Life in Pictures

I'm loving the Taiwan life. AND missing my other life.

But this is proof of me loving my life :) More coming soon!

Jesus, Help Me Pray

I miss Hualien.

So. So. Much.

Today the burden I have for my Asia home is great. My heart is breaking for the children, for the families, for their souls. We have begun planning for the CI camp we will be holding in Gongfu, a village an hour south of Hualien City.

I know when I lived in Taiwan I had students from that area, and it's very possible that we will be teaching some of my students. It's hard, thinking about my students. What are they like now? Have they grown any? Do they remember what we taught them? Do they remember me?

All I want is my home to know God. I want Jesus to be the center of all they think and do. I want my students to be passionate about following Christ and passionate about character. I want to see healing come to the place in the world I love the most.

I'm learning how to pray for Hualien again. I thought I knew how, but this upcoming trip has made me realize how helpless I am. I want to see Jesus bring my home to Himself. It hurts to know we can't reach everyone.

So friends, I'm asking--because I'm selfish, I can't imagine heaven without these people--please help me pray. Help me pray for my home. Pray that we will be effective. Pray that we won't just plant seeds, but that we will see a harvest. Pray that Jesus will come down and touch the lives of each of the children we will be reaching out to.

I can't tell you how grateful I am for people who pray with me.

Thank You,

Alana

Living the CI Life

Have you ever, I mean ever--bit off more than you could chew??

Well, as I sit on this freezing cold floor, since it is the only place anywhere close to an outlet... I'm thinking I have.

I'm loving the next part of my time in Taiwan, CI's.

But I'm still trying to process the whirlwind of a trip I had before this part. I've now been in 5 cities all over Taiwan. Every day has been packed with life. I'm now sitting here wondering, when will I even post here??

This part of my trip is adding jobs to my list, I'm staff, a accountability group leader, the photographer, the writer, the blogger, the picture poster, the assistant food girl. There might be more, but no one has told me yet. So I'm saying all this to simply ask: Please forgive me for not posting sooner/not posting as much as I would like to here. (Oh and if you would like you can always see what I'm posting, that others write, on thecijournal.com)

Life is good. Full, but good. God is working and I'm so excited to be part.

Thank you all for your prayers. I need them. As always ;)

Alana

Nantou

There is so much running through my mind right now. God is so good and I stand amazed at what He is doing in Taiwan.

I'll be writing more as far as stories go soon. But before I fall asleep, here are a few pictures from today. It was one fantastic day. I love seeing into the heart God has given others. Just saying :)

Hands down my favorite pic of the day. This kid was so cute. I so wish I could have had more time to actually get to know him. 40 minutes just was not enough.

Can anyone say eyes??

READY?

I'm in Taiwan.

Yes.

Here.

It's amazing.

I'm more than a little happy to be 'home.'

The next 6 weeks of my life are going to be insane. (which if you're interested, means: "(of an action or policy) extremely foolish; irrational or illogical." What I'm doing is both irrational and illogical. Really.) This adventure is for the books.

The question that keeps going through my mind is: Am I ready?

Am I ready to be moving around every three days for the next 6 weeks? Am I ready to be a small group leader? Am I ready to write these stories? Am I ready to take these pictures?

I don't know.

But as I was getting my Taiwan cell number and fighting jet lag, I realized that that is okay.

Me not being ready is inviting God to come and do the great work. So as I go, I will share the stories of God working. As many as I possibly can. It's gonna be great ;)

-lana

"And there were many other things Jesus did. Where every one of them to be written I suppose the world itself could not contain the books that would be written." John 21:25

Emma

"Sometimes, the whole picture is never meant to be seen."

That is a piece of wisdom that most times I don't want to hear. Especially when it comes to my little cousin Emma. I just don't understand.

Emma is one of the most precious baby girls I've ever met. Full of smiles, life and joy.

I think that's why it's so hard to understand.

Emma isn't like normal baby girls. All her life she's been in and out of hospitals, poked and prodded, in and out of surgeries. It hurts knowing all she has had to go through, a story that would make anyone cry.

But really, the hurt is only half of Emma's story. The other half is harder to see. It's the half that if you didn't know it was there would be completely looked over. This half of Emma's story comes from others. From family, uncles, aunts, grandparents and Jesus.

It took me a long time to learn of the love Jesus has for Emma. And even still I know I can't understand. But somehow, someway, I hope to. In the midst of this fallen world, Jesus loves deep enough to allow Emma to go through this pain.

It feels wrong to say.

But it's true.

On December 31, 2010, I spent the afternoon with Emma and my dear Aunt, her Nana. I couldn't think of a better way to spend the last day of 2010. For the first time, I got to hold and meet this little one. For the first time I saw the sparkle in her eye, heard her talk, saw the wheels constantly turning in her smart little head. In those moments I remembered: My Uncle Rick praying, every day at every meal, lifting her up before the throne of God. I remembered the other countless people who have spend days praying for her healing. I thought of the Savior who came just for her.

I realized Jesus isn't finished with her yet.

My baby cousin Emma understands a part of Jesus at two that I will probably never understand in a lifetime. She understands suffering and the joy that can come from it.

In many ways, I believe Emma wouldn't be as happy as she is if she weren't in pain. I don't think she would bring sunshine to the world if people weren't praying for her. I believe that this precious little one wouldn't know joy without her suffering.

And yet, all I want is for her to heal. It broke my heart to know she's back in the hospital.

So I still don't understand. I never will. How love can be so deep, so flawless, that beauty can come from pain? I believe it will come in Emma's life. I believe it already is. It just hurts to see.

If the day ever comes when I understand, I'll try to put it in words. And when Emma makes it to the other side--the side of living a healthy life, I'll write all of her story. But right now all I can do is pray. And trust.

Jesus loves Emma. So much more than any of my family could. So much more than we could ever imagine. Which is why I can't see the whole picture. Why none of us can.

"Sometimes, the whole picture is never meant to be seen."

Merry Christmas

It dawned on me this morning that it was last Christmas when I started this blog. It’s hard to believe what I’ve been through over this last year. And sometimes, it’s even harder to believe what is coming for this next year.

I can’t lie and say that life is all hunky dory. It’s not. I’m tired really. Worn out and overwhelm by what has come my way. But it is Christmas, and no matter how tired I am, excitement is bubbling inside of me and spilling out all the time.

I’m just so blessed. There are more presents than I could ever have imagined at my second family’s house. People have been more than generous. I got to spend a weekend with my family. I wish it was more, WAY more, but at least I got that much. I have friends who care, really care for me. I have the best roommate ever. Like I said: so blessed.

And to give more news—I’m headed back to Asia. In three weeks. Once again it’s like time is repeating it’s self, this time last year I was preparing for Nepal. Today I prepare for Taiwan. Three weeks! I’m more than excited, (and overwhelmed) and I’m more than sure that God’s blessing is upon this!

But right now, in the midst of my overwhelm, I’m quietly celebrating my Jesus choosing to come to earth and become a man, so I (Me!) could be saved. I’m my normal quirky self when I do this: I read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, then the Christmas story, then sing a little, then drink chai. Because He loves me.

"For unto you is born this day, in the City of David, a Savior, Who is Christ the LORD."

Merry Christmas Friends