Author: Catherine Lee

TaiwanLeave a comment

Tamsui 淡水 in June!

Catherine Lee

The best month of the year in Tamsui is definitely June ~ forget yesterday’s torrential rains and focus instead on today’s blue skies, blue sea and all the flowers, and especially at Dr. George L. Mackay‘s old clinic (now museum and coffee shop) and the old church – peeping through the gap in the buildings below. Tamsui is oozing with history, every old building tells a story. And these buildings and the Mackay statue are just a small part, there’s plenty more to see! So do come and visit and check it all out for yourself! Continue reading Tamsui 淡水 in June!

TaiwanLeave a comment

Sanzhi 三芝 Parade of the Deities

Catherine Lee

Every year at Dragon Boat Festival time, Tamsui and Sanzhi hold massive parades involving hundreds of gods, deities, idols, lion dancers, horn-blowers, drummers, firecracker-lighters and participants from the temples all around.  On Friday it was the turn of Tamsui, yesterday was the turn of Sanzhi.  This is known as 大拜拜 (da bai-bai) ‘Big Worship’.  ‘Bai-bai’ specifically refers to traditional religious worship in the home or temple, involving offerings of incense and maybe food to the ancestors or deities. Here in Sanzhi, people have been preparing for days, setting up small altars in the doorways of their homes or business.  That’s … Continue reading Sanzhi 三芝 Parade of the Deities

TaiwanLeave a comment

To Keelung 基隆, the hard way….

Catherine Lee

Have bike.  Old bike.  Very old bike.  Old heavy bike.  Old heavy bike that only works in first gear.  Old heavy bike with big strong basket in front.  Good for shopping.  Good for going to market.  Old heavy bike needs to go to Keelung.  New owner lives in Keelung. New owner wants old heavy bike for shopping in local market.  But new owner cannot ride to Keelung. Dragon Boat Festival.  Day off.  4:30 am.  Dark.  Me in yellow.  Me on bike.  Very old heavy bike.  Setting off for Keelung.  In first gear.  First gear all the way to Keelung.  40+ … Continue reading To Keelung 基隆, the hard way….

St. John's University, Taiwan1 Comment

The Grand Opening of the brand new Advent Church Center @ St. John’s University, Taiwan! 聖約翰科技大學 長齡生命關懷中心 落成感恩禮拜 YES!

Catherine Lee

Thanks be to God ~ YES!  And this is it ~ our brand new Advent Church Center in the sun yesterday! Thanks be to hundreds of people who contributed their money, time and resources ~ YES! And thanks be to everyone who came along to participate in the grand opening events ~ note the plural, we’ve had 2, yes TWO grand openings, one for the church and community on Sunday June 5…. and one for St. John’s University (SJU) yesterday, Tuesday June 7…. And guess what?  There’s another grand opening celebration still being planned, for the SJU alumni, who’ve been … Continue reading The Grand Opening of the brand new Advent Church Center @ St. John’s University, Taiwan! 聖約翰科技大學 長齡生命關懷中心 落成感恩禮拜 YES!

St. John's University, TaiwanLeave a comment

St. John’s University Graduation 2016!

Catherine Lee

And another big milestone is reached, another group of SJU graduates is launched ~ ‘n many congratulations to them all! Today’s graduation was spectacular, as always – faculty and students gathered in gowns and mortar boards, parents and friends gathered with bunches of flowers and balloons, and the procession into the hall was led by 3 of our student fellowship students carrying the cross and 2 candles, and followed at the very end by chaplain Rev. Lennon Chang and Bishop Lai. We were delighted that our lovely friend, Su-Chin, who runs around the campus every day cleaning and sweeping and … Continue reading St. John’s University Graduation 2016!

St. John's University, TaiwanLeave a comment

St. John’s University Student Fellowship 聖約翰愛的團契送舊晚會 2016 Farewell Party!

Catherine Lee

‘So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye’ ~ to all our lovely graduating students! Last night was their farewell party in Advent Church, organised by the SJU Student Fellowship group ~ YES! We have 13 or so of our student fellowship graduating, and most of them came last night, the boys in suits, everyone very formally dressed.  One of our 4th year students, Yi-en, is currently in San Francisco on a student exchange program, so she participated via webcam, and as it was the early hours of the morning in California, she kind of laid there in bed watching us all … Continue reading St. John’s University Student Fellowship 聖約翰愛的團契送舊晚會 2016 Farewell Party!

Taiwan2 Comments

Temperature in Taipei is the highest-ever for June – Taipei Times

Catherine Lee

The temperature in Taipei rose to 38.7°C yesterday afternoon, the city’s highest temperature in June the Central Weather Bureau has recorded since it was founded 120 years ago, the bureau said yesterday. Source: Temperature in Taipei is the highest-ever for June – Taipei Times And then the aftermath yesterday….. Extremely heavy rainfall brought by a frontal system pummeled northern Taiwan yesterday morning, severely disrupting operations at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and affecting more than 200 flights. Source: Rain wreaks havoc at Taoyuan airport – Taipei Times Continue reading Temperature in Taipei is the highest-ever for June – Taipei Times

St. John's University, TaiwanLeave a comment

Wow, such an amazing day! JJ 廖健均 ＆ Anny 蔡昀臻’s Wedding @ Advent Church!

Catherine Lee

And the first ever wedding reception in our newly-finished-and-about-to-be-opened-next-weekend brand new Advent Church Centre ~YES! It was a beautiful sunny weekend for a very special wedding ~ always helps to have good weather for the tossing of the bride’s bouquet, and this time it was perfect! And the lucky girl was so happy! In fact everyone was so happy ~ and much due to the Tsai family, ah, they are so much loved by us all! Mr. 蔡秉桓 Tsai Bing-Huan is one of our most mature and active members of St. John’s University Student Fellowship ~ he’s just great, so polite, … Continue reading Wow, such an amazing day! JJ 廖健均 ＆ Anny 蔡昀臻’s Wedding @ Advent Church!