My Final Visa Run-Taiwan

Here you go folks! I am finally catching up my blog and here is my trip to Taiwan. The day we traveled there was my birthday! So, that was exciting to celebrate it in yet another country. Beka met us at the train station in Chiayi when we arrived that evening. We went straight to church and got to see some of our friends that we met last year. We also picked up a few people to go out to the night market for all the sights, sounds and tastes that included. Here's me and Stephanie!We met Jim, the "new guy" who came with us. He's been getting the ropes the past week, so he came along to enjoy the fun. The weekend was pretty relaxed and laid back. Saturday we went out on the scooters for lunch at a popular burger joint that all the missionaries frequent. We even ran in to some others while we were there. It was such a nice day! We could see the mountains as we were riding into town and the sun was shining and warm but not hot like Thailand! We went to Saturday youth group briefly and got tea again! While they were in the non-English language part of youth group we hung out with some people sitting outside and I amused myself with picture taking. That evening we went to eat at a Thai food restaurant with some of Beka's students that just passed an important test that will help them get into college. Steph is just special....to me! LOL! Afterwards we went to the Taiwan Lantern Festival. It was incredible. I can't imagine how much work went into creating and designing it but they did a superb job! We got back so late, that our slumber party with the girls ended up being a short and condensed version, as we all went to bed!

On Sunday, we went to church and got to listen to the sermon translated into English. For lunch we went out at yet another popular restaurant among the teachers and then everyone relaxed for the afternoon. I sat and read a book while a group of people played frisbee and then Petrea and her little friend Amy invited me on a bike ride with Amy's family and another friend. They have a wonderful exercise park closeby to the school. Amy was so fun to be around. She is Petrea's shadow, and Petrea is so loving towards her like she is a little sister. We joined everyone else up at the house after getting some food at this "food" place. I'm not sure what to call it but it was dough that had different fillings in it. The house was all sharing their photos from their past traveling experiences over Chinese New Year. The night ended with a movie we all watched together. Then it was back to Beka and Steph's apartment where we hung out with them before going to bed for our early departure to Taipei. Sarah and I got to the Thai embassy early and filled out our forms. We were able to get them the same day, so we filled in our free time drinking coffee and reading, because it was cold and rainy while we were there. We ate at Taipei 101 but again didn't go up because of the fog. It was nice to enjoy coffee and reading though, and before we knew it, our trip was over and we were on our way back to Thailand for our last time!