Learning English Jenga-style…

‘Relaxed English’ as a title for my student class is a bit of a misnomer, as those 2 words do not naturally really go together ~ so Jenga to the rescue! The class is run through St. John’s University Chaplaincy, held in Advent Church and open to any of our students, but especially the first-years ~ ‘n this semester we have a great group of 12-15, mostly boys, and including several from Hong Kong and Malaysia…. Anyway, Jenga is a good way to take the focus off the English ~ and so it was last night that the students got … Continue reading Learning English Jenga-style…

Typhoon Dujuan 杜鵑颱風‬

Typhoons come, typhoons go, trees crash down, but thank God for His great mercy! And yet another major typhoon has delighted us with its presence ~ this one, Typhoon Dujuan, was combined with the super moon and the high tides of the lunar eclipse, to make it potentially more dangerous…. Taiwan’s Mid-Autumn Moon Festival was celebrated this weekend, with a 3-day holiday. When we packed up on Friday, we knew there was a tropical storm out there in the Pacific Ocean – but it was heading north to Japan.  By Friday evening, it had changed direction more towards Taiwan, grown … Continue reading Typhoon Dujuan 杜鵑颱風‬

North Coast Kite Festival 2015 @ Baishawan 白沙灣 !

It’s Mid-Autumn Moon Festival today, one of the most important festivals of the year, celebrated with barbecues and moon-gazing, visits home and moon cakes.  We even have a day off on Monday to make the most of it all.   Yippee! It’s also the weekend of Taiwan’s annual North Coast Kite Festival at Baishawan Beach 白沙灣 just a mile or so up the road from here.  Must-go! Ah yes, and to top it all, we have a typhoon on the way! Hopefully the last of the season. Typhoons mean rain and wind, and certainly no moon-gazing, but the wind is of course … Continue reading North Coast Kite Festival 2015 @ Baishawan 白沙灣 !

Hengshan Terraced Fields 橫山梯田 @ Sanzhi 三芝

Within walking distance of Sanzhi 三芝 is a beautiful area, Hengshan Terraced Fields ~ and now is the time of the year to go, when the water bamboo (water oats) are almost at their full height, almost ready for harvest.  This evening as the sun was going down, they were at their best! Y’know, Sanzhi is quite an amazing place! Continue reading Hengshan Terraced Fields 橫山梯田 @ Sanzhi 三芝

St. John’s University Opening Service

A new school year at St. John’s University and we always start each new year (and each semester) with a service in Advent Church, attended by the university president and some of the faculty and staff, along with student representatives from each class.  Members of the student fellowship sing in a choir formed for the occasion, and also lead the prayers. The service ends with the lighting of candles and the singing of the school song, and procession out of the church.  The service was held yesterday afternoon…. A great chance for everyone to come together to commit the new … Continue reading St. John’s University Opening Service

聖約翰愛的團契:迎新餐會 SJU Student Fellowship Welcome Party x2!

A new school year at St. John’s University and 1,036 brand new first-year students have arrived and are settling in.  Classes started last week, and this week all the clubs and societies have launched forth with concerts, discos, welcome parties and dinners to attract the new students to join up…. there’s a lot going on! Our SJU Chaplaincy Student Fellowship has also been busy every day, and the main events were these last 2 evenings, Tuesday and Wednesday, when we welcomed the new students to a party in Advent Church, different days for different departments. More than 20 of our … Continue reading 聖約翰愛的團契:迎新餐會 SJU Student Fellowship Welcome Party x2!