Taiwan CI 2015

Hello everyone!  So my first week in Taiwan was exciting, and a little nerve racking at the same time. Me and Mary spent 19 hours on a plane starting Saturday evening and we arrived Monday at 5:30am. I got almost no sleep the entire time and I did not get to sleep until Monday evening.  Now I came to Taiwan a week early than I would have gone because of CI.  CI is an acronym for Children's Institute, where others from American and Taiwan come and teach children Bible Character attributes.  Now I came during the last week of CI, which was in Taipei.  The CI officially started for me Tuesday morning.  It was a lot harder than I expected, for a lot of reasons.  One was jet leg...it is not a myth, as I mistakenly believed.  So I was exhausted all week which was difficult because we had such a busy schedule.  So every morning we would have devotionals, then lunch, then training for the evening, then dinner, then at 6:00pm we had to be ready for the children to arrive.  On my team I was working with Tracy and Vincent, both are from Taiwan.

My team and the children we taught

Tracy was the team leader, and she was just as nervous as I was because this was her first time leading a team, usually she was the interpreter for the foreigners (as we Americans are called there).  I was also nervous because this was going to be my first time teaching ever! So we worked out a plan that we would take turns teaching.  Thankfully God was with us everyday giving us strength to plan and prepare for the children and to get across the important character attributes of the week-which were focused on the Power of God.  I must say even though I was terrified at first, the next day (my turn to teach) I was a lot more comfortable and actually excited to teach.  And throughout the week I was just having so much fun talking to the children and teaching them the lessons as well as helping with their crafts.

Helping out with the craft

Teaching a lesson on the Imprisoned can be set free

One of the skits during large group (Tim, David, and Esther)

In addition to our team, there were about 5 or so other teams and we would have a large group story time.  During this time the main leaders of CI would put together a skit that would go with the character attribute for the day.  Sadly there were illnesses among some of the teachers and in a way spiritually warfare.  However, God was good to us and I believe He helped give us all strength to not just push through the week, but triumph.  It was all very fun and I would not change one moment of it.
Throughout the week, we did activities.  On Thursday, it was like the get away day before preparing for the lessons in the evening.  Everyone in CI split off into two groups.  My group, with Emily, Tracy, Tim, Angela, Elliot, Trey, and Luke, went hiking in the mountains.

 Now this was not a normal hike...this was stair hiking, where you just walk up stairs until you get to the top.  And mind you, these stairs were not at all an easy climb, they were very steep. I thought that was the best part, the stairs, it was a great day for hiking with a great view, and I was just able to clear my head and unwind.

Climbed on top of a large rock at the end of the trail
 (Emily on my left and Tracy on my right)

Unfortunately CI had to end.  I met a lot of great friends, and I had a super awesome time teaching and spending time with the children.  To finish the CI journey, we all met Saturday night for a party.

My ninja costume

This was a special party because we all had to dress up like a superhero (made up or already existing)  Then at the party we had pizza and we had to play a sort of game where we split off into groups and had scenarios of saving the Taiwan from a super villain, and we had to incorporate all the superpowers in our group.  I went as the invisaninja and my superpower was invisibly and speed.

Me and Mary on the top of the roof

That night some of us got to go to the roof of the building and then climb a ladder to the very top and we were treated with an amazing view of the city.  All in all, I had a great time, and made many memories and friends.