Typhoon!!

This is the path of Typhoon Nesat and you can see how
close/far it was from Macau.  Even at that distance from
the eye of the storm, we had a level 8 typhoon.  Just
imagine what it was like forthose in the Philippines
and in the parts of China that it hit... 

So today I experienced my first typhoon.  Well, yesterday too. Yesterday we learned that there was a typhoon 1 while we were at work, and it jumped to a 3 by the time we got home last night.  This morning, I was planning to go to the clinic to get tested for allergies (another story...), and while I was waiting for the bus, I was getting pelted with debris and rain.  I stayed for about 3 minutes before I decided that busses would not be driving in this wind.  It was WAY too dangerous!  I went back to my apartment and found out that it was a level 8 typhoon now.  It was an 8 all day until about 6pm.  So we did not have classes today.  Turns out the busses were not running, as well, so I would have waited for a long time.  Everything except one grocery store and the McDonalds was shut down.

If you are interested in seeing the levels of the typhoons and what to do if it's at that level, go here.

The typhoon wasn't all that bad in Hong Kong and Macau, but it was very bad in Manila (Philippines).  Read the story here about Typhoon Nesat, and please say a quick prayer for all those affected by the typhoon: especially in the Philippines.

Quick Updates

Quick Updates:

• I went to China--it was great being back!  I got to see old friends, make new ones, and sing karaoke!
• I finally got pictures printed and posted around my cubicle!  I am now surrounded by my family and friends from back home while also being surrounded by my new family and friends here!
• I have my address.  That's not really an update, but I forgot to post that earlier.  If you would like it, comment on this post.
• We have a team here.  It's a lot of fun getting to know them and just talking to them!  The center is SUPER busy today which is awesome!
• I made 2 bulletin boards.  One for our Autumn Holiday Celebrations, and one for a special event coming up when the Church of All Nations from Hong Kong will come to put on an event!
• I made a new friend when I went to China...ironically, she was like me: a foreigner to Macau on a work visa, and was visiting friends in China that weekend!  She and I spent time together when we both returned to Macau and had a WONDERFUL conversation. In the midst of it all we were interviewed for the portuguese newspaper here!  What excitement :)
• I have classes tonight, and I feel so rushed, but just looked at the class and realized that I still have 1.5 hours to plan, so I am not as rushed anymore.
• And...my fingernails are painted orange.  That's not a ministry update, but it's for sure an exciting thing seeing as FALL has started!!!  The weather is beautiful, and I am thinking of walking home because I won't sweat....excuse me...glisten if I do so!
• My work visa is being processed.  Now instead of needing to leave by October 2, I can stay until October 31. (That day I will go to immigration and get an extension with the 2nd part of the visa process.)

That's about all the updates.  Until next time, please pray for the ministry here!  All of the above (except for the orange nail polish and the karaoke...) can be turned into prayer requests, and I ask that you pray for those specifically, and just for the ministry in general!

Incense and Paper Kitchens

Decorations in the Square for
Mid-Autumn Festival

This weekend was big on burning.  Monday my roommate and I woke up to the smell of incense.  I opened my door and found the large bins that were typically in the garbage room out in the hallway.  They were on fire.  Rather, the contents were on fire.  This weekend was the Mid-Autumn festival.  It is a very fun holiday where you eat mooncake and pomello and go to look at the moon, because it's full.  People celebrate by getting lanterns and glowsticks and going to the parks in the dark.  It is actually quite fun to see the parks alive at night! 

The park at night full of people
enjoying the full moon!

But for the worshipers of the Chinese folk religion, it is much more.  There are gods that you must burn to to please them.  I see people burning incense and paper things to the gods all over.  They bow to the gods 3 times, make a wish, and then throw in their offerings.  There are burn bins outside workplaces too, including out on the street in front of our office building (not for us, of course...but for the other businesses).  There are gods for everything, and you burn things according to what god you're burning to.  For example, you would burn a kitchen for the kitchen god so that you have everything you need food-wise. (I just learned about that last night).

Mooncakes!

This is yet another example of the very prevalent hindrance to Christianity here: the religion is so tied to the festivals and traditions.  It's hard to get away from the spiritual side of the festivals if you have participated in the spiritual part of them your whole life.  Just like Christmas: it doesn't have to be celebrated as a religions holiday, even though it is religious at the core. (and we as Christians celebrate it religiously.)  But it would be strange for us to celebrate it without thought of Jesus.  It's the same here for every holiday.  They're times to worship the gods.  This is different than ancestor worship, by the way.  This is actually worshiping gods.

Pomello--like a large grapefruit but sweet

The pictures I have are from the non-religious part of the holiday, which I celebrated.  We just at mooncakes and pomello and walked in the park :)

First day of class=over! :)

Thank you everyone for your prayers, because three things happened today.

Thing number 1: I was miraculously cured of my cold.  Well, maybe not miraculously, and maybe not cured, but it is gone for the most part.  My eyes are feeling much better too!  I had a fever the other day, which is probably why I felt so overwhelmed and groggy the other day. (You may have seen a post that I put up, which I deleted because it was all over the place due to my inability to focus/fever haha)

Thing number 2: My first day of teaching went well--better than expected!  It was great to get to know my students and to get those first classes over with.  I feel great about it now: much better about teaching than I felt yesterday!!!

Thing number 3: I got a roommate!  Bryn made it safely, and she is moving back in :)  She will be here 'til the end of next month, so for almost 2 entire months!  It will be great to live with her, as I know she's amazing!  She is soooo kind and offered to help teach me the things that I have no clue about!!  Such as weird apartment things that I don't know how to deal with!

So: thanks everyone for your prayers!  And THANK GOD for the great day!