This is my news about Christmas and New Years!!!:

The team of missionaries I'm staying with here in Dagupan go on different outreaches two or three times a year. This Christmas they are going to Taiwan. They have graciously invited me to go with them, which I'm glad cause otherwise I'd just be here at the base by myself. They are a performing arts team, which just means they do dances, skits, dramas and singing. Since I will be going with them, I have been learning some of the dances, so I can participate with them. Obviously I can not learn everything but just some.

We will be going to the capital which is also the largest city in Taiwan called Taipei, it's in the northern part of the country and the population is 2,619,920. (The world's tallest building is also here in Taipei). Some interesting little things about Taiwan: The national sport is baseball! Go Cubbies! The official language is Mandarin, (too bad my sister wasn't with me). Over 93% of Taiwanese are adherents of a combination of Buddism, Confucianism and Taoism. This will be my first country to visit in which Catholicism or Christianity isn't the main religion. Ang Lee is Taiwanese and is the director of "Sense and Sensibility"

We will be staying at YWAM's only base in Taiwan for 14 days. This base has many international staff; even some from America. One unique thing about this base is they have a cafe called the "Rock" which is designated as a place young people can hang out at and get free drinks, enjoy different kinds of Christian music and the cafe provides a comfortable environment for chatting and making new friends. The best friend the base eagerly wants to introduce is Jesus. I'm really siked about hanging out at the Rock.

The base here in Dagupan has been praying and planning on going to Taiwan for quite a few months already now and they have been preparing in all sorts of ways. A few of the preparation (which we have had MANY morning meetings about) have been raising funds, preparing documents for travel and getting visas. It is more difficult for Filipinos to travel then US citizens. I don't have to have a visa but they do, it is also very difficult for them to be granted that visa. But luckily they were granted the visa so we are going!

We have a Singaporean coming to our base today to stay for until we leave for Taiwan. I'm excited for her to come because it's always pleasant to meet new people and have a little change in our daily lives.

Please be praying for my health and my overall mental saneness as I've been here three months now, and could use a little taste of home...­although this doesn't mean I'm homesick. J