the Latest Goings On

Ok, so what has been going on since... whenever it is that I last updated everyone. I wrapped up the first semester at the middle school and university where I teach, finished up the term at the English center and headed off for vacation. The first trip was to Bangkok, Thailand to visit some friends from orientation, see the city, and to make a new friend. Upon arriving at Robin's (aka Birdie) home, I was told that a student new to the center had offered to show us
around Bangkok and a nearby city. She was to be our own personal tour guide. The places that she showed us were amazing enough, but it was her
hospitality that made our trip such fun. I
think that my idea of hospitality has forever been altered and I only hope that in the future, whenever it is tourist season in Lafe, Arkansas (pop. 316) I will be able to be as gracious a host as she was.

After that it was off to Indonesia. This trip was such a blessing and a stretch of many, many things, but God is faithful and did more than just get me through it, He blessed me through it. Myself and four others working in Taiwan and Macau, headed off for Banda Aceh, Indonesia to teach English in schools that had been devastated by the tsunami a year ago. Teaching in this school system was a trip. There was no organization in the form of a teaching schedule, or if there was then I was not made aware of it.

This is sort of how the day would go. School officially started at 8:00 am, so I would be dropped off at the school at 8:00 or around there (they operate on "rubber time") to be whisked off to a classroom, with no idea of what level I would be teaching nor for how long I would be teaching them. As the week wore on, one more area of uncertainty was added to the already confusing mix of questions... had I taught this class already?! I had no idea whether these children would understand what I was trying to teach or if it would be so easy they would get bored. So there I was standing in front of a class full of sweetly expectant and eager faces and in my mind I was calmly analyzing the situation and thinking through a series of questions. You know, the normal sort that most have whenever they are faced with uncertain situations... "WHAT IN THE WORLD AM I SUPPOSED TO DO NOW?!?!"

Well, the logical answer came to mind. If you do not know something, ask questions. Perfect! Why didn't I think of that to begin with? That became part of my lesson plan, find out what I am supposed to be doing and then plan a lesson all within 5-10 minutes. I would then have a class that could last from 30 minutes to 90 minutes. I never knew for sure when the class would end and my signal that class was ending usually appeared in the form of someone coming to the door say, "Ok, you stop now". Then it was off to another class to repeat the entire process again, until it was time to stop at around 2:00. Perhaps I am exaggerating a small bit, but that is what it felt like at first. Sort of like an improv, stand-up comedy act. Regardless of the difficulties, it was a great experience. I met some absolutely amazing people that I am privileged to call friends, I saw more of God's amazing creation and I was able to experience once again God's strength in the place of my weaknesses. It was a good time.

This is me with some of the teachers from the school where I taught and below are some students from one of the 17 schools in Banda Aceh.

And below are some of the wonderful people working in Banda Aceh that I can know call friends.

After returning from Indonesia, Chris and I headed off to Singapore. It is an amazingly clean and modern city, which I must say was quite different from Indonesia. Chris and I did the typical tourists things in Singapore, but I do not have any pictures right now. They are still on Chris's camera. I hope to be able to share those with you soon.

Now, it is back to Macau and teaching, which I must say is great also. After being away from everyone in Macau for nearly a month, I was so happy to see my students and friends. And quite honestly, I struggle to come up with something better than being greeted by the smiles and hugs of 38 lively children.

Well, that was a quick overview of what has been happening lately. If you would like more details and stories, I would love to tell you. Send me an email, write me a letter or give me a call. I would love to hear from everyone. Wrapping up, I ask that you would please continue to pray for the people here in Macau and for the continued strengthening of relationships and that our Lord will be glorified through them and I thank God for your prayers, support and love.

In Christ's love,

Cassie