I'm so grateful for how good the travels were. I serve a mighty God!

Even though my first day here as been full of excitement and of course I'm soaking up every minute, one thing is on my mind. Jet lag. I could only sleep around 2 hours last night and seem to be having to put all my energy into staying awake today. Poor Grace (the girl I'm staying with today), I don't know that any of my sentences have made sense today!

More soon. Praise God for getting me here! Thanks for the prayers. :)