Jail Time
Monday, my day started bright and early, around 6 am I headed out to a farm to have some tea with a lot of people. My friend, Yichia, and his parents invited me to go there and meet there friends. It was a lot of fun to spend time with them and talk to the older people. If you don't know, Chinese culture revolves around making a guest feel welcome and most of the time this manifests itself through giving the guest food. So, my host family made me breakfast before I left, Yichia and his parents brought breakfast for me to eat, and when I got to the farm they had food for me as well. Needless to say, I was stuffed and couldn't eat very much, so they sent me home with a bag full of freshly picked corn. Later, I went to the watermelon festival and to a Hakka culture museum to learn more about the history of east Taiwan.
That night was my first English class. It was women that were 60+ years old. It was a lot of fun. They didn't know any English so we started with the basics: numbers 1-10 and a few short songs. It seems that six, seven, and eight are very hard to say if you didn't grow up speaking English.
Today I went to the Hualien County Prison. It was very different than what I expected. The prison housed men and women of all ages for any crimes. There were 12 year old kids who ran away from home in with adults on death row. The kids and adults, and men and women were kept separate most of the time with a little interaction in the yard and stuff. Also, the security seemed very lax. I didn't see a single gun, in some places I could see over the walls, and we didn't even have to pass through a metal detector. I went with the pastor from the church in Fenglin, and three women that are involved in the ministry here. We talked to the women prisoners today about Jesus and we shared our testimony and we are going back the next few weeks. The pastor goes to the prison every week to work with the people there. It was a lot of fun and we got to have a little celebration because it is almost time for the Dragon Festival here so we ate some traditional food.
And now, I am getting ready to head out for my next English class, this time with Junior High kids so it should be very interesting!
That night was my first English class. It was women that were 60+ years old. It was a lot of fun. They didn't know any English so we started with the basics: numbers 1-10 and a few short songs. It seems that six, seven, and eight are very hard to say if you didn't grow up speaking English.
Today I went to the Hualien County Prison. It was very different than what I expected. The prison housed men and women of all ages for any crimes. There were 12 year old kids who ran away from home in with adults on death row. The kids and adults, and men and women were kept separate most of the time with a little interaction in the yard and stuff. Also, the security seemed very lax. I didn't see a single gun, in some places I could see over the walls, and we didn't even have to pass through a metal detector. I went with the pastor from the church in Fenglin, and three women that are involved in the ministry here. We talked to the women prisoners today about Jesus and we shared our testimony and we are going back the next few weeks. The pastor goes to the prison every week to work with the people there. It was a lot of fun and we got to have a little celebration because it is almost time for the Dragon Festival here so we ate some traditional food.
And now, I am getting ready to head out for my next English class, this time with Junior High kids so it should be very interesting!
Hey,
As you know, Ali and I are headed to the Middle East. I won't be able to check your blog much if any after today.
Just know that we're praying for you!!! I look forward to getting together and talking Taiwan.
Love you, man, but you still can't have my bulb light.
James
Posted by
James Hunt |
8:21 AM
Hey Tay!! It sounds like you are having lots of fun and really getting to learn a lot about the culture.
I signed up to have a blog so I could talk to you which means if you need to tell me or the family anything you can either email me or add it to my blog.
I really miss you but am glad to know you seem to be enjoying it.
I can't wait to see your pics. I have been praying for you. Love ya lots, Sasha.
Posted by
Sasha |
4:43 PM