Keep on swimming, keep on swimming, keep on swimming, swimming, swimming

Well...I keep promising myself that I'm going to write a blog post, so I'm going to DO it! Midterms are now over, and the big project is working on my thesis outline, figuring out the specifics of what my project is going to be. I have a rough idea, and as I do more research, I'm continually honing it, figuring out exactly what I'm going to do.

Right now, the topic will be discussing open vs. closed business models, as applied to Google and Apple for smartphones. Google is generally open - wants to work with lots of other companies. Apple is generally closed, and wants to control (most of) the system itself. I'll be analyzing the companies, and comparing them with other stories in the past, like Microsoft vs. Apple, or Betamax vs. VHS. If this paragraph makes no sense to you, it's ok ;).

As my Facebook status indicates, I'm officially in a relationship...it's weird (but so good) to write that on the web. God has given me an incredible girl named Whitney Wu - suffice it to say that we're both feeling very blessed (though I'm definitely the one who is more blessed).

As part of this whole thing, I'm REALLY learning trust and sensitivity, and I now have a whole new motivation to really listen to God, and find out His will and His way. Having a special person in one's life is a completely new experience for me, and I hope I never get over the feeling of how incredible and special it (and she) is!

At the same time, I'm sobered by the realization of what a huge challenge and responsibility this is - for both of us. I've heard many times that marriage (and child rearing) are both the most challenging and most rewarding things that a person can do.

All I can do is to trust God. I know I can't do it, and have no idea where to start. I can only trust God, trust Whitney, and trust others who have done this before. "Trust in the Lord... and He will direct your path."

A new view of God

First, the update on life...


One midterm is done, one more to go, which means that we're more than halfway done with the semester. The required courses are done, leaving me with two electives and a thesis to finish next spring. My thesis is coming along, and I have an awesome professor as an advisor, and a rough idea of a topic. Right now, the topic is talking about how developers, users, and systems interact, as applied to the smartphone market, specifically Android vs. iPhone. Why do programmers develop for one platform rather than another? For example, why do people buy iPhones instead of HTC? Also, once I have an idea of what people think, I'm going to compare it with past technology competitions (ex. Apple vs. Microsoft, AOL & Earthlink vs. open internet, etc).


I'm not sure if you understand all that, but I'm still finalizing it myself :p. 


God has really been blessing me, and I've been enjoying this semester. I've been learning a lot, and I think that this whole thesis-writing is (or will) helping me learn how to think better, and become more thorough.Well....I was reading Oswald Chambers today, and what I read made me stop and reread 3 times!

 "We should be so one with God that we don’t need to ask continually for guidance. Sanctification means that we are made the children of God. A child’s life is normally obedient, until he chooses disobedience. But as soon as he chooses to disobey, an inherent inner conflict is produced. On the spiritual level, inner conflict is the warning of the Spirit of God. When He warns us in this way, we must stop at once and be renewed in the spirit of our mind to discern God’s will (see Romans 12:2). If we are born again by the Spirit of God, our devotion to Him is hindered, or even stopped, by continually asking Him to guide us here and there. “. . . the Lord led me . . .” and on looking back we see the presence of an amazing design. If we are born of God we will see His guiding hand and give Him the credit.

We can all see God in exceptional things, but it requires the growth of spiritual discipline to see God in every detail. Never believe that the so-called random events of life are anything less than God’s appointed order. Be ready to discover His divine designs anywhere and everywhere.

Beware of being obsessed with consistency to your own convictions instead of being devoted to God. If you are a saint and say, “I will never do this or that,” in all probability this will be exactly what God will require of you. There was never a more inconsistent being on this earth than our Lord, but He was never inconsistent with His Father. The important consistency in a saint is not to a principle but to the divine life. It is the divine life that continually makes more and more discoveries about the divine mind. It is easier to be an excessive fanatic than it is to be consistently faithful, because God causes an amazing humbling of our religious conceit when we are faithful to Him."

From what I understand, if we are in communion with God, (assuming we're following the Bible and other authorities), we can do whatever we want, trusting that God will say 'no', and give us some sort of a check if we do something outside His will? Does it mean that we won't go through dry spells, where God isn't talking at all? 


When we DO go through dry spells, and are faced with a situation where we need guidance, does it mean that God doesn't care, that either one we pick is His will? How does this idea fit into real life?

Another Update

School is now in full swing. Although I'm only taking 4 classes, I'm super busy - I'm part of our class's student council, starting to work on my thesis, and talking a lot with special friends. I'm doing a Bible Study on Wednesday nights, which has been a HUGE blessing - we're going through Hebrews, and it's been so cool to see different things connect in ways I've never seen before. AND I'm teaching 10 hours/week, which has been good, because I'm now focused on saving up for my plane ticket home next summer. Another major project this semester is a business plan competition. Right now, my team is still in the idea process. We've got less than a month to find the idea and put a proposal together! However, there are a lot of possibilities

Last weekend, I went to Penghu to visit a friend. It was so good to get out of Hsinchu, relax, and talk and connect. Penghu is so different from Hsinchu...it's a lot smaller, slower, and has a more relaxed lifestyle. An awesome place for a vacation - NOT a good place to live.

The main thing I've been learning (again) is the need for patience - for God, for myself, and for others. I've been learning that I need to let God control me, and to not let me control me. I've learned about repentance and forgiveness, and how God always does things better than we could imagine...

First week of class

The first week of my third semester is OVER. I'm taking 4 classes this semester. I wanted to take 5, but oh well...I guess there's a reason for it. I'm also busy with other stuff, and there will always be other stuff to fill time :p

 The main project this semester is finding a thesis topic and starting to work on it. I'd like to find a topic that's somehow related to something I want to do. HOWEVER, I've realized that I really don't know WHAT I want to do - so it's kind of hard to find a research topic! I know I want to stay in Taiwan and work with people on the international stage, but that's about it - not really sure HOW I'm going to do that...

This summer has been very eye-opening, in that I've learned more about what I don't know than what I do know~ I just hope God's using this to make me more reliant on Him, and that I'm learning something through all this.

One classmate has started to work on organizing a GMBA student organization similar to a normal business - teaching the team different business skills along the way...so hopefully I'll be able to learn some business skills along the way :) I'll be helping with the IT part of the "organization" - I hope I can learn what I need to...

I guess the main thing I've been learning this summer is humility...I realized that I don't know as much as I thought I did, and so I feel rather unprepared for what's next. However, the difference is that usually, I can break tasks down into manageable pieces. So far, I don't even know where to start. That's where the grace of God comes in...

Plugging along

August is now over, September has begun. Time for school to start - with the schedule, classes, and busyness that goes along with that. One more week until classes start – hopefully by then, I will have been able to catch up on at least a little sleep, but I don’t think that will really happen… :p

I haven’t done too much traveling this August – I went to Yilan and Taipei, and then spent some time exploring Hsinchu last week. (OK, I guess I have traveled a little bit)

God has really shown me a lot about honoring Him and putting Him first – about patience and grace. He’s shown me a little bit of just how far I have to go -  how I need to trust learn to trust Him and others more.

I guess it’s true that we learn the most during the hardest times…right now, it seems like I go from one situation to another….Here, in America, family, friends, work… It’s so true… “Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Busy Summer

Wow…another month has slipped by, and I’m that much closer to finishing the summer! This month, I spent a weekend in Tainan (the oldest city in Taiwan), as well as a weekend in Penghu, the island group that I visited in April. Other than that, I’ve been keeping busy with work – research and English teaching.

I’ve been really blessed to meet some wonderful people, and am looking forward to keeping in touch with them. Christine, a friend from Tainan, has helped me learn a lot of Chinese, and Whitney, a friend I met in Penghu, actually has family near Hsinchu.

Tainan is a really really old city, and you can tell…many things are hundreds of years old, from a different time and totally different culture. It has gone through stages with different influences, including China, Japan, and the Netherlands. It has a lot to see, and is a fun city to wander around in. Christine was an excellent tour guide, and brought me to temples, museums, and snack shops (the most important part). I had a lot of new (delicious) food, and thinking about my trip is making me hungry!

Penghu is a beautiful place! It is a great place to visit, and just relax. I had a professional tour guide to show many different places! Even though I had gone there in April, and Penghu isn’t the biggest place, Whitney managed to show me all new things, and we went to the double heart fish weir (kind of trap) and took a ride all the way along 203縣道, the road that connects all the islands. I had a foot massage for the first time in my life (it was WONDERFUL), and we had a barbecue with a bunch of friends.

Other than a trip to Yilan next weekend, traveling is done with for the summer. This means that it’s time to start planning for Chinese New Year!

After a dry and difficult time this past spring, God has really started to open doors for me. I have more work opportunities than I know what to do with. One American couple I met last year has decided to come back to Taiwan. When I said goodbye last year, I didn’t know if I’d ever see them again! One other thing is happening, but I’ll save that for another post….

Enjoy the pics, and keep God first!

Tainan:

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Penghu:

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Summer Happenings…

I guess I’m getting better – two weeks for this update (rather than a month!) It turns out that my summer isn’t as relaxing as I thought it would be, but it’s still good :) I think I’m almost as busy as I was last semester, but with a lot less stress. So far, the summer has been filled with LOTS of traveling, working, and hanging out with friends. Last weekend I went to Hualien with Daniel, a friend from Sweden, who went back home this past week. Next weekend, I’m going to Tainan (台南) the oldest city in Taiwan, to visit another friend, and the last weekend in July will find me in Penghu, an island that I visited in April. It’s so cool that I’ve been able to meet friends all over the island, and have been able to visit and explore with “native guides”.

Saturday afternoon, I went to Hukou, a town in Hsinchu county, to visit the teachers who were getting ready for camp this summer. It was weird to be back to the school they’re at, and not be super busy working on stuff. Although camp was a TON of work, I met friends that I still keep in touch with. Hopefully, I’ll get to visit them a few more times before camp ends this summer, but we’ll see.

Last night, I got a message from a friend who was in Taipei for the week (she’s usually in Kaosiung, 6 hours away)….sooo, since I had the day off, we hung out in Taipei, went to the National Palace Museum, and just talked and had fun.

I think I’m going native…when I was in Taipei today, I stopped at a bookstore and got a bilingual Bible. I figure if the colonists used the Good Book to learn how to read, so can I! Chinese has definitely been one of the biggest tasks I’ve ever set myself to do, but it’s coming along, slowly… All I can do is learn one word at a time.

I was thinking about it last night….how very DIFFERENT it is here from in the States. When I was in school (from 5th grade through college), I really didn’t have too many friends. There were some people I hung out with, but I really didn’t feel like a part of anything. Since I’ve gotten to Taiwan, I have more friends than I know what to do with! My weekends are full – visiting different places, and hanging out with tons of people – who are all super different from each other, and super awesome! I’m not sure what the difference is, but something has happened!

I’ve included a few pictures from the Taroko Gorge in Hualien, a truly incredible place. Pictures just don’t to justice to the true size of this thing – 2 huge cliffs that come straight down, with a tiny road in between. Crazy roads with hairpin turns and super long tunnels without ventilation (interesting experience while on a scooter)…

 

Have fun and keep God first…

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